Battery plate stamping and conveying system and working method

Abstract

The present invention discloses a battery plate conveying system and method, wherein the device comprises a workbench, a preceding stamping die, a following stamping die, a robot, and an end picker, wherein the workbench is located on both sides of the robot, the preceding stamping die and the following stamping die are respectively located on the workbench on both sides of the robot, and the end picker is fixed on the robot. During operation, the stamped plate is conveyed and placed via the end picker connected to one end of the robot. The present invention eliminates the manual conveying step in the plate production process, has a high degree of automation, and avoids the process of manually pressing the plate, thereby improving production efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a punching and feeding system, in particular to a battery plate punching and conveying system and a working method. Background Art

[0002] A fuel cell is a device that converts chemical energy in raw materials into electrical energy, and the plates inside the battery are one of the key components. Plates are generally made by using a press to punch 0.05-0.2mm thin sheets on the surface of the sheet to form special flow field grooves. Multiple plates are stacked and spot welded to form a stack, which is then packaged to form a battery. The battery is then fed with fuel gas and converted into electrical energy through chemical reactions.

[0003] The battery plate is driven by a press to drive the die to perform multi-step stamping on the sheet. During the stamping process, the positioning of the plate in the die is mainly achieved by the cylindrical locating pins on the die and the locating grooves on the plate. After the previous stamping is completed, the plate needs to be removed from the die, placed in the second process and ensure that the plate locating groove falls on the die locating pin. Because the plate is very thin, when the plate is placed in the subsequent die from the previous process, it cannot fall accurately on the locating pin, which will cause the groove formed in the subsequent process to not overlap with the groove formed in the previous process, resulting in the plate being scrapped. The current production process of multi-step forming plates mainly relies on manually removing the plate formed by the first step of stamping from the die and placing it in the second step of stamping. After the plate is placed in the locating pins on the second step of the die, it is also necessary to manually press the surrounding area of ​​the plate locating groove to ensure that the plate fits the lower die surface. After the second step of stamping is completed, the above steps are manually repeated to perform the third step of stamping. This production process has a low degree of automation and low production efficiency, which is far from meeting the demand for plates in fuel cells. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention is designed to solve the problem of low efficiency of manual production of battery plates in the prior art, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a battery plate feeding device and method. The system can significantly improve the production efficiency of battery plates.

[0005] The present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0006] A battery plate stamping and conveying system, including a workbench, a stamping die, a robot, and an end picker. The stamping die is divided into a front-order stamping die and a rear-order stamping die, which are respectively located on two workbenches; each stamping die includes an upper die and a lower die, and the robot is located between the two workbenches; the end picker includes an end picker main arm, a quick-change mechanism, and an end picker bracket, wherein the end picker main arm is connected to the main arm of the robot, and the end picker bracket is installed on the end picker main arm through the quick-change mechanism, and a connecting column and a cylinder III are fixed on the end picker bracket, a suction cup is provided at the bottom end of the connecting column, and a sleeve is provided at the bottom end of the cylinder III;

[0007] The lower mold has a plate positioning mechanism, which includes a positioning groove on the lower mold surface and a positioning pin matched therewith, and the positioning pin is telescopically installed in the positioning groove through a cylinder.

[0008] Preferably, the end tool support includes a longitudinal support and three transverse supports fixed on the longitudinal support, and the transverse supports include a middle support I and supports II on both sides.

[0009] Preferably, the bracket I is vertically fixed with a connecting column through a connecting block, and the bracket II is vertically fixed with a cylinder III through a connecting block.

[0010] Preferably, eight connecting columns are provided and are staggeredly distributed on both sides of the bracket I.

[0011] Preferably, the cylinder III is an electric cylinder.

[0012] Preferably, the connection blocks each include two clamping parts, each clamping part includes two clamping pieces, and the two clamping pieces are connected together at the outer end of the clamping part by bolts, so that a circular cavity is formed between the two connected clamping pieces.

[0013] Preferably, the connecting block can adjust the fixing position of the connecting column and the cylinder III.

[0014] A working method for punching and conveying battery plates, using the above device, comprises the following steps:

[0015] S1. Place the sheet material on the lower die surface of the preceding stamping die;

[0016] S2, the upper die of the preceding stamping die moves downward so that the lower end of the guide column abuts against the guide sleeve of the lower die of the preceding stamping die;

[0017] S3, the upper die of the preceding stamping die moves downward from top to bottom until it is closely fitted with the lower die of the preceding stamping die, and the sheet material is stamped to form a plate;

[0018] S4, the upper die of the preceding stamping die moves upward from bottom to top so that the upper die of the preceding stamping die is separated from the lower die of the preceding stamping die;

[0019] S5, the robot drives the end picker to enter between the upper die of the preceding stamping die and the lower die of the preceding stamping die, and the end picker approaches the electrode plate on the lower die of the preceding stamping die;

[0020] S6, the robot sends a signal to control the positioning pin on the lower die of the previous stamping die to descend until the positioning pin is exposed to the lower die surface of the previous stamping die, and the end picker grabs the electrode plate;

[0021] S7, the robot drives the end picker to leave the preceding stamping die and move to the succeeding stamping die, until the cylinder III on the end picker is concentric with the locating pin of the succeeding stamping die, and the locating hole on the plate has been inserted into the top of the locating pin of the succeeding stamping die, and the suction cup is released;

[0022] S8, the robot sends a signal to control the cylinder III on the end picker to move, and the cylinder III drives the pressing of the sheet material so that the sleeve is just inserted into the positioning pin of the subsequent stamping die;

[0023] S9. The robot drives the end picker back to the origin for the next working cycle.

[0024] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0025] The robot is located between two workbenches to facilitate the transmission of the electrode plates and avoid manual work; a quick-change mechanism is provided on the end picker to facilitate the replacement and maintenance of the end picker bracket to adapt to different work scenarios; the end picker bracket is fixed with a connecting column and a cylinder III, a suction cup is provided at the bottom end of the connecting column, and a sleeve is provided at the bottom end of the cylinder III, wherein the connecting column and the suction cup facilitate the removal of the electrode plate from the mold, and the cylinder and the sleeve facilitate the placement of the electrode plate into the mold to ensure that the electrode plate fits the lower mold surface.

[0026] (1) The lower mold surface is provided with a positioning groove and a positioning pin that cooperates with it. The positioning pin facilitates the positioning of the electrode plate when it is placed on the lower mold surface, ensuring the operating accuracy. The positioning pin is telescopically installed in the positioning groove through a cylinder. When the positioning pin is lowered, it is convenient for the end picker to grab the electrode plate, achieving a high degree of automation.

[0027] (2) The end picker includes a longitudinal bracket and three transverse brackets fixed to the longitudinal bracket, which ensures the stability of the end picker when grasping and transferring the electrode plate.

[0028] (3) The connecting column and cylinder III are vertically fixed on bracket I and bracket II respectively through the connecting block to ensure the stability and reliability of the end picker's own structure when grabbing and lowering the electrode plate.

[0029] (4) There are eight connecting posts to ensure that the electrode plate can be firmly grasped. The connecting posts are staggered on both sides of the bracket I to avoid deformation of the electrode plate due to uneven force when being grasped.

[0030] (5) Cylinder III is replaced by an electric cylinder, which is more convenient to control the speed of. Therefore, the impact force of the electric cylinder contacting the plate can be more easily controlled to prevent the plate from being deformed due to pressing.

[0031] (6) The connection block can adjust its fixed position relative to the connection column and the cylinder, and change the fixed height of the connection column or the cylinder seat relative to the end pick bracket, thereby facilitating the calibration of the suction cup and the sleeve, ensuring that the suction cup is in the same plane, the sleeve is in the same plane, and ensuring that the plate is evenly stressed when being grasped or placed.

[0032] (7) A high degree of automation is achieved through the steps of the present invention. The high repeatability of the robot ensures the stability of production quality. The use of electric cylinders or pneumatic cylinders to simulate manual pressing of the sheet metal solves the problem of the sheet metal not fitting the lower mold surface during automatic production, reduces complicated and repetitive labor, and improves production efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments:

[0034] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the use of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 2 It is a side view of the preceding stamping die;

[0036] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A local enlarged schematic diagram of the middle A;

[0037] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the subsequent stamping die;

[0038] Figure 5 It is a structural schematic diagram of the end picker;

[0039] Figure 6 It is a side view of the end effector bracket in Example 1 of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 7 It is a side view of the end effector bracket in Example 2 of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 8 is a plan view of the plate;

[0042] Description of reference numerals: 1. workbench, 2. preceding stamping die, 21. upper die I, 211. upper die profile I, 212. guide column I, 22. lower die I, 221. lower die profile I, 222. positioning groove I, 223. cylinder I, 224. positioning pin I, 225. guide sleeve I, 3. subsequent stamping die, 31. upper die II, 311. guide column II, 312. positioning rod II, 32. lower die II, 321. lower die profile II, 322. positioning groove II, 323. Cylinder II, 324. Locating pin II, 325. Guide sleeve II, 4. Robot, 5. End picker, 51. End picker main arm, 52. Quick change mechanism, 53. End picker bracket, 531. Longitudinal bracket, 532. Transverse bracket, 533. Bracket I, 534. Bracket II, 535. Connecting column, 536. Suction cup, 537. Cylinder III, 5371. Cylinder seat, 5372. Piston end, 538. Sleeve, 539. Electric cylinder, 540. Connecting block, 6. Plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions in the present invention, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all of the embodiments.

[0044] Example 1

[0045] like Figure 1-7 As shown, a battery plate stamping and conveying system includes a workbench 1, a preceding stamping die 2, a succeeding stamping die 3, a robot 4, and an end picker 5.

[0046] There are two workbenches 1 , the preceding stamping die 2 and the succeeding stamping die 3 are respectively located on the two workbenches 1 , the robot 4 is located between the two workbenches 1 , and the end picker 5 is fixed on the robot 4 .

[0047] The preceding stamping die 2 comprises an upper die 121 and a lower die 122. The upper die 121 comprises an upper die profile 1211 and a guide post 1212, wherein the guide post 1212 is vertically arranged on the upper die profile 1211 and is located outside the upper die profile 1211; the lower die 122 comprises a lower die profile 1221 and a guide sleeve 1225.

[0048] The lower mold surface I221 is provided with four positioning grooves I222 and positioning pins I224 matched therewith. The positioning pins I224 are telescopically installed in the positioning grooves I222 through the cylinder I223; wherein, the positioning pins I224 are used to position the electrode plate 6. When the positioning pins I224 are contracted under the drive of the cylinder I223, it is convenient for the electrode plate 6 to be grasped.

[0049] The guide sleeve 1225 is located outside the lower mold surface 1221 and corresponds to the position of the guide column 1212, wherein the guide sleeve 1221 can be inserted into the guide column 1212 to ensure that the upper mold surface 1211 and the lower mold surface 1221 are tightly fitted during the stamping process to avoid misalignment.

[0050] The subsequent stamping die 3 includes an upper die II31 and a lower die II32. The upper die II31 includes an upper die profile II311 and a guide post II312, and the guide post II312 is vertically arranged outside the upper die profile II311; the lower die II32 includes a lower die profile II311 and a guide sleeve II325.

[0051] The lower mold surface II321 is provided with four positioning grooves II322 and positioning pins II324 matched therewith. The positioning pins II324 are telescopically installed in the positioning grooves II324 through cylinders II323; wherein, the positioning pins II324 are used to position the pole plate 6.

[0052] The guide sleeve II325 is located outside the lower mold surface II321 and corresponds to the position of the guide column II212, wherein the guide sleeve II321 can be inserted into the guide column II312 to ensure that the upper mold surface II311 and the lower mold surface II321 fit tightly during the stamping process to avoid misalignment.

[0053] The robot 4 is a 4-6 axis industrial robot, located between two workbenches 1. The robot 4 avoids manual work and facilitates the transfer of the electrode plate 6 from the preceding stamping die 2 to the succeeding stamping die 3, thereby improving the degree of automation.

[0054] The end picker 5 includes an end picker main arm 51, a quick change mechanism 52, and an end picker bracket 53. The end picker main arm 51 is connected to the main arm of the robot 4, and the quick change mechanism 52 is located at the end of the end picker main arm 51, and is used to connect the end picker main arm 51 and the end picker bracket 53, so that the end picker bracket 53 can be replaced, which is convenient for the inspection and maintenance of the end picker bracket 53.

[0055] The end effector bracket 53 includes a longitudinal bracket 531 , three transverse brackets 532 , and a plurality of connecting blocks 540 . One end of the longitudinal bracket 531 is mounted on the quick-change mechanism; and the transverse bracket is vertically arranged on the longitudinal bracket 531 .

[0056] The transverse bracket 532 includes a middle bracket I533 and brackets II534 on both sides of the bracket I533; wherein, a connecting column 535 is vertically fixed on the bracket I533 through a connecting block 540, and there are eight connecting columns 535, which are staggered and fixed on both sides of the bracket I533 to ensure that the plate 6 is evenly stressed when it is grasped and avoid deformation; a suction cup 536 is provided at the bottom end of the connecting column 535, and the suction cup 536 is used to grasp the plate 6. A cylinder III537 is vertically fixed on the bracket II534, and a cylinder seat 5371 of the cylinder III537 is fixed to the bracket II534 through a connecting block 540, and a sleeve 538 is fixed to the piston end 5372 of the cylinder III537, and the sleeve 538 can press the plate 6 under the drive of the cylinder III537 to ensure that the plate 6 fits the lower mold surface after falling into the positioning pin.

[0057] The connecting block 540 includes two clamping parts, each of which includes two clamping pieces. The outer ends of the clamping parts connect the two clamping pieces together by bolts, and a circular cavity is formed between the two connected clamping pieces. One cavity of the connecting piece is used to clamp the transverse bracket, and the other cavity is used to clamp the cylinder seat 5371 of the connecting column 535 or the cylinder III537. During operation, the fixed height of the connecting column 535 or the cylinder III537 relative to the end picker bracket can be changed by adjusting the bolts, thereby facilitating the calibration of the suction cup 536 and the sleeve 538, ensuring that the suction cup 536 is in the same plane, the sleeve 538 is in the same plane, and ensuring that the plate 6 is evenly stressed when being grasped or placed.

[0058] The specific operation steps of this embodiment are as follows:

[0059] S1, placing the sheet material on the lower die surface I221 of the preceding stamping die 2;

[0060] S2, the upper die I21 of the previous stamping die 2 moves downward, and the guide sleeve I325 is inserted into the guide column 312;

[0061] S3, the upper die 121 of the preceding stamping die 2 moves downward from top to bottom until it is closely fitted with the lower die 122 of the preceding stamping die 12, and the sheet material is stamped to form the pole plate 6;

[0062] S4, the upper die I21 of the preceding stamping die 2 moves upward from bottom to separate the upper die I21 from the lower die I22;

[0063] S5, the robot 4 drives the end picker 5 to enter between the upper die 121 and the lower die 122 of the preceding stamping die 2, and the end picker 5 approaches the electrode plate 6 on the lower die 122;

[0064] S6, the robot 4 sends a signal to control the positioning pin 1224 on the lower die 122 of the preceding stamping die 2 to descend until the positioning pin 1224 is exposed about 0.5-2 mm from the lower die surface 1221, and the end picker 5 grabs the electrode plate 6;

[0065] S7, the robot 4 drives the end picker 5 to leave the preceding stamping die 2 and move to the succeeding stamping die 3, until the cylinder III537 on the end picker 5 is concentric with the locating pin II324 of the succeeding stamping die 3, and the locating hole on the electrode plate 6 has been inserted into the top of the locating pin II324 of the succeeding stamping die 3 by 1-2 mm, and the suction cup 536 is released;

[0066] S8, the robot 4 sends a signal to control the cylinder III537 on the end picker 4 to move, and the cylinder III537 drives the pressing plate 6 so that the sleeve 538 is just inserted into the positioning pin II224 of the subsequent stamping die 3;

[0067] S9. The robot 4 drives the end picker 5 to return to the origin to carry out the next working cycle.

[0068] A high degree of automation is achieved through the above steps. The high repeatability of the robot 4 ensures the stability of the production quality. The electric cylinder 539 or the air cylinder III537 is used to simulate manual pressing of the plate 6, which solves the problem that the plate 6 does not fit the lower mold surface II321 during the automatic production process, reduces complicated and repetitive labor, and improves production efficiency.

[0069] Example 2

[0070] This embodiment is basically the same as the first embodiment, except that the cylinder III 537 is replaced by an electric cylinder 539. During operation, the impact force of the electric cylinder 539 contacting the plate 6 can be more easily controlled by controlling the movement speed of the electric cylinder 539 to prevent the plate 6 from being deformed due to pressing.

[0071] In the description of the present invention, the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "top", "bottom", "vertical", "horizontal" and the like indicate positions or positional relationships based on the positions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the purpose of describing the present invention rather than requiring the present invention to be constructed or operated in a specific position, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the present invention. The terms "connected" and "connected" in the present invention should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a connection or a detachable connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate component. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0072] The above is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the description of the specific embodiment is only used to better understand the concept of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, several improvements or equivalent replacements can be made according to the principles of the present invention, and these improvements or equivalent replacements are also considered to fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A battery plate stamping and conveying system, comprising a workbench and a stamping die, wherein the stamping die is divided into a front-order stamping die and a rear-order stamping die, which are respectively located on two workbenches; each stamping die comprises an upper die and a lower die, and is characterized in that: It also includes a robot and an end picker connected to the robot, wherein the robot is located between two workbenches, and the end picker includes an end picker main arm, a quick-change mechanism, and an end picker bracket, wherein the end picker main arm is connected to the main arm of the robot, and the end picker bracket is installed on the end picker main arm through the quick-change mechanism, and the end picker bracket is provided with a connecting block for adjusting a connecting column and a cylinder III, and a connecting column and a cylinder III are fixed on the connecting block, a suction cup is provided at the bottom end of the connecting column, and a sleeve is provided at the bottom end of the cylinder III; The lower mold is provided with a plate positioning mechanism, which includes a positioning groove on the mold surface of the lower mold and a positioning pin matched therewith, and the positioning pin is telescopically installed in the positioning groove through a cylinder; The end-tool bracket includes a longitudinal bracket and three transverse brackets fixed on the longitudinal bracket, and the transverse bracket includes a middle bracket I and brackets II on both sides; The bracket I is vertically fixed with a connecting column through a connecting block, and the bracket II is vertically fixed with a cylinder III through a connecting block; The connection block can adjust its fixed position relative to the connection column and the cylinder, and change the fixed height of the connection column or the cylinder relative to the end picker bracket, so as to facilitate the calibration of the suction cup or the sleeve, so that the suction cup and the sleeve are in the same plane, and ensure that the plate is evenly stressed when being grasped or placed; The connection block comprises two clamping parts, each of which comprises two clamping pieces, and the two clamping pieces are connected together by bolts at the outer ends of the clamping parts, so that a circular cavity is formed between the two connected clamping pieces; One cavity is used to clamp the transverse bracket, and the other cavity is used to clamp the connecting column or the cylinder seat of the cylinder III; during operation, the fixed height of the connecting column or the cylinder III relative to the end picker bracket is changed by adjusting the bolt, which is convenient for calibrating the suction cup or sleeve, ensuring that the suction cup is in the same plane, the sleeve is in the same plane, and ensuring that the plate is evenly stressed when being grabbed or placed; According to the working method of the battery plate stamping and conveying system, the following steps are included: S1. Place the sheet material on the lower die surface of the preceding stamping die; S2, the upper die of the preceding stamping die moves downward so that the lower end of the guide column abuts against the guide sleeve of the lower die of the preceding stamping die; S3, the upper die of the preceding stamping die moves downward from top to bottom until it is closely fitted with the lower die of the preceding stamping die, and the sheet material is stamped to form a plate; S4, the upper die of the preceding stamping die moves upward from bottom to top so that the upper die of the preceding stamping die is separated from the lower die of the preceding stamping die; S5, the robot drives the end picker to enter between the upper die of the preceding stamping die and the lower die of the preceding stamping die, and the end picker approaches the electrode plate on the lower die of the preceding stamping die; S6, the robot sends a signal to control the positioning pin on the lower die of the previous stamping die to descend until the positioning pin is exposed to the lower die surface of the previous stamping die, and the end picker grabs the electrode plate; S7, the robot drives the end picker to leave the preceding stamping die and move to the succeeding stamping die, until the cylinder III on the end picker is concentric with the locating pin of the succeeding stamping die, and the locating hole on the plate has been inserted into the top of the locating pin of the succeeding stamping die, and the suction cup is released; S8, the robot sends a signal to control the cylinder III on the end picker to move, and the cylinder III drives the sleeve to press the plate, so that the sleeve is just inserted into the positioning pin of the subsequent stamping die; S9. The robot drives the end picker back to the origin for the next working cycle.

2. A battery plate stamping and conveying system according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are eight connecting columns, which are staggeredly distributed on both sides of the bracket I.

3. A battery plate stamping and conveying system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Cylinder III is an electric cylinder.

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