Cover plate assembly device and battery cell assembly equipment

Abstract

The present application discloses a cover plate assembly device, which first uses a pole ear provoking mechanism to push away the pole ear before assembling the cover plate onto the battery cell, so that the cover plate can avoid the pole ear and cover the battery cell. The present application also provides a battery cell assembly device, which transfers the battery cell to the battery cell support mechanism through a battery cell feeding device, transfers the cover plate to the cover plate support mechanism through a cover plate feeding device, and then drives the battery cell support mechanism and the cover plate support mechanism to move relative to each other through an assembly driving mechanism, so that the cover plate is assembled onto the battery cell, completing the assembly of the battery cell.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of battery cell assembly, and in particular to a cover plate assembly device and battery cell assembly equipment. Background Art

[0002] When assembling battery cells in the traditional way, the tabs are directly pressed between the top cover and the battery body, and then the tabs are welded to the top cover.

[0003] However, in one battery cell assembly method, the side cover of the cover plate needs to avoid the pole ear and cover the end face of the battery cell with the pole ear, so that the pole ear can be placed on the outer wall of the side cover part for subsequent welding. Therefore, when assembling the cover plate, the side cover part needs to avoid the pole ear first to prevent the pole ear from being pressed between the side cover part and the battery cell. The traditional mechanism cannot avoid the pole ear well. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present application provides a cover plate assembly device and a battery cell assembly device to solve the technical defect in the prior art that the cover plate cannot avoid the tab when assembling the battery cell.

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, a technical solution adopted in the present application is: to provide a cover assembly device, which includes: a battery cell support mechanism, used to support the battery cell to be covered with a cover; a cover support mechanism, used to extract the cover; an assembly drive mechanism, the battery cell support mechanism and / or the cover support mechanism are arranged at the output end of the assembly drive mechanism, and the assembly drive mechanism can drive the battery cell support mechanism and the cover support mechanism to move relative to each other; a pole ear provoking mechanism, which is arranged on the outside of the battery cell support mechanism, and is used to open the pole ear at the end of the battery cell, so that the cover can avoid the pole ear and cover the battery cell.

[0006] Furthermore, the battery cell supporting mechanism includes: a battery cell platform for supporting the battery cell; and a limiting component, which is arranged on one side of the battery cell platform and can limit the position of the battery cell.

[0007] Furthermore, the battery cell support mechanism also includes a positioning component for fixing the battery cell; the positioning component includes: a fixing member and a fixing driving member, the fixing driving member is connected to the fixing member and can drive the fixing member to move closer to or away from the battery cell supported by the battery cell support mechanism.

[0008] Furthermore, the same end face of the battery cell has two oppositely arranged pole ears; the pole ear provocation mechanism includes: a first provocation member and a second provocation member, the first provocation member and the second provocation member are oppositely arranged; a first provocation drive component, connecting the first provocation member and the second provocation member, and capable of driving the first provocation member and the second provocation member to be inserted between the two pole ears; a second provocation drive component, connecting the first provocation member and the second provocation member, and capable of driving the first provocation member and the second provocation member to move away from each other, so that the two pole ears are away from each other.

[0009] Furthermore, the cover plate assembly device also includes a pole ear support mechanism for supporting the two pole ears that are opened; the pole ear support mechanism includes: a support member and a first support driving member, the first support driving member is connected to the support member and can drive the support member to move toward the opened pole ears, so that the support member is inserted between the two pole ears.

[0010] Furthermore, the pole lug support mechanism and the cover plate support mechanism are both arranged at the output end of the assembly drive mechanism, and the pole lug support mechanism is ahead of the cover plate support mechanism; the assembly drive mechanism drives the pole lug support mechanism and the cover plate support mechanism to move toward the battery cell support mechanism, and the pole lug support mechanism first reaches the end of the battery cell and supports the two pole lugs; then, the cover plate support mechanism covers the cover plate onto the battery cell.

[0011] Furthermore, the cover plate assembly device also includes a first cover plate fixing mechanism for fixing the cover plate on the battery cell; the first cover plate fixing mechanism includes: a first cover plate fixing piece and a cover plate fixing drive assembly, the cover plate fixing drive assembly is connected to the first cover plate fixing piece and can drive the first cover plate fixing piece to approach or move away from the battery cell support mechanism to press the cover plate on the battery cell.

[0012] Furthermore, the cover fixing drive assembly includes: a first follower, connected to the first cover fixing member; a cover fixing guide member, the cover fixing guide member having a first guide surface extending obliquely; a cover fixing drive member, connected to the cover fixing guide member and capable of driving the cover fixing guide member to move toward the first follower, so that the first follower moves along the first guide surface; wherein the first cover fixing member is rotatably arranged on the base through a rotating shaft; when the first follower moves along the first guide surface, it can drive the first cover fixing member to swing closer to or away from the battery cell support mechanism.

[0013] Furthermore, the cover plate assembly device also includes a second cover plate fixing mechanism for limiting the position of the cover plate; the cover plate fixing guide has a second guide surface extending obliquely; the second cover plate fixing mechanism includes a second cover plate fixing and a second follower, and the second follower is connected to the second cover plate fixing; wherein the cover plate fixing drive assembly drives the cover plate fixing guide to move toward the second follower, so that the second follower moves along the second guide surface, thereby driving the second cover plate fixing to approach or move away from the battery cell support mechanism.

[0014] The present application also discloses a battery cell assembly device, which includes the above-mentioned cover plate assembly device; it also includes: a battery cell feeding device for transferring the battery cell to the battery cell support mechanism; a cover plate feeding device for transferring the cover plate to the cover plate support mechanism.

[0015] The present application provides a cover plate assembly device. Before the cover plate is assembled on the battery cell, the pole ear is first opened by a pole ear provoking mechanism, so that the cover plate can avoid the pole ear and be covered on the battery cell.

[0016] The present application also provides a battery cell assembly device, which transfers the battery cell to the battery cell supporting mechanism through a battery cell feeding device, and transfers the cover plate to the cover plate supporting mechanism through a cover plate feeding device, and then drives the battery cell supporting mechanism and the cover plate supporting mechanism to move relative to each other through an assembly driving mechanism, so that the cover plate is assembled on the battery cell, thereby completing the assembly of the battery cell. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments are briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work, among which:

[0018] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of an assembled battery cell;

[0019] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of a cover plate;

[0020] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Assembled cells and Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the cell assembly structure;

[0021] Figure 4 It is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of a cover plate assembly device provided by the present application;

[0022] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 The right side structural diagram of the cell platform and the limit assembly;

[0023] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the main structure of the cell platform and the limit assembly;

[0024] Figure 7 yes Figure 4 A bottom view of the structure of the middle cover plate support mechanism, the tab support mechanism and the assembly drive mechanism 300;

[0025] Figure 8 yes Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the front view of the structure of the middle tab provoking mechanism 400;

[0026] Fig. 9 yes Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the top view of the first cover plate fixing mechanism and the second cover plate fixing mechanism. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0028] See also Figure 1 , the figure shows an assembled battery cell. Specifically, the assembled battery cell is formed by stacking two mirror-image battery cells 1'. Each battery cell 1' has a positive electrode tab 2' and a negative electrode tab 3' at both ends; thus, after the two battery cells 1' are mirror-imaged and stacked, two oppositely disposed positive electrode tabs 2' and two oppositely disposed negative electrode tabs 3' are respectively provided at both ends of the assembled battery cell.

[0029] For the sake of convenience, the end face of the assembled battery cell provided with the positive electrode tab 2' is called the "first end face", the end face of the assembled battery cell provided with the negative electrode tab 3' is called the "second end face", and the end face connecting the first end face 14 and the second end face 15 is called the third end face 16.

[0030] Continue to refer to Figure 2 The figure shows a cover plate 20, which includes a top cover portion 21 capable of covering the third end surface 16, and two side cover portions 22 arranged at both ends of the top cover portion 21; one of the side cover portions 22 can cover the first end surface 14, and the other side cover portion 22 can cover the second end surface 15.

[0031] Furthermore, the side cover portion 22 has two oppositely arranged welding portions 23; taking the side cover portion 22 covering the first end face 14 as an example, the side cover portion 22 is attached to the first end face 14 between the two positive electrode tabs 2', and the welding portions 23 thereon protrude outward and are respectively attached to one positive electrode tab 2'; in subsequent operations, the downstream welding equipment (not shown) can weld the positive electrode tab 2' to its corresponding one of the welding portions 23.

[0032] In summary, refer to Figure 3 When the cover plate 20 is installed on the assembled battery cell, the top cover part 21 of the cover plate 20 is attached to the third end face 16 of the battery cell; one of the side cover parts 22 of the cover plate 20 is attached to the first end face 14 of the battery cell, and at the same time, the welding part 23 on this side cover part 22 is attached to the two positive electrode tabs 2'; the other side cover part 22 of the cover plate 20 is attached to the second end face 15 of the battery cell, and at the same time, the welding part 23 on this side cover part 22 is attached to the two negative electrode tabs 3'; thereby, the assembly of the battery cell is achieved.

[0033] The present application discloses a cover plate assembly device, which includes: a battery cell support mechanism 100, used to support a battery cell 10 to be covered with a cover plate 20; a cover plate support mechanism 200, used to extract the cover plate 20; an assembly drive mechanism 300, wherein the battery cell support mechanism 100 and / or the cover plate support mechanism 200 are arranged at the output end of the assembly drive mechanism 300, and the assembly drive mechanism 300 can drive the battery cell support mechanism 100 and the cover plate support mechanism 200 to move relative to each other; a pole ear provoking mechanism 400, which is arranged on the outside of the battery cell support mechanism 100, and is used to pry open the pole ear 11 at the end of the battery cell 10, so that the cover plate 20 can avoid the pole ear 11 and cover the battery cell 10.

[0034] Among them, the cell support mechanism 100 may be arranged at the output end of the assembly drive mechanism 300; after the cell 10 and the cover plate 20 are in place, the assembly drive mechanism 300 drives the cell support mechanism 100 to move toward the cover plate support mechanism 200, so that the cell 10 moves closer to the cover plate 20 to achieve assembly. Alternatively, the cover plate support mechanism 200 may be arranged at the output end of the assembly drive mechanism 300; after the cell 10 and the cover plate 20 are in place, the assembly drive mechanism 300 drives the cover plate support mechanism 200 to move toward the cell support mechanism 100, so that the cover plate 20 moves closer to the cell 10 to achieve assembly. At this time, the assembly drive mechanism 300 may use driving components such as electric cylinders and modules.

[0035] Alternatively, the cell support mechanism 100 and the cover support mechanism 200 can both be arranged at the output end of the assembly drive mechanism 300, and the assembly drive mechanism 300 can simultaneously drive the two to move relative to each other, and the assembly of the cell 10 and the cover 20 can also be achieved. In this case, the assembly drive mechanism 300 can use an air claw, and the cell support mechanism 100 and the cover support mechanism 200 are respectively arranged at one output end of the air claw. Alternatively, the assembly drive mechanism 300 can use a motor, and a double screw is provided at the output end of the motor, and the cell support mechanism 100 and the cover support mechanism 200 are respectively arranged on a section of the thread of the double screw.

[0036] The cover support mechanism 200 may use a suction cup to directly hold the cover 20 to carry the cover 20 toward the battery cell 10. Alternatively, the cover support mechanism 200 may use a clamp to clamp the side end of the cover 20 to drive the cover 20 toward the battery cell 10.

[0037] It should be explained that the battery cell 10 mentioned in the present application can be the assembled battery cell mentioned above, or can be other battery cells with pole tabs at the ends. Before covering the cover plate 20, the pole tabs 11 on the battery cell 10 are first opened by the pole tab provoking mechanism 400, so that the side cover part 22 avoids the pole tabs 11 and covers the end of the battery cell 10. Furthermore, when the pole tab provoking mechanism 400 is withdrawn, the loosened pole tabs 11 can fit the protruding welding parts 23 on the side cover part 22.

[0038] For example, in one embodiment (not shown), the two tabs (positive tab and negative tab) of the battery cell are arranged on the same end face of the battery cell. The cover plate 20 arranged for the battery cell may have only one side cover portion 22, on which two opposing welding portions 23 are arranged. When assembling the cover plate 20, the tab provoking mechanism 400 first pushes the two tabs apart so that the two tabs are away from each other, exposing the battery cell end face between the two tabs; then, the assembly driving mechanism 300 drives the battery cell support mechanism 100 and the cover plate support mechanism 200 to approach each other, so that the cover plate 20 approaches the battery cell, until the side cover portion 22 is inserted between the two tabs and attached to the battery cell end face; the tab provoking mechanism 400 is withdrawn, and the two tabs return to their positions naturally and attach to the corresponding welding portions 23.

[0039] Of course, it is easy to associate that in other embodiments, the two tabs of the battery cell are respectively arranged on the two opposite end faces of the battery cell; that is, the battery cell has tabs at two end faces, and there is only one tab on each end face. In this case, the cover plate 20 has at least two side cover parts 22, which are respectively arranged corresponding to the two end faces; the two side cover parts 22 are both provided with welding parts 23 capable of receiving the tabs. At the same time, the tab provoking mechanism 400 includes two parts corresponding to the two end faces of the battery cell, which can respectively lift the corresponding tabs to facilitate the insertion of the cover plate 20.

[0040] For example, refer to Figure 4 The assembled battery cell shown in the figure has two groups of positive pole tabs 2' and two groups of negative pole tabs 3' on its two opposite end faces (the first end face 14 and the second end face 15). At this time, the cover plate 20 is provided with at least two side cover parts 22 corresponding to the two end faces, and the two side cover parts 22 are provided with two opposite welding parts 23, each of which can receive a corresponding pole tab. At the same time, the pole tab provoking mechanism 400 includes two parts corresponding to the two end faces of the battery cell, which can respectively lift up the two pole tabs to facilitate the insertion of the cover plate 20.

[0041] Continue reading Figure 5-9 The battery cell 10 shown in the figure is based on the configuration of an assembled battery cell as a prototype, so as to facilitate the display of the structure of the cover plate assembly device and the battery cell assembly equipment provided by the present application when processing the assembled battery cell.

[0042] It is easy to understand that, in order to ensure that after the assembly drive mechanism 300 drives the battery cell support mechanism 100 and the cover plate support mechanism 200 to approach each other, the cover plate 20 can accurately abut against the battery cell 10 so that the side cover portion 22 can be attached to the end surface of the battery cell 10 having the pole ear 11. Figure 5 and Figure 6 The battery cell supporting mechanism 100 includes: a battery cell platform 110 for supporting the battery cell 10 ; and a limiting component 120 , which is disposed on one side of the battery cell platform 110 and can limit the position of the battery cell 10 .

[0043] The limiting component 120 may be a limiting block, which can be arranged to form a semi-enclosed frame for accommodating the battery cell 10, thereby limiting the battery cell 10 therein. Alternatively, the limiting component 120 may be a suction cup, which can suck the battery cell 10, thereby limiting the position of the battery cell 10. Alternatively, the limiting component 120 may be a clamp, and after the battery cell 10 is placed in the battery cell support mechanism 100, the clamp can clamp the battery cell 10, thereby limiting the position of the battery cell 10.

[0044] Furthermore, the battery cell support mechanism 100 may also include a positioning assembly 130 for fixing the battery cell 10 ; the positioning assembly 130 includes: a fixing member 131 and a fixing driving member 132 , the fixing driving member 132 is connected to the fixing member 131 , and can drive the fixing member 131 to move closer to or away from the battery cell 10 supported by the battery cell support mechanism 100 .

[0045] In a specific embodiment, referring to Figure 4 , the fixing member 131 can be a pressure plate; in the initial state, the fixing member 131 is suspended above the battery platform 110. After the battery cell 10 is placed in the battery platform 110 and is limited in position by the limiting assembly 120, the fixing driving member 132 drives the fixing member 131 to descend, so that the fixing member 131 presses against the battery cell 10, thereby pressing the battery cell 10 and fixing the battery cell 10 on the battery platform 110. Among them, the fixing driving member 132 can be a driving member such as a cylinder or an electric cylinder.

[0046] Fixing the battery cell 10 by the positioning assembly 130 can prevent the battery cell 10 from being displaced, ensuring that when the battery cell support mechanism 100 and the cover plate support mechanism 200 move relative to each other, the cover plate 20 can finally accurately contact the position of the battery cell 10 to be covered by the cover plate 20 along a predetermined route.

[0047] When only one pole lug 11 is provided on one end face of the battery cell 10 (not shown in the figure), the pole lug provoking mechanism 400 is provided with a first provoking member, a first provoking driving component and a second provoking driving component corresponding to the end face; the first provoking driving component is connected to the first provoking member, and can drive the first provoking member to move toward the pole lug 11 until the first provoking member is above or below the pole lug 11; the second provoking driving component is connected to the first provoking member, and can drive the first provoking member to lift the pole lug 11, so that the pole lug 11 is lifted and away from the end face where it is located.

[0048] Furthermore, when only one end face of the battery cell 10 is provided with a pole lug 11, another pole lug 11 is also provided on the other end face of the battery cell 10 opposite to the end face (the battery cell has a positive pole lug and a negative pole lug). To this end, the pole lug stirring mechanism 400 is further provided with a set of first stirring members, a first stirring driving assembly, and a second stirring driving assembly corresponding to the other end face.

[0049] The first stirring member is arranged at the output end of the first stirring drive assembly, and the main body of the first stirring drive assembly is arranged at the output end of the second stirring drive assembly; or the first stirring member is arranged at the output end of the second stirring drive assembly, and the main body of the second stirring drive assembly is arranged at the output end of the first stirring drive assembly. The first stirring drive assembly and the second stirring drive assembly can use driving components such as cylinders and electric cylinders.

[0050] When the same end surface of the battery cell 10 has two oppositely disposed pole ears 11, Figure 4 and Figure 8 The pole ear provocation mechanism 400 includes: a first provocation member 410 and a second provocation member 420, the first provocation member 410 and the second provocation member 420 are arranged opposite to each other; a first provocation driving component 430, connecting the first provocation member 410 and the second provocation member 420, and being able to drive the first provocation member 410 and the second provocation member 420 to be inserted between the two pole ears 11; a second provocation driving component 440, connecting the first provocation member 410 and the second provocation member 420, and being able to drive the first provocation member 410 and the second provocation member 420 to move in opposite directions so that the two pole ears 11 are away from each other.

[0051] Specifically, before assembling the cover plate 20, the first provoking driving assembly 430 first drives the first provoking member 410 and the second provoking member 420 to be inserted between the two pole ears 11, and then the second provoking driving assembly 440 drives the first provoking member 410 and the second provoking member 420 to move in opposite directions, the first provoking member 410 picks up one pole ear 11, and the second provoking member 420 picks up the other pole ear 11 in the opposite direction, so that the end face of the battery cell 10 between the two pole ears 11 is exposed.

[0052] When the battery cell 10 is an assembled battery cell and its two opposite end faces are each provided with two pole ears 11, the pole ear provoking mechanism 400 is provided with two groups of first provoking members 410, second provoking members 420, first provoking drive components 430 and second provoking drive components 440 corresponding to the two end faces to cooperate in provoking the pole ears on the two end faces, thereby facilitating the assembly of the cover plate 20.

[0053] The second provoking drive assembly 440 may be an air claw, and the first provoking member 410 and the second provoking member 420 are respectively arranged on one output end of the air claw; or the second provoking drive assembly 440 may also be two sets of driving members, such as two sets of cylinders, respectively connected to the first provoking member 410 and the second provoking member 420. When there are two provoking members, the provoking members and the first provoking drive assembly 430 and the second provoking drive assembly 440 are arranged in the same manner as above, and will not be repeated here.

[0054] It is easy to understand that the propelling piece used to open the tab 11 has a certain thickness, and after the tab is opened, the propelling piece will stay between the two tabs 11, and the side cover part 22 of the cover plate 20 needs to be attached to the end surface of the battery cell 10 between the two tabs. In other words, before the cover plate 20 is covered on the battery cell 10, the propelling piece needs to be removed to avoid the propelling piece interfering with the assembly of the cover plate 20; but after the propelling piece is removed, the tab 11 will naturally fall, which will also affect the assembly of the cover plate 20.

[0055] In one embodiment, electrical control can be used to drive the battery cell support mechanism 100 and the cover plate support mechanism 200 to move relative to each other until the front end of the side cover portion 22 reaches the pole ear 11, and the first provoking drive component 430 drives the provoking member to return and gradually move away from the pole ear 11; in the process of the provoking member moving away from the pole ear 11, the assembly drive mechanism 300 simultaneously drives the side cover portion 22 to move forward along the end surface of the battery cell 10; after the provoking member leaves the pole ear 11, the welding portion 23 at least receives part of the pole ear 11, so that the side cover portion 22 continues to move forward and completes the fitting to the end surface of the battery cell 10.

[0056] In another embodiment, referring to Figure 4 The cover plate assembly device provided in the present application also includes a pole ear support mechanism 500, which is used to support the two pole ears 11 that are opened; the pole ear support mechanism 500 includes: a support member 510 and a first support driving member 520, the first support driving member 520 is connected to the support member 510, and can drive the support member 510 to move toward the opened pole ears 11, so that the support member 510 is inserted between the two pole ears 11.

[0057] In this embodiment, the width of the propelling member is narrower than that of the pole ear 11; when in use, the propelling member mainly rests against the edge of the pole ear 11 to maximally protrude the pole ear 11 outward; the propelled pole ear 11 opens outward, for example, when there are two oppositely arranged pole ears 11 on the same end face, the two pole ears 11 are propelled to form a trumpet mouth, so as to facilitate the extension of the support member 510; after the support member 510 enters between the pole ears, the propelling member can be withdrawn, so that the pole ear 11 falls onto the support member 510.

[0058] It should be noted that when the cover plate 20 is covered, the side cover part 22 of the cover plate 20 should be close to the root of the pole ear 11 to fit the surface of the battery cell 10. However, the provoking member mainly rests against the edge of the pole ear 11; for this reason, another set of drives can be set to drive the provoking member to rest against the pole ear 11 to fit the end of the battery cell 10. Alternatively, the first support driving member 520 directly drives the support member 510 to rest against the root of the pole ear 11; at this time, the support member 510 not only stretches the edge of the pole ear 11 to prevent the edge of the pole ear 11 from sagging, but also stretches the end of the pole ear 11, so that the side cover part 22 is close to the root of the pole ear 11 and covers the surface of the battery cell 10.

[0059] The support member 510 may be a whole support block, or the support member 510 may be set to be recessed on one side against the end of the battery cell 10 to form a through hole, so that the first provoking driving component 430 can drive the provoking member to be pulled out of the through hole. The first support driving member 520 may be a driving member such as a cylinder or an electric cylinder.

[0060] After the pole lug 11 falls onto the support member 510, the support member 510 replaces the provoking member to support the pole lug 11. At this time, the pole lug support mechanism 500 can also include a second support driving member (not shown) so that when the assembly driving mechanism 300 drives the cover plate 20 to cover the battery cell 10, the second support driving member drives the support member 510 to cooperate with the side cover part 22 to gradually move away from the pole lug 11.

[0061] Alternatively, in order to simplify the structure, the pole tab support mechanism 500 and the cover plate support mechanism 200 are both arranged at the output end of the assembly drive mechanism 300, and the pole tab support mechanism 500 is ahead of the cover plate support mechanism 200; the assembly drive mechanism 300 drives the pole tab support mechanism 500 and the cover plate support mechanism 200 to move toward the battery cell support mechanism 100, and the pole tab support mechanism 500 first reaches the end of the battery cell 10 and supports the two pole tabs 11; then, the cover plate support mechanism 200 covers the cover plate 20 on the battery cell 10.

[0062] In a specific embodiment, referring to Figure 4 and Figure 7The assembly drive mechanism 300 includes an assembly drive member 310 and an assembly guide member 320 extending toward the battery cell support mechanism 100; a mounting plate 330 is slidably arranged on the assembly guide member 320, and the pole lug support mechanism 500 and the cover support mechanism 200 are both arranged on the mounting plate 330, and the pole lug support mechanism 500 is arranged in front of the cover support mechanism 200 and is closer to the battery cell support mechanism 100 than the cover support mechanism 200; the assembly drive member 310 is connected to the mounting plate 330. After the battery cell 10 and the cover plate 20 are in place, the assembly drive 310 is actuated to drive the mounting plate 330 to move along the assembly guide 320; at this time, the pole ear support mechanism 500 first approaches the battery cell, so that the support member 510 reaches the end of the battery cell 10 and faces the pole ear 11; then, the first support drive member 520 moves, driving the support member 510 to move toward the end face of the battery cell 10, and finally supports the pole ear 11; the first provocation drive assembly 430 drives the provocation member to return and move away from the pole ear 11; the assembly drive member 310 continues to move, driving the mounting plate 330 to continue to move along the assembly guide 320 and toward the battery cell support mechanism 100. At this time, the support member 510 continues to move forward while supporting the pole ear 11, and while supporting the pole ear 11, the rear end of the pole ear 11 is gradually exposed, and the cover support mechanism 200 behind the pole ear support mechanism 500 is close to the pole ear 11, so that the side cover part 22 of the cover 20 gradually extends into between the pole ears 11 and fits on the end face of the battery cell 10; as the support member 510 and the cover 20 continue to move forward, the support member 510 gradually separates from the pole ear 11, and the cover 20 avoids the pole ear 11 and fits more and more on the end face of the battery cell 10, and at the same time, the pole ear 11 gradually falls on the welding part 23 and is finally supported by the welding part 23.

[0063] In this embodiment, as long as at least part of the side cover portion 22 extends into between the pole lugs 11 and part of the pole lug 11 is supported by the welding portion 23 before the support member 510 completely leaves the pole lug 11 , accurate assembly of the cover plate 20 can be ensured.

[0064] The assembly drive member 310 may be a motor, a lead screw is provided at the output end of the motor, and the mounting plate 330 is threadedly connected to the lead screw; the assembly guide member 320 may be a guide rail.

[0065] In a specific embodiment, the battery cell 10 is an assembled battery cell, and the first end face 14 of the battery cell 10 has two pole ears 11, and the second end face 15 opposite to the first end face 14 also has two pole ears 11. At this time, the cover plate 20 includes two side cover parts 22, one for affixing to the first end face 14, and the other for affixing to the second end face 15; at the same time, the cover plate 20 also includes a top cover part 21, connecting the two side cover parts 22; the top cover part 21 is facing the third end face 16 of the battery cell 10; when the two side cover parts 22 affix to the first end face 14 and the second end face 15 and move forward along the corresponding end faces, the top cover part 21 continuously approaches the third end face 16, and finally affixes to the third end face 16, so as to realize the assembly of the cover plate 20.

[0066] After the cover plate 20 is assembled onto the battery cell 10, both the tab support mechanism 500 and the cover plate support mechanism 200 need to be evacuated from the battery cell 10, so that the battery cell support mechanism 100 can transfer the assembled battery cell 10 downstream. However, when the cover plate 20 is just assembled onto the battery cell 10, if the cover plate support mechanism 200 is moved away, the cover plate 20 will fall off. For this reason, the cover plate assembly device also includes a first cover plate fixing mechanism 600 for fixing the cover plate 20 on the battery cell 10; the first cover plate fixing mechanism 600 includes: a first cover plate fixing member 610 and a cover plate fixing drive assembly 620, the cover plate fixing drive assembly 620 is connected to the first cover plate fixing member 610, and can drive the first cover plate fixing member 610 to approach or move away from the battery cell 10.

[0067] Specifically, the first cover plate fixing mechanism 600 is disposed on one side of the battery cell platform 110 and can move with the battery cell platform 110 .

[0068] In one embodiment, in the initial state, the first cover plate fixing member 610 is away from the battery cell platform 110 to facilitate the loading of the battery cell 10 to be covered with the cover plate 20 and the assembly of the cover plate 20; after the cover plate 20 is attached to the battery cell 10, the cover plate fixing drive assembly 620 drives the first cover plate fixing member 610 to move toward the battery cell platform 110, so that the first cover plate fixing member 610 is against the cover plate 20, and then the cover plate 20 is pressed tightly against the battery cell 10 to prevent the cover plate 20 from falling.

[0069] It is easy to understand that the position where the first cover plate fixing member 610 abuts against the cover plate 20 needs to avoid the position of the cover plate 20 that is subsequently processed. For example, during the subsequent processing, when the cover plate 20 and the battery cell 10 are welded together, the welding position needs to be avoided.

[0070] Specifically, for example, when the battery cell 10 is an assembled battery cell, the pole ears 11 at both ends need to be welded to the welding parts 23 of the cover plate 20. For this purpose, the first cover plate fixing member 610 is preferably arranged corresponding to the top cover part 21; when fixing, the cover plate fixing drive assembly 620 drives the first cover plate fixing member 610 to move toward the top cover part 21, and finally rests on the top cover part 21, thereby fixing the cover plate 20.

[0071] When the battery cell 10 is an assembled battery cell, the cover support mechanism 200 can use a suction cup to suck the top cover portion 21, thereby driving the cover 20 to move toward the battery cell 10. At this time, if the cover fixing drive assembly 620 drives the first cover fixing member 610 to move toward or away from the battery cell 10 in the horizontal direction, when the cover support mechanism 200 moves the cover 20 toward the battery cell 10, the first cover fixing member 610 will interfere with the cover 20 approaching the battery cell 10.

[0072] To this end, in one embodiment, the first cover fixing mechanism 600 includes: a first cover fixing member 610 and a cover fixing driving assembly 620, the cover fixing driving assembly 620 is connected to the first cover fixing member 610, and can drive the first cover fixing member 610 to approach or move away from the battery cell 10; and the cover fixing driving assembly 620 includes: a first follower 621, connected to the first cover fixing member 610; a cover fixing guide member 622, and the cover fixing guide member 622 has a first guide surface 623 extending obliquely; The cover fixing driving member 624 is connected to the cover fixing guide member 622 and can drive the cover fixing guide member 622 to move toward the first follower 621, so that the first follower 621 enters the first guide surface 623 and moves along the first guide surface 623; wherein, the first cover fixing member 610 is rotatably arranged on the base 640 through the rotating shaft 630; when the first follower 621 moves along the first guide surface 623, it can drive the first cover fixing member 610 to swing close to or away from the battery cell supporting mechanism 100.

[0073] specific Fig. 9, the base 640 is connected to the cell platform 110; the cover plate fixing driving member 624 includes a cover plate fixing driving component 6241 (for example, a cylinder) and a first fixing guide component 6242 (for example, a guide rail), the first fixing guide component 6242 extends in the left-right direction and is arranged on the base 640; the cover plate fixing guide member 622 is slidably arranged on the first fixing guide component 6242; at this time, the first guide surface 623 of the cover plate fixing guide member 622 extends obliquely from left to right along the vertical direction (vertical to the paper surface in the figure). The cover plate fixing driving component 6241 is connected to the cover plate fixing guide member 622. When the cover 20 is not fixed, the first follower 621 is on the first guide surface 623 and is lifted to a higher position by the first guide surface 623, so that the first cover fixing member 610 is flipped outward; after the cover 20 is assembled onto the battery cell 10, the cover fixing driving member 6241 drives the cover fixing guide member 622 away from the first follower 621, so that the first follower 621 descends along the first guide surface 623, thereby driving the first cover fixing member 610 to flip toward the battery cell 10, and finally pressing the cover 20.

[0074] Furthermore, a first elastic member 650 is provided between the first cover fixing member 610 and the base 640. When the first follower 621 is lifted to a higher position by the first guide surface 623, the first cover fixing member 610 is flipped outward and the first elastic member 650 is stretched. In this way, when the first follower 621 descends along the first guide surface 623, the elastic restoring force of the first elastic member 650 can pull the first cover fixing member 610 to flip inward, thereby resisting the cover 20 and pressing the cover 20 on the battery cell 10.

[0075] Furthermore, a second elastic member 660 is provided between the cover fixing guide member 622 and the battery cell platform 110. When the cover fixing driving member 6241 drives the cover fixing guide member 622 to approach the first follower 621, so that the first follower 621 is on the first guide surface 623 and is lifted to a higher position by the first guide surface 623, the second elastic member 660 is stretched; in this way, when the cover fixing driving member 6241 drives the cover fixing guide member 622 away from the first follower 621, the elastic restoring force of the second elastic member 660 can assist the cover fixing driving member 6241 and pull the cover fixing guide member 622 back.

[0076] The first elastic member 650 and the second elastic member 660 may be springs.

[0077] In addition, it is easy to think that in other embodiments, the first follower 621 can be set on the cover fixing guide 622, and the inclined first guide surface 623 can be connected to the first cover fixing member 610; as long as the first follower 621 cooperates with the first guide surface 623, the first follower 621 can be driven by the inclination of the first guide surface 623, or the first follower 621 can be driven to realize the flipping of the first cover fixing member 610.

[0078] Thus, the first cover plate fixing member 610 can swing around the rotating shaft 630, and then move downward when away from the battery cell platform 110, avoiding the movement path when the cover plate 20 and the battery cell 10 are close to each other.

[0079] Further, when the cover plate 20 has a top cover portion 21 and a side cover portion 22 , the cover plate assembly device provided in the present application also includes a second cover plate fixing mechanism 700 for limiting the position of the cover plate 20 .

[0080] At this time, after the cover plate 20 is covered on the battery cell 10, its top cover part 21 is pressed by the first cover plate fixing mechanism 600; however, only pressing the top cover part 21 can only ensure that the cover plate 20 will not fall off the battery cell 10; in some possible cases, the position of the cover plate 20 does not correspond to the surfaces of the battery cell 10. For example, when the cover plate 20 is covered, the position of the cover plate 20 is slightly deviated, so that one of the side cover parts 22 does not contact the side of the battery cell 10, while the other side cover part 22 squeezes the side of the battery cell 10; at this time, it is necessary to further adjust the position of the cover plate 20 and limit the cover plate 20 to accurately fit the battery cell 10. Therefore, the second cover plate fixing mechanism 700 is set to abut against both sides of the top cover part 21.

[0081] The structure of the second cover fixing mechanism 700 may be similar to that of the first cover fixing mechanism 600, and will not be described in detail herein.

[0082] Or, in a specific embodiment, refer to Fig. 9 The second cover fixing mechanism 700 can be arranged together with the first cover fixing mechanism 600, and the first cover fixing member 610 can press the top cover part 21, and the second cover fixing member 710 can press the side cover part 22 only through a set of driving mechanisms. Specifically, the cover fixing guide 622 has a second guide surface 625 extending obliquely; the second cover fixing mechanism 700 includes the second cover fixing member 710 and a second follower 720, and the second follower 720 is connected to the second cover fixing member 710; wherein the cover fixing driving assembly 620 drives the cover fixing guide 622 to move toward the second follower 720, so that the second follower 720 enters the second guide surface 625 and moves along the second guide surface 625.

[0083] In this embodiment, the cover plate fixing driving member 624 further includes a second fixing guide member 6243 (for example, a guide rail) extending in the up-down direction; and a third fixing guide member 6244 (for example, a guide rail) extending in the left-right direction. The second follower 720 is slidably connected to the second fixing guide member 6243, and the second cover plate fixing member 710 is slidably connected to the third fixing guide member 6244. At the same time, the second follower 720 is rotatably connected to the second cover plate fixing member 710 through a connecting rod 730. At this time, the second guide surface 625 is inclined from left to right and in the up-down direction. When the cover 20 is not fixed, the second follower 720 is located at a rearward position of the second guide surface 625, so that the second cover fixing member 710 is located away from the cover 20; after the cover 20 is assembled onto the battery cell 10, the cover fixing driving member 6241 drives the cover fixing guide member 622 away from the second follower 720, so that the second follower 720 moves forward along the second guide surface 625, thereby driving the second cover fixing member 710 to move toward the battery cell 10, and finally pressing against the end of the cover 20.

[0084] In this embodiment, only one first cover plate fixing member 610 that abuts against the top cover portion 21 can be provided, and it abuts against the middle of the top cover portion 21, that is, it can stably fix the top cover portion 21. To adjust the position of the cover plate 20, two second cover plate fixing members 710 are preferably provided, which can abut against the two ends of the top cover portion 21 close to the side cover portion 22, respectively, to ensure that the two ends of the top cover portion 21 are stressed, and the adjustment is more precise, and the cover plate 20 can be further fixed to prevent the cover plate 20 from being displaced.

[0085] Further, between the second cover plate fixing member 710 and the base 640; or when there are two groups of second cover plate fixing members 710 to abut against the two side cover parts 22 of the cover plate 20, a third elastic member 670 is provided between the two groups of second cover plate fixing members 710. The second follower 720 is at a position relatively rearward of the second guide surface 625, so that when the second cover plate fixing member 710 is at a position away from the cover plate 20, the third elastic member 670 is stretched; in this way, when the second cover plate fixing member 710 moves forward along the second guide surface 625 and then drives the second cover plate fixing member 710 to move toward the battery cell 10, the elastic restoring force of the third elastic member 670 can pull the second cover plate fixing member 710 to move in the left and right directions and abut against the cover plate 20.

[0086] The third elastic member 670 may be a spring.

[0087] In addition, it is easy to imagine that the second follower 720 can be arranged on the cover plate fixing guide 622, and the second guide surface 625 is connected to the second cover plate fixing member 710, and the details are not repeated.

[0088] The present application also discloses a battery cell assembly device (not shown), which includes the above-mentioned cover plate assembly device; it also includes: a battery cell feeding device for transferring the battery cell 10 to the battery cell support mechanism 100; a cover plate feeding device for transferring the cover plate 20 to the cover plate support mechanism 200.

[0089] Among them, the battery cell loading device can adopt a handling robot; for example, when the battery cell 10 is an assembled battery cell, two mirror-image battery cells constituting the assembled battery cell can be sequentially moved into the battery cell support mechanism 100 by the battery cell loading device, so that the two mirror-image battery cells are overlapped to form an assembled battery cell.

[0090] The cover plate loading device may also be a handling robot that can extract the cover plate 20 and place the cover plate 20 on the cover plate supporting mechanism 200 .

[0091] Thus, the battery cell 10 is transported into place by the battery cell loading device, and then the cover plate 20 is transported into place by the cover plate loading device, so that the cover plate assembling device can assemble the cover plate 20 and the battery cell 10 .

[0092] In addition, the terms "include" and "have" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product or apparatus comprising a series of steps or components is not limited to the listed steps or components, but may optionally include steps or components not listed, or may optionally include other steps or components inherent to these processes, methods, products or apparatuses.

[0093] The above description is only an embodiment of the present application and does not limit the patent scope of the present application. Any equivalent structure or equivalent process transformation made using the contents of the present application specification and drawings, or directly or indirectly used in other related technical fields, are also included in the patent protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A cover plate assembly device, characterized in that: include: A battery cell support mechanism (100) is used to support a battery cell (10) to be covered with a cover plate (20); the battery cell support mechanism (100) further comprises a limiting component (120) capable of limiting the position of the battery cell (10); A cover plate supporting mechanism (200) for extracting the cover plate (20); an assembly drive mechanism (300), the battery cell support mechanism (100) and / or the cover plate support mechanism (200) being arranged at an output end of the assembly drive mechanism (300), and the assembly drive mechanism (300) being capable of driving the battery cell support mechanism (100) and the cover plate support mechanism (200) to move relative to each other; A tab provoking mechanism (400) is arranged outside the battery cell support mechanism (100), and comprises a first provoking member (410) and a second provoking member (420); and is used to open the tab (11) at the end of the battery cell (10), so that the cover plate (20) can avoid the tab (11) and cover the battery cell (10).

2. The cover assembly device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The battery cell supporting mechanism (100) comprises: A battery cell platform (110) for supporting the battery cell (10); The limiting component (120) is arranged on one side of the battery cell platform (110).

3. The cover plate assembly device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The battery cell support mechanism (100) further comprises a positioning component (130) for fixing the battery cell (10); the positioning component (130) comprises: A fixing member (131) and a fixing driving member (132), wherein the fixing driving member (132) is connected to the fixing member (131) and is capable of driving the fixing member (131) to move closer to or farther from a battery cell (10) supported by the battery cell supporting mechanism (100).

4. The cover plate assembly device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The battery core (10) has two pole ears (11) arranged opposite to each other on the same end surface; the first provoking member (410) and the second provoking member (420) are arranged opposite to each other; A first provoking driving assembly (430) is connected to the first provoking member (410) and the second provoking member (420), and is capable of driving the first provoking member (410) and the second provoking member (420) to be inserted between the two pole ears (11); The second provoking driving assembly (440) is connected to the first provoking member (410) and the second provoking member (420), and is capable of driving the first provoking member (410) and the second provoking member (420) to move in opposite directions, so that the two pole ears (11) move away from each other.

5. The cover assembly device according to claim 4, characterized in that: It also includes a tab support mechanism (500) for supporting the two tabs (11) that have been separated; the tab support mechanism (500) includes: A support member (510) and a first support driving member (520), wherein the first support driving member (520) is connected to the support member (510) and is capable of driving the support member (510) to move toward the stretched pole lug (11), so that the support member (510) is inserted between the two pole lugs (11).

6. The cover assembly device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The tab support mechanism (500) and the cover plate support mechanism (200) are both arranged at the output end of the assembly drive mechanism (300), and the tab support mechanism (500) is arranged in advance of the cover plate support mechanism (200); The assembly drive mechanism (300) drives the pole tab support mechanism (500) and the cover plate support mechanism (200) to move toward the battery cell support mechanism (100); the pole tab support mechanism (500) first reaches the end of the battery cell (10) and supports two pole tabs (11); then, the cover plate support mechanism (200) covers the cover plate (20) onto the battery cell (10).

7. The cover assembly device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first cover plate fixing mechanism (600) comprises: A first cover plate fixing member (610) and a cover plate fixing driving assembly (620), wherein the cover plate fixing driving assembly (620) is connected to the first cover plate fixing member (610) and is capable of driving the first cover plate fixing member (610) to move closer to or further away from the battery cell supporting mechanism (100) so as to press the cover plate (20) onto the battery cell (10).

8. The cover assembly device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The cover plate fixing drive assembly (620) comprises: A first follower (621), connected to the first cover plate fixing member (610); A cover plate fixing guide member (622), wherein the cover plate fixing guide member (622) has a first guide surface (623) extending obliquely; a cover plate fixing driving member (624) connected to the cover plate fixing guide member (622) and capable of driving the cover plate fixing guide member (622) to move toward the first follower (621), so that the first follower (621) moves along the first guide surface (623); The first cover plate fixing member (610) is rotatably arranged on the base (640) via a rotating shaft (630); when the first follower (621) moves along the first guide surface (623), it can drive the first cover plate fixing member (610) to swing closer to or away from the battery cell support mechanism (100).

9. The cover assembly device according to claim 8, characterized in that: Also included is a second cover plate fixing mechanism (700) for limiting the position of the cover plate (20); The cover plate fixing guide member (622) has a second guide surface (625) extending obliquely; The second cover plate fixing mechanism (700) comprises a second cover plate fixing member (710) and a second follower (720), wherein the second follower (720) is connected to the second cover plate fixing member (710); The cover plate fixing drive assembly (620) drives the cover plate fixing guide member (622) to move toward the second follower (720), so that the second follower (720) moves along the second guide surface (625), thereby driving the second cover plate fixing member (710) to move closer to or away from the battery cell support mechanism (100).

10. A battery cell assembly device, characterized in that: The device comprises a cover plate assembly device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9; and further comprises: A battery cell loading device, used for transferring the battery cell (10) to the battery cell supporting mechanism (100); A cover plate feeding device is used to transfer the cover plate (20) to the cover plate supporting mechanism (200).

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