A shrinking device

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of battery production equipment, and discloses a necking device. The necking device includes a material holding assembly, a guide assembly, a necking piece, and a limit piece. The material holding assembly is used to install a battery shell. The limit piece is arranged in the necking piece, and the necking piece and the limit piece are arranged relative to the material holding assembly. The guide assembly connects the necking piece and the limit piece, and is used to guide the necking piece and the limit piece to move toward the material holding assembly, so that the end of the limit piece close to the material holding assembly can extend into the battery shell installed on the material holding assembly, and the necking piece necks the shell opening of the battery shell. In the above manner, the present invention can improve the necking quality of the shell opening of the battery shell.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of battery production equipment, and in particular to a necking device. Background Art

[0002] In the production process of cylindrical batteries, it is necessary to shrink the shell opening of the cylindrical battery steel shell, that is, to reduce the diameter of the shell opening of the battery steel shell to prevent the internal structure of the battery steel shell, such as the battery cell, from coming out of the shell opening. However, the traditional shrinking device only shrinks the battery steel shell by directly pushing the shrinking piece set outside the shell opening of the battery steel shell, which makes it easy for clamp marks or wrinkles to appear at the shell opening of the battery steel shell, and the shrinking quality of the shell opening of the battery steel shell is low. Summary of the invention

[0003] In view of this, the main technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a necking device, which can improve the necking quality of the shell opening of a battery housing.

[0004] In order to solve the above technical problems, a technical solution adopted by the present invention is: to provide a necking device, which includes a material holding assembly, a guide assembly, a necking piece and a limit piece. The material holding assembly is used to install the battery shell. The limit piece is arranged in the necking piece, and the necking piece and the limit piece are arranged relative to the material holding assembly. The guide assembly connects the necking piece and the limit piece, and is used to guide the necking piece and the limit piece to move toward the material holding assembly, so that the end of the limit piece close to the material holding assembly can extend into the battery shell installed on the material holding assembly, and the necking piece necks the shell opening of the battery shell.

[0005] In one embodiment of the present invention, the end of the necking member close to the material holding component includes a necking portion, the inner diameter of the necking portion gradually decreases in the direction away from the material holding component, and when the necking portion necks the shell opening of the battery shell, the necking portion is sleeved on the outside of the shell opening of the battery shell; the end of the limiting member close to the material holding component includes a probing portion, the outer diameter of the probing portion close to the material holding component is smaller than the inner diameter of the shell opening of the battery shell, so as to extend into the battery shell during the necking process of the battery shell and limit the shell wall of the battery shell to remain between the inner wall of the necking portion and the outer wall of the probing portion.

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, a limiting portion is further provided on the limiting member, and the limiting portion is arranged away from the material holding assembly relative to the probing portion, and the distance between the outer wall of the limiting portion and the inner wall of the necking portion is less than the shell wall thickness of the battery shell.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the guide assembly includes a first guide member, which extends in a direction toward the material holding assembly. The necking member and / or the limiting member are slidably connected to the first guide member to guide the necking member and the limiting member to move toward the material holding assembly.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the guide assembly also includes a first guide rail corresponding to the necking piece and a second guide rail corresponding to the limiting piece, a first follower is arranged on the necking piece, and a second follower is arranged on the limiting piece, wherein the first follower can move in the first guide rail and the second follower can move in the second guide rail, thereby driving the necking piece and the limiting piece to move toward the material holding assembly; the angle between the extension direction of at least part of the guide rail sections of the first guide rail and the second guide rail and the reference plane is greater than 0°, so that when the first follower moves in the first guide rail and the second follower moves in the second guide rail, the necking piece and the limiting piece move toward the material holding assembly.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first guide rail includes at least a first sub-guide rail segment, and the angle between the extension direction of the first sub-guide rail segment and the reference plane is greater than 0°; the second guide rail includes a second sub-guide rail segment and a third sub-guide rail segment that are connected, and the angle between the extension direction of at least the second sub-guide rail segment and the reference plane is greater than 0°, and the angle between the extension direction of the second sub-guide rail segment and the reference plane is greater than the angle between the extension direction of the third sub-guide rail segment and the reference plane; wherein the angle between the extension direction of the part of the first sub-guide rail segment corresponding to the third sub-guide rail segment and the reference plane is greater than the angle between the extension direction of the third sub-guide rail segment and the reference plane.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, an angle between an extension direction of the third sub-guide rail segment and the reference plane is 0°.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first guide rail further includes a fourth sub-guide rail segment connected to the first sub-guide rail segment, and the angle between the extension direction of the fourth sub-guide rail segment and the reference plane is smaller than the angle between the extension direction of the first sub-guide rail segment and the reference plane.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, a slide groove extending in the direction toward the material holding component is opened on the side wall of the necking piece, and the second follower passes through the slide groove to connect to the second guide rail, and when the second follower moves along the second guide rail, it can also move along the slide groove.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, a ventilation channel is arranged in the limit member, a first ventilation hole is opened at the end of the limit member close to the material holding component, and a penetrating second ventilation hole is arranged on the side wall of the limit member, the first ventilation hole and the second ventilation hole are respectively connected to the ventilation channel, and the ventilation channel is also connected to the exhaust equipment.

[0014] The beneficial effect of the present invention is as follows: Different from the prior art, the present invention provides a necking device. The necking device includes a necking member and a limiting member, wherein the necking member is used to neck the shell opening of the battery shell, and the end of the limiting member close to the material holding assembly can extend into the battery shell installed on the material holding assembly, so as to limit the shell wall of the battery shell to be maintained between the necking member and the limiting member during the necking process of the battery shell. In this way, in the process of necking the shell opening of the battery shell by using the necking member, the necking member and the limiting member maintain the shell wall of the battery shell between the two, which can limit the size of the clamping mark or wrinkle generated by the necking of the shell opening of the battery shell, and even avoid the generation of the clamping mark or wrinkle, so that the necking conditions of each position of the shell opening of the battery shell are relatively consistent, and the shell opening of the battery shell has a higher necking quality, which also improves the necking quality of the shell opening of the battery shell. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The accompanying drawings herein are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present invention, and together with the specification are used to explain the principles of the present invention. In addition, these drawings and textual descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way, but to illustrate the concept of the present invention for those skilled in the art by reference to specific embodiments.

[0016] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of a necking device of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of a part of the necking device shown;

[0018] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 The enlarged structural schematic diagram of a part of the necking device is shown;

[0019] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of the necking device in a first state;

[0020] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of the necking device in another state;

[0021] Figure 6 It is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of a guide seat of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 7 It is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of a necking member and a limiting member of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in combination with the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention. In the absence of conflict, the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0024] In order to solve the technical problem of low shrinkage quality of the shell opening of the battery steel shell in the prior art, one embodiment of the present invention provides a shrinkage device. The shrinkage device includes a material holding assembly, a guide assembly, a shrinkage piece and a limit piece. The material holding assembly is used to install the battery shell. The limit piece is arranged in the shrinkage piece, and the shrinkage piece and the limit piece are arranged relative to the material holding assembly. The guide assembly connects the shrinkage piece and the limit piece, and is used to guide the shrinkage piece and the limit piece to move toward the material holding assembly, so that the end of the limit piece close to the material holding assembly can extend into the battery shell installed on the material holding assembly, and the shrinkage piece shrinks the shell opening of the battery shell. The following is a detailed explanation.

[0025] See also Figure 1-2 , Figure 1 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a necking device of the present invention. Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of a part of the necking device is shown.

[0026] In one embodiment, the necking device includes a material holding assembly 2, a guide assembly 3, a necking member 41 and a stopper 42. The material holding assembly 2 is used to install the battery housing 5, that is, the battery housing 5 to be necked is installed on the material holding assembly 2 to perform the necking process of the shell opening of the battery housing 5. The stopper 42 is arranged in the necking member 41, and the necking member 41 and the stopper 42 are arranged relative to the material holding assembly 2. Specifically, the working ends of the necking member 41 and the stopper 42 are opposite to the position where the material holding assembly 2 installs the battery housing 5, that is, when necking, the battery housing 5 is on the material holding assembly 2, and the battery housing 5 is opposite to the working ends of the necking member 41 and the stopper 42. The guide assembly 3 connects the necking member 41 and the stopper 42, and is used to drive the necking member 41 and the stopper 42 to move toward the material holding assembly 2, so that the necking member 41 and the stopper 42 are docked with the shell opening of the battery housing 5, and the shell opening of the battery housing 5 is necked through the necking member 41.

[0027] The end of the limiting member 42 close to the material holding assembly 2 can extend into the battery housing 5 installed on the material holding assembly 2. In this way, after the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42 are connected to the shell opening of the battery housing 5, the shell wall of the battery housing 5 is restricted by the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42, so that it is kept between the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42, and then in the necking process of the battery housing 5, the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42 restrict the shell wall of the battery housing 5 to be kept between the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42.

[0028] In the above manner, the shrinking member 41 shrinks the shell opening of the battery shell 5, and the limiting member 42 suppresses the pinch marks or wrinkles generated on the shell opening of the battery shell 5 during the shrinking process, thereby preventing the pinch marks or wrinkles generated on the shell opening of the battery shell 5 from excessively extending inward, that is, the limiting member 42 limits the size of the pinch marks or wrinkles at the shell opening of the battery shell 5, and can even avoid the generation of pinch marks or wrinkles, so that the shrinkage conditions of various positions of the shell opening of the battery shell 5 are relatively consistent, which can improve the shrinkage quality of the shell opening of the battery shell 5, and make the shell opening of the battery shell 5 have a higher shrinkage quality.

[0029] However, the conventional shrinking device does not have a limiting member, and shrinks the battery shell only by directly pushing the shrinking member mounted on the outside of the battery shell shell. The battery shell lacks a structure similar to the limiting member 42 of the present embodiment to suppress the generation of pinch marks or wrinkles, which results in large pinch marks or wrinkles being easily generated at the shell mouth of the battery shell, resulting in poor shrinking quality of the battery shell.

[0030] It can be seen from the above that the necking device provided by the embodiment of the present invention has a necking piece used to neck the shell opening of the battery shell, and the end of the limiter close to the material holding assembly can extend into the battery shell installed on the material holding assembly, so as to limit the shell wall of the battery shell to be maintained between the necking piece and the limiter during the necking process of the battery shell. In this way, in the process of necking the shell opening of the battery shell using the necking piece, the necking piece and the limiter hold the shell wall of the battery shell between the two, which can limit the size of the pinch marks or wrinkles caused by the necking of the shell opening of the battery shell, and even avoid the generation of pinch marks or wrinkles, so that the necking conditions of various positions of the shell opening of the battery shell are relatively consistent, and the shell opening of the battery shell has a higher necking quality, which also improves the necking quality of the shell opening of the battery shell.

[0031] Please continue reading Figure 1-2 In one embodiment, the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42 are nested, and the limiting member 42 is disposed in the necking member 41. The necking member 41 includes a necking portion 411 at the end close to the material holding assembly 2, and the necking portion 411 is used to neck the shell opening of the battery shell 5. Specifically, when the necking portion 411 necks the shell opening of the battery shell 5, the necking portion 411 is sleeved outside the shell opening of the battery shell 5.

[0032] Specifically, the inner diameter D1 of the necking portion 411 of the necking member 41 gradually decreases in the direction away from the material holding assembly 2. Figure 3 As shown. In this way, after the necking portion 411 of the necking member 41 is sleeved on the outside of the shell opening of the battery shell 5, the necking member 41 moves relative to the battery shell 5 toward the material holding assembly 2, and the inner wall of the necking portion 411 pushes the shell wall of the shell opening of the battery shell 5, so that the size of the shell opening of the battery shell 5 is gradually reduced, and then reduced to the target size, that is, the necking operation of the shell opening of the battery shell 5 is completed.

[0033] The end of the limiting member 42 close to the material holding assembly 2 includes an insertion portion 421. The insertion portion 421 can be inserted into the battery housing 5 installed on the material holding assembly 2, so that during the shrinking process of the battery housing 5, the insertion portion 421 gradually extends into the battery housing 5 and limits the shell wall of the battery housing 5 to be maintained between the inner wall of the shrinking portion 411 and the outer wall of the insertion portion 421. That is, the insertion portion 421 plays a limiting role, which inhibits the clip marks or wrinkles generated on the shell opening of the battery housing 5 during the shrinking process.

[0034] Specifically, the outer diameter of the portion of the probing portion 421 close to the material holding assembly 2 is smaller than the inner diameter of the shell opening of the battery shell 5, so as to allow the probing portion 421 to extend into the battery shell 5 during the shrinking process of the battery shell 5. The probing portion 421 and the shrinking portion 411 jointly restrict the shell wall of the battery shell 5 to remain between the inner wall of the shrinking portion 411 and the outer wall of the probing portion 421.

[0035] Preferably, the maximum outer diameter D2 of the probe portion 421 is smaller than the inner diameter D3 of the shell opening of the battery housing 5 after the necking, so that the probe portion 421 is allowed to extend into the battery housing 5 during the necking process of the battery housing 5, while preventing the shell opening of the battery housing 5 after the necking from being stuck on the probe portion 421. Figure 3 As shown. It can be understood that D3 can be the minimum inner diameter of the necking portion 411 (ignoring the shell wall thickness of the battery housing 5). When the necking portion 411 continuously moves relative to the battery housing 5 toward the material holding assembly 2, the shell opening of the battery housing 5 continuously extends into the necking portion 411, and finally completes the necking at the minimum inner diameter. At this time, it is preferred to set the portion of the inner wall of the necking portion 411 with an inner diameter of D3 to have a certain length in the direction toward the material holding assembly 2 to improve the fault tolerance and ensure that the final shell opening inner diameter can be stably reduced to D3. Of course, the inner diameter D1 of the necking portion 411 gradually decreases in the direction away from the material holding assembly 2, and the minimum inner diameter of the necking portion 411 can also be smaller than D3, as long as the movement amplitude of the necking member 41 is controlled during the necking, so that the shell opening finally stays at a position with an inner diameter of D3.

[0036] Please continue reading Figure 2-3. Furthermore, a limiting portion 422 is also provided on the limiting member 42. The limiting portion 422 is arranged away from the material holding assembly 2 relative to the probing portion 421, and the distance between the outer wall of the limiting portion 422 and the inner wall of the necking portion 411 is less than the shell wall thickness of the battery shell 5, so that after the shell opening of the battery shell 5 abuts the limiting portion 422, the shell wall of the battery shell 5 cannot pass through the gap between the outer wall of the limiting portion 422 and the inner wall of the necking portion 411, thereby causing the shell opening of the battery shell 5 to stop moving after abutting the limiting portion 422, thereby preventing the necking member 41 from clamping the battery shell 5 and moving together, causing the battery shell 5 to escape from the material holding assembly 2. It should be added that after the necking portion 411 completes the necking operation of the shell opening of the battery shell 5, since the outer wall of the shell opening of the battery shell 5 after the necking has a tendency to expand outward, it will be closely attached to the inner wall of the necking portion 411, and the necking portion 411 may drive the battery shell 5 to move together when it moves away from the material holding assembly 2 relative to the battery shell 5; that is, if it is not blocked, the necking portion 411 may "drag" the battery shell 5 away from the material holding assembly 2, at which time, the battery shell 5 is stuck in the necking portion 411 and eventually detaches from the material holding assembly 2, affecting the continuous operation of the equipment. Through the setting of the limiting portion 422 on the limiting member 42, even if the necking portion 411 moves with the battery shell 5, the shell opening of the battery shell 5 will stop continuing to move with the necking portion 411 due to abutting against the limiting portion 422. Therefore, the setting of the limiting portion 422 on the limiting member 42 can prevent the battery shell 5 from being taken away by the necking member 41 when the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42 are separated from the battery shell 5.

[0037] Furthermore, the necking member 41 and the stopper 42 are located directly below the material holding assembly 2. Since the necking member 41 and the stopper 42 are close to the ends of the material holding assembly 2 and are used to dock with the shell opening of the battery housing 5, the shell opening of the battery housing 5 needs to face the necking member 41 and the stopper 42, which means that the battery housing 5 installed on the material holding assembly 2 in this embodiment is inverted, that is, the shell opening of the battery housing 5 faces downward. In this way, when the battery housing 5 is necked, dust or debris may be generated due to the squeezing of its shell opening. The shell opening of the battery housing 5 facing downward can prevent dust or debris from falling into the battery housing 5 and affecting the quality of the battery product.

[0038] Please continue reading Figure 1-2 The guide assembly 3 includes a first guide member 34. The first guide member 34 extends in a direction toward the material holding assembly 2. The necking member 41 and / or the stopper 42 are slidably connected to the first guide member 34. When the battery housing 5 is necked, the necking member 41 and the stopper 42 can move toward the battery housing 5 along the first guide member 34, and the first guide member 34 plays a role in guiding the necking member 41 and the stopper 42 to move toward or away from the material holding assembly 2.

[0039] In one embodiment, the first guide member 34 can be provided in two groups, and the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42 are respectively slidably connected to one group of the first guide members 34. When necking, the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42 can respectively move toward the battery housing 5 until the probing portion 421 of the limiting member 42 extends into the battery housing 5, and the inner wall of the necking portion 411 of the necking member 41 continuously pushes the shell wall of the shell opening of the battery housing 5 until the shell opening is narrowed to the required size. At this time, the guide assembly 3 also includes two groups of driving members, which are respectively used to drive the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42 to move along their corresponding first guide members 34.

[0040] In another embodiment, the first guide member 34 can be set as a group, in which case the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42 are relatively set as one body, and the necking member 41 or the limiting member 42 is slidably connected to the first guide member 34. At this time, the guide assembly 3 also includes a group of driving members, which connect and drive the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42 therein to move toward the battery housing 5 during necking, until the probing portion 421 of the limiting member 42 extends into the battery housing 5, and the inner wall of the necking portion 411 of the necking member 41 continuously pushes the shell wall of the shell opening of the battery housing 5. At this time, the relative positions of the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42 are fixed, and it is necessary to ensure that when the necking portion 411 pushes the shell wall, the limiting member 42 has extended into the battery housing 5. As the inner wall of the necking portion 411 continuously pushes upward the shell wall of the shell opening of the battery housing 5, the limiting member 42 also continuously extends into the battery housing 5. Figure 1-2 It shows the situation that the first guide member 34 is arranged as a group, the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42 are relatively arranged as a whole, and the necking member 41 is slidably connected to the first guide member 34 .

[0041] Specifically, the first guide member 34 is preferably a guide rail or the like, and the driving member is preferably a motor or the like, which is not limited here.

[0042] Please continue reading Figure 1-2 . In one embodiment, the guide assembly 3 also includes a guide seat 31 and a second guide member 32. The second guide member 32 is extended in the horizontal direction, and the guide seat 31 and the second guide member 32 are slidably connected. Among them, the guide seat 31 is connected to the necking member 41 and the limit member 42 respectively, so as to drive the necking member 41 and the limit member 42 to move along the first guide member 34 toward the battery housing 5 during the movement of the guide seat 31 along the second guide member 32. Of course, after the necking member 41 and the limit member 42 complete the necking operation on the shell opening of the battery housing 5, the guide seat 31 moves along the second guide member 32, driving the necking member 41 and the limit member 42 to move along the first guide member 34 away from the battery housing 5, so that the necking member 41 and the limit member 42 leave the battery housing 5, which is convenient for the material holding assembly 2 to load and unload the battery housing 5.

[0043] The following combination Figure 1-6 The guide component 3 is described in detail. Figure 4 , 5 Part of the structure including the necking piece 41 is in a perspective state.

[0044] In one embodiment, the guide assembly 3 may include a set of guide seats 31, on which a first guide rail 311 is provided corresponding to the necking member 41, and a second guide rail 312 is provided corresponding to the stopper 42. In addition, a first follower 412 is provided on the necking member 41, and the first follower 412 can move in the first guide rail 311; and a second follower 423 is provided on the stopper 42, and the second follower 423 can move in the second guide rail 312.

[0045] In other embodiments, the guide assembly 3 may include two groups of guide seats 31, the first guide rail 311 and the second guide rail 312 are respectively arranged on one group of guide seats 31, and the necking member 41 and the stopper 42 are respectively slidably connected to the corresponding guide rails through the first follower 412 and the second follower 423. In this case, the guide assembly 3 includes two groups of second guide members 32 arranged in parallel, and the two groups of guide seats 31 are respectively slidably connected to one second guide member 32.

[0046] Preferably, the first follower 412 and the second follower 423 can be rollers, etc., the first follower 412 in the form of a roller can move in and along the first guide rail 311, and the second follower 423 in the form of a roller can move in and along the second guide rail 312.

[0047] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first guide rail 311 and the second guide rail 312 are preferably arranged on the same guide seat 31 and located on the same side of the guide seat 31, so that the guide seat 31 can move along the second guide member 32 to simultaneously drive the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42 to move toward or away from the material holding component 2.

[0048] It should be noted that the angle between the extension direction of at least part of the guide rail sections of the first guide rail 311 and the second guide rail 312 and the reference plane is greater than 0°, so that when the first follower 412 moves in the first guide rail 311 and the second follower 423 moves in the second guide rail 312, the necking piece 41 and the limiting piece 42 move toward the material holding assembly 2, so that the necking piece 41 and the limiting piece 42 are docked with the shell opening of the battery shell 5 installed on the material holding assembly 2, so that the necking piece 41 can neck the shell opening of the battery shell 5; of course, when the first follower 412 moves in the first guide rail 311 and the second follower 423 moves in the second guide rail 312, the necking piece 41 and the limiting piece 42 can also move away from the material holding assembly 2, so that after completing the necking operation of the shell opening of the battery shell 5, the necking piece 41 and the limiting piece 42 are away from the battery shell 5 installed on the material holding assembly 2, which facilitates the loading and unloading of the battery shell 5.

[0049] In a specific embodiment, referring to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , the battery housing 5 is inverted and placed directly above the necking member 41 and the stopper 42, and the at least part of the guide rail section with the "included angle with the reference plane greater than 0°" mentioned above extends upward from left to right. Therefore, when the guide seat 31 moves from right to left along the second guide member 32, the first follower 412 and the second follower 423 are equivalent to gradually moving upward along the corresponding "at least part of the guide rail section"; at this time, since the necking member 41 and the stopper 42 are limited by the first guide member 34, they can only move toward the battery housing 5 in the vertical direction. After the necking operation is completed, the guide seat 31 moves from left to right along the second guide member 32, and the first follower 412 and the second follower 423 are equivalent to gradually moving downward along the corresponding "at least part of the guide rail section", so that the necking member 41 and the stopper 42 gradually move away from the battery housing 5.

[0050] Furthermore, the first guide rail 311 corresponding to the necking piece 41 includes at least a first sub-guide rail segment 3111, and the angle between the extension direction of the first sub-guide rail segment 3111 and the reference plane is greater than 0°, so that when the first follower 412 connected to the necking piece 41 moves in the first sub-guide rail segment 3111, the necking piece 41 can move toward or away from the material holding component 2.

[0051] The second guide rail 312 corresponding to the stopper 42 includes a second sub-guide rail segment 3121 and a third sub-guide rail segment 3122 that are connected. Among them, at least the angle between the extension direction of the second sub-guide rail segment 3121 and the reference plane is greater than 0°, so that when the second follower 423 connected to the stopper 42 moves in the second sub-guide rail segment 3121, the stopper 42 can move toward or away from the material holding component 2. The angle between the extension direction of the second sub-guide rail segment 3121 and the reference plane is greater than the angle between the extension direction of the third sub-guide rail segment 3122 and the reference plane, so that the second sub-guide rail segment 3121 at least has the function of allowing the stopper 42 to approach or move away from the material holding component 2 faster, so as to shorten the process time.

[0052] It should be noted that when the necking device provided in the embodiment of the present invention is normally placed for necking the battery housing 5, the reference plane is preferably a horizontal plane. Of course, in other embodiments of the present invention, the necking device is also allowed to be placed at a certain angle, and the reference plane is tilted at the same angle on the basis of the horizontal plane to match the tilt angle of the necking device.

[0053] Further, the guide assembly 3 also includes a first driving device 33, which is connected to and drives the guide seat 31 to move along the second guide member 32. The first driving device 33 can be a motor, and a screw rod is provided at the output end of the motor. The guide seat 31 is threadedly connected to the screw rod through a nut, so that the motor is actuated to drive the guide seat 31 to move along the screw rod and the second guide member 32. It can be understood that the combination of the first driving device 33, the guide seat 31, and the second guide member 32 constitutes a driving member that drives the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42 to move along the first guide member 34 toward the battery housing 5.

[0054] Further, at least part of the first sub-guide rail segment 3111 is arranged corresponding to the third sub-guide rail segment 3122, that is, when the first follower 412 moves on the at least part of the first sub-guide rail segment 3111, the second follower 423 moves synchronously on the third sub-guide rail segment 3122. The angle between the extension direction of the part of the first sub-guide rail segment 3111 corresponding to the third sub-guide rail segment 3122 and the reference plane is greater than the angle between the extension direction of the third sub-guide rail segment 3122 and the reference plane. This means that the part of the first sub-guide rail segment 3111 corresponding to the third sub-guide rail segment 3122 has a larger inclination angle than the third sub-guide rail segment 3122. In this way, after completing the shrinking operation, when the first follower 412 moves downward in the above-mentioned at least part of the guide rail section of the first sub-guide rail section 3111, the second follower 423 moves in the third sub-guide rail section 3122. Due to the large inclination angle of the first sub-guide rail section 3111, the first follower 412 takes precedence over the second follower 423 in moving away from the material holding component 2, that is, the shrinking member 41 takes precedence over the limiting member 42 in moving away from the material holding component 2. The shrinking member 41 moves relative to the limiting member 42 in the direction away from the material holding component 2. Therefore, even if the shrinking member 41 clamps the battery case 5 to move together, the shell mouth of the battery case 5 will also abut against the limiting portion 422 on the limiting member 42. The limiting portion 422 limits the battery case 5 from continuing to move with the shrinking portion 411, thereby preventing the shrinking member 41 from continuing to clamp the battery case 5 to move together, so as to prevent the battery case 5 from being taken away by the shrinking member 41.

[0055] Preferably, the angle between the extension direction of the third sub-guide rail segment 3122 and the reference plane is 0°, that is, the extension direction of the third sub-guide rail segment 3122 is set along the reference plane, that is, the extension direction of the third sub-guide rail segment 3122 is horizontal. That is to say, after the second follower 423 enters the third sub-guide rail segment 3122, the limiter 42 no longer rises or falls. At this time, the end point of the second sub-guide rail segment 3121 connecting the third sub-guide rail segment 3122 is the highest point of its guide limiter 42. When the necking is performed, the limiter 42 extends into the battery housing 5 under the guidance of the second sub-guide rail segment 3121; as the limiter 42 enters the third sub-guide rail segment 3122, the limiter 42 no longer moves relative to the battery housing 5; and at this time, the necking member 41 continues to move toward the battery housing 5 under the guidance of the first sub-guide rail segment 3111 to neck the shell opening. After the necking is completed, the necking member 41 gradually moves away from the battery housing 5 under the guidance of the first sub-guide rail segment 3111; at this time, the limiting member 42 remains in place in the third sub-guide rail segment 3122; if the battery housing 5 is clamped by the necking member 41 and moves downward, it will eventually be stopped by the limiting portion 422; after the necking portion 411 of the necking member 41 is sufficiently away from the shell opening of the battery housing 5, the necking member 41 can no longer clamp the battery housing 5 due to the increase in the inner diameter of the inner wall of the necking portion 411 and the reduction in the outer diameter of the shell opening, and the limiting member 42 enters the second sub-guide rail segment 3121, descends along the second sub-guide rail segment 3121, and finally completely moves away from the battery housing 5 together with the necking member 41.

[0056] In this embodiment, the first guide rail 311 also includes a fourth sub-guide rail segment 3112 connected to the first sub-guide rail segment 3111. The angle between the extension direction of the fourth sub-guide rail segment 3112 and the reference surface is smaller than the angle between the extension direction of the first sub-guide rail segment 3111 and the reference surface. The fourth sub-guide rail segment 3112 has a smaller inclination angle than the first sub-guide rail segment 3111, which is used to make the necking member 41 slowly approach or move away from the material holding assembly 2, so that when the first follower 412 moves in the fourth sub-guide rail segment 3112, the necking member 41 slowly but steadily necks the battery housing 5, avoiding high-speed impact on the shell opening of the battery housing 5, which has an adverse effect on the necking effect. The first sub-guide rail segment 3111 provides a steeper trend to the necking member 41 to approach or move away from the material holding assembly 2 faster.

[0057] The first sub-guide rail segment 3111 is arranged corresponding to the second sub-guide rail segment 3121, and the fourth sub-guide rail segment 3112 is arranged corresponding to the third sub-guide rail segment 3122. Figure 6As shown, the included angle between the extension direction of the first sub-guide rail segment 3111 and the reference plane α is θ1, the included angle between the extension direction of the second sub-guide rail segment 3121 and the reference plane α is θ2, the included angle between the extension direction of the third sub-guide rail segment 3122 and the reference plane α is 0°, and the included angle between the extension direction of the fourth sub-guide rail segment 3112 and the reference plane α is θ3. Among them, θ1, θ2 and θ3 are greater than 0°, and θ3<θ1.

[0058] When the first follower 412 on the necking member 41 moves in the first sub-guide rail segment 3111 and the second follower 423 on the limiting member 42 moves in the second sub-guide rail segment 3121 , the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42 together quickly approach or move away from the material holding assembly 2 . When the first follower 412 on the necking piece 41 moves in the fourth sub-guide rail segment 3112 and the second follower 423 on the limiting piece 42 moves in the third sub-guide rail segment 3122, the necking piece 41 and the limiting piece 42 slowly and steadily dock with the shell opening of the battery shell 5 installed on the material holding assembly 2 to perform a necking operation on the battery shell 5, and when the necking piece 41 and the limiting piece 42 move away from the material holding assembly 2, the necking piece 41 moves away from the material holding assembly 2 before the limiting piece 42 or the necking piece 41 moves away from the material holding assembly 2 faster than the limiting piece 42, so as to prevent the necking piece 41 from clamping the battery shell 5 and taking the battery shell 5 away from the material holding assembly 2 through the limiting piece 42.

[0059] Based on the above, due to the different angles between the extension direction of each guide rail segment and the reference plane, there is relative movement between the limit member 42 and the necking member 41, and the limit member 42 also needs to be connected to the second follower 423 located outside the necking member 41. Therefore, a slide groove 413 extending in the direction toward the material holding component 2 is opened on the side wall of the necking member 41, and the second follower 423 passes through the slide groove 413 to connect to the second guide rail 312, and when the second follower 423 moves along the second guide rail 312, it can also move along the slide groove 413.

[0060] Furthermore, the first sub-guide rail segment 3111 is preferably parallel to the second sub-guide rail segment 3121, so that when the first follower 412 on the necking piece 41 moves in the first sub-guide rail segment 3111 and the second follower 423 on the limiting piece 42 moves in the second sub-guide rail segment 3121, the necking piece 41 and the limiting piece 42 move synchronously, and there is no relative movement between the two, thereby allowing the slide groove 413 to be designed with a smaller length.

[0061] Optionally, a connecting member 424 is provided on the limiting member 42, and the connecting member 424 passes through the slide slot 413 and is connected to the second follower 423, such as Figure 7When the limiting member 42 moves relative to the shrinking member 41 in the shrinking member 41 toward or away from the material holding component 2, the connecting member 424 can move along the slide groove 413 on the shrinking member 41 to allow the limiting member 42 to move relative to the shrinking member 41. At the same time, the slide groove 413 can guide the connecting member 424 to move, and the shrinking member 41 also plays a role in guiding the movement of the limiting member 42, thereby guiding the limiting member 42 to move toward or away from the material holding component 2.

[0062] Optionally, the connecting member 424 may be a rod, and two ends of the connecting member 424 are respectively connected to the limiting member 42 and the second follower 423 and are inserted into the sliding groove 413 .

[0063] The following is a general description of the process of shrinking the battery housing 5 with respect to the guide assembly 3 provided in this embodiment.

[0064] The battery shell 5 to be shrunken is installed on the material holding assembly 2, and the shell opening of the battery shell 5 is directly opposite to the shrinking member 41 and the limiting member 42. The first driving device 33 works to drive the guide seat 31 to move along the second guide member 32. Specifically, the first follower 412 moves in the first sub-guide rail section 3111, and the shrinking member 41 quickly moves toward the battery shell 5 installed on the material holding assembly 2 to dock with the shell opening of the battery shell 5. At the same time, the second follower 423 moves in the second sub-guide rail section 3121, and the limiting member 42 quickly moves toward the battery shell 5 installed on the material holding assembly 2 to extend into the battery shell 5, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 Afterwards, the second follower 423 enters the third sub-guide rail section 3122, the positions of the stopper 42 and the battery housing 5 are relatively fixed, and at the same time, the first follower 412 enters the fourth sub-guide rail section 3112, as shown. Figure 5 As shown. The necking member 41 moves relative to the limiting member 42 and approaches the material holding assembly 2, and the necking member 41 pushes the shell opening of the battery shell 5 to reduce the shell opening size of the battery shell 5, thereby completing the necking of the battery shell 5. Please continue to refer to Figure 5 , then the first driving device 33 rotates in the opposite direction, driving the guide seat 31 to move in the opposite direction along the second guide member 32, and the second follower 423 first moves in the third sub-guide rail segment 3122. At this time, the positions of the limiter 42 and the battery housing 5 are relatively fixed, and at the same time, the first follower 412 gradually moves away from the battery housing 5 along the fourth sub-guide rail segment 3112. Please continue to refer to Figure 4 , then the second follower 423 enters the second sub-guide rail segment 3121, and at the same time the first follower 412 enters the first sub-guide rail segment 3111, and the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42 move further away from the battery housing 5 installed on the material holding assembly 2, so as to facilitate the unloading of the necked battery housing 5 and the loading of the new battery housing 5 to be necked.

[0065] Please continue reading Figure 2. In one embodiment, as the battery shell 5 is shrunk, its shell opening is pushed, which may generate dust or debris. Dust or debris falling into the battery shell 5 will affect the quality of the battery product. In view of this, a ventilation channel 425 is provided in the limit member 42 of this embodiment, and a first ventilation hole 426 is provided at the end of the limit member 42 close to the material holding component 2. The first ventilation hole 426 will extend into the interior of the battery shell 5, and a second ventilation hole 427 is provided on the side wall of the limit member 42. The first ventilation hole 426 and the second ventilation hole 427 are respectively connected to the ventilation channel 425, and the ventilation channel 425 is also connected to a vacuum device (not shown). Specifically, due to the gaps between the battery shell 5, the shrinkage piece 41 and the limit piece 42, when the exhaust equipment is working, the ventilation channel 425, the first ventilation hole 426 and the second ventilation hole 427 will form an air flow path, and the air flow path is shown by the dotted arrow in the figure. The dust or debris generated inside and outside the battery shell 5 due to the shrinkage will enter the ventilation channel 425 with the air flow and then be extracted by the exhaust equipment, so as to avoid dust or debris remaining in the battery shell 5 and affecting the quality of the battery product.

[0066] Please continue reading Figure 2 . In one embodiment, the material holding assembly 2 includes a mounting frame 21 and a material holding seat 22. The mounting frame 21 is fixed in position, and the material holding seat 22 is disposed on the mounting frame 21, and the material holding seat 22 is used to mount the battery housing 5. In order to alleviate the situation where the impact force between the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42 and the battery housing 5 is too large, an elastic member 23 is disposed between the material holding seat 22 and the mounting frame 21, and the elastic member 23 is used to provide elastic support to the battery housing 5 mounted on the material holding seat 22, so as to buffer the impact force of the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42 on the battery housing 5 when the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42 are docked with the battery housing 5, so as to avoid deformation of the battery housing 5 caused by excessive impact force.

[0067] Specifically, the material holding seat 22 includes a clamp 221 and a top fixture 222. The clamp 221 is fixed to the mounting frame 21 and is used to clamp the battery housing 5. The battery housing 5 is usually placed in a tray 6 and then clamped on the clamp 221. The tray 6 is provided with a structure that cooperates with the clamp 221, so that the clamp 221 can clamp the battery housing 5 and its tray 6. The top fixture 222 is provided in the clamp 221, and the clamp 221 exposes the top fixture 222, so that the top fixture 222 can push against the bottom of the battery housing 5 (the end away from the shell opening). One end of the elastic member 23 is connected to the mounting frame 21, and the other end is connected to the top tool 222. When the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42 are connected to the battery housing 5 and necked, the necking member 41 pushes the battery housing 5 so that the battery housing 5 presses against the top tool 222, and then the top tool 222 compresses the elastic member 23. The elastic member 23 is compressed to generate an elastic restoring force, which is used to buffer the impact force exerted by the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42 on the battery housing 5.

[0068] Optionally, the elastic member 23 may be a spring or the like, one end of the elastic member 23 is connected to the mounting frame 21 and fixed on the mounting frame 21 , and the other end of the elastic member 23 is connected to the top tool 222 .

[0069] Of course, in other embodiments of the present invention, the material holding seat 22 may not be fixedly connected to the mounting frame 21, the elastic member 23 is respectively connected to the material holding seat 22 and the mounting frame 21, and the material holding seat 22 is used to install the battery housing 5. Under the action of the force exerted by the necking member 41 and the limiting member 42 on the battery housing 5, the relative position between the material holding seat 22 and the mounting frame 21 will change, thereby compressing the elastic member 23 to play a role in buffering the impact force.

[0070] Please continue reading Figure 2 . In one embodiment, in order to facilitate the removal of the battery housing 5 from the material holding seat 22, the material holding assembly 2 also includes a push rod 24. The push rod 24 is inserted into the mounting frame 21 and is arranged relative to the material holding seat 22. The push rod 24 can move relative to the mounting frame 21 toward the material holding seat 22 in the mounting frame 21, and then push against the battery housing 5 on the material holding seat 22 and can push the battery housing 5 away from the material holding seat 22, that is, remove the battery housing 5 from the material holding seat 22 to facilitate the unloading of the battery housing 5. Specifically, the push rod 24 is inserted into a linear bearing 25, and the linear bearing 25 is fixed in the mounting frame 21. The push rod 24 can move axially along the support bearing, and can push against the top tool 222, and the top tool 222 pushes against the bottom of the battery housing 5. When the elastic member 23 is a spring, the push rod 24 can pass through the elastic member 23 and push against the top tool 222.

[0071] Furthermore, the push rod 24 is also connected to a second drive device 26, which is preferably a cylinder. The second drive device 26 is used to drive the push rod 24 to move toward or away from the top tool 222, so that the push rod 24 can press and push the top tool 222 to push the battery housing 5 out of the fixture 221, making it easier for the battery housing 5 to be separated from the fixture 221, and then retract the push rod 24 to facilitate the fixture 221 to clamp the new battery housing 5 to be shrunken.

[0072] In summary, the necking device provided by the embodiment of the present invention has a necking piece for necking the shell opening of the battery shell, and the end of the limiting piece close to the material holding assembly can extend into the battery shell installed on the material holding assembly, so as to limit the shell wall of the battery shell to be maintained between the necking piece and the limiting piece during the necking process of the battery shell. In this way, in the process of necking the shell opening of the battery shell using the necking piece, the necking piece and the limiting piece hold the shell wall of the battery shell between the two, which can limit the size of the pinch marks or wrinkles generated by the necking of the shell opening of the battery shell, and even avoid the generation of pinch marks or wrinkles, so that the necking conditions of various positions of the shell opening of the battery shell are relatively consistent, and the shell opening of the battery shell has a higher necking quality, which also improves the necking quality of the shell opening of the battery shell.

[0073] In addition, in the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "connected", "connected", "stacked" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrated; it can be directly connected, or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0074] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A necking device, characterized in that: The necking device comprises: A material holding assembly for installing a battery housing; A necking piece and a limiting piece, wherein the limiting piece is arranged in the necking piece, and the necking piece and the limiting piece are arranged relative to the material holding assembly; A guide assembly, the guide assembly connects the necking member and the limiting member, and is used to guide the necking member and the limiting member to move toward the material holding assembly, so that the end of the limiting member close to the material holding assembly can extend into the battery housing mounted on the material holding assembly, and the necking member necks the shell opening of the battery housing; The end of the necking member close to the material holding assembly includes a necking portion, and when the necking portion necks the shell opening of the battery shell, the necking portion is sleeved outside the shell opening of the battery shell; the inner diameter of the necking portion gradually decreases in a direction away from the material holding assembly; The limiting member is also provided with a limiting portion, and the distance between the outer wall of the limiting portion and the inner wall of the necking portion is less than the shell wall thickness of the battery shell; the end of the limiting member close to the material holding assembly includes a probing portion, and the outer diameter of the probing portion close to the material holding assembly is smaller than the inner diameter of the shell opening of the battery shell, so as to extend into the battery shell during the necking process of the battery shell and limit the shell wall of the battery shell to be maintained between the inner wall of the necking portion and the outer wall of the probing portion; The guide assembly comprises a first guide member, the first guide member extends in a direction toward the material holding assembly, the necking member and / or the limiting member are slidably connected to the first guide member to guide the necking member and the limiting member to move toward the material holding assembly; The guide assembly further includes a first guide rail corresponding to the necking piece and a second guide rail corresponding to the position-limiting piece, the necking piece is provided with a first follower, and the position-limiting piece is provided with a second follower, wherein the first follower can move in the first guide rail and the second follower can move in the second guide rail, thereby driving the necking piece and the position-limiting piece to move toward the material holding assembly; The angle between the extension direction of at least part of the guide rail sections of the first guide rail and the second guide rail and the reference plane is greater than 0°, so that when the first follower moves in the first guide rail and the second follower moves in the second guide rail, the necking member and the stopper move toward the material holding assembly; The first guide rail at least comprises a first sub-guide rail segment, and an angle between an extension direction of the first sub-guide rail segment and the reference plane is greater than 0°; The second guide rail comprises a second sub-guide rail segment and a third sub-guide rail segment which are connected, and at least the angle between the extension direction of the second sub-guide rail segment and the reference plane is greater than 0°, and the angle between the extension direction of the second sub-guide rail segment and the reference plane is greater than the angle between the extension direction of the third sub-guide rail segment and the reference plane; The angle between the extension direction of the portion of the first sub-guide rail segment corresponding to the third sub-guide rail segment and the reference plane is greater than the angle between the extension direction of the third sub-guide rail segment and the reference plane.

2. The necking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The limiting portion is arranged relative to the probing portion and away from the material holding component.

3. The necking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The included angle between the extension direction of the third sub-guide rail segment and the reference plane is 0°.

4. The necking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first guide rail further includes a fourth sub-guide rail segment connected to the first sub-guide rail segment, and an angle between an extension direction of the fourth sub-guide rail segment and the reference plane is smaller than an angle between an extension direction of the first sub-guide rail segment and the reference plane.

5. The necking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A slide groove extending in the direction toward the material holding component is provided on the side wall of the necking member, and the second follower passes through the slide groove to connect to the second guide rail, and when the second follower moves along the second guide rail, it can also move along the slide groove.

6. The necking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A ventilation channel is arranged in the limit member, a first ventilation hole is opened at the end of the limit member close to the material holding component, and a penetrating second ventilation hole is arranged on the side wall of the limit member, the first ventilation hole and the second ventilation hole are respectively connected to the ventilation channel, and the ventilation channel is also connected to the exhaust equipment.

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