Square shell power battery top cover welding clamp

Abstract

The application provides a battery processing method and a square shell power battery top cover welding clamp, and belongs to the technical field of battery processing. In order to solve the technical problems of complex welding process and top cover pollution caused by welding slag in the prior art, the application provides a battery processing method, which comprises the following steps: limiting the top of an aluminum shell of a battery by a buckling mechanism; limiting the side of the aluminum shell of the battery by a limiting part; and limiting the top cover at the bottom of the battery by a clamp bottom plate of a clamp. The buckling mechanism and the limiting part are arranged in a locking mechanism. The application can reduce the number of lithium ion battery production equipment and reduce the equipment cost.

Description

A welding fixture for the top cover of a square-shell power battery Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of battery processing technology, and in particular to a welding fixture for the top cover of a square power battery. Background Technology

[0002] In existing prismatic power batteries, the battery is positioned with the top cover facing upwards within the fixture during welding. This positioning method has two drawbacks. First, the high-temperature welding slag generated during welding can splatter onto the top cover and contaminate it. Although some equipment installs a protective cover on the battery top cover before welding to prevent slag contamination, this increases equipment complexity, cost, and reduces stability. Second, before welding the top cover, since the battery generally moves or rotates, a pre-welding process is required to prevent displacement of the top cover and aluminum shell. The battery top cover and aluminum shell are pre-welded and fixed before being placed in the top cover welding fixture for welding. Otherwise, the internal core of the battery may push the top cover open, disrupting the assembly relationship between the battery top cover and aluminum shell before welding, resulting in a weak weld during top cover welding. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the technical problems of complex welding processes and easy contamination of the top cover by welding slag in existing technologies, a battery processing method is proposed, including:

[0004] Step S1: The top of the aluminum shell of the battery is pressed down and limited by the fastening mechanism; the side of the aluminum shell of the battery is limited by the limiting part; the top cover at the bottom of the battery is limited by the clamp base plate of the clamp. The locking mechanism is provided with the fastening mechanism and the limiting part.

[0005] Step S2: While positioning, the distance between the aluminum shell and the top cover is detected by the detection mechanism to determine whether the distance is less than a preset distance;

[0006] Step S3: If yes, the assembled workpiece to be welded is obtained; if no, the aluminum shell is pressed down by the fastening mechanism until the distance between the aluminum shell and the top cover is less than a preset distance.

[0007] Step S4: Weld the object to be welded using welding equipment;

[0008] Step S5: After welding is completed, the fastening mechanism and the limiting part move away from the battery.

[0009] A welding fixture for the top cover of a square-shell power battery is proposed, used in the steps of the above-mentioned battery processing method, including:

[0010] The fixture base plate is used to position the top cover and protect it from welding slag contamination during welding.

[0011] The fastening mechanism is used to fasten the aluminum shell of the battery downwards to prevent the internal core from prying open the top cover and the aluminum shell, which could cause changes in the assembly relationship between the aluminum shell and the top cover during welding and result in poor welding.

[0012] A locking mechanism is used to control the opening and closing of the fastening mechanism, thereby unlocking and securing the battery.

[0013] Optionally, the fastening mechanism includes a first fastening part and a second fastening part with the same structure as the first fastening part;

[0014] The first and second fastening parts are used to place the battery and both are used to fasten the top aluminum shell of the battery downwards to prevent the internal winding core of the battery from prying open the top cover and the aluminum shell.

[0015] The first fastening part includes a first cam mounting seat and a second cam mounting seat with the same structure as the first cam mounting seat; the first cam mounting seat has an arc-shaped through hole at one end near the battery, and the other end is connected to the slider of the first linear guide rail; a connecting rod base is provided between the first cam mounting seat and the second cam mounting seat, one end of the connecting rod base is close to the slide rail of the first linear guide rail, and the end near the battery is provided with a pressure rod; each side of the pressure rod is provided with a mounting hole, which is used to connect the first cam bearing follower and the second cam bearing follower; the connecting rod base is located away from the first cam mounting seat. A through hole is provided at the other end of a linear guide rail; the through hole is located between the two mounting holes, and the through hole is connected to the two mounting holes by a rotating shaft; the protruding end of the first cam bearing follower is placed in the arc-shaped through hole, and can move along the arc-shaped through hole under the action of the driving component; a second linear guide rail is installed on the left side of the connecting rod base, and a third linear guide rail is installed on the right side; the sliders of the second linear guide rail and the third linear guide rail are both located on the outer side, the outer side of the slider is connected to the inner side of the concave plate, the slide rail is located on the inner side, and the inner side of the slide rail is placed in the slot of the connecting rod base.

[0016] Optionally, a vertical U-shaped slot is provided on the outer side of the connecting rod base, and a second cam bearing follower is installed on the inner side of the first cam mounting seat, with the protruding end of the second cam bearing follower placed in the U-shaped slot.

[0017] Optionally, the locking mechanism includes two first locking plates. The outer sides of the second and third linear guides are each connected to a first locking plate. The front side of the first locking plate is connected to the rear side of the concave plate, and the inner sides of the two first locking plates are respectively connected to the outer sides of the slider of the second linear guide and the slider of the third linear guide.

[0018] Optionally, a first clamping plate near the third linear guide rail is provided with mounting holes; a fourth linear guide rail is installed below the first linear guide rail, the slide rail of the fourth linear guide rail is mounted on the connecting rod base, a second clamping plate is installed on the slider of the fourth linear guide rail near the outer side, a first rotating shaft is installed on the second clamping plate, the first rotating shaft is used to mount the connecting rod on the second clamping plate; the other end of the connecting rod is connected to the rear position of the first clamping plate through the second rotating shaft.

[0019] Optionally, a height conversion block is provided at the bottom of the connecting rod base, and a laser baffle is installed on the side of the height conversion block near the battery.

[0020] Optionally, the bottom of the height changing block is mounted on the fixture base plate.

[0021] Optionally, a cell holder is provided on the outer side of the concave plate, and the end of the cell holder near the battery is a slot, and one side of the battery can be placed in the slot of the cell holder.

[0022] The battery has a top cover and an aluminum shell, and the clamp base plate is used to support and protect the top cover.

[0023] After the aluminum shell and the top cover are assembled, the locking mechanism controls the fastening mechanism to press the aluminum shell downward to prevent the internal winding core of the battery from prying open the top cover and the aluminum shell.

[0024] Optionally, after the top cover and aluminum shell are welded together, the fastening mechanism is lifted by a locking mechanism to facilitate the removal of the battery from the fastening mechanism.

[0025] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: This square-shell power battery top cover welding fixture is used in the production equipment for welding the top cover and aluminum shell of square-shell power batteries. It can solve the problem of welding slag contaminating the battery top cover during production without reducing equipment stability or increasing equipment costs. At the same time, it can also eliminate a pre-welding process, reduce the number of equipment required for lithium-ion battery production, and reduce equipment costs. Attached Figure Description

[0026]

[0027] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention after the battery is placed;

[0029] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of another overall structure of the present invention after the battery is placed;

[0030] Figure 4 is a partial structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of another partial structure of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the pressure bar structure of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of the pressure bar of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the connecting rod base structure of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the first cam mounting base structure of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention from one angle. Detailed Implementation

[0037] In the prior art, the top cover 400 and the aluminum shell 500 are first welded together by spot welding or pre-welding, which is a relatively complicated welding process. However, in this embodiment, after the top cover 400 and the aluminum shell 500 are positioned, the effect of "pre-welding + full welding" in the prior art can be achieved by "full welding".

[0038] Previously, pre-welding was required before full welding for two main reasons: First, when placing the battery into the welding station, it needed to be moved, and during this process, the positions of the top cover 400 and the aluminum shell 500 could easily change, leading to incomplete or incorrect welds. Second, after welding the front, the battery needed to be rotated 180° before welding the back. For example, with batteries rotated by a DD motor, without a pre-welding fixation process, the battery was prone to bending and deformation during twisting. The previous method had the following drawbacks: first, flying weld slag would contaminate the top cover during welding; second, the battery was prone to bending and deformation during twisting.

[0039] This technical solution has two advantages. First, before the battery enters the fixture, its position is stationary relative to the movable fixture. Therefore, the pre-welding process can be eliminated, and full welding can be performed directly. In other words, the existing technology involves transporting the pre-welded battery to the welding station before welding, while this technical solution positions the battery with a fixture before welding. Second, when the battery is transported into the fixture by a tool such as a loading robot, the positions of the top cover 400 and the aluminum shell 500 may change during the transport process. However, since this technical method uses 3D camera detection technology, even if the positions change, the relative position between the top cover 400 and the aluminum shell 500 can still be adjusted by the second driving component, thereby preventing cold welding. The second driving component can be any component that adjusts the relative position between the fixture and the battery, such as a loading robot or a cylinder. Furthermore, in existing technologies, after welding, an additional handling mechanism is required to grip and transport the battery to the next process position. This technical solution, however, uses a second driving component integrated with the fixture to transport the welded battery to the target position. This solution combines positioning, welding, and handling functions. The fixture changes the battery's positioning within the fixture from the existing upward or sideways placement to downward placement. The fixture base plate 100 covers the battery's top cover 400, leaving only the edge to be welded, preventing welding slag from contaminating the top cover 400 during welding. The fixture base plate 100 is the fixing part of the fixture and does not need to be specially installed on the battery before welding, ensuring equipment stability, simplifying the equipment, and reducing equipment costs. Simultaneously, a dedicated fastening mechanism 200 on the upper part of the fixture fastens the battery's aluminum casing 500 to the top cover 400, preventing the internal core of the battery from prying open the top cover 400 and aluminum casing 500, which could cause changes in the assembly relationship between the aluminum casing and the top cover during welding and lead to incomplete welds. This eliminates the need for a pre-welding process before welding the top cover.

[0040] Referring to Figures 1 to 10, in this embodiment, if the internal core of the battery expands the top cover 400 and the aluminum shell 500, it will cause a change in the assembly relationship between the aluminum shell 500 and the top cover 400 during welding, which will lead to a poor weld.

[0041] Referring to Figure 9, a first cam mounting seat 1 and a second cam mounting seat are installed on both sides of the connecting rod base 4. Slots 9 are provided on both sides of the connecting rod base 4. The first cam mounting seat 1 and the second cam mounting seat can move up and down along the U-shaped slots 9 under the action of external force.

[0042] Referring to Figures 4 and 10, when welding the edge where the bottom cover 400 and the aluminum shell 500 are in contact, the front edge can be welded by the first laser device and the rear edge can be welded by the second laser device. Since the first laser device and the second laser device are in a counter-firing relationship, it is easy to cause welding equipment failure. However, the laser baffle 17 can block the laser from the opposite side, thereby achieving the purpose of protecting the laser device.

[0043] Referring to Figures 1 to 10, in one embodiment, a battery processing method is provided, comprising:

[0044] Step S1: The top of the aluminum shell 500 of the battery is pressed down and limited by the fastening mechanism 200; the side of the aluminum shell 500 of the battery is limited by the limiting part; the top cover 400 at the bottom of the battery is limited by the clamp base plate 100 of the clamp. The locking mechanism 300 is provided with the fastening mechanism 200 and the limiting part.

[0045] Step S2: While positioning, the distance between the aluminum shell 500 and the top cover 400 is detected by the detection mechanism to determine whether the distance is less than the preset distance.

[0046] Step S3: If yes, the assembled workpiece to be welded is obtained; if no, the aluminum shell 500 is pressed down by the fastening mechanism 200 until the distance between the aluminum shell 500 and the top cover 400 is less than the preset distance.

[0047] Step S4: Weld the workpiece using welding equipment;

[0048] Step S5: After welding is completed, the fastening mechanism 200 and the limiting part move away from the battery.

[0049] In one embodiment, a welding fixture for the top cover of a square-shell power battery is provided for performing the steps of the above-described battery processing method, including:

[0050] The fixture base plate 100 is used to position the top cover 400 and protect the top cover 400 from welding slag contamination during welding.

[0051] The fastening mechanism 200 is used to fasten the aluminum shell 500 of the battery downwards to prevent the internal core from prying open the top cover 400 and the aluminum shell 500, which would cause changes in the assembly relationship between the aluminum shell 500 and the top cover 400 during welding and result in poor welding.

[0052] The locking mechanism 300 is used to control the opening and closing of the fastening mechanism 200, thereby unlocking and securing the battery.

[0053] In one embodiment, the fastening mechanism 200 includes a first fastening part and a second fastening part with the same structure as the first fastening part;

[0054] The first and second fastening parts are used to place the battery and both are used to fasten the top aluminum shell 500 of the battery downwards, preventing the internal winding core of the battery from prying open the top cover 400 and the aluminum shell 500.

[0055] The first fastening part includes a first cam mounting seat 1 and a second cam mounting seat with the same structure as the first cam mounting seat 1; the first cam mounting seat 1 has an arc-shaped through hole 2 at one end near the battery, and the other end is connected to the slider of the first linear guide rail 3; a connecting rod base 4 is provided between the first cam mounting seat 1 and the second cam mounting seat, one end of the connecting rod base 4 is close to the slide rail of the first linear guide rail 3, and the end near the battery is provided with a pressure rod 5; each side of the pressure rod 5 is provided with a mounting hole 5-2, which is used to connect the first cam bearing follower 5-1 and the second cam bearing follower; the connecting rod base 4 is away from the first linear guide rail 3. The other end of the guide rail 3 is provided with a through hole 4-1; the through hole 4-1 is located between two mounting holes 5-2, and the through hole 4-1 is connected to the two mounting holes 5-2 by a rotating shaft; the protruding end of the first cam bearing follower 5-1 is placed in the arc-shaped through hole 2, and can move along the arc-shaped through hole 2 under the action of the driving component; the left side of the connecting rod base 4 is provided with a second linear guide rail 6, and the right side is provided with a third linear guide rail 7; the sliders of the second linear guide rail 6 and the third linear guide rail 7 are both located on the outside, the outside of the slider is connected to the inside of the concave plate 11, the slide rail is located on the inside, and the inside of the slide rail is placed in the slot 8 of the connecting rod base 4.

[0056] In one embodiment, a vertical U-shaped slot 9 is provided on the outer side of the connecting rod base 4, and a second cam bearing follower 1-1 is installed on the inner side of the first cam mounting seat 1. The protruding end of the second cam bearing follower 1-1 is placed in the U-shaped slot 9.

[0057] In one embodiment, the locking mechanism 300 is provided with two first locking plates 10. The outer sides of the second linear guide rail 6 and the third linear guide rail 7 are each connected to a first locking plate 10. The front side of the first locking plate 10 is connected to the rear side of the concave plate 11. The inner sides of the two first locking plates 10 are respectively connected to the outer sides of the slider of the second linear guide rail 6 and the slider of the third linear guide rail 7.

[0058] In one embodiment, a first clamping plate 10 near the third linear guide rail 7 is provided with a mounting hole 12; a fourth linear guide rail 13 is installed below the first linear guide rail 3, the slide rail of the fourth linear guide rail 13 is installed on the connecting rod base 4, a second clamping plate 14 is installed on the slider of the fourth linear guide rail 13 near the outer side, a first rotating shaft is installed on the second clamping plate 14, the first rotating shaft is used to install the connecting rod 15 on the second clamping plate 14; the other end of the connecting rod 15 is connected to the rear position of the first clamping plate 10 through the second rotating shaft.

[0059] In one embodiment, a height conversion block 16 is provided at the bottom of the connecting rod base 4, and a laser baffle 17 is installed on the side of the height conversion block 16 near the battery.

[0060] In one embodiment, the bottom of the height-changing block 16 is mounted on the fixture base plate 100.

[0061] In one embodiment, a cell holder is provided on the outer side of the concave plate 11, and the end of the cell holder near the battery is a slot, so that one side of the battery can be placed in the slot of the cell holder.

[0062] The battery has a top cover 400 and an aluminum shell 500, and a clamp base plate 100 is used to support and protect the top cover 400.

[0063] After the aluminum shell 500 and the top cover 400 are assembled, the locking mechanism 300 controls the fastening mechanism 200 to press the aluminum shell 500 downward to prevent the internal winding core of the battery from opening the top cover 400 and the aluminum shell 500.

[0064] In one embodiment, after the top cover 400 and the aluminum shell 500 are welded together, the locking mechanism 300 lifts the fastening mechanism 200 to facilitate the removal of the battery from the fastening mechanism 200.

[0065] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and an explanation of the technical principles employed. Those skilled in the art should understand that the scope of protection involved in this application is not limited to technical solutions formed by specific combinations of the above-described technical features, but should also cover other technical solutions formed by arbitrary combinations of the above-described technical features or their equivalents without departing from the concept of this application. For example, technical solutions formed by substituting the above features with (but not limited to) technical features with similar functions disclosed in this application.

Claims

1. A welding fixture for the top cover of a square-shell power battery, characterized in that, include: A clamp base plate (100) is used to position the top cover (400) and protect the top cover (400) from welding slag contamination during welding; a fastening mechanism (200) is used to fasten the aluminum casing (500) of the battery downwards; a locking mechanism (300) is used to control the opening and closing of the fastening mechanism (200) to unlock and fix the battery; the fastening mechanism (200) is provided with a first fastening part and a second fastening part with the same structure as the first fastening part; the battery is placed between the first fastening part and the second fastening part, both of which are used to fasten downwards. The top aluminum shell (500) of the battery prevents the internal winding core of the battery from opening the top cover (400) and the aluminum shell (500); the first fastening part is provided with a first cam mounting seat (1) and a second cam mounting seat with the same structure as the first cam mounting seat (1); the first cam mounting seat (1) is provided with an arc-shaped through hole (2) at one end near the battery, and the other end is connected to the slider of the first linear guide rail (3); a connecting rod base (4) is provided between the first cam mounting seat (1) and the second cam mounting seat, and one of the connecting rod bases (4) The slide rail is close to the first linear guide rail (3), and a pressure rod (5) is provided at the end near the battery; each side of the pressure rod (5) is provided with a mounting hole (5-2), and the mounting hole (5-2) is used to connect the first cam bearing follower (5-1) and the second cam bearing follower; the connecting rod base (4) is provided with a through hole (4-1) at the other end away from the first linear guide rail (3); the through hole (4-1) is located between the two mounting holes (5-2), and the through hole (4-1) is connected to the two mounting holes (5-2) by means of... The shaft is connected; the protruding end of the first cam bearing follower (5-1) is placed in the arc-shaped through hole (2), and can move along the arc-shaped through hole (2) under the action of the driving component; a second linear guide rail (6) is installed on the left side of the connecting rod base (4), and a third linear guide rail (7) is installed on the right side; the sliders of the second linear guide rail (6) and the third linear guide rail (7) are both located on the outside, the outside of the slider is connected to the inside of the concave plate (11), the slide rail is located on the inside, and the inside of the slide rail is placed in the slot (8) of the connecting rod base (4).

2. The welding fixture for the top cover of a square-shell power battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, A vertical U-shaped slot (9) is provided on the outer side of the connecting rod base (4), and a second cam bearing follower (1-1) is installed on the inner side of the first cam mounting seat (1). The protruding end of the second cam bearing follower (1-1) is placed in the U-shaped slot (9).

3. The welding fixture for the top cover of a square-shell power battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, The locking mechanism (300) is provided with two first locking plates (10). The outer sides of the second linear guide (6) and the third linear guide (7) are each connected to a first locking plate (10). The front side of the first locking plate (10) is connected to the rear side of the concave plate (11). The inner sides of the two first locking plates (10) are respectively connected to the outer sides of the slider of the second linear guide (6) and the slider of the third linear guide (7).

4. The welding fixture for the top cover of a square-shell power battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first plate (10) near the third linear guide (7) is provided with mounting holes (12); a fourth linear guide (13) is installed below the first linear guide (3), the slide rail of the fourth linear guide (13) is installed on the connecting rod base (4), a second plate (14) is installed on the slider of the fourth linear guide (13) near the outer side, a first rotating shaft is installed on the second plate (14), the first rotating shaft is used to install the connecting rod (15) on the second plate (14); the other end of the connecting rod (15) is connected to the rear position of the first plate (10) through the second rotating shaft.

5. The welding fixture for the top cover of a square-shell power battery according to claim 2, characterized in that, The bottom of the connecting rod base (4) is provided with a height conversion block (16), and a laser baffle (17) is installed on the side of the height conversion block (16) near the battery.

6. The welding fixture for the top cover of a square-shell power battery according to claim 5, characterized in that, The bottom of the height changing block (16) is mounted on the fixture base plate (100).

7. The welding fixture for the top cover of a square-shell power battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, A cell holder is provided on the outer side of the concave plate (11). The end of the cell holder near the battery is a slot, and one side of the battery can be placed in the slot of the cell holder.

8. The welding fixture for the top cover of a square-shell power battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, After the top cover (400) and the aluminum shell (500) are welded together, the fastening mechanism (200) is lifted by the locking mechanism (300).

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