A power battery module production line

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of battery production technology, and discloses a power battery module production line, comprising a conveyor line and a battery cell detection system, a gluing mechanism, a sequence transfer mechanism, a battery cell stacking station, and a side panel welding system sequentially arranged along the conveyor line. The conveyor line is also provided with a needle bed detection system between the battery cell stacking station and the side panel welding system. The present invention provides a power battery module production line that can be automated, with each process sequentially arranged along the conveyor line. This can greatly reduce manual operation, reduce labor intensity, improve production efficiency, and help reduce production costs and improve product consistency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of battery production, and in particular to a power battery module production line. Background Art

[0002] As energy competition intensifies, the search for alternatives to petroleum has become a consensus. The rapid development of the battery industry is a key trend, with widespread applications in industrial production and everyday life. Urban electric buses have already begun to take off. The battery cell is a key component of the battery. Batteries are assembled from cells into modules, which are then packaged in soft packaging.

[0003] Depending on the battery's intended use, battery modules can be divided into power modules and energy storage modules, with distinct process operations. Battery module assembly is complex, involving multiple steps such as cell gluing, stacking, and welding. Currently, most companies still lack automated production lines, relying primarily on manual, machine-assisted operations and fragmented processes. This is not only labor-intensive, but also leads to low production efficiency, high costs, and poor product consistency, severely impacting battery reliability and aesthetics. Summary of the Invention

[0004] An embodiment of the present invention provides a power battery module production line, which is used to solve or partially solve the problems of high labor intensity and low production efficiency in the battery module assembly production process in the prior art.

[0005] An embodiment of the present invention provides a power battery module production line, including a conveyor line and a battery cell detection system, a gluing mechanism, a sequence transfer mechanism, a battery cell stacking station and a side panel welding system arranged in sequence along the conveyor line. A needle bed detection system is also provided on the conveyor line between the battery cell stacking station and the side panel welding system.

[0006] An embodiment of the present invention provides a power battery module production line, which can realize automated operation. Each process is arranged in sequence along the conveyor line, which can greatly reduce manual operation, reduce labor intensity, improve production efficiency, and is conducive to reducing production costs and improving product consistency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0008] Figure 1 1 is an overall schematic diagram of a battery module production line provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a testing mechanism provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] Figure 3 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a transfer mechanism provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] Figure 4 is a structural schematic diagram of a flipping mechanism provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] Figure 5 1 is a structural diagram of a welding fixture provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] Figure 6 is a side view schematic diagram of a welding fixture provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 7 is a schematic top view of a fixing unit provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 8 1 is a schematic diagram of a first posture of a needle bed detection system provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 9 is a side view of a first posture of a needle bed detection system provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 10 2 is a schematic diagram of a second posture of the needle bed detection system provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 11 is a side view of a second posture of the needle bed detection system provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of a first posture of the battery cell transfer robot provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 13 This is another schematic diagram of the first posture of the battery cell transfer robot provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of a second posture of the battery cell transfer robot provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 15 1 is a schematic diagram of an energy storage module assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 16 1 is a structural diagram of a second trans-sequencing station provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 17 It is a structural schematic diagram of the end plate loading mechanism provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Reference numerals:

[0026] 11. Battery cell loading station; 12. End plate coding station; 13. Battery cell inspection system; 14. Turnover mechanism; 15. Gluing mechanism; 16. End plate loading mechanism; 17. Battery cell transfer robot; 18. Transfer conveyor line; 19. Battery cell stacking station; 110. Nail bed inspection system; 111. Side panel welding system; 112. Side panel inspection station; 113. First busbar assembly station; 114. First busbar welding station; 115. Bus inspection station; 116. Second transfer station; 21. Box loading station; 22. Box coding station; 23. Base installation station; 24. Cell assembly station; 25. Polarity detection station; 26. Upper bracket installation station; 27. Second bus assembly station; 28. Second bus welding station; 29. Wire harness welding station; 210. Wire harness inspection station; 211. Module detection station; 30. Recycling station. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0028] refer to Figure 1 An embodiment of the present invention provides a battery module production line, comprising a first conveyor line and a second conveyor line arranged in parallel. The first conveyor line and the second conveyor line can be used for the production of two types of battery modules. Specifically, the first conveyor line can serve as the conveyor line for the power battery module production line, and the second conveyor line can serve as the conveyor line for the energy storage battery module production line. A first transfer station and a second transfer station 116 are sequentially arranged between the first conveyor line and the second conveyor line. That is, the conveying directions of the first conveyor line and the second conveyor line can be the same. The first transfer station is arranged before the second transfer station 116 along the conveying direction. A cell inspection system 13 is provided on the line body of the first conveyor line or the second conveyor line located before the first transfer station. A wire harness welding station 29 and a module inspection station 211 are provided on the line body of the first conveyor line or the second conveyor line located after the second transfer station 116. The first transfer station is used to transfer cells between the first conveyor line and the second conveyor line; the second transfer station 116 is used to transfer modules between the first conveyor line and the second conveyor line.

[0029] Although the production processes for power battery modules and energy storage battery modules differ, some processes are repetitive, such as testing the battery cells before assembly, welding the wiring harnesses on the modules, and testing the modules after the cells are assembled. This embodiment proposes integrating the power module production line with the energy storage module production line. Repetitive processes can be performed on a single line, and a transfer station can be used to transfer workpieces between the two lines. This avoids the repetition of some of the same processes, effectively reducing the floor space occupied by the two battery module production lines and lowering resource consumption.

[0030] Specifically, this embodiment provides a power battery module production line, including a conveyor line and a battery cell detection system, a gluing mechanism, a transfer mechanism, a battery cell stacking station, and a side panel welding system arranged in sequence along the conveyor line. A needle bed detection system is also provided between the battery cell stacking station and the side panel welding system on the conveyor line. The production process of the power battery module on this production line is to first detect the battery cells to ensure the qualification of the battery cells in the subsequent process, then glue the battery cells, and then transfer the glued battery cells to the stacking station through the transfer mechanism for battery cell stacking to form a module, and then weld the side panels on the module to complete the module assembly. This production line can realize automated operation, and each process is arranged in sequence along the conveyor line, which can greatly reduce manual operation, reduce labor intensity, improve production efficiency, and help reduce production costs and improve product consistency.

[0031] On the basis of the above embodiments, further referring to Figure 2 , the battery cell detection system 13 includes a testing mechanism provided on one side of the line body and a transfer mechanism for transferring the battery cells that fail the test; Figure 3 The transfer mechanism includes a linear guide rail 131, a vertical drive structure 134 and a transfer clamp 137. The linear guide rail 131 is used to be set above the line body, the vertical drive structure 134 is connected to the linear guide rail 131, and the transfer clamp 137 is connected to the vertical drive structure 134 in an up and down floating manner.

[0032] The battery cell detection system 13 also includes a storage mechanism for storing battery cells that fail the test. The storage mechanism is arranged on the path of the linear guide rail 131. The transfer mechanism is used to transfer the battery cells with unqualified test results to the storage mechanism after the battery cells are tested. The vertical drive structure 134 can drive the transfer clamp 137 to move along the linear guide rail 131 to the storage mechanism, and then transfer the unqualified battery cells clamped by the transfer clamp to the storage mechanism. The vertical drive structure 134 can initially be located above the battery cell test position. When the battery cell test is unqualified, the vertical drive structure 134 can drive the transfer clamp 137 downward to clamp the unqualified battery cell, and then move upward; then the vertical drive structure 134 drives the transfer clamp 137 and the battery cell to move along the linear guide rail 131 to the storage mechanism, and the vertical drive structure 134 drives the transfer clamp 137 to move downward to place the unqualified battery cell in the storage mechanism.

[0033] When the vertical drive structure 134 drives the transfer clamp 137 downward to place the unqualified battery cells in the storage mechanism, because the transfer clamp 137 has space to float up and down relative to the vertical drive structure 134, the transfer clamp 137 can move the unqualified battery cells to different heights, thereby enabling the unqualified battery cells to be stacked in the storage mechanism, thereby increasing the storage buffer capacity of the storage mechanism. Furthermore, by providing the transfer clamp 137 with the ability to float up and down to increase the storage buffer capacity of the storage mechanism, the accuracy requirements for the vertical drive structure 134 can be reduced. The vertical drive structure 134 can eliminate the need for multi-point positioning, such as using a simple cylinder capable of two-point positioning, which helps to reduce the difficulty of system control, reduce the number of electrical components, and reduce costs.

[0034] The present embodiment provides a battery cell testing system 13, which is provided with a transfer mechanism and a storage mechanism to realize the transfer and storage of unqualified battery cells, thereby improving the completeness of the battery cell test, and can be mechanically operated, reducing labor costs and improving the level of automation; and the transfer clamp 137 is provided to float up and down, which is also beneficial to increasing the storage buffer capacity of the storage mechanism, so as to better realize the transfer and storage of unqualified battery cells, which is beneficial to the smooth and stable progress of the battery cell test.

[0035] Furthermore, the vertical driving structure 134 may be a cylinder or other structure capable of achieving vertical up and down movement, and is not specifically limited, with the purpose of simple structure and easy control.

[0036] Furthermore, the storage mechanism includes a buffer conveyor line; unqualified cells can be stored on the buffer conveyor line and transported to a recycling point. The transfer mechanism is located above the conveyor line, and the testing mechanism is located on one side of the conveyor line. The storage mechanism can be located on the other side of the conveyor line.

[0037] On the basis of the above embodiments, further referring to Figure 3The transfer mechanism also includes a bracket 132; linear guide rails 131 are provided on both sides of the vertical drive structure 134, and the two ends of the bracket 132 are slidably connected to the linear guide rails 131 on both sides. The vertical drive structure 134 is connected to the bracket 132. This is conducive to improving structural stability and ensuring stable and reliable movement of the vertical drive structure.

[0038] Furthermore, a drag chain fixing bracket is provided on the bracket 132 for fixing the drag chain cables in the transfer mechanism, thereby achieving orderly and stable placement of the drag chain cables. The vertical drive structure 134 can be connected to the fixing plate 133, which is then connected to the bracket 132.

[0039] Based on the above embodiment, a horizontal drive structure 139 is further provided on at least one side of the linear guide rail 131. The horizontal drive structure 139 is used to provide power for the vertical drive structure 134 to move along the linear guide rail 131. The horizontal drive structure 139 can also be a cylinder capable of two-point positioning, with one travel point located above the battery cell testing position and the other travel point located above the storage mechanism. The horizontal drive structure 139 can also be other structures capable of providing horizontal linear movement, and the specific structure is not limited thereto.

[0040] On the basis of the above embodiments, further referring to Figure 3 A plurality of transfer clamps 137 are connected side by side on the vertical drive structure 134. Multiple battery cells can be simultaneously clamped and transferred, thereby improving efficiency.

[0041] On the basis of the above embodiments, further referring to Figure 3 The vertical drive structure 134 is connected to a hanging plate 136, and the transfer clamp 137 is connected to the hanging plate 136 in an up and down floating manner through a linear bearing 135. Specifically, the linear bearing 135 includes an outer sleeve and an inner shaft that can slide relative to each other in the axial direction. The outer sleeve can be fixed to the hanging plate 136; the inner shaft passes through the inside of the outer sleeve, and the bottom of the inner shaft is fixedly connected to the transfer clamp 137, which can move up and down relative to the outer sleeve together with the transfer clamp 137; the top of the inner shaft passes through the outer sleeve and is connected to a limiting member to prevent the inner shaft from falling off the outer sleeve, thereby playing a limiting role. Furthermore, the transfer clamp 137 can also be directly connected to the hanging plate 136 through an elastic member to achieve the up and down floating of the transfer clamp. Alternatively, the transfer clamp 137 can also be connected to the hanging plate 136 through a vertically arranged linear moving structure to achieve the up and down floating of the transfer clamp 137. The linear moving structure can be a matching groove and protrusion structure or a guide rail structure. The up and down floating structure of the transfer clamping claw 137 is not specifically limited.

[0042] On the basis of the above embodiments, further referring to Figure 2The testing mechanism includes at least one testing unit arranged side by side; the testing unit includes a code reader 1311, a horizontal guide frame 1314 and a vertical guide frame 1316, the code reader 1311 is fixed to the horizontal guide frame 1314 with adjustable horizontal position, and the horizontal guide frame 1314 is fixed to the vertical guide frame 1316 with adjustable vertical position. The testing unit is used to test the battery cells conveyed on the side of the battery cell conveyor line to determine whether they are qualified battery cells. Here, the judgment of unqualified battery cells includes: battery cells whose performance does not meet the standards after testing, battery cells whose external structure is unqualified, or battery cells whose models do not match the battery cells required by the battery cell conveyor line, etc. Multiple testing units are set to test multiple battery cells at the same time.

[0043] The barcode reader 1311 reads the identification code on the battery cell to determine whether it is the cell required by the battery cell conveyor line. If the model number and other factors do not meet the requirements, the transfer mechanism is activated to transfer the cell. This prevents the misplacement of cells on the battery cell conveyor line. The barcode reader 1311 can be adjusted horizontally along the horizontal guide frame 1314 and vertically by adjusting the horizontal guide frame 1314 along the vertical guide frame 1316, providing high flexibility and adaptability.

[0044] In addition to the above embodiment, the code reader 1311 is secured to a horizontal guide frame 1314 via a first clamping block 1313; the horizontal guide frame 1314 is secured to a vertical guide frame 1316 via a second clamping block 1315. The clamping blocks and guide frames are connected by a detachable structure, allowing for flexible adjustment of the clamping blocks to adjust the position of the code reader. Static friction secures the clamping blocks to the guide frames. Preferably, both the horizontal guide frame 1314 and the vertical guide frame 1316 are cylindrical.

[0045] refer to Figure 3 First clamping block 1313 has a through-hole for passing horizontal guide frame 1314. On one side of the through-hole, first clamping block 1313 is divided into two parts, with a bolt hole between the two parts. After horizontal guide frame 1314 passes through the through-hole of first clamping block 1313, the two parts can be tightened with bolts to secure the position of first clamping block 1313 and horizontal guide frame 1314.

[0046] Second clamping block 1315 is provided with two through-holes, one for passing through horizontal guide frame 1314 and the other for passing through vertical guide frame 1316. Each through-hole is formed into two separate sections on one side, with a bolt hole located between them. The ingenious design of first clamping block 1313 and second clamping block 1315 forms a clamp-like fixing structure, facilitating the connection and position adjustment of horizontal guide frame 1314 and vertical guide frame 1316, and providing greater flexibility.

[0047] Furthermore, a fixing member 1312 is connected to the code reader 1311, and the code reader 1311 is connected to the first clamping block 1313 via the fixing member 1312. The code reader 1311 can be tilted to smoothly read the identification code on the battery cell, and the specific tilt angle is not limited.

[0048] In addition to the above embodiment, the test unit further includes a probe 1317, a horizontal push structure 1320, and a probe mounting frame 1321. Probe 1317 is connected to horizontal push structure 1320, which is mounted on probe mounting frame 1321. When a battery cell is transported to probe 1317, horizontal push structure 1320 pushes probe 1317 toward the cell. Probe 1317 is used to contact the cell's electrodes to test the cell and determine if there are any performance issues.

[0049] On the basis of the above embodiments, further referring to Figure 2 , the vertical guide frame 1316 is arranged on the side of the probe mounting frame 1321, and the code reader 1311 is arranged above the horizontal pushing structure 1320. That is, the code reader 1311 and the probe 1317 are integrated, and the code reading test of the code reader 1311 and the test of the probe 1317 can be carried out at the same time. Specifically, when multiple test units are set, multiple horizontal pushing structures 1320 can be installed on one probe mounting frame 1321, and a vertical guide frame 1316 is set on one side of each horizontal pushing structure 1320 so that a code reader 1311 is correspondingly provided at each horizontal pushing structure 1320, and the test of multiple battery cells can be completed at the same time. Among them, the number of test units is the same as the number of transfer clamps 137; preferably two, it can also be other, and can be flexibly set according to needs, and there is no specific limitation.

[0050] Furthermore, the horizontal pushing structure 1320 can also be a cylinder or other horizontal movable structure, and there is no specific limitation. The probe 1317 is connected to the probe seat 1318, and the probe seat 1318 is connected to the probe seat adapter plate 1319 and is connected to the horizontal pushing structure 1320 through the probe seat adapter plate 1319. The probe seat 1318 is an insulating structure. The upper and lower positions between the probe seat 1318 and the probe seat adapter plate 1319 are adjustable. A long strip mounting hole can be provided in the vertical direction on the probe seat 1318, or a plurality of probe seat mounting positions can be provided in the vertical direction on the probe seat adapter plate 1319. A plurality of probe 1317 mounting positions are provided in the horizontal direction on the probe seat 1318; the mounting position of the probe 1317 can be adjusted as needed.

[0051] Further, refer to Figure 3The transfer clamp 137 can be a pneumatic clamp with two opposing jaws. A flexible pad 138 is attached to the inner wall of the jaw to prevent damage to the battery cell and provide insulation. Both the flexible pad 138 and the probe holder 1318 can be made of polyurethane. The linear guide 131 can be supported and secured by a column 1310.

[0052] The battery cell detection system 13 also includes a flip mechanism 14 for adjusting the position of the battery cell that is placed upside down during testing. The testing mechanism is located before the flip mechanism 14. Figure 4 The flipping mechanism 14 includes a spatial displacement structure, a swing structure 142 and a flipping clamp 141 for being arranged on one side of the battery cell conveying line. The swing structure 142 is connected to the spatial displacement structure, and the flipping clamp 141 is connected to the swing structure 142.

[0053] The flipping mechanism 14 flips the battery cell that was placed upside down during the test on one side of the battery cell conveyor line, adjusting it to the correct placement posture to correct the battery cell being placed upside down. The swing structure 142 is a structure that can provide swinging motion, such as a swing cylinder, a swing table, etc. When it is determined that the battery cell is placed upside down, the spatial displacement structure drives the swing structure 142 and the flipping clamp 141 to move to the upside-down battery cell, and then the flipping clamp 141 clamps the battery cell, and then the battery cell is flipped 180 degrees under the drive of the swing structure 142 to adjust the battery cell to the correct posture. The spatial displacement structure is then used to put the battery cell back on the battery cell conveyor line.

[0054] On the basis of the above embodiments, further, the spatial displacement structure includes a vertical displacement structure and a horizontal displacement structure perpendicular to the conveying direction of the battery cell conveying line, the vertical displacement structure is connected to the horizontal displacement structure, and the swing structure 142 is connected to the vertical displacement structure.

[0055] Furthermore, the horizontal displacement structure includes a horizontal guide rail 147 and a horizontal drive structure 148. A fixed frame 145 is movably connected to the horizontal guide rail 147, and a horizontal drive structure 148 is connected to the fixed frame 145. The horizontal drive structure 148 drives the fixed frame 145 to move along the horizontal guide rail 147. The vertical displacement structure includes a vertical guide rail 144 and a vertical drive structure 146. The vertical guide rail 144 is mounted on the fixed frame 145. A mounting plate 143 is movably connected to the vertical guide rail 144. The vertical drive structure 146 is connected to the mounting plate 143, and the swing structure 142 is connected to the mounting plate 143. The vertical drive structure 146 drives the mounting plate 143 to move along the vertical guide rail 144.

[0056] On the basis of the above embodiment, a buffer limit structure 149 is further provided below the vertical displacement structure. The buffer limit structure 149 can be an elastic member. Furthermore, a limit member is provided at at least one end of the horizontal displacement structure. It is used to limit the moving position of the fixing frame 145 along the horizontal guide rail 147. For details, refer to Figure 4 The limiting member can be a stopper 1410 fixedly arranged at the end of the horizontal guide rail 147; the stopper 1410 serves to limit the movement of the fixing frame 145 and prevent it from falling off.

[0057] Furthermore, a plurality of swing structures 142 and flip clamps 141 are arranged side by side along the conveying direction of the wire body. Figure 4 Multiple swing structures 142 can be connected side by side on the mounting plate 143, and each swing structure 142 is connected to a corresponding flipping clamp 141. Each clamp is responsible for gripping a battery cell. This allows for the simultaneous flipping and adjustment of multiple battery cells, improving efficiency.

[0058] On the basis of the above embodiment, further, the first transfer station includes a battery cell transfer robot 17; the battery cell transfer robot 17 can be arranged between the first conveyor line and the second conveyor line, and is used to realize the transfer of battery cells between the first conveyor line and the second conveyor line. A gluing mechanism 15 is provided on the side of the first conveyor line at the first transfer station; an end plate loading mechanism 16 is also provided, and the end plate loading mechanism 16 is located within the displacement range of the gluing mechanism 15. A transfer conveyor line body 18 is also provided on the side of the conveyor line; the transfer conveyor line body 18 is located within the displacement range of the battery cell transfer robot 17, and the transfer conveyor line body 18 extends to the battery cell stacking station. The end plate loading mechanism 16 is also located within the displacement range of the battery cell transfer robot 17. The battery cell transfer robot 17 and the transfer conveyor line body 18 form a transfer mechanism.

[0059] The gluing mechanism 15 may include a displacement drive structure and a gluing head connected to the displacement drive structure. It is used to apply glue to the battery cells on the first conveyor line and the end plates conveyed by the end plate feeding mechanism 16. The first conveyor line can be used for the production of power battery modules. By applying glue on the battery cells, multiple battery cells can be stacked in sequence and pasted and fixed to each other. The end plates are then pasted and fixed to the two ends of the stacked battery cells; and then the side plates are welded on both sides of the stacked battery cells to form a firmly fixed battery module. Compared with the traditional process of fixing the battery cells by bundling them with cable ties and setting a base to fix the battery cells, this power battery module formation process can reduce the difficulty of module formation, help reduce the complexity of the structure to facilitate automated production, and can also greatly reduce the volume occupied by the module, facilitating the application of the battery.

[0060] The end plate loading mechanism 16 can be a conveyor belt structure, used to transport the end plates into the displacement range of the gluing mechanism 15 and the cell transfer robot 17. This facilitates gluing of the end plates and transfer of the end plates by the cell transfer robot 17. The transfer conveyor line 18 can be an independent conveyor line located to the side of the first conveyor line, used to receive and transport the glued cells and end plates transferred by the cell transfer robot 17.

[0061] A cell stacking station 19 is provided on the first conveyor line after the transfer mechanism, which is used to stack the cells and end plates after gluing; the end plates are located at both ends of several stacked cells. The first conveyor line can be disconnected between the transfer mechanism and the next station (i.e., the cell stacking station 19). The cells at and before the transfer mechanism are placed on the cell tooling board; and the cells stacked at and after the cell stacking station 19 are placed on the module tooling board to facilitate subsequent side panel welding. The transfer conveyor line body 18 extends to the cell stacking station 19. The cells and end plates on the transfer conveyor line body 18 can be moved to the cell stacking station 19 for stacking by humans or robots.

[0062] The transfer mechanism, through the configuration of the cell transfer robot 17 and the transfer conveyor line 18, can flexibly adjust workpieces between the cell tooling plate and the module tooling plate, and can operate automatically, facilitating a smooth and efficient production process. Furthermore, splitting the first conveyor line into two sections also facilitates the configuration of the conveyor line, increasing flexibility.

[0063] Specifically, refer to Figure 17 The end plate feeding mechanism 16 includes an end plate unloading structure, an end plate fixing structure and a conveying structure connected therebetween; an end plate transfer structure is also provided at the end plate fixing structure; the end plate unloading structure is used to unload the stacked end plates one by one from the bottom and drop them onto the conveying structure; the end plate fixing structure is used to fix and position the end plates to facilitate the gluing operation; the end plate transfer structure is used to transfer the end plate moved on the conveying structure to one end close to the end plate fixing structure to the end plate fixing structure.

[0064] The end plate unloading structure includes a accommodating cavity for stacking the end plates and a destacking structure 165 at the bottom of the cavity for allowing the end plates to be dropped one by one. The cavity comprises multiple, independently arranged circumferential walls 161; these walls 161 are connected to a movable structure for adjusting their position. Specifically, the walls 161 can be L-shaped, with four walls 161 located at the four corners of the end plate, enclosing the cavity for the end plates.

[0065] The movable structure specifically includes a vertical guide rod 162, a first horizontal guide rod 163, and a second horizontal guide rod 164; the three guide rods are arranged along three mutually perpendicular directions to form three-dimensional movement. The vertical guide rod 162 is fixedly arranged and can be fixed to the conveying structure. The first horizontal guide rod 163 is connected to the vertical guide rod 162 via a clamping block so that its position can be adjusted along the vertical guide rod 162, and the second horizontal guide rod 164 is connected to the first horizontal guide rod 163 via a clamping block so that its position can be adjusted along the first horizontal guide rod 163. Therefore, by adjusting the connection between the second horizontal guide rod 164 and the corresponding clamping block, the position of the cavity wall 161 in the direction of the second horizontal guide rod 164 can be adjusted. By adjusting the connection between the clamping block between the first horizontal guide rod 163 and the second horizontal guide rod 164 and the first horizontal guide rod 163, the position of the cavity wall 161 in the direction of the first horizontal guide rod 163 can be adjusted. The vertical position of cavity wall 161 is adjusted by adjusting the connection between the clamping block between first horizontal guide rod 163 and vertical guide rod 162. This movable structure allows for three-dimensional position adjustment of cavity wall 161. It features a simple structure, easy operation, and requires no electrical components. The size of the accommodating cavity formed by cavity wall 161 can be flexibly adjusted, enhancing both applicability and flexibility.

[0066] The conveying structure can be a conveyor line 166. The end of the conveying structure connected to the end plate unloading structure is lower than the end connected to the end plate fixing structure, creating an upwardly inclined section along the conveying direction. This reduces the height of the end plate unloading structure and facilitates the stacking of the end plates. Furthermore, a sensor switch 167 is provided at the end of the conveying structure connected to the end plate fixing structure. This sensor switch 167 is used to detect the presence of the end plates and control the operation of the end plate transfer mechanism based on the detection result. The sensor switch 167 can be a photoelectric switch.

[0067] The end plate transfer structure includes a displacement structure 168 connected between the end of the conveying structure and the end plate fixing structure, and a manipulator assembly 169 connected to the displacement structure 168. The manipulator assembly 169 can be a gripper structure. When the induction switch 167 detects that there is an end plate at the end of the conveying structure, the end plate transfer structure is controlled to operate. The displacement structure 168 moves the manipulator assembly 169 to above the end plate, and then the manipulator assembly 169 moves downward to grab the end plate and then rises. The displacement structure 168 then moves the manipulator assembly 169 to above the end plate fixing structure, and then the manipulator assembly 169 descends to place the end plate on the end fixing structure.

[0068] The end fixing structure includes a fixing support 1610, which is provided with an end plate fixing slot. Specifically, the fixing support 1610 is provided with a stopper at each of the four sides of the end plate; these four stops act as a position limiter and fixator on the four sides of the end plate. Specifically, there is a stopper on each of the two opposing sides along the length of the end plate, and also on each of the two opposing sides along the width of the end plate.

[0069] Specifically, at least one of the blocks on the two opposite sides along the length direction of the end plate is set as a movable structure; at least one of the blocks on the two opposite sides along the width direction of the end plate is set as a movable structure. That is, the distance between the blocks in both directions is adjustable. Initially, the position of the blocks can be adjusted so that the space between the four blocks is larger than the size of the end plate, which is convenient for the placement of the end plate. After the end is placed between the four blocks, the block in one direction is moved first. When the end plate moves into place in that direction (that is, it can no longer move), the clamping force of the block on the end plate in that direction is removed (that is, the block remains in place, but no pressure is applied to the end plate); then the block in the other direction is moved until the end plate is fixed in place in both directions. This end plate fixing structure and its fixing operation can better fix the end plate, which is convenient for subsequent operations.

[0070] On the basis of the above embodiment, further, a side panel welding system 111 is provided between the first transfer station and the second transfer station 116 on the first conveyor line.

[0071] The side plate welding system 111 includes a welding fixture; the welding fixture is provided in the welding system for fixing the workpiece during the welding process to achieve accurate positioning of the workpiece. Figure 5 The welding fixture includes a fixing unit, which includes a mounting plate 1113, a pressure plate 1114, and a pushing structure 1115. The mounting plate 1113 is hoisted on a bracket assembly. Two opposing pressure plates 1114 are slidably connected to the mounting plate 1113 along a first direction. The pressure plates 1114 are connected to a pushing structure 1115. The pressure plates 1114 are provided with positioning grooves 1118 for matching the weld seam positions. The mounting plate 1113 can be hoisted above the welding station via the bracket assembly. When a workpiece to be welded, such as a battery module, is moved to the welding station, the two pressure plates 1114 on the mounting plate 1113 can be pushed and pressed onto the weld seam positions on both sides of the workpiece by the pushing structure 1115, so that the positioning grooves 1118 on the pressure plates 1114 are placed corresponding to the weld seam positions. That is, the weld position is located in the positioning groove 1118, which is a through hole opened on the pressure plate 1114, so that the welding head can pass through the positioning groove 1118 to weld the weld position. The pressure plate 1114 is pressed around the weld position to better position the workpiece for welding.

[0072] The pressing plate 1114 is connected to the mounting plate 1113 in a sliding manner along a first direction, so that the spacing between the two pressing plates 1114 can be flexibly adjusted, which is convenient for the placement of the workpiece and suitable for workpieces of different sizes. The welding system also includes a welding device; the welding device is used for performing welding operations. The welding device is arranged on the side of the welding fixture, and the welding device includes a displacement drive structure and a welding head, and the welding head is connected to the displacement drive structure. The displacement drive structure is used to drive the welding head to move to perform welding operations on the weld position. The fixed unit of the welding fixture should be located within the displacement range of the displacement drive structure. The displacement drive structure can be a six-axis robot.

[0073] A side panel welding system 111 provided in this embodiment is provided with a welding fixing tool for fixing and positioning the workpiece. Specifically, a pressure plate 1114 and a positioning groove 1118 are provided for pressing and fixing the weld position of the workpiece in a targeted manner. The pressure plate 1114 is pressed around the weld position, which is beneficial for limiting the weld position and improving welding efficiency and accuracy, and can better realize the fixed positioning of the workpiece welding, which is beneficial for improving the positioning accuracy of the workpiece welding position and reducing welding errors.

[0074] Furthermore, the welding fixture can be used in conjunction with a workpiece fixture plate, that is, the workpiece can be placed on the fixture plate and fixed in place by the welding fixture.

[0075] On the basis of the above embodiments, further referring to Figure 5 and Figure 6 , two sets of opposing fixing units are provided on the bracket assembly at intervals. That is, two sets of fixing units are connected to the bracket assembly, and the pressure plates 1114 of the two sets of fixing units are arranged opposite each other. The two sets of fixing units can clamp and fix the workpiece at both ends of the workpiece to improve positioning accuracy. In addition, the two ends of the battery module are respectively connected to end plates, and side plates need to be welded on both sides of the module. Each side plate needs to be welded at both ends where it connects with the end plate. That is, there are four welding positions on both sides of the module. Two sets of fixing units are provided, that is, four pressure plates can simultaneously perform compression and positioning at four welding positions.

[0076] On the basis of the above embodiments, further referring to Figure 5 The fixing unit is adjustably connected to the bracket assembly along a second direction. Specifically, mounting plate 1113 is configured to be adjustably connected to the bracket assembly along the second direction. The second direction may be perpendicular to the first direction. The fixing unit is adjustable in the second direction, and pressure plate 1114 is adjustable in the first direction relative to mounting plate 1113. This allows pressure plate 1114 to be adjusted in two directions relative to the workpiece, accommodating a wider range of workpiece sizes and enhancing the applicability and flexibility of the tooling.

[0077] Furthermore, the fixed unit and the bracket assembly can be slidably connected along the second direction; for example, this slidable connection can be achieved via a guide rail and slide groove structure. A drive structure is connected to the bracket assembly to drive the fixed unit to move along the second direction. The drive structure can be a slide 1119, a cylinder 11110, a screw nut, or other structures to provide linear movement, and is not specifically limited thereto.

[0078] On the basis of the above embodiment, a limit assembly is further provided on the bracket assembly along the moving path of the fixing unit. The limit assembly is used to limit the moving position of the fixing unit. The limit assembly can be pre-set according to the actual workpiece to be welded, so that the fixing unit can accurately stop at the preset limit assembly position, thereby achieving accurate positioning of the fixing unit. Figure 5 The bracket assembly includes two supporting frames 1111 disposed opposite to each other and a connecting plate 1112 connected to the two supporting frames 1111 at both ends, and the fixing unit is connected to the connecting plate 1112. The ends of the connecting plate 1112 are connected to the corresponding supporting frames 1111 in an adjustable manner along the first direction.

[0079] The first conveyor line can be located on one side of the support frame 1111 along a first direction. Initially, the connecting plate 1112 and the fixing unit can be moved along the support frame 1111 to the side of the first conveyor line. After the workpiece is positioned at the welding station, the connecting plate 1112 and the fixing unit can be moved to the workpiece. This prevents the fixing fixture from interfering with the welding station when not in use. Furthermore, the first direction can be the width of the workpiece, and the second direction can be the length of the workpiece.

[0080] On the basis of the above embodiments, further referring to Figure 5 The mounting plate 1113 is provided with a slot 11111 extending through the bottom edge of the mounting plate 1113 between the two pressing plates 1114. Preferably, the width of the slot 11111 along the first direction is greater than the width of the workpiece. This allows the end of the workpiece to pass through the mounting plate 1113 through the slot 11111, making the fixture suitable for longer workpieces and workpieces with welds located closer to the center.

[0081] Based on the above embodiment, further, the inner side surface of the pressure plate 1114 is connected to a pressure block 1116 on at least one side of the positioning groove 1118; the pressure block 1116 is provided so that it can abut the surface of the workpiece, which is conducive to pressing the workpiece tightly during welding and achieving precise positioning. The pressure block 1116 can be provided on one side of the positioning groove 1118 on the inner side surface of the pressure plate 1114, or it can be provided on both sides of the positioning groove 1118, without limitation. The inner side surface of the pressure plate 1114 is the side that is used to contact the workpiece, that is, the opposite side of the two pressure plates 1114 on a mounting plate 1113.

[0082] Further, refer to Figure 6 , the pressing block 1116 extends from one side of the pressing plate 1114 to the corresponding position inside the positioning groove 1118. Figure 6 The side of the pressing block 1116 away from the pressing plate 1114 blocks part of the space of the positioning groove 1118, so that the space of the positioning groove 1118 is further limited by the cover of the pressing block 1116. The side of the pressing block 1116 away from the pressing plate 1114 can be set close to the weld position, so that when the pressing plate 1114 presses the workpiece, the pressing block 1116 is close to the weld position and presses against the workpiece, which is conducive to improving the accuracy of the welding position. The width of the positioning groove 1118 can be set to be wider, larger than the width of the weld position. In this way, the welding head can be easily inserted into the wider positioning groove 1118, and precise welding can be performed within the limitation of the pressing block 1116.

[0083] The pressing block 1116 is arranged along the length direction of the positioning groove 1118 and the width of the side where the pressing block 1116 is connected to the pressing plate 1114 is less than or equal to the width of the side where the pressing block 1116 is away from the pressing plate 1114. Figure 7 , the width here is the width of the pressing block 1116 along the second direction. Setting the width of the pressing block 1116 on the side away from the pressing plate 1114 to be larger is not only conducive to improving the welding accuracy close to the weld, but also increases the contact area with the workpiece to achieve stable pressing. Setting the width of the side where the pressing block 1116 is connected to the pressing plate 1114 to be smaller is conducive to the smooth insertion of the welding head. Preferably, the side where the pressing block 1116 is connected to the pressing plate 1114 is located on the side of the positioning groove 1118. That is, this side does not extend into the positioning groove 1118, and does not block the space of the positioning groove 1118, which can facilitate the insertion of the welding head.

[0084] Furthermore, the pressing block 1116 may be a copper pressing block.

[0085] On the basis of the above embodiment, further, the outer side of the pressing plate 1114 is connected to a protective cover 1117 outside the positioning groove 1118. The protective cover 1117 is located outside the positioning groove 1118 on the outer side of the pressing plate 1114 and is used for protection during welding to improve safety performance.

[0086] Based on the above embodiment, a needle bed inspection system 110 is further installed on the first conveyor line after the first transfer station. This system is located after the cell stacking station 19 and before the side panel welding system 111. It is used to inspect the stacked modules before side panel welding to ensure product quality and avoid wasting resources.

[0087] The needle bed detection system 110 includes a needle bed mounting frame 1101 and a needle bed assembly. The needle bed mounting frame 1101 is used to be fixed above the first conveyor line. The needle bed assembly is connected to the needle bed mounting frame 1101. The needle bed assembly includes several probes 11010; that is, a detection station is set during the battery production process to detect the placement posture of the battery cells to determine whether the arrangement of the battery cells in the module is correct, and to ensure that the battery cells are in the correct arrangement posture in subsequent processes.

[0088] This embodiment provides a needle bed detection system 110, in which a needle bed mounting frame 1101 and a needle bed assembly are arranged at the detection station. When the battery cell or module to be tested is transported to the detection station, the probe 11010 can be used to contact the pole of the battery cell to detect and determine the placement direction of the positive and negative poles of the battery cell, and then detect the arrangement posture of the battery cell. Compared with manual detection in the prior art, the provision of a needle bed assembly is conducive to improving the accuracy and efficiency of detection, and is suitable for long-term work and is not prone to errors.

[0089] Furthermore, the arrangement and distribution of several probes 11010 on the needle bed assembly corresponds to the distribution of the battery cells in the module to be tested. So that each probe 11010 is inserted into a corresponding pole during detection. The number of probes 11010 corresponds to the number of battery cells in the module to be tested, and each battery cell corresponds to two probes 11010. The needle bed detection mechanism is particularly suitable for detecting square battery cell modules. The two poles of the square battery cell are located on the same end face, so that the poles of several battery cells in the square battery cell module can be located on the same side. During detection, the pole face in the module can be facing upwards, and the probe 11010 of the needle bed assembly can be inserted into the pole from above for detection.

[0090] Both sides of the needle bed assembly are connected to the needle bed mounting frame 1101 through a crank slider structure, so that the needle bed assembly can extend forward and the probe 11010 is facing downward. Figure 8 and retracted backward and the probe 11010 toward the rear side, as Figure 10 As shown. The crank slider structure can realize both rotational movement and linear telescopic movement. The crank slider structure can drive the needle bed assembly to achieve telescopic and rotation. The needle bed assembly extends forward and the probe is facing downward, which is the state of the needle bed assembly during detection, that is, Figure 8 and Figure 9 After the test is completed, the needle bed assembly can be retracted to the rear side and the needle bed assembly can be rotated so that the probe is rotated from downward to backward, as shown in FIG. Figure 10 and Figure 11 The second posture shown is the retracted state of the needle bed assembly when no detection is required.

[0091] refer to Figure 8The crank slider structure includes a connecting rod 1103 and a slider 1105. One end of the connecting rod 1103 is connected to the driving structure 1102, and the other end is rotatably connected to the needle bed assembly. The slider 1105 is slidably connected to the needle bed mounting frame 1101 along the front and rear directions. The slider 1105 is rotatably connected to the needle bed assembly and the connection part is spaced apart from the other end of the connecting rod 1103.

[0092] One end of the connecting rod 1103 is fixedly connected to the driving structure 1102 and swings under the drive of the driving structure 1102. The other end of the connecting rod 1103 is rotatably connected to the needle bed assembly, which can be a pin connection structure, a hinge structure or a rotation connection achieved through a bearing, etc., and the specific method is not limited. A guide rail 1104 can be set along the front and back directions on the needle bed mounting frame 1101, and a slider 1105 can be set to be slidably connected to the guide rail 1104. The slider 1105 can also be rotatably connected to the needle bed assembly through a pin, hinge or bearing, etc., and the specific method is not limited. The connection part between the slider 1105 and the needle bed assembly is spaced apart from the connection part between the connecting rod 1103 and the needle bed assembly; the two connection parts can be located on both sides of the needle bed assembly.

[0093] Drive structure 1102 can be a rotary cylinder, a swinging platform, or a gear structure, etc., to provide rotational movement, and is not limited to this specific embodiment. Driven by drive structure 1102, connecting rod 1103 rotates, driving the needle bed assembly to rotate and extend. The needle bed assembly is connected to slider 1105 to define the direction of extension and retraction, thereby achieving switching between the two states of the needle bed assembly.

[0094] Furthermore, the specific setting of the connecting rod 1103 and the slider 1105 in the crank slider structure provided in this embodiment is a preferred implementation structure that can realize the switching of the needle bed assembly between two states. Other structures that use the principle of the crank slider to realize the switching of the needle bed assembly between two states are also within the scope of protection of the present invention and are not listed here one by one.

[0095] Furthermore, Figures 8 to 11 Specifically shown is the specific connection of the crank slider structure on one side of the needle bed assembly; that is, Figure 8 and Figure 10 The left side of the needle bed assembly shows the crank slider structure connected in place, while the crank slider structure on the right side of the needle bed assembly is not connected to the needle bed assembly. The right side is only for showing the specific component composition of the crank slider structure and does not represent the specific connection structure, such as Figure 9 and Figure 11 The specific connection method of the crank slider structures on the left and right sides of the needle bed assembly is the same, that is, Figure 8 and Figure 10 Shown on the left.

[0096] Furthermore, the front side, rear side, left side and right side described in each embodiment are based on the orientations shown in the accompanying drawings, and are provided to facilitate understanding of the specific structure of the needle bed detection mechanism, and are not intended to limit the orientations of the needle bed detection mechanism in actual application.

[0097] Building on the above embodiment, the needle bed mounting frame 1101 further features position-limiting structures 11011 at both ends of the sliding path of the slider 1105. These position-limiting structures 11011 are used to positionally secure the needle bed assembly in two different states, improving accuracy. The position-limiting structures include buffering and / or fixed position-limiting members. Buffering position-limiting members are position-limiting members with a cushioning effect, such as hydraulic buffers or elastic members. Fixed position-limiting members are rigid position-limiting members.

[0098] The needle bed assembly includes a connecting plate 1106, to which the probe 11010 is fixed. The needle bed assembly also includes a fixing plate 1107, located opposite the connecting plate 1106 on the side facing away from the probe 11010. The connecting plate 1106 and fixing plate 1107 are connected in a vertically floating manner. The fixing plate 1107 is connected to the needle bed mounting frame 1101. The fixing plate 1107 is connected to the slider-crank structure. The connecting rod 1103 and slider 1105 in the slider-crank structure are connected to the fixing plate 1107, thereby driving the movement of the needle bed assembly. The connecting plate 1106 is able to float vertically relative to the fixing plate 1107. Specifically, the connecting plate 1106 is connected to the fixing plate 1107 via a linear bearing 1108, which enables the upward and downward floating motion. This allows the probe 11010 on the connecting plate 1106 to move vertically, accommodating battery cells of varying heights and improving the applicability and flexibility of the detection mechanism.

[0099] On the basis of the above embodiments, further referring to Figure 8 A vertically disposed propulsion structure 1109 is mounted on fixed plate 1107 and connected to connecting plate 1106. Propelling structure 1109 is used to control the vertical movement of connecting plate 1106, ensuring a predetermined spacing between connecting plate 1106 and fixed plate 1107. Propelling structure 1109 can be a structure capable of linear movement, such as a cylinder, and is not specifically limited thereto.

[0100] Based on the above embodiment, the needle bed mounting frame 1101 is further movably connected to the bracket at the inspection station in the vertical direction. A vertical displacement structure can be provided on the bracket and connected to the needle bed mounting frame 1101 to adjust the vertical movement of the needle bed assembly over a wider range to ensure smooth inspection. The vertical displacement structure can be a cylinder, a guide rail, a slide, a screw, or the like. Alternatively, multiple mounting positions can be provided on the bracket in the vertical direction, and the needle bed mounting frame 1101 is connected and fixed to the bracket at the mounting positions to achieve the purpose of adjusting the vertical position of the needle bed mounting frame 1101. No specific limitation is given.

[0101] Furthermore, the operation of the driving structure 1102 that controls the crank slider 1105 structure can be manually controlled by setting a button, and the position of the needle bed assembly can be manually switched when necessary to detect the module; it can also be automatically controlled, that is, the driving structure 1102 can automatically operate at preset time intervals to control the switching state of the needle bed assembly to achieve detection; the specific control method is not limited.

[0102] Each of the above embodiments provides a needle bed detection mechanism, which uses a probe 11010 to detect the orientation of the positive and negative poles of the battery cell, which can replace manual detection of the arrangement posture of the battery cells in the module, which is conducive to improving detection efficiency and accuracy. Furthermore, the crank slider 1105 structure is provided to enable the needle bed assembly to cleverly switch between the extended and retracted states, and during the switching process of the needle bed assembly between the two states, the probe 11010 is always in a downward or backward posture, which can avoid accidental injury to the workstation operator; and during the process of the needle bed assembly switching from the retracted state to the extended state, the needle bed assembly is in a forward pushing movement process. Even if there is an operator at the workstation and the needle bed assembly touches the operator, the forward pushing process can also avoid causing damage to the operator, which is safer than the descent process from a high place.

[0103] A first busbar welding station 114 is also located on the first conveyor line between the side panel welding system 111 and the second transfer station 116. A side panel inspection station 112 and a first busbar assembly station 113 are located between the side panel welding system 111 and the first busbar welding station 114, respectively. A busbar inspection station 115 is located between the first busbar welding station 114 and the second transfer station 116. This busbar inspection station 115 also allows for tooling removal, releasing the tooling's tightening force on the module to facilitate subsequent transfer of the module to the second transfer station 116.

[0104] Furthermore, an end plate coding station 12 may be provided at the front end of the first conveyor line for marking identification codes on the end plates for easy identification. A cell loading station 11 is provided at the beginning of the first conveyor line.

[0105] On the basis of the above embodiment, further, a cell assembly station 24 is provided at a position corresponding to the second conveyor line and the first transfer station. The cell transfer robot 17 can be used to realize the assembly of the energy storage battery module.

[0106] refer to Figure 12 The battery cell transfer robot 17 includes: a first clamping jaw 171, a second clamping jaw 1711, a swinging mechanism 172 and a transfer mounting frame. The transfer mounting frame is used to be connected and fixed with the displacement mechanism. The displacement mechanism is used to provide spatial displacement. The swinging mechanism 172 is fixed to the transfer mounting frame. The first clamping jaw 171 is connected to the swinging mechanism 172, and the second clamping jaw 1711 is installed on the transfer mounting frame.

[0107] The displacement mechanism is used to provide spatial displacement. The cell reordering robot is used to clamp the workpiece, and then the displacement mechanism is used to drive the cell reordering device to move in space to transfer the workpiece between different processes. The reordering mounting frame is used to fix the various components of the cell reordering device and connect it to the displacement mechanism. The clamping jaws are used to directly contact the workpiece to apply a clamping force to the workpiece. The swing mechanism 172 is provided to drive the clamping jaws to swing, so that the clamped workpiece can be swung under the drive of the swing mechanism 172, and different postures of the workpiece can be obtained to meet different reordering posture requirements.

[0108] The first clamping jaw 171 and the second clamping jaw 1711 are provided to clamp two workpieces at the same time, thereby improving efficiency. Moreover, the two clamping jaws can realize different relative postures between the two workpieces through the swing of the first clamping jaw 171, thereby improving functionality and applicability.

[0109] This embodiment provides a battery cell transfer robot, which is provided with a swing mechanism 172 connected to the first clamp 171. It can realize swinging and flipping after the first clamp 171 clamps the workpiece, so as to obtain different postures of the workpiece without moving the displacement mechanism. It can adapt to different transfer posture requirements, improve the functionality and flexibility of the transfer clamping, and improve applicability.

[0110] Specifically, for example, the workpiece can be initially placed flat on the workstation. After the first clamp 171 clamps the workpiece, the swing mechanism 172 can rotate 90 degrees to flip the workpiece from flat to upright. The swing mechanism 172 can also rotate to flip the workpiece 180 degrees. When the workpiece is a square battery cell, the electrode position of the workpiece can be swapped. Figure 12 and Figure 14 The square battery cell clamped by the first clamping jaw 171 is switched between positive and negative poles under the rotation of the swing mechanism 172 ; and the relative relationship with the square battery cell clamped by the second clamping jaw 1711 is changed.

[0111] Furthermore, the displacement mechanism can be a one-dimensional, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional linear motion mechanism, thereby driving the cell reordering device to move in a one-dimensional, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional linear manner. The displacement mechanism can also be a four-axis robot, a six-axis robot, or a multi-degree-of-freedom robotic arm, thereby driving the reordering and gripping device to move in multiple degrees of freedom. The specific form of the displacement mechanism can be flexibly selected according to actual needs and is not specifically limited.

[0112] Furthermore, the swing mechanism 172 is a mechanism capable of providing rotational movement, such as a swing table, a swing cylinder or a gear structure, etc., which is not specifically limited. Preferably, the swing mechanism 172 can be a swing cylinder.

[0113] On the basis of the above embodiments, further referring to Figure 12 The swing mechanism 172 is connected to a connector 177, and the first clamping jaw 171 is connected to the connector 177. The swing mechanism 172 can be fixedly connected to the connector 177, and the clamping jaw is fixed to the connector 177; the swing mechanism 172 drives the connector 177 to rotate integrally. The clamping jaw is connected to the swing mechanism 172 via a connector 177 of a certain length. When the swing mechanism 172 swings, the clamping jaw not only changes angle but also deviates from its initial position, rotating around the connector 177 as a radius. This increases the versatility and functionality of the rotational gripping device.

[0114] Furthermore, the transfer mounting frame includes a bracket and a first connecting plate 173 and a second connecting plate 174 arranged on opposite sides of the bracket; the first connecting plate 173 is used to be fixedly connected to the displacement mechanism; the swinging mechanism 172 can be fixed on the inner side of the second connecting plate 174 and the swinging member of the swinging mechanism 172 extends from the inner side of the second connecting plate 174 and is connected to the clamping claw.

[0115] Furthermore, the second clamping jaw 1711 may be connected to the rotation sequence mounting frame via a spacer block 1712 , so that the clamping surfaces of the second clamping jaw 1711 and the first clamping jaw 171 are located in the same plane.

[0116] On the basis of the above embodiment, the rotation mounting frame is further connected with two limit mechanisms 175 at intervals on the swing path of the first clamping jaw 171; the limit mechanisms 175 are used to limit the swing position of the clamping jaw, so that the clamping jaw rotates to the preset limit mechanism 175, thereby obtaining the desired posture accurately, facilitating the control of different postures of the workpiece. Figure 14 The limiting mechanism 175 includes a limiting bracket 1751 and a limiting block 1752. The limiting bracket 1751 is fixed to the transfer mounting frame, and the limiting block 1752 is fixed to the limiting bracket 1751. The limiting block 1752 is used to block and limit the swing of the clamping claw. The limiting mechanism 175 also includes a buffer limiting member 1753. Figure 13The connecting member 177 may also be connected to a positioning block 1710 ; the positioning block 1710 is used to cooperate with the limit block 52 and the buffer limit member 53 to achieve the positioning of the clamp when the swing mechanism 172 swings.

[0117] When the first clamping jaw 171 is located at one of the limiting mechanisms 175, the extension and retraction directions of the first clamping jaw 171 and the second clamping jaw 1711 are located on the same straight line; Figure 12 When the first clamping jaw 171 is located at another limiting mechanism 175, the first clamping jaw 171 and the second clamping jaw 1711 are in a side-by-side state and their extension directions are parallel, as shown. Figure 14 shown.

[0118] On the basis of the above embodiment, further, the first jaw 171 and the second jaw 1711 each include two opposing jaw bodies, and the bottom of the first jaw 171 and the second jaw 1711 are respectively connected to a travel pin 176 between the two jaw bodies. The bottom of the jaw is the side opposite to the open side of the jaw. When the jaw clamps a workpiece, the workpiece gradually moves from the open side of the jaw to the bottom of the jaw. The travel pin 176 between the two jaw bodies can limit the insertion depth of the workpiece. The provision of the travel pin 176 can limit the depth of the workpiece inserted into the jaws; this is conducive to improving the consistency of the depth of each workpiece clamped, and improving the intelligence and accuracy of the clamping device.

[0119] Furthermore, the two jaws of the clamp can be planar to facilitate gripping workpieces with planar surfaces, such as square battery cells or plate-shaped workpieces. The jaws of the clamp can also be non-planar, for example, curved to facilitate gripping workpieces with curved surfaces, such as cylindrical battery cells. The specific shape of the jaws and the specific workpieces that the clamp can grip are not limited.

[0120] Further, refer to Figure 12 The jaw body of the clamp can be L-shaped. One side of the L-shaped jaw body is used to contact and grip the workpiece, and the other side can be connected to the jaw's drive component, such as a cylinder. The jaw's drive component is fixedly arranged to provide power for the jaw body to move. The travel pin 176 can be fixed to the jaw body and move accordingly with the expansion and contraction of the two jaw bodies. The travel pin 176 can also be fixed to the jaw's drive component and not move with the expansion and contraction of the jaw body, and is not specifically limited to this.

[0121] Building on the above embodiment, travel pins 176 abut against the surface of the workpiece, thereby limiting the depth of the workpiece's insertion into the jaws. Multiple travel pins 176 are symmetrically positioned on either side of the bottom of the first jaw 171; similarly, multiple travel pins 176 are symmetrically positioned on either side of the bottom of the second jaw 1711. This applies symmetrical abutment to the workpiece, ensuring uniform insertion of the workpiece into the jaws.

[0122] On the basis of the above embodiment, further, the travel pin 176 is an elastic structure. Figure 12 The transfer mounting frame is further connected to a detection bracket 178, and the detection bracket 178 is connected to a detection unit 179. The detection unit 179 is used to detect and verify the workpiece after the transfer clamping device transfers the workpiece to ensure that the posture of the workpiece after the transfer meets the transfer requirements.

[0123] Specifically, detection unit 179 can be an industrial camera, a distance sensor, or a barcode reader. The industrial camera can verify through image detection whether the workpiece's posture meets the requirements for reordering; the distance sensor can verify by measuring the distance between the workpiece and the workpiece whether the workpiece's placement height meets the requirements for reordering; and the barcode reader can verify by reading the identification code on the workpiece whether the workpiece is the one required for reordering. Detection unit 179 can also be other types and can be flexibly configured according to actual needs, and is not specifically limited.

[0124] On the basis of the above embodiments, further, this embodiment provides a battery module assembly method based on the battery cell sequence transfer device described in any of the above embodiments, and the battery module assembly method includes: initially, the first clamping jaw 171 and the second clamping jaw 1711 are located in the same straight line in the extension direction, respectively clamping the battery cells, and making the travel pins 176 on the first clamping jaw 171 and the second clamping jaw 1711 respectively compressed to preset positions; swinging the first clamping jaw 171 so that the two battery cells clamped by the first clamping jaw 171 and the second clamping jaw 1711 are placed side by side and in opposite postures, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown; the two battery cells clamped by the first clamp 171 and the second clamp 1711 are inserted into the installation positions of the module base 1714; the first clamp 171 and the second clamp 1711 are released, and the two battery cells are installed in place under the elastic force of the stroke pin 176; the assembly result is verified by the detection unit 179.

[0125] This battery module assembly method can be used to assemble modules with cells placed in a forward and reverse direction, such as energy storage modules. Figure 15One module base 1714 has multiple parallel mounting slots, forming cell mounting positions into which the cells are inserted for assembly. The multiple mounting slots on a module base 1714 are divided into multiple mounting slots for first-position cells 1715 and multiple mounting slots for second-position cells 1716. The multiple mounting slots for first-position cells 1715 are arranged adjacently to form a first group of mounting slots, while the multiple mounting slots for second-position cells 1716 are arranged adjacently to form a second group of mounting slots. The first and second groups of mounting slots on the module base 1714 are arranged in a sequentially spaced, intersecting arrangement. That is, the multiple mounting slots on a module base 1714 are arranged sequentially as multiple mounting slots for first-position cells 1715 and multiple mounting slots for second-position cells 1716. The number of mounting slots for first-position cells 1715 and second-position cells 1716 can be the same.

[0126] The module assembly method further includes inserting the battery cell held by the first clamping jaw 171 and the battery cell held by the second clamping jaw 1711 into corresponding mounting positions for the first-position battery cell 1715 and the second-position battery cell 1716. Specifically, when the first clamping jaw 171 is rotated to align with the second clamping jaw 1711 and their extension and retraction directions are parallel, a gap exists between the first clamping jaw 171 and the second clamping jaw 1711. This ensures that during module assembly, a gap exists between the two battery cells in opposite positions. This allows the two battery cells to be inserted into corresponding positions in different mounting positions each time the battery cells are placed.

[0127] Specifically, refer to Figure 15 In the module of this embodiment, the first posture battery cells 1715 and the second posture battery cells 1716 can be placed alternately in groups of three, that is, Figure 15 After the three first-position cells 1715 in the top row of cells, three second-position cells 1716 need to be placed. First, two cells can be clamped by the first clamp 171 and the second clamp 1711, and then the first clamp 171 can be turned over to form two cells with a distance and opposite positions. Figure 15 Then pick up the battery cell for the second time and turn it over. Figure 15 Then, the battery cells are clamped again to form Figure 15 The top row of modules is assembled in this manner. The module assembly is completed by placing multiple modules into the box 1713. The module base 1714 can be first fixed and arranged in the box 1713 before the battery cells are assembled.

[0128] The clamp drives the battery cell to be inserted into the module base 1714. After the clamp body is released, the compressed stroke pin 176 will apply a thrust to the battery cell, which is helpful to ensure that the battery cell is inserted in place. After each assembly of the battery cell, a detection unit 179 such as a camera can be set to detect whether there is a corresponding battery cell at the corresponding installation position, that is, to detect whether the assembly position of the battery cell is correct and whether there is any situation such as failure to assemble smoothly and tilting; the camera can also be used to detect and verify whether the assembly posture of the battery cell is qualified. Furthermore, because the height requirements for the module assembly matching battery cells are relatively high (if the height of the poles on the surface of the battery cell is uneven, it will affect the subsequent process and affect the battery performance), a distance sensor can also be set to detect and verify whether the height of the battery cell surface is uniform and meets the standard.

[0129] Furthermore, the battery cell sequence rotation device is not only suitable for the sequence rotation clamping and module assembly of battery cells, but also for the sequence rotation clamping and assembly of other workpieces that require posture adjustment, without limitation to the specific applicable workpieces.

[0130] Furthermore, the cell detection system 13 is provided on the first conveyor line. The second conveyor line is provided with a box loading station 21 and a base installation station 23 in sequence before the first transfer station. The second conveyor line is used for the production of energy storage battery modules. The energy storage battery modules adopt an assembly process of placing the cell in the box, such as Figure 15 As shown. A module base 1714 is placed at the bottom of the box 1713. Module base 1714 is provided with placement slots corresponding to the battery cells for placement. Along the second conveyor line, the box 1713 can be loaded manually or robotically; then, the module base 1714 is installed within the box 1713 at the base installation station 23. A box coding station 22 can be located between the box loading station 21 and the base installation station 23.

[0131] When the box 1713 is transported to the first transfer station after the module base 1714 is installed, the gluing mechanism 15 can also be used to gluing the base; thus, when the battery cell is inserted into the base, the bottom of the battery cell and the module base 1714 are glued and connected, thereby improving the firmness of the battery cell fixation.

[0132] On the second conveyor line, between the first and second transfer stations 116, at least one of the following stations is located: a polarity detection station 25, an upper bracket installation station 26, a screw installation station, a second busbar assembly station 27, and a second busbar welding station 28. The polarity detection station 25 is used to check the posture of the battery cells assembled into the box 1713 to prevent unqualified products from entering the subsequent process. The upper bracket installation station 26 is used to install a bracket on the top of the battery cell to secure the top of the cell.

[0133] Further, refer to Figure 16The second transfer station 116 includes two linear guide rails 1161 arranged parallel to and spanning the first and second conveyor lines. A connecting beam 1162 is movably connected between the two linear guide rails 1161. A vertical drive structure 1163 is connected to the connecting beam 1162. The bottom of the vertical drive structure 1163 is connected to a fixed frame 1164. The two ends of the fixed frame 1164 are connected to mounting plates, each of which is equipped with a transfer clamp 1165. The two transfer clamps 1165 are arranged opposite each other and connected to two opposing clamping plates 1166. The two transfer clamps 1165 synchronously extend and retract, driving the two clamping plates 1166 to move toward or away from each other, so that the two clamping plates 1166 can clamp or release the module on both sides of the module.

[0134] Furthermore, the fixed frame 1164 and the connecting beam 1162 are connected in a floating manner, which can be achieved through a linear bearing 1168 structure. A vertical guide rail 1169 is connected to the connecting beam 1162 at the location corresponding to the mounting plate, and the mounting plate is movably connected to the vertical guide rail 1169. Furthermore, an L-shaped support plate 1167 is connected to the bottom of the clamping plate 1166 to provide protection underneath the module during transfer. This configuration of the second transfer station 116 effectively facilitates the transfer of modules between the first and second conveyor lines.

[0135] Furthermore, after the wire harness welding station 29, a wire harness inspection station 210 and a module inspection station 211 (such as an EOL test station) are specifically provided in sequence. The soft pack PACK production line can also be connected to realize the processing and molding of the battery. Furthermore, a recycling station 30 is provided at the stations used for inspection, such as the needle bed detection system 110, the polarity detection station 25, and the post-weld inspection station, for recycling and storing products that fail the inspection. Auxiliary components such as a dust suction mechanism that matches the welding equipment are provided at each welding station, such as the side panel welding system 111, the busbar welding station, and the wire harness welding station 29.

[0136] The battery module production line provided in the above embodiment integrates the first conveyor line and the second conveyor line, so that the production line is compatible with two production processes of square power battery modules and energy storage battery modules, which can greatly optimize the setting process of the battery production line and avoid waste of resources.

[0137] Furthermore, the battery module production line can also be provided with a stop structure and a jacking structure at the workstations where the operation needs to stop. Taking the 13th workstation of the battery cell testing system as an example, the battery cell is placed on the tooling plate, and the tooling plate is placed on the battery cell conveyor line for transportation. When the tooling plate arrives at the testing mechanism, the stop structure can be activated to block the tooling plate from continuing to move, so as to smoothly implement the testing or transfer of the battery cell. The battery cell conveyor line can also be provided with a jacking structure at the testing mechanism. When the tooling plate arrives at the testing mechanism and is blocked by the stop structure and stops moving, the jacking structure can be activated to jack up the tooling plate, which can not only lift the tooling plate to avoid the influence of the conveyor line body structure on the battery cell testing, but also can position the tooling plate through the jacking structure to facilitate the battery cell testing. Positioning between the jacking structure and the tooling plate can be achieved through structures such as pins.

[0138] 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 make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the various embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A power battery module production line, characterized in that: It includes a conveyor line and a battery cell detection system, a gluing mechanism, a sequence transfer mechanism, a battery cell stacking station and a side panel welding system arranged in sequence along the conveyor line. A needle bed detection system is also provided between the battery cell stacking station and the side panel welding system on the conveyor line. Wherein, the needle bed detection system includes a needle bed mounting frame and a needle bed assembly, the needle bed mounting frame is used to be fixed above the first conveyor line, the needle bed assembly is connected to the needle bed mounting frame, and the needle bed assembly includes a plurality of probes; both sides of the needle bed assembly are respectively connected to the needle bed mounting frame through a crank slider structure; the needle bed assembly includes a connecting plate, and the probes are fixed to the connecting plate; the needle bed assembly also includes a fixing plate, which is relatively arranged on a side of the connecting plate away from the probes, the connecting plate and the fixing plate are floatingly connected up and down, and the fixing plate is connected to the needle bed mounting frame; The crank slider structure includes a connecting rod and a slider, one end of the connecting rod is connected to the driving structure, and the other end is rotatably connected to the needle bed assembly. The slider is slidably connected to the needle bed mounting frame in the front-to-back direction. The slider is rotatably connected to the needle bed assembly and the connection portion is spaced apart from the other end of the connecting rod. The connecting rod and slider in the crank slider structure are connected to the fixed plate, thereby driving the needle bed assembly to move; a pushing structure arranged in the vertical direction is installed on the fixed plate, and the pushing structure is connected to the connecting plate; the pushing structure is used to control the up and down movement of the driving connecting plate.

2. The power battery module production line according to claim 1, characterized in that: The battery cell detection system includes a testing mechanism arranged on one side of the line body and a transfer mechanism for transferring battery cells that fail the test; the transfer mechanism includes a linear guide rail, a vertical drive structure and a transfer clamp, the linear guide rail is used to be arranged above the line body, the vertical drive structure is connected to the linear guide rail, and the transfer clamp is connected to the vertical drive structure in an up and down floating manner.

3. The power battery module production line according to claim 2, characterized in that: The testing mechanism includes at least one testing unit arranged side by side; the testing unit includes a code reader, a horizontal guide frame and a vertical guide frame, the code reader is horizontally adjustable and fixed to the horizontal guide frame, and the horizontal guide frame is vertically adjustable and fixed to the vertical guide frame.

4. The power battery module production line according to claim 3, characterized in that: The test unit further includes a probe, a horizontal pushing structure and a probe mounting frame, wherein the probe is connected to the horizontal pushing structure and the horizontal pushing structure is mounted on the probe mounting frame; The battery cell detection system further comprises a flipping mechanism for adjusting the position of the battery cell that is placed upside down during testing, and the testing mechanism is arranged before the flipping mechanism.

5. The power battery module production line according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: An end plate loading mechanism is also provided on the side of the conveying line, and the end plate loading mechanism is used to convey the end plate, and the end plate loading mechanism is located within the displacement range of the gluing mechanism.

6. The power battery module production line according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The transfer mechanism includes a cell transfer robot and a transfer conveyor line body respectively arranged on the side of the conveyor line. The transfer conveyor line body is located within the displacement range of the cell transfer robot, and the transfer conveyor line body extends to the cell stacking station.

7. The power battery module production line according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The side panel welding system includes a welding fixture; the welding fixture includes a fixing unit, the fixing unit includes a mounting plate, a pressure plate and a pushing structure, the mounting plate is hoisted on the bracket assembly, and two relatively arranged pressure plates are slidably connected to the mounting plate along a first direction, the pressure plate is connected to the pushing structure, and a positioning groove is provided on the pressure plate for matching the weld position.

8. The power battery module production line according to claim 7, characterized in that: The inner side surface of the pressure plate is connected to a pressure block on at least one side of the positioning groove; the pressure block is arranged along the length direction of the positioning groove and the width of the side where the pressure block is connected to the pressure plate is less than or equal to the width of the side where the pressure block is away from the pressure plate.

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