Automatic coating system and control method thereof

Abstract

This invention discloses an automatic coating system and its control method. The automatic coating system includes a lifting and positioning device and an automatic coating device. The lifting and positioning device includes a coating platform and a lifting mechanism. The coating platform is used to place the workpiece to be coated. The lifting mechanism includes a lifting drive, a support, and at least two positioning pins. The coating platform has positioning holes corresponding to the positioning pins. The automatic coating device includes a robotic arm, a coating mechanism, and an image acquisition unit. The coating mechanism includes a glue pump, a glue gun, and a glue tube. The glue gun is mounted on the robotic arm, and the two ends of the glue tube are connected to the glue pump and the glue gun, respectively. The image acquisition unit is used to acquire image information of the workpiece to be coated and analyze it to obtain position information. The image acquisition unit is mounted on the robotic arm so that the robotic arm can drive the image acquisition unit and the glue gun to move. The automatic coating system replaces the operator in coating the workpiece, realizing coating automation, reducing labor costs, and eliminating the increased risk of disease for operators due to coating operations.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of battery pack manufacturing technology, and in particular to an automatic coating system and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing number of new energy vehicle manufacturers, cost competition among them has become a priority. Many manufacturers have chosen to produce and assemble batteries themselves. However, the current technology for new energy vehicle battery production is not highly developed, and many operations still rely on manual labor, resulting in high production costs for automotive batteries. In particular, the coating of the battery's lower casing requires workers to bend over and squat for extended periods, increasing the risk of occupational diseases. Furthermore, because the coating has mild irritant properties (sensitizing), long-term exposure may increase the risk of illness for workers. At the same time, the coating of the lower casing requires high precision, so workers generally need extensive training to complete the spraying operation independently. The training and labor costs for personnel contribute to the high production costs of automotive batteries.

[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a new automatic coating system and its control method to solve or at least alleviate the above-mentioned technical defects. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to provide an automated coating system and its control method, which aims to solve the technical problem that existing coating methods for battery casings increase the risk of illness for workers.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides an automatic coating system, the automatic coating system comprising:

[0006] A lifting and positioning device, comprising a coating platform and a lifting mechanism, wherein the coating platform is used to place the workpiece to be coated, and the lifting mechanism comprises a lifting drive component, a support component and at least two positioning pins, and the coating platform is provided with positioning holes corresponding to the positioning pins;

[0007] An automatic coating device includes a robotic arm, a coating mechanism, and an image acquisition unit. The coating mechanism includes a glue pump, a glue gun, and a glue tube. The glue gun is mounted on the robotic arm, and the two ends of the glue tube are connected to the glue pump and the glue gun, respectively. The image acquisition unit is used to acquire image information of the workpiece to be coated and analyze it to obtain position information. The image acquisition unit is mounted on the robotic arm so that the robotic arm can drive the image acquisition unit and the glue gun to move.

[0008] In one embodiment, the lifting and positioning device further includes a conveying mechanism and two limiting members installed on the conveying mechanism. The conveying mechanism is used to transport the coating platform to the coating station. The two limiting members are arranged corresponding to the coating station, and the two limiting members are respectively arranged at intervals on both sides of the coating platform along a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism.

[0009] In one embodiment, the lifting and positioning device further includes a positioning mechanism, which is disposed corresponding to the coating station. The positioning mechanism includes a blocking component and a positioning component. The blocking component and the positioning component are disposed opposite to each other on both sides of the coating platform along the transmission direction of the conveying mechanism. The blocking component includes a blocking drive and a blocking component that is throttledly connected to the blocking drive. The blocking drive drives the blocking component to block the coating platform from moving in a direction opposite to the transmission direction. The positioning component is used to push the coating platform to move in a direction opposite to the transmission direction.

[0010] In one embodiment, the automatic coating device further includes a metering mechanism, the tube includes a first tube and a second tube, one end of the first tube is connected to the glue pump, the other end of the first tube is connected to the feed end of the metering mechanism, one end of the second tube is connected to the discharge end of the metering mechanism, and the other end of the second tube is connected to the glue gun.

[0011] In one embodiment, the automatic coating device further includes an information reading mechanism for acquiring identification information of the workpiece to be coated.

[0012] In one embodiment, the automatic coating system control method is applied to the above-described automatic coating system, and the automatic coating system control method includes the following steps:

[0013] The control lift drive unit drives the positioning pin through the positioning hole and lifts the coating platform to the preset height;

[0014] The image acquisition unit is controlled to acquire image information of the part to be coated, and the two-dimensional position information of the part to be coated is obtained by analyzing the image information.

[0015] Obtain three-dimensional spatial coordinate information based on the two-dimensional position information;

[0016] The robotic arm is controlled to drive the glue gun to move according to the three-dimensional spatial coordinate information, and at the same time, the glue gun is controlled to coat the workpiece to be coated.

[0017] In one embodiment, the step prior to the control of the lifting drive to drive the positioning pin through the positioning hole and lift the coating platform to a preset height includes:

[0018] The transmission mechanism is controlled to transport the coating platform to the coating station;

[0019] The positioning mechanism is controlled to position the coating platform.

[0020] In one embodiment, the step of controlling the lifting drive to drive the positioning pin through the positioning hole and lift the coating platform to a preset height includes:

[0021] The information reading mechanism is controlled to read the identification information of the part to be coated;

[0022] The identification information and product information are compared to determine whether they match.

[0023] If so, the lifting drive unit will be controlled to drive the positioning pin through the positioning hole and lift the coating platform to the preset height.

[0024] In one embodiment, the step of calculating spatial coordinate information based on the two-dimensional position information includes:

[0025] The coating program and Z-axis coordinate correction information that match the product information are retrieved based on the product information.

[0026] The three-dimensional spatial coordinate information is obtained based on the two-dimensional position information and the Z-axis coordinate correction information;

[0027] The step of controlling the robotic arm to drive the glue gun to move according to the three-dimensional spatial coordinate information, and simultaneously controlling the glue gun to coat the workpiece includes:

[0028] The robotic arm controls the movement of the glue gun according to the coating program and the three-dimensional spatial coordinate information, and simultaneously controls the glue gun to coat the workpiece.

[0029] In one embodiment, the step of controlling the robotic arm to drive the glue gun to move according to the position correction amount, and simultaneously controlling the glue gun to coat the workpiece includes the following:

[0030] The metering mechanism is controlled to obtain the amount of glue applied by the glue gun;

[0031] Determine whether the glue application amount information matches the product information;

[0032] If not, then control the alarm to sound.

[0033] In the above technical solution of the present invention, the lifting drive unit drives the positioning pin through the positioning hole on the coating platform via the support member to achieve positioning of the coating platform, thereby achieving precise positioning of the workpiece to be coated on the coating platform. The robotic arm drives the glue gun and image acquisition unit to move above the workpiece to be coated. The image acquisition unit acquires image information of the workpiece to be coated, analyzes the image information to obtain the position information of the workpiece to be coated, and calculates the offset of the coating position in spatial coordinates, i.e., the position correction amount, based on the position information of the workpiece to be coated. This allows the robotic arm to accurately move the nozzle above the coating position according to the position correction amount for high-precision coating. The automatic coating system replaces the operator in coating the workpiece to be coated, realizing coating automation, reducing labor costs, and eliminating the increased risk of illness for operators due to coating operations. The workpiece to be coated is particularly suitable for coating battery lower casings. Attached Figure Description

[0034] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0035] Figure 1 This is a front view schematic diagram of an automatic coating system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a lifting and positioning device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A partially enlarged schematic diagram of the lifting and positioning device at point A;

[0038] Figure 4 for Figure 2 A partially enlarged schematic diagram of the lifting and positioning device at point B;

[0039] Figure 5 for Figure 2 A partially enlarged schematic diagram of the lifting and positioning device at point C;

[0040] Figure 6 for Figure 2 A partially enlarged schematic diagram of the lifting and positioning device at point D;

[0041] Figure 7 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a lifting and positioning device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 8 for Figure 7 A partially enlarged schematic diagram of the lifting and positioning device at point E;

[0043] Figure 9 This is a partial structural diagram of the platform body according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 10 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an automatic coating device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 11 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of an automatic coating device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 12 for Figure 11 A partially enlarged schematic diagram of the automatic coating device at point F;

[0047] Figure 13 This is a side view of the nozzle structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 14 This is a flowchart illustrating the first embodiment of the control method for the automatic coating system of the present invention.

[0049] Figure 15 This is a flowchart illustrating the second embodiment of the control method for the automatic coating system of the present invention.

[0050] Figure 16 This is a flowchart illustrating the third embodiment of the control method for the automatic coating system of the present invention.

[0051] Figure 17 This is a flowchart illustrating the fourth embodiment of the control method for the automatic coating system of the present invention.

[0052] Figure 18 This is a flowchart illustrating the fifth embodiment of the control method for the automatic coating system of the present invention.

[0053] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0054]

[0055]

[0056] The realization of the objective, functional characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0057] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0058] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, etc.) in the embodiments of this invention are only used to interpret a specific posture (as shown in the attached diagram). Figure 2 The relative positions and movements of the components shown below are considered. If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0059] Furthermore, in this invention, descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" can explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature.

[0060] Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other, but only if they are implemented by those skilled in the art. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention.

[0061] This invention provides an automatic coating system 1, such as... Figures 1-10 As shown, the automatic coating system 1 includes a lifting and positioning device 2 and an automatic coating device 3. The lifting and positioning device 2 includes a coating platform 21 and a lifting mechanism 22. The coating platform 21 is used to place the workpiece 4 to be coated. The lifting mechanism 22 includes a lifting drive component 221, a support component 222, and at least two positioning pins 223. The coating platform 21 is provided with positioning holes 28 corresponding to the positioning pins 223. The automatic coating device 3 includes a robotic arm 31, a coating mechanism 32, and an image acquisition component 33. The coating mechanism 32 includes a glue pump 321, a glue gun 322, and a glue tube 323. The glue gun 322 is installed on the robotic arm 31, and the two ends of the glue tube 323 are connected to the glue pump 321 and the glue gun 322, respectively. The image acquisition component 33 is used to acquire image information of the workpiece 4 to be coated and analyze it to obtain position information. The image acquisition component 33 is installed on the robotic arm 31 so that the robotic arm 31 can drive the image acquisition component 33 and the glue gun 322 to move.

[0062] The lifting drive component 221 drives the positioning pin 223 through the positioning hole 28 on the coating platform 21 via the support component 222, thereby positioning the coating platform 21 and accurately positioning the workpiece 4 to be coated on the coating platform 21. The robotic arm 31 moves the glue gun 322 and the image acquisition component 33 to above the workpiece 4 to be coated. The image acquisition component 33 acquires the image information of the workpiece 4 to be coated, analyzes the image information to obtain the position information of the workpiece 4 to be coated, and calculates the offset of the coating position in the spatial coordinates, i.e., the position correction amount, based on the position information of the workpiece 4 to be coated. This allows the robotic arm 31 to accurately move the nozzle 3222 above the coating position according to the position correction amount for high-precision coating. The automatic coating system 1 replaces the operator in coating the workpiece 4 to be coated, realizing coating automation, reducing labor costs, and eliminating the increased risk of illness for the operator due to coating operations. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the robotic arm 31 is a six-axis robot, enabling the robotic arm 31 to move the glue gun 322 more flexibly. The workpiece 4 to be coated is particularly suitable for coating the lower casing of a battery.

[0063] like Figures 10-12 As shown, the glue gun 322 includes a body 3221 and at least two nozzles 3222 mounted on the body 3221. The body 3221 is mounted on the robotic arm 31. The two ends of the glue tube 323 are connected to the glue pump 321 and the body 3221, respectively. One of the nozzles 3222 includes a discharge end 39 and a feed end 38 arranged opposite to each other. The feed end 38 is connected to the body 3221. The top of the discharge end 39 is provided with a notch 40 so that the vertical cross-section of the discharge end 39 is stepped. For coating some welds, due to the height difference, it is impossible to achieve uniform coating on the weld surface using a traditional flat nozzle 3222, thus affecting product quality. This invention addresses this by creating a notch 40 at the discharge end 39 of the nozzle 3222, making the cross-sectional shape of the discharge end 39 of the nozzle 3222 arranged in a stepped shape to accommodate the height difference of the weld. This allows the discharge end 39 of the nozzle 3222 to fit as closely as possible to the weld surface. Using this nozzle 3222 to coat the weld can effectively improve the coating quality in the weld area.

[0064] like Figures 11-13As shown, at least two nozzles 3222 are spaced apart, and any two adjacent nozzles 3222 form an angle greater than zero degrees. By setting at least two nozzles 3222, each pointing to a different position, and moving the nozzles 3222 via a robotic arm 31, different nozzles 3222 can be switched to coat the same coating area. By switching nozzles 3222 to select the nozzle 3222 that is suitable for the coating area, the flexibility of the automatic coating device 3 is increased, and the coating quality of the product is also guaranteed. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the number of nozzles 3222 is three, and the three nozzles 3222 are used to coat different positions, increasing the applicability of the automatic coating device 3.

[0065] The nozzle 3222 is detachably connected to the body 3221. The nozzle 3222 can be removed from the body 3221, which facilitates the maintenance or repair of the nozzle 3222. On the other hand, different nozzles 3222 can be replaced according to actual needs to meet different coating environments, thereby increasing the applicability of the automatic coating device 3.

[0066] In addition, the automatic coating device 3 also includes a tube holder 34, which is mounted on the robotic arm 31 and has a through hole for the tube 323 to pass through. By setting the tube holder 34 to fix the tube 323, the tube 323 is prevented from getting tangled on the robotic arm 31 during its movement, thus avoiding the tube 323 being torn off by the robotic arm 31.

[0067] Furthermore, the automatic coating device 3 also includes a balancing lifting component 35, which is used to lift the hose 323. By adding the balancing lifting component 35, the hose 323 is lifted and kept in a horizontal position, preventing the hose 323 from obstructing the transport of coating material inside the hose 323 due to bending.

[0068] like Figure 10 As shown, the automatic coating device 3 also includes a glue tank 36, which is used to receive the coating material sprayed from the nozzle 3222 during the test coating stage. Since the automatic coating device 3 generally needs to perform a test coating before starting, the test coating will spray coating material from the nozzle 3222. By setting up the glue tank 36 to receive this part of the coating material, it is possible to avoid this part of the material contaminating the working environment of the automatic coating device 3.

[0069] The automatic coating device 3 also includes a metering mechanism 37. The adhesive tube 323 comprises a first tube and a second tube. One end of the first tube is connected to the adhesive pump 321, and the other end is connected to the feed end 38 of the metering mechanism 37. One end of the second tube is connected to the discharge end 39 of the metering mechanism 37, and the other end is connected to the main body 3221. By setting the metering mechanism 37 to control and monitor the coating amount of the nozzle 3222 each time, precise control of the adhesive output is achieved, reducing waste of coating material and improving product competitiveness. If the metering mechanism 37 detects an abnormal coating amount, it notifies the staff through an alarm device to confirm quality, preventing defective products from flowing to the next process.

[0070] In addition, the automatic coating device 3 also includes an information reading mechanism, which is used to acquire the identification information of the part to be coated 4. This information reading mechanism can be an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader. The RFID reader acquires the identification information of the part to be coated 4, including the type of part 4 and previous process production information. The RFID reader transmits the identification information to the control module 5, which then compares this information with the product information sent to the control module 5 by the LCP (Local Control Panel) at the upper station. If the two pieces of information match, the control module 5 controls the robotic arm 31 to move and coat the part 4; otherwise, if the information does not match, the robotic arm 31 does not move, and an alarm device alerts on-site personnel to confirm and correct the information. It should be noted that the control module 5 can call the corresponding coating program based on the product information read by RFID, and then combine the offset control robotic arm 31 to drive the glue gun 322 to move to achieve more precise coating. The deviation can be controlled within ±1mm. At the same time, it improves the flexibility of the automatic coating device 3, enabling it to absorb the errors of machining precision and assembly precision. The moving speed of the robotic arm 31 and the glue supply flow rate of the coating mechanism 32 are matched to achieve accurate glue dispensing control and ensure that the size of the coated glue meets the quality requirements.

[0071] According to one embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 2As shown, the lifting and positioning device 2 also includes a shielding mechanism 23. The shielding mechanism 23 includes a shielding drive 231, a connecting frame 232, and a shielding assembly 233. The connecting frame 232 is connected to the extension shaft of the shielding drive 231. The shielding assembly 233 is mounted on the connecting frame 232. The shielding drive 231 is used to drive the shielding assembly 233 to move to a position that can shield the non-coating area of ​​the workpiece 4 to be coated through the connecting frame 232. After the platform body 211 is lifted, the shielding drive component 231 drives the connecting frame 232 to move, thereby moving the shielding component 233 located on the connecting frame 232 towards the non-coating area of ​​the workpiece 4 to be coated and stopping at a position that can shield the non-coating area. This prevents the coating material from entering the non-coating area during the coating process, thus avoiding the phenomenon of the workpiece 4 being unqualified. Compared with the operator placing a shielding plate on the non-coating area for shielding, the shielding drive component 231 drives the shielding component 233 to shield the non-coating area through the connecting frame 232, saving manpower and reducing labor costs. It should be noted that the workpiece to be coated can be other workpieces besides the workpiece 4 to be coated.

[0072] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the shielding assembly 233 includes a shielding plate, which is mounted on the connecting frame 232. The shielding drive member 231 drives the connecting frame 232 to move horizontally so that the shielding plate moves horizontally above the uncoated area and fits against the uncoated area; or, the shielding plate is located above the uncoated area, and the shielding drive member 231 drives the connecting frame 232 to descend so that the shielding plate shields the uncoated area.

[0073] like Figures 1-6 As shown, the shielding assembly 233 includes a lifting drive 2331, a lifting platform 2332, and a shielding member 2333. The shielding drive 231 is mounted on the connecting frame 232. The lifting platform 2332 is connected to the extension shaft of the shielding drive 231. The shielding member 2333 is mounted on the lifting platform 2332. The lifting drive 2331 is used to drive the shielding member 2333 to rise and fall through the lifting platform 2332, so that the shielding member 2333 is separated from or attached to the non-coated area. When it is necessary to mask off the uncoated area, the masking drive 231 drives the connecting frame 232 to move, thereby causing the lifting drive 2331 to move towards the location of the workpiece 4 to be coated, until the masking member 2333 is above the uncoated area. The lifting drive 2331 then drives the lifting platform 2332 to descend, causing the masking member 2333 on the lifting platform 2332 to come into contact with the uncoated area. This arrangement ensures that after masking is complete, the masking member 2333 can move away from above the uncoated area under the action of the masking drive 231, avoiding interference with the equipment moving above the workpiece 4. It should be noted that both the masking drive 231 and the lifting drive 2331 can be cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, or lead screw assemblies, etc.

[0074] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there are multiple shielding members 2333, which are spaced apart, so that the shielding mechanism 23 can shield multiple non-coated areas at the same time.

[0075] In addition, the shielding member 2333 includes a limiting part 2334, a sliding part 2335, and a shielding part 2336 connected in sequence. The sliding part 2335 slides with the lifting platform 2332. The limiting part 2334 and the shielding part 2336 are located on the upper and lower sides of the lifting platform 2332, respectively. The shielding part 2336 is used to shield the non-coating area. By setting the limiting part 2334 and the shielding part 2336 on the upper and lower sides of the lifting platform 2332, the reliability of the sliding engagement between the sliding part 2335 and the lifting platform 2332 is ensured. The sliding part 2335 can slide relative to the lifting platform 2332, so that when the lifting height of the lifting platform 2332 remains unchanged, the sliding part 2335 can shield the non-coating area at different height positions within a certain range by sliding relative to the lifting platform 2332, thus increasing the applicability of the shielding mechanism 23.

[0076] Furthermore, the shielding assembly 233 also includes a buffer spring 2337, which is arranged around the periphery of the sliding part 2335, with one end of the buffer spring 2337 abutting against the bottom surface of the lifting platform 2332 and the other end of the buffer spring 2337 abutting against the top surface of the shielding part 2336. The lifting drive 2331 drives the shielding part 2333 to descend via the lifting platform 2332. After the shielding part 2336 is in contact with the non-coating area, if the shielding drive 231 continues to drive the lifting platform 2332 to descend, the sliding part 2335 will slide relative to the lifting platform 2332, compared to the fixed connection between the shielding part 2333 and the lifting platform 2332. The buffer spring 2337 will be compressed, converting the original rigid impact into a flexible impact, thereby protecting the workpiece 4 to be coated and preventing it from being damaged due to rigid impact. At the same time, the elastic force of the buffer spring 2337 acting on the shielding part 2336 can also better ensure that the shielding part 2336 is in close contact with the non-coating area.

[0077] like Figure 2 , Figures 5-8 As shown, the lifting and positioning device 2 also includes a conveying mechanism 24 and two limiting members 25 installed on the conveying mechanism 24. The conveying mechanism 24 is used to transport the platform body 211 to the coating station. The two limiting members 25 are set corresponding to the coating station, and the two limiting members 25 are respectively arranged at intervals on both sides of the platform body 211 along a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism 24. By setting the two limiting members 25, the workpiece 4 to be coated is limited when transported to the coating station, so as to avoid the platform body 211 from being greatly offset in the left and right directions of the coating station, which would prevent the positioning pin 223 from smoothly entering the positioning hole 28.

[0078] Furthermore, the lifting and positioning device 2 also includes a positioning mechanism 26, which is set to correspond to the coating station. The positioning mechanism 26 includes a blocking component 261 and a positioning component 262. The blocking component 261 and the positioning component 262 are arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the platform body 211 along the transmission direction of the conveying mechanism 24. The blocking component 261 includes a blocking drive component 2611 and a blocking component 2612 that is pulsatorically connected to the blocking drive component 2611. The blocking drive component 2611 drives the blocking component 2612 to block the platform body 211 from moving in the opposite direction to the transmission direction. The positioning component 262 is used to push the platform body 211 to move in the opposite direction to the transmission direction. The transmission direction is from back to front as shown in the figure. The conveying mechanism 24 transports the platform body 211 to the coating station. The blocking drive component 2611 drives the blocking component 2612 to move closer to the platform body 211, thereby preventing the platform body 211 from moving backward. The positioning component 262 pushes the platform body 211 backward. Through the cooperation of the blocking component 261 and the positioning component 262, the platform body 211 is positioned in the front-back direction, avoiding a large offset of the platform body 211 in the front-back direction at the coating station, which would prevent the positioning pin 223 from smoothly entering the positioning hole 28. It should be noted that the blocking drive component 2611 can be a cylinder, hydraulic cylinder, or motor.

[0079] Additionally, the positioning assembly 262 includes a positioning drive 2621, a positioning member 2622, and two fixed seats 2623. The positioning drive 2621 includes a body 3221 and a retractable member connected to each other. One end of the body 3221 away from the retractable member is hinged to one fixed seat 2623. One end of the positioning member 2622 is hinged to the other fixed seat 2623, and the other end of the positioning member 2622 is hinged to the retractable member, so that the positioning drive 2621 can drive the positioning member 2622 to move toward or away from the platform body 211. The positioning drive 2621 can be a cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder. The positioning drive 2621 drives its extension shaft to extend, causing the body 3221 of the positioning drive 2621 to rotate relative to the fixed seat 2623 that is hinged to it. At the same time, it causes one end of the positioning member 2622 to rotate relative to the output shaft of the positioning drive 2621, and the other end of the positioning member 2622 to rotate relative to another fixed seat 2623 that is hinged to it. This causes the end of the positioning member 2622 away from the fixed seat 2623 to move towards the platform body 211, and push the platform body 211 towards the blocking member 2612 until the blocking member 2612 abuts against the platform body 211, completing the initial positioning of the platform body 211, thereby ensuring that the positioning pin 223 can pass smoothly through the positioning hole 28.

[0080] like Figure 7As shown, the limiting component 212 includes a limiting block 2121 and two limiting baffles 2122. The limiting block 2121 is disposed on the top surface of the platform body 211. The limiting block 2121 has a limiting groove 2123 for accommodating the bottom protrusion of the workpiece 4 to be coated. The two limiting baffles 2122 are arranged at intervals on both sides of the workpiece 4 to be coated along the extending direction of the limiting groove 2123. The limiting groove 2123 is provided to restrict the movement of the workpiece 4 to be coated relative to the platform body 211 along the extension direction perpendicular to the limiting groove 2123. The limiting baffles 2122 provided on both sides of the battery casing along the extension direction of the limiting groove 2123 are used to restrict the movement of the workpiece 4 to be coated relative to the platform body 211 along the extension direction of the limiting groove 2123. The limiting groove 2123 and the limiting baffles 2122 limit the workpiece 4 to be coated, thus preventing the workpiece 4 from moving relative to the platform body 211 and thus preventing the workpiece 4 from being unable to stop precisely at the designated position.

[0081] like Figure 2 and Figure 7 As shown, the lifting and positioning device 2 also includes a receiving box 27, which is positioned below the edge of the workpiece 4 to be coated. The top of the receiving box 27 has a receiving port 271 to allow coating material overflowing from the edge of the workpiece 4 to flow into the receiving box 27. By using the receiving box 27 to collect the overflowing coating material, the coating material can be reused, thereby reducing the production cost of the workpiece 4.

[0082] Furthermore, the present invention also provides an automatic coating system control method, which is applied to the aforementioned automatic coating system, such as... Figure 14 As shown, the automatic coating system control method includes the following steps:

[0083] S100 controls the lifting drive to drive the positioning pin through the positioning hole and lift the coating platform to a preset height;

[0084] The lifting drive unit raises the support unit, allowing the positioning pins to pass through the positioning holes for precise positioning of the workpiece to be coated. There are at least two positioning pins and two positioning holes, with the positioning holes corresponding to the positioning pins. This prevents the platform body positioned by the positioning pins from rotating relative to the support unit, ensuring the workpiece to be coated stops precisely at the designated position. This avoids the occurrence of unqualified workpieces due to coating being performed before the workpiece stops at the designated position. Furthermore, since positioning pins are used, and the top surface of the positioning pins has a guide surface, a certain deviation between the positioning hole and the positioning pin is allowed. This deviation, guided by the guide surface, still ensures that the positioning pin passes smoothly through the positioning hole, saving the operator the time spent precisely placing the workpiece to be coated in the designated position, thus saving manpower and reducing labor costs.

[0085] S200, control the image acquisition unit to acquire image information of the workpiece to be coated, and analyze the image information to obtain the two-dimensional position information of the workpiece to be coated;

[0086] The image acquisition device can be a camera or video camera. Based on the image information, it confirms the actual center point coordinates of the workpiece to be coated. This coordinates are then compared with reference coordinates to calculate the coordinate deviations between the actual center point coordinates and the reference center point coordinates in the x and y axes of the two-dimensional plane—the two-dimensional position information. Based on this two-dimensional position information, the true position of the workpiece to be coated can be obtained. Compared to using traditional positioning devices to position the workpiece before coating, obtaining the true position of the workpiece through image acquisition has a wider range of applications and can be used for various different types of workpieces. It should be noted that the reference center point coordinates are established during the initial debugging of the automatic coating device by setting a reference design position on the workpiece using auxiliary tools. This position is then visually calibrated and recorded as the reference center point coordinates. In actual use, the image acquisition device can automatically capture the orientation of the reference design position based on the image information, thereby obtaining the actual center point coordinates of the reference design position located at that orientation. The reference design position is generally equipped with positioning holes to capture the position of the positioning holes in the image information.

[0087] S300, obtain three-dimensional spatial coordinate information based on the two-dimensional position information;

[0088] The position information can accurately locate the part to be coated, and the position correction amount in three-dimensional coordinates can be calculated based on the position information. This upgrades the information used to control the robotic arm from two-dimensional position information to more accurate three-dimensional spatial coordinate information, which helps the automatic coating device achieve high-precision coating of the part to be coated, while avoiding collisions between the robotic arm and the product during the coating process.

[0089] S400, control the robotic arm to drive the glue gun to move according to the three-dimensional spatial coordinate information, and at the same time control the glue gun to coat the workpiece to be coated.

[0090] The robotic arm drives the glue gun to move according to the position correction amount, and then coats the workpiece with glue. The movement speed of the robotic arm is matched with the glue supply speed of the glue pump, so as to achieve precise control of the glue gun dispensing. This not only enables high-precision coating of the workpiece, but also realizes the automation of coating, reduces labor costs, and eliminates the risk of disease for workers due to coating operations.

[0091] The lifting drive unit drives the positioning pin through the positioning hole on the coating platform via the support component, thereby achieving the positioning of the coating platform and the precise positioning of the workpiece to be coated on the coating platform. The robotic arm drives the glue gun and image acquisition unit to move above the workpiece to be coated. The image acquisition unit acquires image information of the workpiece to be coated, analyzes the image information to obtain the position information of the workpiece to be coated, and calculates the offset of the coating position in spatial coordinates, i.e., the position correction amount, based on the position information of the workpiece to be coated. This allows the robotic arm to accurately move the nozzle above the coating position according to the position correction amount, so as to perform high-precision coating. The automatic coating system replaces the operator in coating the workpiece to be coated, realizing the automation of coating, reducing labor costs, and eliminating the increased risk of disease for operators due to coating operations.

[0092] like Figure 15 As shown, the automatic coating system further includes a conveying mechanism and a positioning mechanism, and the steps prior to S100 include:

[0093] S80, control the transmission mechanism to transport the coating platform to the coating station;

[0094] S90, control the positioning mechanism to position the coating platform.

[0095] Compared to relying on manual transportation of the coating platform or the workpiece to be coated to the coating station, transporting the coating platform through a transfer mechanism saves manpower; then, the positioning mechanism performs preliminary positioning of the coating platform at the coating station, thereby reducing the deviation between the positioning pin and the positioning hole, and further ensuring that the positioning pin can be smoothly inserted into the positioning hole, thus achieving precise positioning of the workpiece to be coated.

[0096] like Figure 16 As shown, the automatic coating system also includes an information reading mechanism, and the steps of S100 include:

[0097] S110, control the information reading mechanism to read the identification information of the workpiece to be coated;

[0098] S120, compare the identification information and product information to determine whether the identification information and product information match;

[0099] S130, if so, control the lifting drive to drive the positioning pin through the positioning hole and lift the coating platform to the preset height.

[0100] The information reading mechanism can be an RFID reader, which acquires the identification information of the part to be coated. This identification information includes the type of part to be coated and previous process production information. The RFID reader transmits the identification information to the control module, which then compares this information with the product information sent to the control module by the LCP at the upper station. If the two pieces of information match, the control module controls the robotic arm to move and coat the part to be coated. Otherwise, if the information does not match, the robotic arm does not move, and an alarm device alerts on-site personnel to confirm and correct the information.

[0101] like Figure 17 As shown, step S300 includes:

[0102] S310, based on the product information, call up the coating program and Z-axis coordinate correction information that match the product information;

[0103] S320, the three-dimensional spatial coordinate information is obtained based on the two-dimensional position information and the Z-axis coordinate correction information;

[0104] The steps of S400 include:

[0105] S410, control the robotic arm to move the glue gun according to the coating program and the three-dimensional spatial coordinate information, and at the same time control the glue gun to coat the workpiece to be coated.

[0106] The control module can call the corresponding coating program and Z-axis coordinate correction information based on product information. The Z-axis coordinate correction information is the coordinate value of each point on the workpiece to be coated in the Z-axis direction, which corresponds to the two-dimensional coordinate information of each point on the workpiece to be coated in the reference position during the initial debugging of the automatic coating device. Therefore, each point on the workpiece to be coated in the reference position corresponds to one- or three-dimensional reference coordinate information. Based on the two-dimensional position information, the two-dimensional coordinate information of each point on the workpiece to be coated in the actual use position can be obtained on the workpiece to be coated in the reference position. Therefore, combining the two-dimensional position information with the Z-axis coordinate correction information can obtain the three-dimensional spatial coordinate information corresponding to the three-dimensional reference coordinate information. For example, the coordinates of a point in the image information are (x1, y1). Based on the two-dimensional position information, the coordinates of the point on the workpiece to be coated in the reference position can be calculated as (x2, y2). Based on the three-dimensional reference coordinate information, the Z-axis coordinate correction information z1 corresponding to (x2, y2) can be obtained. Therefore, combining the two-dimensional position information and the Z-axis coordinate correction information, the coordinates of the point to be coated are (x1, y1, z1). It should be noted that by calling the coating program and Z-axis coordinate correction information that match the product information to coat the battery lower casing, the automatic coating system can coat lower casings of different models, thereby expanding the application range of the automatic coating system.

[0107] The control module controls the robotic arm to move the glue gun according to the coating program and three-dimensional spatial coordinate information. At the same time, it controls the glue gun to achieve more precise coating of the workpiece, with the deviation controlled within ±1mm. This avoids collisions between the robotic arm and the product during the coating process and also improves the flexibility of the automatic coating device, enabling it to absorb errors in machining and assembly precision. The movement speed of the robotic arm is matched with the glue supply flow rate of the coating mechanism to achieve accurate glue dispensing control and ensure that the size of the coated glue meets the quality requirements.

[0108] like Figure 18 As shown, the automatic coating system further includes a metering mechanism, and step S400 is followed by:

[0109] S500, control the metering mechanism to obtain the glue application amount information of the glue gun;

[0110] S600, determine whether the glue application amount information matches the product information;

[0111] S700, if not, controls the alarm to sound.

[0112] By setting up a metering mechanism to control and monitor the coating amount from each nozzle, precise control of the adhesive output is achieved, reducing material waste and improving product competitiveness. If the metering mechanism detects an abnormal coating amount, an alarm device notifies staff to conduct quality checks, preventing defective products from flowing to the next process. It should be noted that if the adhesive amount information matches the product information, the lifting drive unit lowers the positioning pin, and then controls the transfer mechanism to transport the coating platform to the next station.

[0113] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural transformations made under the concept of the present invention using the contents of the specification and drawings of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatic coating system, characterized in that, include: A lifting and positioning device, comprising a coating platform and a lifting mechanism, wherein the coating platform is used to place the workpiece to be coated, and the lifting mechanism comprises a lifting drive component, a support component and at least two positioning pins, and the coating platform is provided with positioning holes corresponding to the positioning pins; An automatic coating device includes a robotic arm, a coating mechanism, and an image acquisition unit. The coating mechanism includes a glue pump, a glue gun, and a glue tube. The glue gun is mounted on the robotic arm, and the two ends of the glue tube are connected to the glue pump and the glue gun, respectively. The image acquisition unit is used to acquire and analyze image information of the workpiece to be coated to obtain position information. The image acquisition unit is mounted on the robotic arm so that the robotic arm can drive the image acquisition unit and the glue gun to move. The lifting and positioning device further includes a shielding mechanism, which includes a shielding drive, a connecting frame, and a shielding assembly. The connecting frame is connected to the extension shaft of the shielding drive. The shielding assembly includes a lifting drive, a lifting platform, and a shielding component. The shielding component is installed on the lifting platform. The lifting drive is used to drive the shielding component to rise and fall through the lifting platform, so that the shielding component is separated from or attached to the non-coated area. The number of the shielding components is multiple, and the multiple shielding components are arranged at intervals; The shielding component includes a limiting part, a sliding part, and a shielding part connected in sequence. The sliding part is slidably engaged with the lifting platform. The limiting part and the shielding part are located on the upper and lower sides of the lifting platform, respectively. The shielding part is used to shield the non-coated area. The shielding assembly also includes a buffer spring, which is wound around the periphery of the sliding part, with one end of the buffer spring abutting against the bottom surface of the lifting platform and the other end of the buffer spring abutting against the top surface of the shielding part.

2. The automatic coating system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lifting and positioning device further includes a conveying mechanism and two limiting members installed on the conveying mechanism. The conveying mechanism is used to transport the coating platform to the coating station. The two limiting members are arranged corresponding to the coating station, and the two limiting members are respectively arranged at intervals on both sides of the coating platform along a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism.

3. The automatic coating system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The lifting and positioning device further includes a positioning mechanism, which is set corresponding to the coating station. The positioning mechanism includes a blocking component and a positioning component. The blocking component and the positioning component are arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the coating platform along the transmission direction of the conveying mechanism. The blocking component includes a blocking drive and a blocking component that is pulsatorically connected to the blocking drive. The blocking drive drives the blocking component to block the coating platform from moving in a direction opposite to the transmission direction. The positioning component is used to push the coating platform to move in a direction opposite to the transmission direction.

4. The automatic coating system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The automatic coating device further includes a metering mechanism. The tube includes a first tube and a second tube. One end of the first tube is connected to the glue pump, and the other end of the first tube is connected to the feed end of the metering mechanism. One end of the second tube is connected to the discharge end of the metering mechanism, and the other end of the second tube is connected to the glue gun.

5. The automatic coating system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The automatic coating device also includes an information reading mechanism, which is used to acquire the identification information of the workpiece to be coated.

6. A control method for an automatic coating system, characterized in that, The automatic coating system control method is applied to the automatic coating system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and the automatic coating system control method includes the following steps: The control lift drive unit drives the positioning pin through the positioning hole and lifts the coating platform to the preset height; The image acquisition unit is controlled to acquire image information of the part to be coated, and the two-dimensional position information of the part to be coated is obtained by analyzing the image information. Obtain three-dimensional spatial coordinate information based on the two-dimensional position information; The robotic arm is controlled to drive the glue gun to move according to the three-dimensional spatial coordinate information, and at the same time, the glue gun is controlled to coat the workpiece to be coated. The step of calculating spatial coordinate information based on the two-dimensional position information includes: The coating program and Z-axis coordinate correction information that match the product information are retrieved based on the product information. The three-dimensional spatial coordinate information is obtained based on the two-dimensional position information and the Z-axis coordinate correction information; The step of controlling the robotic arm to drive the glue gun to move according to the three-dimensional spatial coordinate information, and simultaneously controlling the glue gun to coat the workpiece includes: The robotic arm controls the movement of the glue gun according to the coating program and the three-dimensional spatial coordinate information, and simultaneously controls the glue gun to coat the workpiece.

7. The automatic coating system control method according to claim 6, wherein the automatic coating system further includes a transmission mechanism and a positioning mechanism, characterized in that, Before the step of controlling the lifting drive to drive the positioning pin through the positioning hole and lift the coating platform to the preset height, the method further includes: The transmission mechanism is controlled to transport the coating platform to the coating station; The positioning mechanism is controlled to position the coating platform.

8. The automatic coating system control method according to claim 7, wherein the automatic coating system further includes an information reading mechanism, characterized in that, The step of controlling the lifting drive to drive the positioning pin through the positioning hole and lift the coating platform to a preset height includes: The information reading mechanism is controlled to read the identification information of the part to be coated; The identification information and product information are compared to determine whether they match. If so, the lifting drive unit will be controlled to drive the positioning pin through the positioning hole and lift the coating platform to the preset height.

9. The automatic coating system control method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the automatic coating system further includes a metering mechanism, characterized in that, The step of controlling the robotic arm to drive the glue gun to move according to the position correction amount, and simultaneously controlling the glue gun to coat the workpiece includes the following steps: The metering mechanism is controlled to obtain the amount of glue applied by the glue gun; Determine whether the glue application amount information matches the product information; If not, then control the alarm to sound.

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