An endless conveyor line for production of battery cells

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of battery processing, and provides an annular conveying line for battery cell production, which comprises a first conveying line, a second conveying line, a third conveying line, a first lane-changing device, a second lane-changing device and a third lane-changing device; the first lane-changing device is used for guiding idle material cups to move to the third conveying line and guiding material cups supporting battery cells to move to the second conveying line; the second lane-changing device is used for guiding part of the material cups on the second conveying line to move from the second conveying line to the first conveying line and guiding another part of the material cups on the second conveying line to continue conveying along the second conveying line; and the third lane-changing device is used for guiding the material cups on the second conveying line and the third conveying line to move to the first conveying line. Through the arrangement of the second lane-changing device, the first conveying line and the second conveying line can both convey the material cups supporting the battery cells to a battery cell offline station, more material cups can be accommodated, and the problem that the existing battery cell conveying line is difficult to efficiently transfer the vertically arranged battery cells is solved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of battery processing, and particularly relates to a ring-shaped conveying line for battery cell production. BACKGROUND

[0002] During the production of battery cells, the battery cells need to pass through multiple processing procedures, and the battery cells are usually transferred between different procedures by small trolleys or conveying lines.

[0003] In the process of discharging materials from the conveying line, the battery cells on the conveying line are usually clamped by a mechanical hand and placed on a tray, and a new tray is replaced after the tray is full. However, when the tray is replenished or replaced, the discharging process cannot be performed. At this time, if the on-line speed of the battery cells is fast, the battery cells will accumulate on the conveying line, which has a certain risk. To avoid this risk, the on-line speed has to be reduced, and reducing the on-line speed will affect the conveying efficiency. SUMMARY

[0004] The present application provides a ring-shaped conveying line for battery cell production to solve the problem that the existing battery cell conveying line cannot efficiently transfer vertically arranged battery cells.

[0005] The present application provides a ring-shaped conveying line for battery cell production, comprising: a first conveying line, a second conveying line, a third conveying line, a first lane changing device, a second lane changing device, and a third lane changing device.

[0006] The first conveying line, the second conveying line, and the third conveying line can all conduct directional conveying of material cups along their respective extension directions, and the material cups are used to hold battery cells; the first conveying line is provided with a battery cell on-line station corresponding to a first battery cell station, at least one section of the first conveying line and the second conveying line is arranged side by side, and is provided with a battery cell off-line station corresponding to a second battery cell station.

[0007] The first conveying line is ring-shaped; along the conveying direction of the first conveying line, the battery cell on-line station, the first lane changing device, the second lane changing device, the battery cell off-line station, and the third lane changing device are sequentially arranged.

[0008] The first lane changing device is used to split the material cups on the first conveying line to guide the empty material cups to move from the first conveying line to the third conveying line, and to guide the material cups holding battery cells to move from the first conveying line to the second conveying line.

[0009] The second lane-changing device is used for shunting the cup containing the battery cell on the second conveying line, so as to guide a part of the cups on the second conveying line to move from the second conveying line to the first conveying line, and guide another part of the cups on the second conveying line to continue conveying along the second conveying line.

[0010] The third lane-changing device is used for guiding the cups on the second conveying line and the third conveying line to move to the first conveying line respectively.

[0011] According to the application, the second conveying line is arranged outside the first conveying line, and the third conveying line is arranged inside the first conveying line.

[0012] The first end of the second conveying line and the first end of the third conveying line are arranged side by side on the opposite side of the first conveying line, and the second end of the second conveying line and the second end of the third conveying line are arranged side by side on the opposite side of the first conveying line.

[0013] The first lane-changing device is arranged between the first end of the second conveying line and the first end of the third conveying line, and the third lane-changing device is arranged between the second end of the second conveying line and the second end of the third conveying line.

[0014] According to the application, the circular conveying line for battery cell production further comprises a distance-changing device.

[0015] The distance-changing device is arranged on the side of the first conveying line at the battery cell on-line station, and is used for changing the distance of a preset number of cups on the first conveying line.

[0016] According to the application, the distance-changing device comprises a rack, a rotary driving mechanism and a screw rod.

[0017] The screw rod is rotatably arranged on the rack, and the rotary driving mechanism is connected with the screw rod to drive the screw rod to rotate on the rack.

[0018] The screw rod is arranged on one side of a plurality of cups and extends along the arrangement direction of the cups, and a side wall of the screw rod is provided with a groove extending along a spiral line relative to the central axis of the screw rod.

[0019] When the screw rod rotates, the plurality of cups at the battery cell on-line station can enter the groove one by one and change the distance under the driving of the groove.

[0020] The first lane-changing device comprises a first lane-changing guide, a second lane-changing guide and a third lane-changing guide;

[0021] The first lane-changing guide and the second lane-changing guide are arranged on the upper side of the first conveying line, and the first lane-changing guide is arranged at the rear side of the second lane-changing guide along the conveying direction of the first conveying line.

[0022] The third lane-changing guide is arranged on the upper side of the second conveying line, and the third lane-changing guide and the first lane-changing guide are oppositely arranged, and a first reversing passage is formed between the third lane-changing guide and the first lane-changing guide.

[0023] The first reversing passage is used for guiding the cup with the battery cell to move from the first conveying line to the second conveying line, the height-limiting height of the first lane-changing guide is greater than the height of the cup and less than the height of the battery cell, and the second lane-changing guide is used for guiding the empty cup on the first conveying line to move to the third conveying line.

[0024] The second lane-changing device comprises a fourth lane-changing guide, a fifth lane-changing guide and a telescopic driving member.

[0025] The fourth lane-changing guide is arranged on the upper side of the first conveying line, and the output end of the telescopic driving member is connected with the fifth lane-changing guide to drive the fifth lane-changing guide to move between a first position and a second position.

[0026] When the fifth lane-changing guide is in the first position, the fifth lane-changing guide is arranged on the upper side of the second conveying line, the fourth lane-changing guide and the fifth lane-changing guide are oppositely arranged, a second reversing passage is formed between the fourth lane-changing guide and the fifth lane-changing guide, and the second reversing passage is used for guiding the cup to move from the second conveying line to the first conveying line.

[0027] When the fifth lane-changing guide is in the second position, the fifth lane-changing guide is away from the second conveying line towards the side away from the first conveying line.

[0028] The second lane-changing device further comprises a first full-cup buffer assembly.

[0029] The first full-cup buffer assembly is arranged at the rear side of the telescopic driving member along the conveying direction of the second conveying line, and the first full-cup buffer assembly is used for selectively buffering a preset number of cups on the second conveying line.

[0030] According to the application, the third lane-changing device comprises a sixth lane-changing guide, a seventh lane-changing guide and a second full-material buffer assembly.

[0031] The sixth lane-changing guide is arranged on the second conveying line to guide the material cup to move from the second conveying line to the first conveying line.

[0032] The second full-material buffer assembly is arranged on the upper side of the first conveying line, and is used to buffer the material cup conveyed on the first conveying line.

[0033] The seventh lane-changing guide is arranged on the third conveying line to guide the material cup to move from the third conveying line to the first conveying line.

[0034] According to the application, the third lane-changing device further comprises a third full-material buffer assembly, which is arranged on the rear side of the sixth lane-changing guide along the conveying direction of the second conveying line, and is used to buffer the material cup conveyed on the second conveying line.

[0035] And / or, the third lane-changing device further comprises a fourth full-material buffer assembly, which is arranged on the rear side of the seventh lane-changing guide along the conveying direction of the third conveying line, and is used to buffer the material cup conveyed on the third conveying line.

[0036] According to the application, the first conveying line is provided with a first offline locking assembly at the offline station of the battery cell; the first offline locking assembly comprises a first stopper and a second stopper, the first stopper and the second stopper are spaced apart and oppositely arranged along the conveying direction of the first conveying line; the first stopper and the second stopper can be switched between a first state close to the first conveying line and a second state away from the first conveying line; when the first stopper and the second stopper are in the first state, the first stopper and the second stopper are used to buffer a preset number of material cups on the first conveying line.

[0037] And / or, the second conveying line is provided with a second offline locking assembly at the cell offline station; the second offline locking assembly comprises a third stopper and a fourth stopper, the third stopper and the fourth stopper are spaced apart and oppositely arranged along the conveying direction of the second conveying line; the third stopper and the fourth stopper can be switched between a first state close to the second conveying line and a second state away from the second conveying line; when the third stopper and the fourth stopper are in the first state, the third stopper and the fourth stopper are used to buffer a preset number of the cups on the second conveying line.

[0038] The annular conveying line for cell production provided by the application places the cell into the cup at the cell online station, and the cup after the cell online process is sent out by the first conveying line. The first lane changing device is arranged to guide the cup supporting the cell on the first conveying line to the second conveying line and guide the empty cup on the first conveying line to the third conveying line, so as to realize the separate conveying of the empty cup and the non-empty cup. The second lane changing device can guide the cup supporting the cell to the first conveying line or make the cup supporting the cell still convey along the second conveying line, so that the first conveying line and the second conveying line can both convey the cup supporting the cell to the cell offline station, so that the annular conveying line can accommodate more cups supporting the cell and avoid cup accumulation. At the same time, the empty cup on the third conveying line and the empty cup after the offline process on the second conveying line are both guided to the first conveying line by the third lane changing device and finally flow back to the cell online station, realizing the reuse of the cup and solving the problem that the existing cell conveying line is difficult to efficiently transfer the vertically arranged cell. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0039] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the application or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments or the prior art description. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are some embodiments of the application, and those skilled in the art can also obtain other drawings according to these drawings without creative effort.

[0040] Figure 1 is a perspective structural schematic view of the annular conveying line for cell production provided by the application;

[0041] Figure 2 is a top view of the annular conveying line for cell production provided by the application;

[0042] Figure 3 is one of the partial schematic views of the annular conveying line for cell production provided by the application;

[0043] Figure 4is the second partial view of the annular conveying line for battery cell production.

[0044] Reference signs:

[0045] 1, first conveying line; 11, first down-line locking assembly; 111, first stopper; 112, second stopper; 113, first stock sensor; 114, second stock sensor;

[0046] 2, second conveying line; 21, second down-line locking assembly; 211, third stopper; 212, fourth stopper; 213, third stock sensor; 214, fourth stock sensor;

[0047] 3, third conveying line;

[0048] 4, first lane changing device; 41, first lane changing guide; 42, second lane changing guide; 43, third lane changing guide;

[0049] 5, second lane changing device; 51, fourth lane changing guide; 52, fifth lane changing guide; 53, telescopic driving member; 54, first full stock buffer assembly;

[0050] 6, third lane changing device; 61, sixth lane changing guide; 62, seventh lane changing guide; 63, second full stock buffer assembly; 64, third full stock buffer assembly; 65, fourth full stock buffer assembly; 651, first full stock buffer unit; 652, second full stock buffer unit; 653, fifth stock sensor; 654, sixth stock sensor;

[0051] 7, battery cell up-line station;

[0052] 8, battery cell down-line station;

[0053] 9, variable distance device; 91, rack; 92, rotary driving mechanism; 93, screw rod;

[0054] 200, cup. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the technical solutions in the present application will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the drawings in the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative work fall within the protection scope of the present application.

[0056] The conveying direction of the annular conveying line for battery cell production provided by the present application will be described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. Figures 1 to 4 The conveying direction of the annular conveying line for battery cell production provided by the present application will be described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0057] Figures 2 to 4 The direction of the arrow shown in the middle is the conveying direction of the annular conveying line for battery cell production of the present application.

[0058] As Figures 1 to 2 shown, the present application provides an annular conveying line for battery cell production, comprising a first conveying line 1, a second conveying line 2, a third conveying line 3, a first lane-changing device 4, a second lane-changing device 5 and a third lane-changing device 6. The first conveying line 1, the second conveying line 2 and the third conveying line 3 are all capable of directional conveying of the material cup 200 along the respective extension direction; the first conveying line 1 is provided with a battery cell on-line station 7 corresponding to a first battery cell work station, at least a section of the first conveying line 1 and the second conveying line 2 are arranged side by side, and are provided with a battery cell off-line station 8 corresponding to a second battery cell work station. The first conveying line 1 is annular; along the conveying direction of the first conveying line 1, the battery cell on-line station 7, the first lane-changing device 4, the second lane-changing device 5, the battery cell off-line station 8 and the third lane-changing device 6 are sequentially arranged.

[0059] The first lane-changing device 4 is used for splitting the material cup 200 on the first conveying line 1, so as to guide the empty material cup 200 to move from the first conveying line 1 to the third conveying line 3, and guide the material cup 200 supporting the battery cell to move from the first conveying line 1 to the second conveying line 2; the second lane-changing device 5 is used for splitting the material cup 200 supporting the battery cell on the second conveying line 2, so as to guide a part of the material cup 200 on the second conveying line 2 to move from the second conveying line 2 to the first conveying line 1, and guide another part of the material cup 200 on the second conveying line 2 to continue conveying along the second conveying line 2; the third lane-changing device 6 is used for guiding the material cup 200 on the second conveying line 2 and the third conveying line 3 to move to the first conveying line 1 respectively.

[0060] Specifically, the first battery cell work station and the second battery cell work station are both used for performing a battery cell processing procedure, and the annular conveying line for battery cell production of the present application can convey the battery cell located at the first battery cell work station to the second battery cell work station by cooperating with an on-off line device. The on-off line device can be a mechanical hand, a gripper, a suction cup or the like, and the on-off line process of the battery cell is performed by grabbing the battery cell through the on-off line device.

[0061] Specifically, a plurality of cups 200 are placed on the first conveying line 1, and the cups 200 are used to support the vertically arranged battery cells. At the battery cell online station 7, the battery cells are placed in the cups 200, for example, by a mechanical hand, a gripper or a suction cup to grab the battery cell completed by the first battery cell station and place the battery cell in the cup 200 at the battery cell online station 7 to complete the online process; the first conveying line 1 conveys the cup 200 flowing out of the battery cell online station 7, and the first lane changing device 4 can guide the empty cup 200 (for example, for the battery cell placed in the cup 200, part of which may be the unqualified battery cell detected after the first battery cell station operation, and the unqualified battery cell is removed to cause the cup 200 to be in an empty state) on the first conveying line 1 to the third conveying line 3, and guide the cup 200 supporting the battery cell to the second conveying line 2, so as to realize the separate conveying of the empty cup 200 and the cup 200 supporting the battery cell.

[0062] The second lane changing device 5 can guide the cup 200 supporting the battery cell on the second conveying line 2 to the first conveying line 1, or make the cup 200 supporting the battery cell continue to be conveyed along the second conveying line 2, that is, the cup 200 supporting the battery cell can be conveyed through the first conveying line 1 and / or the second conveying line 2, and finally conveyed to the battery cell offline station 8. The battery cell offline station 8 is arranged at the position of part of the first conveying line 1 and part of the second conveying line 2, and the battery cell offline process is completed at the battery cell offline station 8. The specific offline process is: taking the battery cell out of the cup 200 and placing it on the second battery cell station, and the empty cup 200 after taking out the battery cell still remains on the first conveying line 1 and / or the second conveying line 2 to continue the conveying process.

[0063] The third lane changing device 6 can guide the empty cup 200 on the third conveying line 3 and the empty cup 200 on the second conveying line 2 to the first conveying line 1. Since the first conveying line 1 is annular, the above-mentioned empty cup 200 can all flow back to the battery cell online station 7 and be subjected to the battery cell online process again.

[0064] The annular conveying line for battery cell production of the present application, the battery cell is placed in the cup 200 at the battery cell on-line station 7, the cup 200 after the battery cell on-line process is sent out by the first conveying line 1, the first lane changing device 4 is arranged to guide the cup 200 supporting the battery cell on the first conveying line 1 to the second conveying line 2, and guide the empty cup 200 on the first conveying line 1 to the third conveying line 3, so as to realize the shunt conveying of the empty cup 200 and the non-empty cup 200; the second lane changing device 5 can guide the cup 200 supporting the battery cell to the first conveying line 1, or make the cup 200 supporting the battery cell still conveying along the second conveying line 2, so that the first conveying line 1 and the second conveying line 2 can both convey the cup 200 supporting the battery cell to the battery cell off-line station 8, so that the annular conveying line can accommodate more cups 200 supporting the battery cell, avoiding the accumulation of the cup 200; at the same time, the empty cup 200 on the third conveying line 3 and the empty cup 200 on the second conveying line 2 after the off-line process are all guided to the first conveying line 1 by the third lane changing device 6 and finally flow back to the battery cell on-line station 7, realizing the reuse of the cup 200, solving the problem that the existing battery cell conveying line is difficult to efficiently transfer the vertically arranged battery cell.

[0065] In some embodiments, the second conveying line 2 is arranged outside the first conveying line 1, so that the second conveying line 2 can accommodate more cups 200. Since the number of empty cups 200 after the first battery cell station operation process is relatively small due to unqualified battery cells and other reasons, the length requirement of the third conveying line 3 is not high, and the third conveying line 3 is arranged inside the first conveying line 1; the first end of the second conveying line 2 and the first end of the third conveying line 3 are arranged side by side on the opposite side of the first conveying line 1; the second end of the second conveying line 2 and the second end of the third conveying line 3 are arranged side by side on the opposite side of the first conveying line 1; the first lane changing device 4 is arranged between the first end of the second conveying line 2 and the first end of the third conveying line 3; the third lane changing device 6 is arranged between the second end of the second conveying line 2 and the second end of the third conveying line 3.

[0066] As shown in Figures 1 to 3 In some embodiments, the annular conveying line for battery cell production further comprises a variable distance device 9; the variable distance device 9 is arranged at the battery cell on-line station 7 and located on one side of the first conveying line 1; the variable distance device 9 is used for adjusting the distance of a preset number of cups 200 on the first conveying line 1.

[0067] In one specific embodiment, the pitch changing device 9 comprises a frame 91, a rotary driving mechanism 92 and a screw rod 93; the screw rod 93 is rotatably arranged on the frame 91, and the rotary driving mechanism 92 is connected with the screw rod 93 to drive the screw rod 93 to rotate on the frame 91; the screw rod 93 is arranged at one side of the plurality of material cups 200 and extends along the arrangement direction of the material cups 200; the side wall of the screw rod 93 is provided with a groove, and the groove extends along a spiral track with respect to the central axis of the screw rod 93; in the case that the screw rod 93 rotates, the plurality of material cups 200 at the cell on-line station 7 can enter the groove one by one and be driven by the groove to change the pitch.

[0068] Specifically, when the empty material cup 200 is conveyed by the first conveying line 1 to the cell on-line station 7, in the case that the screw rod 93 rotates, the material cup 200 can enter from one end of the groove, so that the material cup 200 is sequentially limited in the groove on the screw rod 93; since the material cups 200 at the cell on-line station 7 are all at the same side of the screw rod 93, the distance between any two adjacent material cups 200 of the plurality of material cups 200 limited in the groove is equal, which facilitates the placement of the cell in the material cup 200 and the completion of the waiting cell on-line process.

[0069] With the rotation of the screw rod 93, the screw rod 93 can drive the plurality of material cups 200 limited in the groove to move synchronously until the material cup 200 moves out from the other end of the groove and is separated from the screw rod 93, and the separated material cup 200 (which has gone through the cell on-line process) is sent out by the first conveying line 1. It should be noted that the rotary driving mechanism 92 can comprise a motor and a belt-pulley transmission mechanism.

[0070] In one specific embodiment, the cell on-line station 7 is provided with a material arrival sensor, which comprises a plurality of material cup arrival sensors and a plurality of cell arrival sensors; the plurality of material cup arrival sensors are uniformly spaced along the axial direction of the screw rod 93, and the sensing height of the material cup arrival sensor is lower than the height of the material cup 200, so as to sense whether the material cup 200 reaches the preset area; when all the material cup arrival sensors sense that the material cup 200 reaches the preset area, the cell is placed in the material cup 200; the plurality of cell arrival sensors are also uniformly spaced along the axial direction of the screw rod 93, and the cell arrival sensor is lower than the height of the cell, so as to sense whether the cell is placed in the material cup 200; when all the cell arrival sensors sense that the material cup 200 supports the cell, the screw rod 93 is further rotated to gradually separate the material cup 200 from the screw rod 93, and the separated material cup 200 (together with the cell inside) is sent out by the first conveying line 1.

[0071] As Figures 2 to 3As shown, in some embodiments, the first lane-changing device 4 comprises a first lane-changing guide 41, a second lane-changing guide 42 and a third lane-changing guide 43; the first lane-changing guide 41 and the second lane-changing guide 42 are arranged on the upper side of the first conveying line 1, and along the conveying direction of the first conveying line 1, the first lane-changing guide 41 is arranged at the rear side of the second lane-changing guide 42; the third lane-changing guide 43 is arranged on the upper side of the second conveying line 2, and the third lane-changing guide 43 and the first lane-changing guide 41 are oppositely arranged, and a first reversing passage is formed between the third lane-changing guide 43 and the first lane-changing guide 41; the first reversing passage is used to guide the cup 200 supporting the battery cell to move from the first conveying line 1 to the second conveying line 2; the height-limiting height of the first lane-changing guide 41 is greater than the height of the cup 200 and less than the height of the battery cell (the height of the upper end of the battery cell when the battery cell is inside the cup 200); the second lane-changing guide 42 is used to guide the empty cup 200 on the first conveying line 1 to move to the third conveying line 3.

[0072] Specifically, since the height-limiting height of the first lane-changing guide 41 is less than the height of the battery cell, the battery cell can be conveyed from the first conveying line 1 to abut against the first lane-changing guide 41, and the first lane-changing guide 41 guides the battery cell together with the cup 200 containing the battery cell to the second conveying line 2; the third lane-changing guide 43 and the first lane-changing guide 41 form a first reversing passage, and when the battery cell is in the first reversing passage, the third lane-changing guide 43 and the first lane-changing guide 41 jointly limit the battery cell, guide the battery cell and the cup 200 to convey forward, and avoid the battery cell and the cup 200 from falling over.

[0073] Since the height-limiting height of the first lane-changing guide 41 is greater than the height of the cup 200, the empty cup 200 can pass below the first lane-changing guide 41, and the height-limiting height of the second lane-changing guide 42 is less than the height of the cup 200, so the cup 200 can move to abut against the second lane-changing guide 42 and be guided by the second lane-changing guide 42 to the third conveying line 3.

[0074] As Figure 2 and Figure 4As shown, in some embodiments, the second lane-changing device 5 includes a fourth lane-changing guide 51, a fifth lane-changing guide 52, and a telescopic drive 53; the fourth lane-changing guide 51 is disposed on the upper side of the first conveyor line 1, and the output end of the telescopic drive 53 is connected to the fifth lane-changing guide 52 to drive the fifth lane-changing guide 52 to move between a first position and a second position; when the fifth lane-changing guide 52 is in the first position, the fifth lane-changing guide 52 is located on the upper side of the second conveyor line 2, the fourth lane-changing guide 51 and the fifth lane-changing guide 52 are arranged opposite to each other, and a second reversing channel is formed between the fourth lane-changing guide 51 and the fifth lane-changing guide 52, the second reversing channel is used to guide the material cup 200 to move from the second conveyor line 2 to the first conveyor line 1; when the fifth lane-changing guide 52 is in the second position, the fifth lane-changing guide 52 moves away from the second conveyor line 2 towards the side away from the first conveyor line 1.

[0075] Specifically, when the fifth reversing guide 52 is in the first position, the height limit of the fifth reversing guide 52 is less than the height of the battery cell. When the material cup 200 or battery cell on the second conveyor line 2 comes into contact with the fifth reversing guide 52, the material cup 200 is guided to move from the second reversing channel to the first conveyor line 1. The second reversing channel formed between the fourth reversing guide 51 and the fifth reversing guide 52 can limit the material cup 200 or battery cell in the second reversing channel.

[0076] When the fifth reversing guide 52 is in the second position, the fifth reversing guide 52 is away from the second conveyor line 2, and the material cup 200 (or battery cell) on the second conveyor line 2 will not come into contact with the fifth reversing guide 52. The material cup 200 on the second conveyor line 2 will continue to be conveyed by the second conveyor line 2.

[0077] In one specific embodiment, the telescopic drive component 53 is a component such as a cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder.

[0078] like Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments, the second lane changing device 5 further includes a first full material buffer assembly 54; the first full material buffer assembly 54 is disposed on the rear side of the telescopic drive member 53 along the conveying direction of the second conveyor line 2, and the first full material buffer assembly 54 is used to selectively buffer a preset number of material cups 200 on the second conveyor line 2.

[0079] Specifically, the first full material buffer assembly 54 comprises a sensing assembly and a buffer assembly, the buffer assembly is capable of blocking or allowing the material cup 200 to pass, and the sensing assembly is used for detecting whether a preset number of material cups 200 are buffered at the rear side of the buffer assembly; when the preset number of material cups 200 are buffered, the buffer assembly allows the material cup 200 to pass and continue to move along the second conveying line 2; otherwise, if the preset number of material cups 200 are not buffered, the buffer assembly blocks the material cup 200 to pass, so as to buffer the material cup 200.

[0080] In one specific embodiment, the sensing assembly comprises a first buffer sensor and a second buffer sensor (not shown in the figure), the first buffer sensor, the second buffer sensor and the buffer assembly are sequentially arranged along the conveying direction of the second conveying line 2, and the second buffer sensor is adjacent to the buffer assembly. When the buffer assembly blocks the material cup 200 to pass, the buffering process of the material cup 200 is started, and when the first buffer sensor senses the presence of the material cup 200 in its sensing area and the material cup 200 does not move, it indicates that the preset number of material cups 200 have been buffered, at this time the buffer assembly allows the material cup 200 to pass, and when the second buffer sensor does not sense the material cup 200 in its sensing area, it indicates that the preset number of material cups 200 have all passed, and then the buffer assembly blocks the material cup 200 to pass again, and the buffering process is repeated.

[0081] In the above specific embodiment, the position of the first buffer sensor can be adjusted, so that the preset number of the buffered material cups can be changed.

[0082] The buffer assembly comprises a cylinder and a baffle, and the baffle is driven to move by the cylinder, so that the baffle can block or allow the material cup 200 to pass.

[0083] As shown in FIGS. Figure 2 and Figure 4 In some embodiments, the first conveying line 1 is provided with a first offline locking assembly 11 at the offline station 8 of the battery cell; the first offline locking assembly 11 comprises a first stopper 111 and a second stopper 112, the first stopper 111 and the second stopper 112 are spaced apart and oppositely arranged along the conveying direction of the first conveying line 1; the first stopper 111 and the second stopper 112 are capable of switching between a first state close to the first conveying line 1 and a second state away from the first conveying line 1; in the case that the first stopper 111 and the second stopper 112 are both in the first state, the first stopper 111 and the second stopper 112 are used for buffering a preset number of material cups 200 on the first conveying line 1;

[0084] Specifically, the first stopper 111 and the second stopper 112 are respectively located at two ends of the cell offline station 8, and the first stopper 111 can block or allow the cup 200 on the first conveying line 1 to enter the cell offline station 8 by moving close to or away from the first conveying line 1. The second stopper 112 can block or allow the cup 200 in the cell offline station 8 to flow out by moving close to or away from the first conveying line 1.

[0085] Specifically, the first offline locking assembly 11 further comprises a first storage sensor 113 and a second storage sensor 114, both of which are arranged between the first stopper 111 and the second stopper 112, the first storage sensor 113 is adjacent to the first stopper 111, and the second storage sensor 114 is adjacent to the second stopper 112. When the second storage sensor 114 does not sense the cup 200, the first stopper 111 allows the cup 200 to enter the cell offline station 8, and the second stopper 112 blocks the cup 200 from flowing out of the cell offline station 8, so that the cup 200 accumulates in the cell offline station 8. When the first storage sensor 113 senses the presence of the cup 200 and does not move, the first stopper 111 blocks the cup 200 from continuing to enter the cell offline station 8, and then the cell offline process is performed. After the cell offline, the second stopper 112 allows the cup 200 in the cell offline station 8 to flow out. When the second storage sensor 114 does not sense the cup 200, the above steps are repeated.

[0086] As shown in FIGS. Figure 2 and Figure 4 In some embodiments, the second conveying line 2 is configured with a second offline locking assembly 21 at the cell offline station 8; the second offline locking assembly 21 comprises a third stopper 211 and a fourth stopper 212, which are spaced apart and oppositely arranged along the conveying direction of the second conveying line 2; both the third stopper 211 and the fourth stopper 212 can be switched between a first state of approaching the second conveying line 2 and a second state of moving away from the second conveying line 2; in the case that both the third stopper 211 and the fourth stopper 212 are in the first state, the third stopper 211 and the fourth stopper 212 are used to buffer a preset number of cups 200 on the second conveying line 2.

[0087] Specifically, the second offline locking assembly 21 further comprises a third storage sensor 213 and a fourth storage sensor 214, and the arrangement of the second offline locking assembly 21 can refer to the first offline locking assembly 11.

[0088] In one specific embodiment, the first stopper 111, the second stopper 112, the third stopper 211 and the fourth stopper 212 each comprise a cylinder and a baffle, and the baffle is driven to move by the cylinder to block or allow the cup 200 to pass.

[0089] As shown in Figures 2 to 3 some embodiments, the third lane changing device 6 includes a sixth lane changing guide 61, a seventh lane changing guide 62, and a second full material buffer assembly 63; the sixth lane changing guide 61 is arranged on the second conveying line 2 to guide the material cup 200 to move from the second conveying line 2 to the first conveying line 1; the second full material buffer assembly 63 is arranged on the upper side of the first conveying line 1, and is used to buffer the material cup 200 conveyed on the first conveying line 1; and the seventh lane changing guide 62 is arranged on the third conveying line 3 to guide the material cup 200 to move from the third conveying line 3 to the first conveying line 1.

[0090] Specifically, the height-limiting height of the sixth lane changing guide 61 and the seventh lane changing guide 62 is less than the height of the material cup 200, and the material cup 200 can be guided onto the first conveying line 1 when it moves against the sixth lane changing guide 61 and / or the seventh lane changing guide 62, and eventually returns to the cell online station 7, realizing the reuse of the material cup 200.

[0091] The second full material buffer assembly 63 can block or allow the material cup 200 to pass through, and when the empty material cup 200 on the second conveying line 2 or the third conveying line 3 is guided onto the first conveying line 1, the second full material buffer assembly 63 blocks and buffers the empty material cup 200 flowing out of the cell offline station 8 on the first conveying line 1, avoiding mutual interference between the material cups 200; and when the empty material cup 200 on the second conveying line 2 and the third conveying line 3 is not guided onto the first conveying line 1, the second full material buffer assembly 63 allows the empty material cup 200 flowing out of the cell offline station 8 on the first conveying line 1 to pass through and return to the cell online station 7.

[0092] As shown in Figures 2 to 3 some embodiments, the third lane changing device 6 further includes a third full material buffer assembly 64, which is arranged on the rear side of the sixth lane changing guide 61 along the conveying direction of the second conveying line 2, and is used to buffer the material cup 200 conveyed on the second conveying line 2.

[0093] As shown in Figures 2 to 3 some embodiments, the third lane changing device 6 further includes a fourth full material buffer assembly 65, which is arranged on the rear side of the seventh lane changing guide 62 along the conveying direction of the third conveying line 3, and is used to buffer the material cup 200 conveyed on the third conveying line 3.

[0094] Specifically, the third full-load buffer assembly 64 can block or allow an empty cup 200 on the second conveyor line 2 to pass through and move onto the first conveyor line 1. The fourth full-load buffer assembly 65 can block or allow an empty cup 200 on the third conveyor line 3 to pass through and move onto the first conveyor line 1. Through the cooperation between the second full-load buffer assembly 63, the third full-load buffer assembly 64, and the fourth full-load buffer assembly 65, interference between the two empty cups on the first conveyor line 1, the second conveyor line 2, and the third conveyor line 3 is avoided.

[0095] like Figures 2 to 3 As shown, in one specific embodiment, the fourth full-material buffer assembly 65 includes a first full-material buffer unit 651, a second full-material buffer unit 652, a fifth material storage sensor 653, and a sixth material storage sensor 654. The first full-material buffer unit 651 is located behind the second full-material buffer unit 652. Both the first full-material buffer unit 651 and the second full-material buffer unit 652 can block or allow the material cup 200 to pass through. The fifth material storage sensor 653 is located behind the first full-material buffer unit 651 and is adjacent to the first full-material buffer unit 651. The sixth material storage sensor 654 is located behind the second full-material buffer unit 652 and is adjacent to the second full-material buffer unit 652. When the sixth material storage sensor 654 does not detect the material cup 200, the first full material buffer unit 651 allows the material cup 200 to pass through, and the second full material buffer unit 652 blocks the material cup 200 from passing through, thereby buffering the material cup 200. When the fifth material storage sensor 653 senses that there is a material cup 200 in its sensing area and the material cup 200 has not moved, the first full material buffer unit 651 blocks the material cup 200 from passing through, while the second full material buffer unit 652 allows the material cup 200 to pass through and move to the first conveyor line 1, until the sixth material storage sensor 654 no longer senses the material cup 200, and the above process is repeated.

[0096] In one specific embodiment, the second full material buffer component 63, the third full material buffer component 64, the first full material buffer unit 651 and the second full material buffer unit 652 all include a cylinder and a baffle. The cylinder drives the baffle to move, thereby blocking or allowing the material cup 200 to pass through.

[0097] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A circular conveyor line for battery cell production, characterized in that, include: First conveyor line, second conveyor line, third conveyor line, first track switching device, second track switching device and third track switching device; The first conveyor line, the second conveyor line, and the third conveyor line are all capable of directional conveying of material cups along their respective extension directions. The material cups are used to support battery cells. The first conveyor line is provided with a battery cell loading station corresponding to the first battery cell workstation. At least one section of the first conveyor line and the second conveyor line are arranged side by side and are provided with a battery cell unloading station corresponding to the second battery cell workstation. The first conveyor line is in a loop; along the conveying direction of the first conveyor line, the battery cell loading station, the first switching device, the second switching device, the battery cell unloading station, and the third switching device are arranged in sequence; The first diverting device is used to divert the material cups on the first conveyor line to guide the empty material cups from the first conveyor line to the third conveyor line, and to guide the material cups supporting the battery cells from the first conveyor line to the second conveyor line. The second diversion device is used to divert the cups supporting the battery cells on the second conveyor line, so as to guide a portion of the cups on the second conveyor line to move from the second conveyor line to the first conveyor line, and to guide another portion of the cups on the second conveyor line to continue to be conveyed along the second conveyor line; The third switching device is used to guide the cups on the second conveyor line and the third conveyor line to move to the first conveyor line respectively.

2. The circular conveyor line for battery cell production according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second conveyor line is located outside the first conveyor line, and the third conveyor line is located inside the first conveyor line; The first end of the second conveyor line and the first end of the third conveyor line are arranged side by side on the opposite side of the first conveyor line; the second end of the second conveyor line and the second end of the third conveyor line are arranged side by side on the opposite side of the first conveyor line; The first track-changing device is located between the first end of the second conveyor line and the first end of the third conveyor line; the third track-changing device is located between the second end of the second conveyor line and the second end of the third conveyor line.

3. The circular conveyor line for battery cell production according to claim 1, characterized in that, The circular conveyor line for battery cell production also includes a pitch-changing device. The pitch-changing device is installed at the cell loading station and located on one side of the first conveyor line; the pitch-changing device is used to adjust the pitch of a preset number of material cups on the first conveyor line.

4. The circular conveyor line for battery cell production according to claim 3, characterized in that, The pitch-changing device includes a frame, a rotary drive mechanism, and a screw. The screw is rotatably mounted on the frame, and the rotary drive mechanism is connected to the screw to drive the screw to rotate on the frame; The screw is disposed on one side of a plurality of material cups and extends along the arrangement direction of the material cups; the side wall of the screw is provided with a groove, which extends along a spiral trajectory relative to the central axis of the screw; When the screw rotates, the multiple material cups at the cell loading station can sequentially enter the groove and achieve pitch change under the drive of the groove.

5. The circular conveyor line for battery cell production according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The first lane-changing device includes a first lane-changing guide, a second lane-changing guide, and a third lane-changing guide; The first lane-changing guide and the second lane-changing guide are spaced apart on the upper side of the first conveyor line. Along the conveying direction of the first conveyor line, the first lane-changing guide is located on the rear side of the second lane-changing guide. The third reversing guide is disposed on the upper side of the second conveyor line. The third reversing guide and the first reversing guide are disposed opposite to each other, and a first reversing channel is formed between the third reversing guide and the first reversing guide. The first reversing channel is used to guide the cup supporting the battery cell from the first conveyor line to the second conveyor line; the height limit of the first reversing guide is greater than the height of the cup and less than the height of the battery cell. The second rerouting guide is used to guide the empty cup on the first conveyor line to move to the third conveyor line.

6. The circular conveyor line for battery cell production according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The second lane-changing device includes a fourth lane-changing guide, a fifth lane-changing guide, and a telescopic drive. The fourth lane-changing guide is located on the upper side of the first conveyor line, and the output end of the telescopic drive is connected to the fifth lane-changing guide to drive the fifth lane-changing guide to move between the first position and the second position. When the fifth reversing guide is in the first position, the fifth reversing guide is located on the upper side of the second conveyor line, the fourth reversing guide and the fifth reversing guide are arranged opposite to each other, and a second reversing channel is formed between the fourth reversing guide and the fifth reversing guide. The second reversing channel is used to guide the material cup to move from the second conveyor line to the first conveyor line. When the fifth lane-changing guide is in the second position, the fifth lane-changing guide moves away from the second conveyor line towards the side opposite to the first conveyor line.

7. The circular conveyor line for battery cell production according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second lane-changing device also includes a first full-load buffer assembly; The first full-material buffer component is located on the rear side of the telescopic drive component along the conveying direction of the second conveyor line. The first full-material buffer component is used to selectively buffer a preset number of the material cups on the second conveyor line.

8. The circular conveyor line for battery cell production according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The third lane-changing device includes a sixth lane-changing guide, a seventh lane-changing guide, and a second full-load buffer assembly; The sixth guide is disposed on the second conveyor line to guide the material cup from the second conveyor line to the first conveyor line; The second full-material buffer component is disposed on the upper side of the first conveyor line, and the second full-material buffer component is used to buffer the material cups conveyed on the first conveyor line; The seventh guide is located on the third conveyor line to guide the material cup from the third conveyor line to the first conveyor line.

9. The circular conveyor line for battery cell production according to claim 8, characterized in that, The third lane changing device further includes a third full material buffer assembly, which is located on the rear side of the sixth lane changing guide along the conveying direction of the second conveyor line. The third full material buffer assembly is used to buffer the material cup conveyed on the second conveyor line. And / or, the third lane changing device further includes a fourth full-load buffer assembly, which is disposed on the rear side of the seventh lane changing guide along the conveying direction of the third conveyor line, and is used to buffer the material cups conveyed on the third conveyor line.

10. The circular conveyor line for battery cell production according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The first conveyor line is equipped with a first unloading locking assembly at the cell unloading station; the first unloading locking assembly includes a first stop and a second stop, which are spaced apart and arranged opposite to each other along the conveying direction of the first conveyor line; both the first stop and the second stop can switch between a first state close to the first conveyor line and a second state far away from the first conveyor line; when both the first stop and the second stop are in the first state, the first stop and the second stop are used to buffer a preset number of the material cups on the first conveyor line; And / or, the second conveyor line is equipped with a second unloading locking assembly at the cell unloading station; the second unloading locking assembly includes a third stop and a fourth stop, the third stop and the fourth stop are spaced apart and are arranged opposite to each other along the conveying direction of the second conveyor line; the third stop and the fourth stop can switch between a first state close to the second conveyor line and a second state far away from the second conveyor line. When both the third stop and the fourth stop are in the first state, the third stop and the fourth stop are used to buffer a preset number of the material cups on the second conveyor line.

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