Bending apparatus and current collector plate

Abstract

The application discloses a bending device and a current collecting plate. The bending device comprises a positioning assembly, a first bending assembly and a second bending assembly. The positioning assembly is provided with a bearing surface for bearing a disc body. The first bending assembly comprises a first bending piece. The second bending assembly comprises a second bending piece and a first abutting piece. The first bending assembly is used for bending a connecting sheet for the first time, so that a part of the connecting sheet is bent in a direction away from the bearing surface and stands on the disc body, and the connecting sheet is in a first state. The second bending assembly is used for bending the part of the connecting sheet standing on the disc body in the first state for the second time, so that a part of the connecting sheet is attached to a surface on a side of the disc body away from the bearing surface, and another part stands on the disc body, and the connecting sheet is in a second state. The second bending makes the part of the connecting sheet attached to the disc body, so that the posture of the connecting sheet is adjusted, and the probability of interference in subsequent covering operation is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of lithium battery manufacturing technology, and in particular to a bending device and a current collector. Background Technology

[0002] A lithium-ion battery comprises a cell and a current collector. The current collector includes a disk body and connecting tabs that are interconnected. During the manufacturing process of a lithium-ion battery, after the disk body is welded to one end of the cell, the cap of the lithium-ion battery needs to be welded to the connecting tabs. After welding, the cap is then fitted onto the opening of the casing and welded to the lithium-ion battery casing. To facilitate the welding of the cap to the connecting tabs and to make the cap fitting easier, related technologies involve bending at least a portion of the connecting tab at an angle to the disk body, so that the bent portion of the connecting tab stands upright on the end face of the cell.

[0003] In some production scenarios, current collectors of the same size need to be assembled onto batteries from different batches. The dimensions of the casing and cap of batteries from one batch may differ from those of another. However, existing bending equipment can only bend the connecting piece once, making it difficult to control the position and dimensions of the portion of the connecting piece protruding from the collector body. This can lead to interference during the capping operation when matching current collectors to different battery batches, affecting actual production and yield. Therefore, it is necessary to research and solve these problems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, the present invention proposes a bending device that can perform secondary bending on the connecting piece to adjust the posture of the part of the connecting piece that is standing upright on the disc body, so as to reduce the probability of interference during subsequent closing operations.

[0005] The present invention also proposes a collector plate processed by the above-mentioned bending equipment.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a bending device is used to process a collector plate, the collector plate including a plate body and a connecting piece connected to each other, the bending device including a positioning component, a first bending component and a second bending component, the positioning component being provided with a bearing surface, the bearing surface being used to support the plate body.

[0007] The first bending assembly is used to bend the connecting piece for the first time to bend the connecting piece to a first state. The first bending assembly includes a first bending member, which is capable of moving relative to the positioning assembly in a first direction. The first bending member is capable of moving to a first position. The first bending member at the first position bends at least a portion of the connecting piece in the first direction away from the bearing surface. The first direction intersects the bearing surface.

[0008] The second bending component is used to bend the connecting piece in the first state a second time to bend the connecting piece to the second state. The second bending component includes a second bending member and a first abutment member. Both the second bending member and the first abutment member are located on the side of the positioning component where the bearing surface is provided. The second bending member can move relative to the positioning component in a second direction to a second position. The second bending member in the second position abuts against the first side of the connecting piece in the first state, so that a portion of the connecting piece bends in a direction toward the bearing surface to fit against the disc body. The second direction intersects with the first direction. The first abutment member can move relative to the positioning component in a third direction to a third position. The first abutment member in the third position abuts against the second side of the connecting piece in the first state away from the first side, so that another portion of the connecting piece bends in a direction away from the bearing surface to stand upright on the disc body. The third direction intersects with the second direction.

[0009] The bending device according to embodiments of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: By performing a first bending of the connecting piece using a first bending assembly, a portion of the connecting piece is bent in a direction away from the bearing surface until it stands upright on the disc body, placing the connecting piece in a first state. Then, a second bending of the portion of the connecting piece standing upright on the disc body in the first state is performed a second bending, causing a portion of the connecting piece to adhere to the surface of the disc body away from the bearing surface, while the other portion stands upright on the disc body, placing the connecting piece in a second state. By bending a portion of the connecting piece to adhere to the disc body in the second bending, the standing position and height of the portion of the connecting piece ultimately standing upright on the disc body can be controlled, ensuring that the portion of the connecting piece ultimately standing upright on the disc body is in a suitable posture, thereby reducing the probability of interference during subsequent closing operations.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the first direction is inclined to the bearing surface, and when the first bent member is located in the first position, at least a portion of the projection of the first bent member in a direction perpendicular to the bearing surface is located on the bearing surface.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the first bending assembly further includes a second abutment member, the second abutment member being movable relative to the positioning assembly along a fourth direction, the fourth direction being inclined to the bearing surface, the second abutment member being used to abut against the side of the collector plate opposite to the bearing surface, the fourth direction being the same as the first direction being inclined relative to the bearing surface, the angle between the fourth direction and the bearing surface being α, the angle between the first direction and the bearing surface being β, satisfying: α≤β.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the second abutment member is provided with a first surface on the side facing the first bending member, the first surface being inclined to the bearing surface, and the first surface gradually moving away from the first bending member in a direction away from the bearing surface.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the first bending assembly further includes a third abutment member, the third abutment member and the first bending member being located on the same side of the positioning assembly in a direction parallel to the bearing surface, the third abutment member being movable relative to the positioning assembly in a fifth direction, the fifth direction being parallel to or inclined to the bearing surface; the third abutment member having a second surface disposed in the direction facing the second abutment member, the second surface being used to abut against the connecting piece in the first state, the second surface being inclined to the bearing surface, the first surface and the second surface having the same degree of inclination relative to the bearing surface, the third abutment member being movable to a fourth position, in which a portion of the connecting piece in the first state is clamped between the first surface and the second surface.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the first bending assembly further includes a second abutment member, the second abutment member being movable relative to the positioning assembly in a fourth direction intersecting the bearing surface, the second abutment member being used to abut against the side of the collector plate opposite to the bearing surface.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the first bending assembly further includes a third abutment member, the third abutment member and the first bending member being located on the same side of the positioning assembly in a direction parallel to the bearing surface, the third abutment member being movable relative to the positioning assembly in a fifth direction, the third abutment member being used to abut against the connecting piece in the first state, the fifth direction being parallel to or inclined to the bearing surface.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the first bending component and the second bending component are arranged at intervals, the first bending component is provided with a first station, the second bending component is provided with a second station, the bending device further includes a conveying component, the conveying component is connected to the positioning component, and the conveying component is used to convey the positioning component sequentially to the first station and the second station.

[0017] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the second direction is inclined to the bearing surface, and the distance between the second bent member and the bearing surface in the direction perpendicular to the bearing surface gradually decreases as the second bent member moves closer to the bearing surface along the second direction.

[0018] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the second bending member is provided with a bending portion for abutting against the connecting piece in the first state, the bending portion protruding toward the bearing surface along the second direction, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the bending portion perpendicular to the second direction gradually decreasing as the bending portion protrudes.

[0019] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the second bending assembly further includes a fourth abutment, the fourth abutment being movable relative to the positioning assembly in a sixth direction, the fourth abutment being used to abut against the connecting piece in the second state, the fourth abutment being movable to a fifth position, in which a portion of the connecting piece in the second state is clamped between the fourth abutment and the first abutment.

[0020] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the second bending assembly includes a first driver and a second driver, the second bending member, the fourth abutment member and the second driver are respectively connected to the first driver, the first driver is used to drive the second bending member, the fourth abutment member and the second driver to move along the third direction, at least a portion of the second bending member protrudes from the fourth abutment member along the direction close to the positioning assembly, the second driver is connected to the fourth abutment member, and the second driver is used to drive the fourth abutment member to move along the sixth direction.

[0021] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the current collector is manufactured using the bending device described in the above embodiment. The current collector includes a plate body and a connecting piece, the plate body being used to connect with a battery cell. The connecting piece includes a first segment and a second segment, the second segment including a first bending segment and a second bending segment, the first segment connecting the plate body and the first bending segment, the first bending segment fitting against the plate body, one end of the second bending segment connecting to the first bending segment, and the other end of the second bending segment extending in a direction away from the plate body.

[0022] The current collector according to embodiments of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: by providing a first bent section and a second bent section for the second segment of the connecting piece, a portion of the second segment can be made to fit against the plate body through the first bent section, thereby reducing the length of the portion of the second segment standing upright on the plate body. Furthermore, the position of the second bent section standing upright on the plate body can be adjusted by adjusting the length of the first bent section and the first segment, thereby facilitating the subsequent capping operation in battery fabrication, reducing the possibility of interference during the capping operation, and improving production yield.

[0023] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0024] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, wherein:

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the bending device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the first bending component before the connecting piece is bent for the first time;

[0027] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A magnified schematic diagram is obtained at point a.

[0028] Figure 4 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing the first bent component moving to the first position;

[0029] Figure 5 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing the third abutment piece abutting against the connecting piece;

[0030] Figure 6 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the second bending component before the connecting piece is bent for the second time;

[0031] Figure 7 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the second bending component completing the second bending of the connecting piece.

[0032] Figure label:

[0033] Bending equipment 10;

[0034] Positioning component 100, bearing surface 110;

[0035] First bending assembly 200, first bending member 210, second supporting member 220, first surface 221, third supporting member 230, second surface 231, first station 240;

[0036] Second bending assembly 300, first supporting member 310, second bending member 320, bending part 321, fourth supporting member 330, first driver 340, second driver 350, second station 360;

[0037] Collector plate 400, plate body 410, connecting piece 420, first section 430, second section 440, first bending section 441, second bending section 442;

[0038] 500 cells;

[0039] Positioning sensor 600. Detailed Implementation

[0040] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0041] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the orientation descriptions, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting this invention.

[0042] In the description of this invention, "several" means one or more, "multiple" means two or more, "greater than," "less than," and "exceeding" are understood to exclude the stated number, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the stated number. The use of "first" and "second" in the description is merely for distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features, or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0043] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly defined, terms such as "set up," "install," and "connect" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0044] In the description of this invention, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0045] Reference Figures 1 to 7According to an embodiment of the present invention, a bending device 10 includes a positioning component 100, a first bending component 200, and a second bending component 300. The positioning component 100 is provided with a bearing surface 110, which is used to support a disc body 410. The first bending component 200 is used to perform a first bending on the connecting piece 420 to bend the connecting piece 420 to a first state. The first bending component 200 includes a first bending member 210, which is movable relative to the positioning component 100 in a first direction. The first bending member 210 is movable to a first position, whereby the first bending member 210 bends at least a portion of the connecting piece 420 in the first direction away from the bearing surface 110, and the first direction intersects with the bearing surface 110.

[0046] The second bending assembly 300 is used to bend the connecting piece 420 in the first state for the second time, so as to bend the connecting piece 420 to the second state. The second bending assembly 300 includes a second bending member 320 and a first abutment member 310. The second bending member 320 and the first abutment member 310 are both located on the side of the positioning assembly 100 where the bearing surface 110 is provided. The second bending member 320 can move relative to the positioning assembly 100 in the second direction to the second position. The second bending member 320 in the second position abuts against the first side of the connecting piece 420 in the first state, so that a part of the connecting piece 420 is bent in the direction toward the bearing surface 110 to fit against the disc body 410. The second direction intersects with the first direction. The first abutment 310 can move relative to the positioning assembly 100 along a third direction to a third position. The first abutment 310 in the third position abuts against the second side of the connecting piece 420 in the first state away from the first side, so that another part of the connecting piece 420 bends along the direction away from the bearing surface 110 and stands upright on the disc body 410, with the third direction intersecting the second direction.

[0047] The first bending assembly 200 bends the connecting piece 420 for the first time, causing a portion of the connecting piece 420 to be bent upright on the disc body 410 in the direction away from the bearing surface 110, thus placing the connecting piece 420 in a first state. Then, the second bending assembly 300 bends the portion of the connecting piece 420 upright on the disc body 410 for the second time, causing a portion of the connecting piece 420 to adhere to the surface of the disc body 410 away from the bearing surface 110, while the other portion remains upright on the disc body 410, thus placing the connecting piece 420 in a second state. This second bending, which causes a portion of the connecting piece 420 to adhere to the disc body 410, allows control over the final upright position and height of the connecting piece 420 on the disc body 410, ensuring that the portion of the connecting piece 420 is in a suitable posture and reducing the likelihood of interference during subsequent closing operations.

[0048] Specifically, the bearing surface 110 of the positioning component 100 can be disposed on the bearing base to temporarily fix the disk body 410. Alternatively, in some embodiments, before the connecting piece 420 is bent, the disk body 410 is welded to the end face of the battery cell 500, and the battery cell 500 is temporarily fixed to the bearing base. When the battery cell 500 is fixed to the bearing base, the battery cell 500 is considered as part of the positioning component 100, and the end face of the battery cell 500 connected to the disk body 410 is considered as the bearing surface 110. The bearing surface 110 and the disk body 410 can be considered to be parallel within the allowable range of errors such as material deformation and flatness error.

[0049] When the collector plate 400 is disposed on the bearing surface 110, the plate body 410 is in contact with the bearing surface 110, one end of the connecting piece 420 is connected to the plate body 410, and the other end of the connecting piece 420 protrudes in a direction away from the plate body 410. The protruding direction of the connecting piece 420 is parallel to the bearing surface 110, and at least a portion of the connecting piece 420 protrudes from the bearing surface 110.

[0050] The first direction and the third direction can be perpendicular to the bearing surface 110, and the second direction can be parallel to or perpendicular to the bearing surface 110.

[0051] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 When the first bent component 210 is in its initial position, it is located on the lower left side of the connecting piece 420. (Refer to...) Figure 2 and Figure 4 The first bending member 210 is driven from its initial position to approach the bearing surface 110 along a first direction, so that the first bending member 210 and the connecting piece 420 abut against the side of the bearing surface 110. Under the abutment of the first bending member 210, the connecting piece 420 is bent along the first direction. When the first bending member 210 moves to the first position, the connecting piece 420 is held to a first state. The connecting piece 420 in the first state includes a first segment 430 and a second segment 440 that are connected to each other. The first segment 430 is connected to the disc body 410, and the second segment 440 is located on the side of the disc body 410 away from the bearing surface 110.

[0052] Reference Figure 6 and Figure 7After the first bend is completed, the second bending assembly 300 performs a second bend on the connecting piece 420 in the first state. The second bending member 320 and the first abutment member 310 are located on the left and right sides of the second segment 440, respectively. The second bending member 320 is driven to approach the bearing surface 110 in the second direction, and the first abutment member 310 is driven to approach the bearing surface 110 in the third direction, so that the second bending member 320 and the first abutment member 310 abut against the left and right sides of the second segment 440, respectively. Among them, the second bending member 320 abuts against the side of the second segment 440 near the first segment 430, so that the part of the second segment 440 near the first segment 430 bends in the direction toward the bearing surface 110, and the part of the second segment 440 near the first segment 430 gradually fits against the disc body 410. The first abutment 310 abuts against the side of the second segment 440 away from the second segment 440, so that the other part of the second segment 440 away from the second segment 440 bends in the direction away from the bearing surface 110, so that the other part of the second segment 440 away from the second segment 440 stands upright on the disc body 410, or so that the other part of the second segment 440 away from the second segment 440 remains upright relative to the disc body 410. When the second bending member 320 moves to the second position and the first supporting member 310 moves to the third position, the connecting piece 420 is bent to the second state. The second segment 440 of the connecting piece 420 in the second state includes a first bending segment 441 and a second bending segment 442. The first bending segment 441 is connected to the first segment 430 and is attached to the side of the disc body 410 away from the bearing surface 110. One end of the second bending segment 442 is connected to the first bending segment 441, and the other end of the second bending segment 442 extends in the direction away from the bearing surface 110.

[0053] The first bent section 441 and the disc body 410 can be directly bonded together, or, under the constraint of material bending, a certain distance between the first bent section 441 and the disc body 410 should also be considered as bonding, as long as the first bent section 441 is parallel to the disc body 410, or the angle between the first bent section 441 and the disc body 410 is between 0 and 10°.

[0054] Reference Figures 2 to 4 In some embodiments, the first direction is inclined relative to the bearing surface 110. When the first bending member 210 is in the first position, at least a portion of the projection of the first bending member 210 in the direction perpendicular to the bearing surface 110 is located on the bearing surface 110. By setting the first direction to be inclined relative to the bearing surface 110, when the connecting piece 420 is bent for the first time, it can be bent as close as possible to one side of the disc body 410, thereby reducing the probability that the angle between the second segment 440 and the first segment 430 is greater than 90 degrees after the second segment 440 springs back due to the material properties of the connecting piece 420, and reducing the probability of positioning errors or interference during the second bend.

[0055] Specifically, the first bending member 210 moves from the lower left side of the connecting piece 420 toward the upper right side of the connecting piece 420. When the first bending member 210 is in the first position, the second segment 440 tilts toward the right side of the bearing surface 110, closer to the disc body 410.

[0056] Reference Figures 2 to 5 In some embodiments, the first bending assembly 200 further includes a third abutment 230. The third abutment 230 and the first bending assembly 210 are located on the same side of the positioning assembly 100 in a direction parallel to the bearing surface 110. The third abutment 230 can move relative to the positioning assembly 100 in a fifth direction. The third abutment 230 is used to abut against the connecting piece 420 in the first state. The fifth direction is parallel to or inclined to the bearing surface 110. By abutting the connecting piece 420 in the first state with the third abutment 230, after the first bending assembly 210 completes the first bending of the connecting piece 420, the third abutment 230 maintains the bending posture of the second segment 440 relative to the disc body 410, so as to reduce the reset amplitude of the second segment 440 under the action of the material properties of the connecting piece 420, so as to keep the second segment 440 at a preset bending angle as much as possible. Alternatively, the third abutment 230 can further bend and abut the second segment 440 of the connecting piece 420 in the first state toward the direction close to the disc body 410, so as to further increase the degree of inclination between the second segment 440 and the disc body 410 and reduce the angle of inclination between the second segment 440 and the disc body 410.

[0057] Specifically, the third abutment 230 and the first bending member 210 abut against the same side of the connecting piece 420. After the first bending member 210 abuts and bends the connecting piece 420, the third abutment 230 moves along the fifth direction to abut against the connecting piece 420, so as to limit the reset movement of the connecting piece 420 or further abut and bend the second segment 440.

[0058] The fifth direction can be parallel to the bearing surface 110, moving from the left side of the bearing surface 110 to the right side to abut against the second segment 440. Alternatively, the fifth direction can be inclined to the bearing surface 110, moving from the upper left side of the bearing surface 110 to the lower right side to abut against the second segment 440. The fifth direction can also be perpendicular to the bearing surface 110, moving from the upper side of the bearing surface 110 to the lower side to abut against the second segment 440.

[0059] Reference Figures 2 to 4The first bending assembly 200 also includes a second abutment 220, which is movable relative to the positioning assembly 100 along a fourth direction intersecting the bearing surface 110. The second abutment 220 is used to abut against the side of the current collector 400 opposite to the bearing surface 110. By abutting the side of the current collector 400 opposite to the bearing surface 110 with the second abutment 220, the current collector 400 can be further pressed against the bearing surface 110 to ensure the bending effect of the first bending assembly 210. For example, in an embodiment where the current collector 400 is welded to the battery cell 500 before bending, the abutment of the second abutment 220 can reduce the probability of the current collector 400 detaching from the battery cell 500. It is understandable that the second abutment 220 can abut against the collector plate 400 before the first bending member 210, or the second abutment 220 and the first bending member 210 can abut against the collector plate 400 simultaneously.

[0060] In some embodiments, the second abutment 220 abuts against the side of the connecting piece 420 away from the bearing surface 110. The portion of the connecting piece 420 abutted by the second abutment 220 will not be driven by the bending force of the first bending member 210 under the action of the abutment force, but will maintain its relative position with the disc body 410. Therefore, by adjusting the position of the second abutment 220 abutting against the connecting piece 420, the length of the first segment 430 after the connecting piece 420 is bent to the first state can be controlled, and the probability of the disc body 410 bending under the action of the bending force of the first bending member 210 can also be prevented.

[0061] Reference Figures 2 to 4 In the embodiment where the first direction is inclined to the bearing surface 110, the fourth direction is also inclined to the bearing surface 110. The fourth direction and the first direction are inclined in the same direction relative to the bearing surface 110. The angle between the fourth direction and the bearing surface 110 is α, and the angle between the first direction and the bearing surface 110 is β, satisfying α≤β. By controlling the angle between the fourth direction and the bearing surface 110, the probability of the second abutment 220 interfering with the second segment 440 when resetting after completing the abutment function can be reduced, ensuring that the second segment 440 can maintain the posture after being bent by the first bending member 210. Specifically, when applying the abutment, the second abutment 220 moves from the upper right side to the lower left side to abut against the collector plate 400. When resetting, the second abutment 220 moves from the lower left side to the upper right side to the initial position.

[0062] Reference Figures 2 to 4As an improvement to the above embodiment, the second abutment 220 is provided with a first surface 221 on the side facing the first bending member 210. The first surface 221 is inclined to the bearing surface 110, and the first surface 221 gradually moves away from the first bending member 210 in the direction away from the bearing surface 110. The inclination of the first surface 221 can further reduce the interference between the movement of the second abutment 220 and the second segment 440 and the first bending member 210, thereby increasing the degree of inclination between the second segment 440 and the disc body 410 when the connecting piece 420 is in the first state, and reducing the tilt angle between the second segment 440 and the disc body 410.

[0063] Reference Figures 2 to 5 As a further improvement to the above solution, the first bending component 200 is provided with a second abutment 220 and a third abutment 230. The third abutment 230 is provided with a second surface 231 facing the second abutment 220. The second surface 231 is used to abut against the connecting piece 420 in the first state. The second surface 231 is inclined to the bearing surface 110. The first surface 221 and the second surface 231 are inclined at the same degree relative to the bearing surface 110. The third abutment 230 can move to a fourth position. When the third abutment 230 is in the fourth position, a part of the connecting piece 420 in the first state is clamped between the first surface 221 and the second surface 231. By clamping a portion of the connecting piece 420 in the first state using the first surface 221 and the second surface 231, the bent portion of the connecting piece 420 can be shaped to further improve the posture stability of the bent portion 321 after shaping. Alternatively, by using the slope of the first surface 221 and the second surface 231, the tilt degree between the second segment 440 and the disk body 410 can be increased, and the tilt angle between the second segment 440 and the disk body 410 can be reduced.

[0064] Specifically, after the first bending member 210 and the second abutting member 220 cooperate to bend the connecting piece 420 for the first time, the connecting piece 420 is in a first state. The first bending member 210 then returns to its original position along the first direction, or the first bending member 210 continues to move towards the upper side of the bearing surface 110 along the first direction, leaving sufficient space for the third abutting member 230 to move. Subsequently, the third abutting member 230 gradually approaches the bearing surface 110 along the fifth direction and abuts against one side of the second segment 440 of the connecting piece 420 in the first state. The third abutting member 230 continues to move to the fourth position to clamp the second segment 440 between the first surface 221 and the second surface 231, completing the shaping of the connecting piece 420.

[0065] It should be noted that the first state of the connecting piece 420 refers to the state in which the connecting piece 420 is bent into a first segment 430 and a second segment 440. After the third abutment 230 abuts against the second segment 440, although the posture of the second segment 440 may change relative to when the connecting piece 420 is bent for the first time by the first bending member 210, the connecting piece 420 is still composed of the first segment 430 and the second segment 440, and this state is still considered as the first state.

[0066] Reference Figure 6 and Figure 7 In some embodiments, the second direction is inclined to the bearing surface 110, and the distance between the second bending member 320 and the bearing surface 110 in the direction perpendicular to the bearing surface 110 gradually decreases as the second bending member 320 approaches the bearing surface 110 along the second direction. By setting the second direction to be inclined to the bearing surface 110, when the second segment 440 is supported by the second bending member 320, the second supporting member 220 can directly support the boundary point where the second segment 440 is bent into the first bent segment 441 and the second bent segment 442. This allows the segmentation of the second segment 440 under the support of the second bending member 320 to occur directly at the boundary point, facilitating the control of the dimensions of the first bent segment 441 and the second bent segment 442. Furthermore, it can reduce the relative sliding between the second bending member 320 and the outer surface of the second segment 440, improve the utilization rate of the bending force of the second bending member 320, and reduce the difficulty of the second bending operation.

[0067] Specifically, the second bending member 320 moves from the upper left side of the bearing surface 110 along the lower right side until the second bending member 320 abuts against the second segment 440 and finally bends the connecting piece 420 to the second state.

[0068] Reference Figure 6 and Figure 7 As an improvement to the above solution, the second bending member 320 is provided with a bending portion 321, which protrudes towards the bearing surface 110 along the second direction. The cross-sectional area of ​​the bending portion 321 perpendicular to the second direction gradually decreases as the bending portion 321 protrudes. By providing a bending portion 321 on the second bending member 320 and controlling the cross-sectional area of ​​the bending portion 321 to have a smaller contact area when the bending portion 321 abuts against the second segment 440, the pressure on the second segment 440 when abutted by the bending portion 321 is increased, thereby improving the utilization rate of the bending force of the second bending member 320 and improving the positioning accuracy of the second bending member 320 abutting against the set dividing point.

[0069] It is understandable that the dividing point between the first bending segment 441 and the second bending segment 442 is the connection position of the first bending segment 441 and the second bending segment 442. The dividing point is set as the position where the second bending piece 320 is expected to actually resist before the second bending, so that the posture of the connecting piece 420 is consistent with the requirements after the second bending is completed.

[0070] Reference Figure 6 and Figure 7 In some embodiments, the second bending assembly 300 further includes a fourth abutment 330, which is movable relative to the positioning assembly 100 in a sixth direction. The fourth abutment 330 is used to abut against the connecting piece 420 in the second state. The fourth abutment 330 is movable to a fifth position. In the fifth position, a portion of the connecting piece 420 in the second state is held between the fourth abutment 330 and the first abutment 310. By abutting against the connecting piece 420 in the second state with the fourth abutment 330, the second bent segment 442 of the connecting piece 420 in the second state, which is erected on the disc body 410, can be shaped to make the second bent segment 442 as perpendicular to the disc body 410 as possible, thereby reducing the tilt angle of the second bent segment 442 when it is tilted to the disc body 410.

[0071] Specifically, the sixth direction can be parallel to the bearing surface 110, or it can be inclined to the bearing surface 110, so that the fourth abutment 330 can move from the upper left side to the lower right side of the bearing surface 110. The opposite end faces of the fourth abutment 330 and the first abutment 310 are both set to be perpendicular to the bearing surface 110 to ensure the shaping effect on the second bent segment 442.

[0072] Reference Figure 6 Furthermore, the second bending assembly 300 includes a first driver 340 and a second driver 350. The second bending member 320, the fourth abutment member 330, and the second driver 350 are respectively connected to the first driver 340. The first driver 340 drives the second bending member 320, the fourth abutment member 330, and the second driver 350 to move in a third direction. At least a portion of the second bending member 320 protrudes from the fourth abutment member 330 in a direction close to the positioning assembly 100. The second driver 350 is connected to the fourth abutment member 330 and drives the fourth abutment member 330 to move in a sixth direction. Driven by the first driver 340, the second bending member 320, the fourth abutment member 330, and the second driver 350 can move together in a third direction. After the second bending member 320 completes the second bending operation, the second driver 350 can drive the fourth abutment member 330 to approach the first abutment member 310 in the sixth direction to shape the second segment 440.

[0073] Specifically, the second bending member 320, the fourth supporting member 330, and the second driver 350 are all mounted on the fixed frame, and the first driver 340 is connected to the fixed frame to synchronously drive the second bending member 320, the fourth supporting member 330, and the second driver 350 to move.

[0074] In the bending device 10 of the above embodiment, the movement of the first bending member 210, the second bending member 320, the first supporting member 310, the second supporting member 220, the third supporting member 230 and the fourth supporting member 330 can all be driven by conventional drivers in the art. Conventional drivers can be selected as cylinders, combinations of cylinders and linear guides, combinations of lead screws and motors, and slide cylinders, etc. The specific driver selection can be selected according to the actual action requirements and movement distance. The selection of the first driver 340 and the second driver 350 is the same as the conventional drivers mentioned above.

[0075] Reference Figure 1 In some embodiments, the first bending component 200 and the second bending component 300 are located in the same working plane, and the first bending component 210, the second bending component 320 and the first supporting component 310 all move on the same working plane, so that the positioning component 100 can achieve the first bending and the second bending when located in the same station.

[0076] Reference Figure 1 In other embodiments, the first bending component 200 and the second bending component 300 are spaced apart. The first bending component 200 is provided with a first station 240, and the second bending component 300 is provided with a second station 360. The bending device 10 also includes a conveying component (not shown in the figure), which is connected to the positioning component 100. The conveying component is used to sequentially convey the positioning component 100 to the first station 240 and the second station 360. Using the first bending component 200 and the second bending component 300 reduces space requirements, facilitates the component configuration of the first bending component 200 and the second bending component 300, and makes the mechanism of the first bending component 200 and the second bending component 300 more compact. The positioning component 100 allows the positioning component 100 to be located at the first station 240 and the second station 360, thereby achieving positioning between the positioning component 100 and the first bending component 200 and the second bending component 300, and ensuring the smooth execution of the bending operation.

[0077] Specifically, the conveying component is a linear conveying device, such as a linear motor or a linear conveyor belt, capable of driving the positioning component 100 to move in a straight line. The first bending component 200 and the second bending component 300 are spaced apart in the direction in which the conveying component drives the positioning component 100 to move. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the conveying component is a turntable conveying device, capable of driving the positioning component 100 to move in a circle around the center of the turntable. The first bending component 200 and the second bending component 300 are spaced apart along the circumference of the turntable.

[0078] Reference Figure 1 In other embodiments, the first bending component 200 and the second bending component 300 are arranged at intervals, and the first bending component 200 and the second bending component 300 are respectively provided with positioning components 100. The bending device 10 also includes a conveying component, which is used to convey the collector plate 400 to the positioning component 100 of the first bending component 200, and after completing the first bend, convey the collector plate 400 to the positioning component 100 of the second bending component 300.

[0079] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 Before the first and second bends, the connecting piece 420 needs to be positioned to ensure it is in the designated processing position. Positioning of the connecting piece 420 can be achieved using the positioning assembly 100 and the positioning sensor 600. The positioning assembly 100 adjusts the position of the connecting piece 420 by rotation and translation, while the positioning sensor 600 ensures positioning accuracy by sensing whether the connecting piece 420 is in the designated position. The positioning sensor 600 can be a laser rangefinder. It is understood that if the positioning assembly 100 is relatively fixed to the first bending assembly 200 and the second bending assembly 300, then the position of the connecting piece 420 can be adjusted by rotating the bending assembly.

[0080] The specific posture of the connecting piece 420 after the second bend can be adjusted by adjusting the abutment positions and movement directions of the first bending member 210, the second bending member 320, the first supporting member 310, the second supporting member 220, the third supporting member 230, and the fourth supporting member 330 relative to the connecting piece 420, so as to bend the connecting piece 420 to the required posture.

[0081] It is understood that the orientation of the connecting piece 420 mentioned in this article includes the limitation on the upright position of the second bent section 442 of the connecting piece 420 relative to the disc body 410, the limitation on the length dimension of the second bent section 442, and other parameters of the connecting piece 420 that affect the subsequent closing operation.

[0082] Reference Figure 7According to an embodiment of the present invention, the current collector 400 is manufactured by the bending device 10 in any of the above embodiments, and includes a plate body 410 and a connecting piece 420. The plate body 410 is used to connect with the battery cell 500. The connecting piece 420 includes a first segment 430 and a second segment 440. The second segment 440 includes a first bending segment 441 and a second bending segment 442. The first segment 430 connects the plate body 410 and the first bending segment 441. The first bending segment 441 is attached to the plate body 410. One end of the second bending segment 442 is connected to the first bending segment 441, and the other end of the second bending segment 442 extends in a direction away from the plate body 410. By providing the first bending segment 441 and the second bending segment 442 in the second segment 440 of the connecting piece 420, a portion of the second segment 440 can be attached to the plate body 410 through the first bending segment 441, thereby reducing the length of the portion of the second segment 440 that stands upright on the plate body 410. Furthermore, the position of the second bent section 442 standing upright on the disk body 410 can be adjusted by adjusting the length of the first bent section 441 and the first section 430, thereby facilitating the subsequent capping operation in battery manufacturing, reducing the possibility of interference during the capping operation, and improving production yield.

[0083] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various changes can be made within the scope of knowledge possessed by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the embodiments of the present invention and the features thereof can be combined with each other unless otherwise specified.

Claims

1. A bending device for processing a manifold, the manifold comprising interconnected disc bodies and connecting pieces, characterized in that, include: The positioning component is provided with a bearing surface, which is used to support the disk body; A first bending assembly is used to bend the connecting piece for the first time to bend the connecting piece to a first state. The first bending assembly includes a first bending member, which is capable of moving relative to the positioning assembly in a first direction. The first bending member is capable of moving to a first position. The first bending member at the first position bends at least a portion of the connecting piece in the first direction in a direction away from the bearing surface. The first direction intersects the bearing surface. A second bending assembly is used to bend the connecting piece in the first state a second time to bend the connecting piece to a second state. The second bending assembly includes a second bending member and a first abutment member. Both the second bending member and the first abutment member are located on the side of the positioning assembly where the bearing surface is provided. The second bending member can move relative to the positioning assembly in a second direction to a second position. The second bending member in the second position abuts against the first side of the connecting piece in the first state, so that a portion of the connecting piece bends in a direction toward the bearing surface to fit against the disc body. The second direction intersects with the first direction. The first abutment member can move relative to the positioning assembly in a third direction to a third position. The first abutment member in the third position abuts against the second side of the connecting piece in the first state away from the first side, so that another portion of the connecting piece bends in a direction away from the bearing surface to stand upright on the disc body. The third direction intersects with the second direction. The first bending component further includes a second abutment member, which is movable relative to the positioning component in a fourth direction, the fourth direction intersecting the bearing surface, and the second abutment member is used to abut against the side of the collector plate opposite to the bearing surface; The first bending component further includes a third abutment member, which is located on the same side of the positioning component in a direction parallel to the bearing surface. The third abutment member is movable relative to the positioning component in a fifth direction. The third abutment member is used to abut against the connecting piece in the first state. The fifth direction is parallel to or inclined to the bearing surface. The second bending member is provided with a bending portion, which is used to abut against the connecting piece in the first state. The bending portion protrudes toward the bearing surface along the second direction, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the bending portion perpendicular to the second direction gradually decreases as the bending portion protrudes. The second bending assembly further includes a fourth abutment, which is movable relative to the positioning assembly in a sixth direction. The fourth abutment is used to abut against the connecting piece in the second state. The fourth abutment is movable to a fifth position. In the state where the fourth abutment is in the fifth position, a portion of the connecting piece in the second state is clamped between the fourth abutment and the first abutment.

2. The bending device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first direction is inclined to the bearing surface, and when the first bent member is in the first position, at least a portion of the projection of the first bent member in the direction perpendicular to the bearing surface is located on the bearing surface.

3. The bending device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first bending component further includes a second abutment member, which is movable relative to the positioning component along a fourth direction. The fourth direction is inclined to the bearing surface. The second abutment member is used to abut against the side of the collector plate opposite to the bearing surface. The fourth direction and the first direction are inclined in the same direction relative to the bearing surface. The angle between the fourth direction and the bearing surface is α, and the angle between the first direction and the bearing surface is β, satisfying: α≤β.

4. The bending device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The second abutment has a first surface on the side facing the first bending member. The first surface is inclined to the bearing surface and gradually moves away from the first bending member in a direction away from the bearing surface.

5. The bending device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first bending component further includes a third abutment member. The third abutment member and the first bending component are located on the same side of the positioning component in a direction parallel to the bearing surface. The third abutment member is movable relative to the positioning component in a fifth direction, which is parallel to or inclined to the bearing surface. The third abutment member has a second surface facing the second abutment member. The second surface is used to abut against the connecting piece in the first state. The second surface is inclined to the bearing surface. The first surface and the second surface have the same degree of inclination relative to the bearing surface. The third abutment member is movable to a fourth position. When the third abutment member is in the fourth position, a portion of the connecting piece in the first state is clamped between the first surface and the second surface.

6. The bending device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first bending component and the second bending component are arranged at intervals. The first bending component is provided with a first station, and the second bending component is provided with a second station. The bending device also includes a conveying component, which is connected to the positioning component. The conveying component is used to convey the positioning component to the first station and the second station in sequence.

7. The bending device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second direction is inclined to the bearing surface, and the distance between the second bent member and the bearing surface in the direction perpendicular to the bearing surface gradually decreases as the second bent member moves closer to the bearing surface along the second direction.

8. The bending device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second bending assembly includes a first driver and a second driver. The second bending member, the fourth abutment member, and the second driver are respectively connected to the first driver. The first driver drives the second bending member, the fourth abutment member, and the second driver to move along the third direction. At least a portion of the second bending member protrudes from the fourth abutment member in a direction close to the positioning assembly. The second driver is connected to the fourth abutment member and drives the fourth abutment member to move along the sixth direction.

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