Workpiece reversing device

Abstract

The present invention provides a workpiece reversing device for a production line, comprising: a first straight section including a first conveyor belt and a first guide rail for conveying workpieces along a first direction; a second straight section including a second conveyor belt for conveying workpieces along a second direction intersecting the first direction; a reversing section connected between the first straight section and the second straight section, comprising a curved rail for reversing the conveying direction of the workpieces from the first direction to the second direction; and a tilting section disposed on the second straight section, including a tilting channel that gradually widens in the second direction, through which the workpieces are tilted in a direction orthogonal to the second direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a workpiece reversing device, and more particularly to a workpiece reversing device that can not only reverse the direction of a workpiece, but also tilt the workpiece and then convey it. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of the electronics industry, especially the widespread use of mobile devices and handheld electronic products in recent years, high-capacity, easily miniaturized rechargeable batteries are increasingly being used as power sources for portable devices such as laptops and power tools. Among them, square lithium-ion rechargeable batteries (hereinafter referred to as square batteries) are becoming increasingly widely used.

[0003] Similar to other batteries, square batteries are made by inserting a structure consisting of a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator into a square casing and then encapsulating it.

[0004] Specifically, a structure formed by winding the elements of the positive electrode, negative electrode, and separator is inserted into a square shell. Leads from the positive and negative electrodes are then inserted into the slots of a protective plate and extend outwards. The protective plate is then inserted into the opening of the shell. Next, the long lead extending from the slot of the protective plate is cut off, and the cut straight lead is welded to a sealing plate. Then, the lead is bent so that the sealing plate covers the opening of the square shell. The sealing plate is then welded to the shell opening using a laser. Electrolyte is injected through the injection port left in the welded sealing plate, and finally, the injection port is sealed again using a laser.

[0005] Typically, in factory processing, all processes from inserting the aforementioned structure into the square casing to the final electrolyte filling process are carried out on the same production line. Therefore, it is necessary to transfer and transport the square batteries between each process. To accommodate the manufacturing requirements of each process, it may be necessary to reverse or flip the square batteries. For example, if the workpiece transferred from the previous process is vertical, while the workpiece required for loading in the next process is horizontal, the reversal of the workpiece is currently achieved manually on the production line.

[0006] The above manual operations are not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, but also carry the risk of human error and the introduction of impurities.

[0007] Patent Document 1: CN105329605A

[0008] Patent Document 2: CN204980243U Summary of the Invention

[0009] To solve the above problems, the workpiece reversing device of the present invention, with its simple structure and without the need for electrical control, can realize the functions of automatic reversing and flipping of square workpieces on an automated production line.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a workpiece reversing device for a production line, characterized in that it comprises: a first straight section including a first conveyor belt and a first guide rail for conveying workpieces along a first direction; a second straight section including a second conveyor belt for conveying workpieces along a second direction intersecting the first direction; a reversing section connected between the first straight section and the second straight section, comprising a curved rail for reversing the conveying direction of the workpieces from the first direction to the second direction; and a tilting section disposed on the second straight section, including a tilting channel that gradually widens in the second direction, through which the workpieces are tilted in a direction orthogonal to the second direction.

[0011] The above-mentioned workpiece reversing device may also be characterized in that, in the first straight section, the first guide rail is set as two opposing first guide rails, and the workpiece is transported by the first conveyor belt between the two opposing first guide rails in such a way that one side of the workpiece contacts the first conveyor belt.

[0012] The workpiece reversing device described above may also be characterized in that, in the second straight section, the second conveyor belt gradually rises, and a limiting plate is provided on one side of the second conveyor belt for the workpiece to abut against the one side of the conveyor belt.

[0013] The aforementioned workpiece reversing device may also be characterized in that the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.

[0014] The workpiece reversing device described above may also be characterized in that the reversing part is composed of opposing inner curved rails and outer curved rails, and the distance between the two opposing curved rails is approximately the same as the distance between the two opposing first guide rails.

[0015] The aforementioned workpiece reversing device may also be characterized in that, in the tilting section, the tilting channel is composed of a tilting guide rail and a buffer belt, the tilting guide rail has a bent portion that bends inward from one side of the second conveyor belt, the bent portion causing the upper part of the workpiece to tilt in a direction orthogonal to the second direction, and the buffer belt extends along the direction of travel of the second conveyor belt, starting at least from a position opposite to the bent portion, the buffer belt supporting the upper part of the tilted workpiece.

[0016] The aforementioned workpiece reversing device may also be characterized in that the buffer belt is driven synchronously with the second conveyor belt.

[0017] The aforementioned workpiece reversing device may also be characterized in that the tilting guide rail further comprises a thin cylindrical linear guide rail continuing from the bent portion, extending along the second conveyor belt at a position further inward than one side of the second conveyor belt.

[0018] The aforementioned workpiece reversing device may also be characterized in that the buffer belt is closer to the other side of the second conveyor belt the more it moves in the direction of travel of the second conveyor belt. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional view of the workpiece reversing device.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional view of the workpiece reversing device from another perspective.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a top view of the workpiece reversing device.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a diagram used to illustrate the workpiece tilting channel.

[0023] Symbol Explanation

[0024] 1. Workpiece reversing device

[0025] 2. Workpiece

[0026] 21 Fixtures

[0027] 11 Straight Track

[0028] 12 First Conveyor Belt

[0029] 22 Second Conveyor Belt

[0030] 33 Inner curved rail

[0031] 34 Outer curved rail

[0032] 14 Cylindrical rails

[0033] 15 Cylindrical rails

[0034] 16 Cylindrical rails

[0035] 161 Bent Rail

[0036] 17 Cylindrical rails

[0037] 18 round belts

[0038] 28 Limiting plates Detailed Implementation

[0039] The workpiece reversing device of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific configuration described below.

[0040] Figure 1 A perspective view of the workpiece reversing device 1 is shown. Figure 2 A three-dimensional view of the workpiece reversing device from another angle. Figure 3This is a top view of the workpiece reversing device. Figure 4 This is a diagram used to illustrate the workpiece tilting channel.

[0041] The workpiece reversing device 1 conveys the workpiece 2.

[0042] Workpiece 2 is, for example, a thin rectangular workpiece like a square lithium-ion battery. The fixture 21 is formed as a roughly rectangular frame for inserting workpiece 2, so that it can be transferred between processes while holding workpiece 2. Figures 1 to 3 As shown, each workpiece 2 is fixed by the fixture 21 shown in the figure, and the workpiece 2 with the fixture 21 is conveyed by the workpiece reversing device 1. Hereinafter, the workpiece 2 and the fixture 21 are regarded as a square workpiece as a whole, and are simply referred to as workpiece 2.

[0043] like Figure 2 As shown, the workpiece reversing device 1 is L-shaped when viewed from above.

[0044] Two straight rails 11, 11 are erected opposite each other on both sides of a first conveyor belt 12 extending along a first direction. The first conveyor belt 12 extends further downstream than the straight rails 11, 11. The distance between the two straight rails 11, 11 is slightly greater than the thickness of the workpiece 2, and the height of the straight rails 11 from the first conveyor belt 12 is approximately half the height of the workpiece 2. For example, the height of the straight rails 11 relative to the first conveyor belt 12 is 34 mm at the top and 9 mm at the bottom. The lower side of the workpiece 2 contacts the first conveyor belt 12, and the workpiece 2 is conveyed between the two straight rails 11, 11 by friction.

[0045] The output ends of the two straight rails 11 and 11 are adjacent to the input ends of the inner curved rail 33 and the outer curved rail 34, respectively. The curvature of the outer curved rail 34 is slightly smaller than that of the inner curved rail 33, resulting in the following variation in the width between the outer curved rail 34 and the inner curved rail 33: the width between the input ends of the outer curved rail 34 and the inner curved rail 33, and the width between their output ends, are approximately the same, equal to the width between the straight rails 11 and 11. However, the maximum width between the outer curved rail 34 and the inner curved rail 33 is slightly greater than the width between the straight rails 11 and 11. Therefore, the workpiece 2 can smoothly change direction from the first direction to the second direction between the inner curved rail 33 and the outer curved rail 34.

[0046] In addition, the distance between the inner curved rail 33 and the outer curved rail 34 can also be approximately the same as the width between the straight rails 11 and 11.

[0047] Furthermore, the heights of the inner curved rail 33 and the outer curved rail 34 are approximately half the height of the fixture holding the workpiece 2. For example, the height of the inner curved rail 33 relative to the first conveyor belt 12 is 39mm at the top and 9mm at the bottom; the height of the outer curved rail 34 relative to the first conveyor belt 12 is 39mm at the top and 9mm at the bottom.

[0048] The starting point of the second conveyor belt 22 is adjacent to the side of the first conveyor belt 12 and extends downstream along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A limit plate 28 is provided on the left side of the second conveyor belt 22 in the second direction, which is used for the lower side of the workpiece 2 that contacts the second conveyor belt 22 to abut against it, thereby preventing the lower side of the workpiece 2 conveyed on the second conveyor belt 22 from sliding off the side of the second conveyor belt 22. The output ends of the inner curved rail 33 and the outer curved rail 34 are located above the second conveyor belt 22, wherein the inner side of the output end of the outer curved rail 34 is tangent to the side of the second conveyor belt 22.

[0049] Cylindrical rails 15 and 16 are respectively provided adjacent to the output ends of the inner curved rail 33 and the outer curved rail 34.

[0050] like Figure 1 and Figure 4 As shown, the cylindrical rail 16 starts from the upper end of the output end of the outer curved rail 34, runs parallel to the second conveyor belt 22, and slopes towards the center of the second conveyor belt 22 as it moves downstream, reaching a position approximately one workpiece 2 width away from the outer curved rail 34. For example, to tilt the battery in a predetermined direction, the curved rail 161 is set in an inwardly bent state, with the curved rail 161 forming an angle of approximately 158° with the cylindrical rail 16, and the height of the curved rail 161 from the second conveyor belt 22 is 36 mm. Furthermore, as described above, the slope of the curved rail 161 relative to the cylindrical rail 16 suddenly increases, bending towards the center of the second conveyor belt 22. This curved rail 161 can tilt the workpiece 2 conveyed along the second conveyor belt 22 in a direction orthogonal to the second conveyor belt 22.

[0051] Cylindrical rail 15 begins near the lower end of the output end of the inner curved rail 33, parallel to the second conveyor belt 22, and slopes towards the side of the second conveyor belt 22 without the limiting plate 28 as it moves downstream of the second conveyor belt 22. The horizontal projected distance between cylindrical rail 15 and cylindrical rail 16 is slightly larger than the thickness of workpiece 2. The function of cylindrical rail 15 is to provide auxiliary guidance for the battery before it tipes over.

[0052] Additionally, above the second conveyor belt 22, a cylindrical rail 14 is provided, opposite to the cylindrical rail 16 and partially overlapping the aforementioned cylindrical rail 15. The height of the cylindrical rail 14 from the second conveyor belt 22 is approximately 80% of the height of the workpiece 2. For example, the height of the cylindrical rail 14 from the second conveyor belt 22 is 35 mm, and the height of the fixture holding the workpiece 2 is 50 mm. The cylindrical rail 14 tilts further downstream of the second conveyor belt 22 towards the side of the second conveyor belt 22 without the limiting plate 28. The cylindrical rail 14 is used to support the upper part of the workpiece 2 tilted by the bent rail 161.

[0053] Above the second conveyor belt 22, further inward than the side of the limiting plate 28 on the second conveyor belt 22, there is a cylindrical rail 17 adjacent to the end of the bent rail 161, extending downstream of the second conveyor belt 22 along a second direction. For example, the cylindrical rail 17 is 23 mm above the second conveyor belt 22. Also present is a circular belt 18 that slopes towards the side of the second conveyor belt 22 without the limiting plate 28 as it moves downstream of the second conveyor belt 22. The circular belt 18 travels at the same speed as the second conveyor belt 22.

[0054] In addition, the cylindrical rail 14 can be bent into a shape tangent to the circular belt 18 to smoothly transfer the upper part of the receiving workpiece 2 to the circular belt 18.

[0055] The circular belt 18 and the cylindrical rail 17 form a tilting channel that widens as it moves downstream of the second conveyor belt 22. The height difference between the circular belt 18 and the second conveyor belt 22 decreases as it moves downstream; specifically, the conveyor belt 22 gradually rises while the circular belt 18 remains approximately horizontal. When the workpiece 2 reaches the downstream end of the circular belt 18, the tilting is essentially complete. Compared to its pre-tilting posture, the workpiece 2 reaching the downstream end of the circular belt 18 can tilt by 90 degrees.

[0056] In this embodiment, the workpiece is rotated 90 degrees and then tilted 90 degrees, but it can also be rotated to other angles and tilted to other angles to meet the feeding requirements of the production line.

[0057] In this embodiment, a tilting guide rail is formed by cylindrical rail 16, bent rail 161, and cylindrical rail 17, and the upper part of the tilted workpiece 2 is supported by cylindrical rail 15, cylindrical rail 14, and circular belt 18. Thus, cylindrical rails 14-17 and circular belt 18 together constitute a tilting channel.

[0058] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to the specific examples described above. Those skilled in the art will conceive of various modifications or variations within the scope of the appended claims, and these modifications and variations naturally fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A workpiece reversing device for a production line, characterized in that, include: The first straight section includes a first conveyor belt and a first guide rail, which transports the workpiece along a first direction; The second straight section includes a second conveyor belt that transports the workpiece along a second direction intersecting the first direction; A reversing section, connected between the first straight-line section and the second straight-line section, is composed of curved rails and reverses the transmission direction of the workpiece from the first direction to the second direction; and A tilting section, disposed on the second straight section, includes a tilting channel that gradually widens in the second direction, through which workpieces are tilted in a direction orthogonal to the second direction. In the second straight section, the second conveyor belt gradually rises, and a limiting plate is provided on one side of the second conveyor belt for the workpiece to abut against that side. In the tilting section, the tilting channel is composed of a tilting guide rail and a buffer belt. The tilting guide rail has a bend that curves inward from one side of the second conveyor belt, the bend causing the upper part of the workpiece to tilt in a direction orthogonal to the second direction. The buffer belt extends along the direction of travel of the second conveyor belt, starting at least from a position opposite to the bend, and supports the upper part of the tilted workpiece. The tilting guide rail also has a thin, cylindrical, linear guide rail that continues from the bend and extends along the second conveyor belt at a position further inward than one side of the second conveyor belt. The closer the buffer belt is to the other side of the second conveyor belt, the more it moves in the direction the second conveyor belt is traveling.

2. The workpiece reversing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In the first straight section, the first guide rails are arranged as two opposing lines, and the workpiece is transported by the first conveyor belt between the two opposing first guide rails in such a way that one side of the workpiece contacts the first conveyor belt.

3. The workpiece reversing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.

4. The workpiece reversing device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The reversing section is composed of opposing inner curved rails and outer curved rails, and the distance between the two opposing curved rails is approximately the same as the distance between the two opposing first guide rails.

5. The workpiece reversing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The buffer belt is driven synchronously with the second conveyor belt.

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