Battery exchange apparatus

Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging – Cell or battery charger structure – For diverse sizes of cells – batteries – or battery packs

Reexamination Certificate

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Reexamination Certificate

active

06498457

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a battery exchange apparatus, and particularly to a battery exchange apparatus suitable for collectively controlling the charging and rental of a battery to be mounted on a motor-driven vehicle using a motor as a drive source. In addition, the present invention relates to a chargeable battery, and particularly to a chargeable battery mounted on a motor-driven vehicle as a power source of the motor-driven vehicle.
2. Description of Background Art
In recent years, a bicycle on which a motor is mounted as an auxiliary power source for assisting a force produced by the legs of a user (hereinafter, referred to as “a motor-assisted bicycle) has been available. A battery such as a nickel-cadmium battery that allows repetitive recharge is used as a power supply of the motor.
If a user of a motor-assisted bicycle possesses a battery personally, there occurs an inconvenience in that the charging of the battery must be performed by the user himself. To solve such an inconvenience, there may be considered a system for collectively controlling the charging of batteries. For example, there may be considered a battery exchange system for a user of a motor-assisted bicycle in such a manner that the user rents a battery from the system that collectively controls the batteries, returns the battery after the battery is exhausted, and rents a new full-charged battery.
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 10-293874 discloses a battery exchange apparatus for automatically renting a battery to a registered user and for receiving the returned battery from the user. By deploying such battery exchange apparatuses at a number of locations, it is possible to solve the inconvenience of the battery management in which a user must perform the charging, storage, and the like of the battery and also to utilize a motor-assisted bicycle in a wide range with no attention paid to exhaustion of the battery.
The installation of the above-described battery automatic exchange apparatus is very convenient, and therefore, a number of persons will come to use the exchange apparatus. Under such circumstances, it is required that many and unspecified persons can easily operate the battery exchange apparatus. In particular, it is essential to improve the operability upon taking out a relatively heavy battery of the battery exchange apparatus.
The above-described automatic battery exchange apparatus has a structure suitable to be used in an outdoor facility in order to enhance the convenience of a user in the course of cycling on a vehicle such as a motor-assisted bicycle. However, in consideration of the applicability of the battery exchange apparatus and comfortableness for use by a user, the installation of the battery exchange apparatus in an indoor facility should be examined. The battery exchange apparatus adapted to be used in an outdoor facility, however, requires an air conditioning system for allowing the battery exchange apparatus to keep up with various environmental conditions such as a particular installation area, weather, and climate and for removing heat generated upon charging the battery. As a result, there occurs a problem that the battery exchange apparatus is enlarged and is not suitable to be used in an indoor facility.
The prior art battery is provided with a handle for allowing a user to easily carry the battery, or formed into a shape and a size suitable for the battery to be mounted on a motor-assisted bicycle or the like. The prior art battery, however, fails to consider the containment of the battery in a battery exchange apparatus collectively controlled as described above, or the workability and usability in handling the battery, particularly, when containing the battery in the battery exchange apparatus.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem and to provide a battery exchange apparatus capable of easily taking a battery out of the battery exchange apparatus.
To achieve the above object, according to a first feature of the present invention, there is provided a battery exchange apparatus having a containing portion for containing an approximately square pole shaped battery, and a charger for charging the battery, characterized in that the containing portion is configured as a cylindrical body with a bottom capable of containing the battery in the longitudinal direction; and the containing portion includes a first interior section for retaining the battery, and a second interior section which is spread from the first interior section to the opening portion side of the cylindrical body to allow one end of the battery contained in the containing portion to project from the second interior section.
According to a second feature of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first feature, the battery exchange apparatus includes: lock means for locking the battery in the cylindrical body with a bottom at a position near a bottom portion thereof; and lock releasing means for releasing the locking by the lock means and projecting the battery to the opening portion side more than another battery adjacent to the battery.
According to a third feature of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first or second feature, a plurality of the cylindrical bodies with bottoms are arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions; and a door is provided commonly to each group of the plurality of cylindrical bodies arranged in both the vertical or horizontal direction. Furthermore, according to a fourth feature of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of any one of the first, second and third features, the battery to be contained in the containing portion is formed into an approximately rectangular shape in transverse cross-section, and the short side of the battery has a palm size.
With the first feature, since one end of the battery contained in the containing portion projects in the second interior section, it is possible for a user to easily hold the one end of the battery and hence to easily take the battery in or out of the battery exchange apparatus. With the second feature, since the battery projects more than other batteries adjacent thereto when the locking is released by the lock releasing means, it is possible for a user to more easily hold the one end of the battery.
With the third feature, it is possible to take necessary batteries in or out of those of a plurality of the containing portions arranged in each row or in each stage by opening the door provided for those of a plurality of the containing portions arranged in each row or in each stage. With the fourth feature, it is possible to improve the workability in taking the battery in or out of the battery exchange apparatus as its configuration allows the user to easily hold the battery.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a small-size battery exchange apparatus suitable to be used in an indoor facility.
To achieve the above object, according to an additional feature of the present invention, there is provided a battery exchange apparatus for providing an already charged battery, the battery exchange apparatus having a containing portion for containing batteries and a charger for charging each of batteries, characterized in that the battery exchange apparatus is installed in an indoor facility, and an atmosphere in the battery exchange apparatus is maintained depending only on ventilation with an atmospheric air in the indoor facility; and the total height of the battery exchange apparatus is set to be in a range of 80 to 120 cm. With this first feature, the battery exchange apparatus of the invention is suitable to be used in an indoor facility. In particular, since the total height is set to be in a range of 80 to 120 cm approximately, a battery can be easily inserted in or removed from the containing portion, and the upper surface of the exchange apparatus can be effectively used as a surface on which an article

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