Automated laser welding equipment

Abstract

An automated laser welding device comprises a feeding unit, a laser welding unit, a first moving unit, a visual inspection unit, and a second moving unit, wherein the feeding unit comprises a feeding fork for carrying a battery pack, the laser welding unit comprises a welding holder for receiving the battery pack transported via the feeding fork, and a laser component capable of emitting laser, the first moving unit comprises a first fork for removing the battery pack, the visual inspection unit comprises an inspection holder for receiving the battery pack transported via the first fork, and a camera for capturing a visual image of the battery pack, the second moving unit comprises a second fork for removing the battery pack from the inspection holder. By arranging the above-mentioned components, the battery pack can be automatically welded.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to welding equipment, in particular to automated laser welding equipment. Background Art

[0002] An existing laser welding device is used to weld a battery pack composed of multiple batteries connected in parallel. The laser welding device includes a welding gun that can move up and down to perform electric welding operations. The battery pack is completed by welding multiple welding points of the battery pack downward.

[0003] However, the welding gun is powered on only after it moves downward to the welding location, and before moving to the next welding point, the power must be turned off and moved upward to the original height. This repetitive process of descending and ascending, and constantly turning the power on and off, makes the welding time of the battery pack very lengthy. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an automated laser welding device that overcomes the disadvantages of the background art.

[0005] The automated laser welding equipment of the present invention is used for welding battery packs. The automated laser welding equipment comprises a feeding unit, a laser welding unit, a first moving unit, a visual inspection unit, and a second moving unit. The feeding unit comprises a feeding base, a feeding moving module arranged on the feeding base, and a feeding fork arranged on the feeding moving module and capable of being driven by the feeding moving module and capable of carrying the battery pack. The laser welding unit comprises a welding base adjacent to the feeding base, a welding support arranged on the welding base and capable of accommodating the battery pack transported via the feeding fork, a stand arranged on the welding base, a laser moving module arranged on the stand, and a laser component arranged on the laser moving module and capable of being driven by the laser moving module and capable of emitting laser. The first moving unit The unit includes a first base adjacent to the welding base, a first movable module arranged on the first base, and a first fork arranged on the first movable module and capable of being driven by the first movable module and used to move the battery pack out of the welding base. The visual inspection unit includes a detection base adjacent to the first base, a detection support arranged on the detection base and capable of receiving the battery pack transported via the first fork, and a camera arranged on the detection base and capable of capturing a visual image of the battery pack received on the detection support. The second movable unit includes a second base adjacent to the detection base, a second movable module arranged on the second base, and a second fork arranged on the second movable module and capable of being driven by the second movable module and capable of moving the battery pack out of the detection support.

[0006] The automated laser welding equipment of the present invention further includes a control unit electrically connected to the camera and the second movable module. The control unit makes a judgment based on the visual image captured by the camera, and when it is determined that the visual image indicates normal welding, controls the second movable module to drive the second fork to move the battery pack out of the detection support.

[0007] The automated laser welding equipment described in the present invention is as follows: the battery pack includes an identification code, the control unit is used to store the number of welding times of the battery pack, and the automated laser welding equipment further includes a flip module, the flip module includes a flip base, and a flip support that can be flipped on the flip base and can flip the battery pack placed thereon. When the battery pack corresponding to the identification code has been welded once and the welding is normal, the control unit controls the second moving module to drive the second fork to move the battery pack from the detection support to the flip support, and after the flip support flips the battery pack, moves the battery pack out of the flip support.

[0008] The automated laser welding equipment described in the present invention also includes a third movable unit, which includes a third base adjacent to the second base and the feed base, and a conveying module arranged on the third base. The conveying module is used to carry the battery pack moved out of the flip support by the second fork, and transport the battery pack from the side of the conveying module adjacent to the second base to the side of the conveying module adjacent to the feed base.

[0009] In the automated laser welding equipment of the present invention, the feed fork platform can also be driven by the feed moving module to move the battery pack located in the conveying module out to the welding seat.

[0010] In the automated laser welding equipment of the present invention, the conveying module comprises two slide rails disposed on the third base, and a conveying seat that can be controlled and movably disposed on the slide rails and can be used to carry the battery pack.

[0011] The automated laser welding equipment of the present invention, the laser welding unit further comprises a laser guide plate disposed on the stand and located above the welding seat, the laser guide plate having a plurality of guide holes for the laser to pass through.

[0012] The beneficial effect of the present invention is that by providing the feeding unit, the laser welding unit, the first moving unit, the visual inspection unit and the second moving unit, the battery pack can be automatically welded, thereby saving manpower and reducing processing time. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the automated laser welding equipment of the present invention and a battery pack, illustrating a state where a feed fork platform carries the battery pack;

[0014] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment and the battery pack from another perspective;

[0015] Figure 3 is a top view of the embodiment and the battery pack;

[0016] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a laser welding unit of the embodiment;

[0017] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a visual inspection unit of the embodiment;

[0018] Figure 6 is a similar Figure 1 , illustrating a state where the battery pack is placed on a welding socket;

[0019] Figure 7 is a similar Figure 6 , illustrating a state where the battery pack is placed on a detection seat;

[0020] Figure 8 is a similar Figure 2 , illustrating a state where the battery pack is placed on a flip seat;

[0021] Figure 9 is a similar Figure 8 , illustrating a state where the battery pack is placed on a conveying seat;

[0022] Figure 10 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the embodiment and the battery pack from another perspective, illustrating the state in which the battery pack is transported by the feeding fork. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0024] See Figure 1 、 23. An embodiment of the automated laser welding equipment of the present invention is used to weld a battery pack 9, wherein the battery pack 9 includes an identification code 91. The automated laser welding equipment includes a feeding unit 1, a laser welding unit 2, a first moving unit 3, a visual inspection unit 4, a second moving unit 5, a flip module 6, a third moving unit 7, and a control unit 8.

[0025] The feeding unit 1 includes a feeding base 11 , a feeding moving module 12 disposed on the feeding base 11 , and a feeding fork 13 disposed on the feeding moving module 12 and driven by the feeding moving module 12 and used to carry the battery pack 9 .

[0026] The feeding unit 1 can be used to transport the battery pack 9 that has not been welded to the laser welding unit 2 for the first welding, and to transport the battery pack 9 that has been welded once and is welded normally from the third moving unit 7 to the laser welding unit 2.

[0027] See Figure 1 、 2 4. The laser welding unit 2 includes a welding base 21 adjacent to the feeding base 11, a welding support 22 arranged on the welding base 21 and used for accommodating the battery pack 9 transported via the feeding fork platform 13, a stand 23 arranged on the welding base 21, a laser moving module 24 arranged on the stand 23, a laser component 25 arranged on the laser moving module 24 and driven by the laser moving module 24 and capable of emitting laser, and a laser guide plate 26 arranged on the stand 23 and located above the welding support 22, wherein the laser guide plate 26 has a plurality of guide holes 261 for the laser to pass through.

[0028] The first movable unit 3 includes a first base 31 adjacent to the welding base 21, a first movable module 32 arranged on the first base 31, and a first fork 33 arranged on the first movable module 32 and driven by the first movable module 32 and used to move the battery pack 9 out of the welding support 22.

[0029] See Figure 1 、 25. The visual inspection unit 4 includes a detection base 41 adjacent to the first base 31, a detection support 42 disposed on the detection base 41 and capable of receiving the battery pack 9 transported via the first fork 33, and a camera 43 disposed on the detection base 42 and capable of capturing a visual image (not shown) of the battery pack 9 received on the detection support 42. In this embodiment, the visual image is obtained by using image recognition technology to determine whether the welding points of the battery pack 9 are properly welded. Since image recognition technology is common knowledge and not the main technology of this case, it will not be further explained. In addition, the detection support 42 can be driven to move, so that the battery pack 9 located above is linked and can be captured by the camera 43.

[0030] The second movable unit 5 includes a second base 51 adjacent to the detection base 41, a second movable module 52 arranged on the second base 51, and a second fork 53 arranged on the second movable module 52 and driven by the second movable module 52 and used to move the battery pack 9 out of the detection support 42.

[0031] The flip module 6 includes a flip base 61 and a flip support 62 that is flippably mounted on the flip base 61 and can flip the battery pack 9 placed thereon. It should be noted that the mechanical structure of the flip support 62 for flipping an object is a common technology and will not be further described.

[0032] The third mobile unit 7 includes a third base 71 adjacent to the second base 51 and the feeding base 11, and a conveying module 72 arranged on the third base 71. The conveying module 72 is used to carry the battery group 9 moved out from the flip support 62 by the second fork 53, and transport the battery group 9 from the side of the conveying module 72 adjacent to the second base 51 to the side of the conveying module 72 adjacent to the feeding base 11.

[0033] The conveying module 72 includes two slide rails 721 disposed on the third base 71 , and a conveying base 722 that is controllably movably disposed on the slide rails 721 and can be used to carry the battery pack 9 .

[0034] The control unit 8 is electrically connected to the feed moving module 12, the laser moving module 24, the laser component 25, the first moving module 32, the camera 43, the second moving module 52, the flip module 6 and the conveying module 72, and can be used to store the number of welding times of the battery pack 9, and can make a judgment based on the visual image taken by the camera 43 to determine whether the battery pack 9 in the visual image is welded normally.

[0035] When the battery pack 9 corresponding to the identification code 91 has been welded twice, the control unit 8 makes a judgment based on the visual image captured by the camera 43. When it is determined that the visual image indicates normal welding, the control unit 8 controls the second movable module 52 to drive the second fork 53 to move the battery pack 9 from the detection support 42 to a processing completion area (not shown).

[0036] When the battery pack 9 corresponding to the identification code 91 has been welded once and the welding is normal, the control unit 8 controls the second movable module 52 to drive the second fork 53 to move the battery pack 9 from the detection support 42 to the flip support 62, and after the flip support 62 flips the battery pack, the battery pack 9 is moved out of the flip support 62. The feeding fork 13 can also be driven by the feeding movable module 12 to move the battery pack 9 located at the conveying module 72 to the welding support 22.

[0037] See Figure 1 、 2 During use, the unwelded battery pack 9 is first placed on the feed fork platform 13, and the identification code 91 is sensed by a code sensor (not shown) electrically connected to the control unit 8. In this embodiment, the code sensor is used to sense the identification code 91 in the form of a QR code, but this is not a limitation and other types of sensors can also be used.

[0038] See Figure 1 、 4 6. Then, the feeding fork 13 is driven by the feeding moving module 12 to deliver the battery pack 9 to the welding support 22, so that the laser component 25 is driven by the laser moving module 24 to emit laser toward the laser guide plate 26. The laser component 25 is driven to pass through the guide holes 261 in sequence so that the battery packs 9 are welded in sequence at the positions corresponding to the guide holes 261. The control unit 8 records the welding times of the battery pack 9 as the first time.

[0039] See Figure 5 、 78. When welding is completed, the first fork 33 is driven by the first moving module 32 to send the battery pack 9 that has undergone the first welding to the detection support 42, and the visual image captured by the camera 43 is used for judgment. When the battery pack 9 has undergone one welding cycle and the battery pack 9 corresponding to the visual image is judged to be welded normally, the second fork 53 sends the battery pack 9 that has undergone the first welding to the flip support 62. When the flip support 62 flips the battery pack 9 that has undergone the first welding by 180 degrees, refer to Figure 9 、 10 The second fork 53 then delivers the flipped battery pack 9 to the conveying seat 722 and then to the adjacent feeding base 11 .

[0040] See Figure 1 、 5 , 10, and then the feeding fork platform 13 sends the flipped battery pack 9 to the welding support 22, and then repeats the above steps to weld the flipped battery pack 9. The control unit 8 records the welding number of the battery pack 9 as the second time, and when it is determined that the battery pack 9 has been welded twice and the welding is normal, the battery pack 9 is moved out of the detection support 42 to the processing completion area.

[0041] In the above steps, when it is determined that the battery pack 9 has abnormal welding, the battery pack 9 is sent to a defective product area (not shown) via the second fork 53 .

[0042] It should be noted that the above description is based on a single battery pack 9 as an example. In actual use, multiple battery packs 9 can be processed simultaneously, and different battery packs 9 will operate separately on different units.

[0043] See Figure 1 、 2 , 4. In this way, the beneficial effect of automatically welding the battery pack 9 can be achieved. In addition, since the laser emitted by the laser component 25 passes through different guide holes 261 in sequence, there is no need to turn the power on and off at the positions of different guide holes 261 during the movement process, nor is there a need to reciprocately raise and lower the welding gun as in existing laser welding equipment, thereby speeding up the welding operation.

[0044] It is worth mentioning that the aforementioned technologies related to the feed moving module 12, the laser moving module 24, the first moving module 32, the second moving module 52, the flip support 62 and the conveying seat 722, which are respectively used to drive the horizontal movement, vertical movement and rotation of the objects, are commonly used technical means of general machine tools and are not the main technologies of this case, so they will not be further explained.

[0045] In summary, by setting the feeding unit 1, the laser welding unit 2, the first moving unit 3, the visual inspection unit 4, the second moving unit 5, the flip module 6 and the third moving unit 7, the battery pack 9 can be automatically welded, which can save manpower and reduce processing time, so the purpose of the present invention can indeed be achieved.

Claims

1. An automated laser welding device for welding battery packs, characterized in that: The automated laser welding equipment includes a feeding unit, a laser welding unit, a first moving unit, a visual inspection unit, and a second moving unit. The feeding unit includes a feeding base, a feeding moving module arranged on the feeding base, and a feeding fork platform arranged on the feeding moving module and capable of being driven by the feeding moving module and capable of carrying the battery pack. The laser welding unit includes a welding base adjacent to the feeding base, a welding support arranged on the welding base and capable of accommodating the battery pack transported via the feeding fork platform, a stand arranged on the welding base, a laser moving module arranged on the stand, and a laser component arranged on the laser moving module and capable of being driven by the laser moving module and capable of emitting laser. The first moving unit includes a second moving unit adjacent to the welding base A base, a first movable module arranged on the first base, and a first fork arranged on the first movable module and capable of being driven by the first movable module and capable of being used to move the battery pack out of the welding support. The visual inspection unit includes a detection base adjacent to the first base, a detection support arranged on the detection base and capable of receiving the battery pack transported via the first fork, and a camera arranged on the detection base and capable of taking a visual image of the battery pack received on the detection support. The second movable unit includes a second base adjacent to the detection base, a second movable module arranged on the second base, and a second fork arranged on the second movable module and capable of being driven by the second movable module and capable of being used to move the battery pack out of the detection support.

2. The automated laser welding equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The automated laser welding equipment further includes a control unit electrically connected to the camera and the second movable module. The control unit makes a judgment based on the visual image captured by the camera, and when it is judged that the visual image indicates normal welding, controls the second movable module to drive the second fork to move the battery pack out of the detection support.

3. The automated laser welding equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The battery pack includes an identification code, and the control unit is used to store the number of welding times of the battery pack. The automated laser welding equipment further includes a flip module, and the flip module includes a flip base and a flip support that can be flipped and arranged on the flip base and can flip the battery pack placed thereon. When the battery pack corresponding to the identification code has been welded once and the welding is normal, the control unit controls the second moving module to drive the second fork to move the battery pack from the detection support to the flip support, and after the flip support flips the battery pack, moves the battery pack out of the flip support.

4. The automated laser welding equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that: The automated laser welding equipment also includes a third moving unit, which includes a third base adjacent to the second base and the feed base, and a conveying module arranged on the third base. The conveying module is used to carry the battery pack moved out of the flip support by the second fork, and transport the battery pack from the side of the conveying module adjacent to the second base to the side of the conveying module adjacent to the feed base.

5. The automated laser welding equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that: The feeding fork platform can also be driven by the feeding moving module to move the battery pack located in the conveying module out to the welding seat.

6. The automated laser welding equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that: The conveying module comprises two slide rails arranged on the third base, and a conveying base which is movably arranged on the slide rails and can be used to carry the battery pack.

7. The automated laser welding equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The laser welding unit further comprises a laser guide plate which is arranged on the stand and located above the welding seat, and the laser guide plate has a plurality of guide holes for the laser to pass through.

Images