Lithium battery stacking and conveying device

Abstract

This invention discloses a lithium battery stacking and material handling equipment, relating to the field of lithium battery packaging and palletizing technology. The equipment includes: a first material handling device for transporting pallets from an loading / unloading area to a turning area; a second material handling device for transporting pallets from the turning area to a first arrival area or the loading / unloading area; a third material handling device extending along the turning area to a second arrival area for transporting pallets from the turning area to the second arrival area, or from the second arrival area to the turning area, and avoiding the conveying path of the second material handling device; wherein, one of the first arrival area and the second arrival area is a positioning area, and the other is a temporary storage area; and a positioning device disposed in the positioning area for achieving precise positioning of the stacking fixture. This mechanism enables the transportation and precise positioning of the stacking fixture without manual handling, achieving continuous pallet supply and greatly improving equipment efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention generally relates to the field of lithium battery packaging and palletizing technology, and more specifically, to a lithium battery stacking and material handling equipment. Background Technology

[0002] In the process of packaging and palletizing lithium batteries, manual labor is required to move pallets to the work area, where blister packs are then placed. Robots then use these blister packs to position the batteries. Each blister pack has multiple battery slots for securing the batteries and providing insulation between them. During battery placement, the robot uses an automated blister pack vision recognition system to identify the battery's position relative to the blister pack, thus completing the battery loading process. Therefore, inaccurate blister pack placement significantly impacts loading efficiency. Furthermore, the heavy weight of the pallets, the high labor intensity of manual handling, the inconsistent placement, and the fact that the robot must stop and wait until the operator places the pallet in the designated position all contribute to low production efficiency at this workstation.

[0003] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the background section above is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of this disclosure, and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The summary section introduces a series of simplified concepts, which will be further explained in detail in the detailed description section. This summary section is not intended to limit the key features and essential technical features of the claimed technical solution, nor is it intended to determine the scope of protection of the claimed technical solution.

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to overcome at least one of the defects of the prior art and to provide a lithium battery stacking and material handling device.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] A lithium battery stacking and material handling device, comprising:

[0008] The first material conveying device is configured in the loading and unloading area and is used to transport the pallet from the loading and unloading area to the turning area;

[0009] The second material conveying device is configured in the turning area and is used to transport the pallet from the turning area to the first arrival area or the loading and unloading area;

[0010] A third conveying device extends along the turning area to the second arrival area, for transporting pallets from the turning area to the second arrival area, or from the second arrival area to the turning area, and for bypassing the conveying path of the second conveying device; wherein, one of the first arrival area or the second arrival area is a positioning area, and the other is a temporary storage area; and

[0011] A positioning device, configured in the positioning area, is used to adjust the placement position of the stacking fixture placed on the pallet.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the positioning device includes a side positioning component, a rear positioning component, and a front positioning component. The side positioning component includes a side limiting member disposed on the left and / or right side of the positioning area and a lateral driving member connected to the side limiting member. The lateral driving member is used to drive the side limiting member to move left and right to position the stacking fixture laterally. The rear positioning component and / or the front positioning component is used to drive the stacking fixture to move back and forth to limit the stacking fixture between the rear positioning component and the front positioning component.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the stacking fixture includes a packaging shell and a blister pack placed inside the packaging shell. One or more sides of the left, right, and rear sides of the positioning area are further equipped with an outward expansion assembly for prying open the periphery of the packaging shell. The outward expansion assembly includes a lifting drive and a diagonal plate. The lifting drive is used to drive the diagonal plate to rise or fall so that the periphery of the packaging shell unfolds outward. The diagonal plate has an inclined plate and a vertical plate connected to each other. The vertical plate is used to limit the side position of the blister pack.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the lateral driving member includes an upper driving part and a lower driving part, and the lateral limiting member includes an upper limiting part and a lower limiting part adapted to the lateral driving member. The upper driving part drives the upper limiting part to move left and right to perform lateral positioning of the blister pack, and the lower driving part drives the lower limiting part to move left and right to perform lateral positioning of the packaging shell.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first arrival area is configured as a positioning area, the second arrival area is configured as a temporary storage area, and the positioning area is further provided with a fourth material conveying device for transporting the pallet to a preset operating position, or transporting the fully loaded pallet after operation to the turning area.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the rear positioning assembly includes a rear limiting member disposed at the rear end of the fourth material conveying device and a rearward driving member connected to the rear limiting member. The rearward driving member is used to drive the rear limiting member to move back and forth to position the rear position of the stacking fixture. The front positioning assembly includes a rotating member and a rotary driving member connected to the rotating member. The rotary driving member is used to drive the rotating member to rotate to position the front position of the stacking fixture.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the third material conveying device is connected to a lifting device. The lifting device includes a lifting drive assembly and a lifting plate. The third material conveying device is mounted on the lifting plate. The drive end of the lifting drive assembly is fixedly connected to the lifting plate. The lifting drive assembly drives the lifting plate to move, thereby causing the third material conveying device to rise and contact the pallet to transport the pallet to the temporary storage area, or causing the third material conveying device to fall and separate from the pallet to avoid the conveying path of the second material conveying device.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the lifting drive assembly is provided at both ends of the third material conveying device along the conveying direction; the third material conveying device includes a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt, a receiving space is formed between the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt, and the second material conveying device is disposed in the receiving space.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an auxiliary component is further provided in the temporary storage area. The auxiliary component is disposed between the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt and includes one or more rollers. The rolling direction of the rollers is the same as the conveying direction of the third material conveying device.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present invention, guide plates are provided on both sides of the first material conveying device, the second material conveying device, and the fourth material conveying device, and each guide plate extends along a corresponding conveying direction; wherein, the guide plate of the second material conveying device near the temporary storage area is configured as a liftable movable plate, which descends when the second material conveying device moves to limit the side of the stacking fixture; and rises when the third material conveying device moves to allow the stacking fixture to enter the temporary storage area.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a material unloading area is further provided at one end away from the turning area. The material unloading area includes a limiting drive part and a stop part. The limiting drive part is used to drive the stop part to move so as to limit the front position of the stacking tool.

[0022] The turning area is also provided with a turning blocking member at one end near the positioning area. The turning blocking member includes a blocking drive member and a stop block. The blocking drive member is used to drive the stop block to move, so as to restrict the stacking tooling from entering the positioning area from the turning area.

[0023] As can be seen from the above technical solution, the advantages and positive effects of the lithium battery stacking and material handling equipment of the present invention are as follows:

[0024] The lithium battery stacking and material handling equipment provided in this invention utilizes different material handling devices configured in the loading / unloading area, turning area, temporary storage area, and positioning area to transport the stacking fixture. Specifically, a first material handling device transports the stacking fixture to the turning area, and a second material handling device in the turning area transports it to the positioning area. Simultaneously, a side positioning component, a rear positioning component, and a front positioning component are provided in the positioning area to accurately position the stacking fixture from various directions. Specifically, a rear limiting component and a front limiting component are used to position the blister pack in the front-rear direction, while side limiting components and a lateral drive component are used to position the blister pack in the left-right direction. This ensures the accuracy of the blister pack placement, facilitates visual inspection when placing batteries on foam boards, and effectively improves the efficiency and quality of battery packaging and stacking.

[0025] Furthermore, when temporary storage of stacking fixtures is required, a lifting device elevates the third material handling device to contact the stacking fixtures, transporting them to the temporary storage area. This mechanism allows the temporary storage area to hold stacking fixtures, avoiding downtime. While the stacking fixtures are being temporarily stored, fully loaded stacking fixtures can be returned, ensuring uninterrupted supply of stacking fixtures without manual handling, reducing labor intensity and effectively improving equipment efficiency. Simultaneously, with loading and unloading in the same location, manual transportation intensity is reduced, and the equipment's footprint is also minimized. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Various objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings are merely illustrative of the invention and are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings, the same reference numerals always denote the same or similar parts. Wherein:

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the pallets and stacking fixtures used for stacking and packaging lithium batteries.

[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the lithium battery stacking and material handling equipment provided in Embodiment 1 of this disclosure.

[0029] Figure 3 yes Figure 1A schematic diagram of the lithium battery stacking and material handling equipment from a second-view perspective.

[0030] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the first material conveying device.

[0031] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 The schematic diagrams of the second and third material conveying devices are shown.

[0032] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the fourth material conveying device in the diagram.

[0033] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the fourth material handling device (with pallets) in the diagram.

[0034] Figure 8 yes Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the fourth material conveying device from another perspective.

[0035] Figure 9 yes Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the front positioning component.

[0036] Figure 10 yes Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of the outward-extending component (located on the left side of the fourth material conveying device).

[0037] Figure 11 yes Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of the outward-extending component (located on the right side of the fourth material conveying device).

[0038] Icons: 10-Lithium battery stacking and material handling equipment; 20-Pallet; 21-Stacking tooling; 22-Encapsulation shell; 23-Blister shell; 101-Loading and unloading area; 102-Turnover area; 103-Temporary storage area; 104-Positioning area; 100-First material handling device; 110-Roller belt; 120-First driving component; 121-Drive motor; 122-Transmission component; 130-Guide plate; 140-Arrival detection component; 150-Auxiliary roller belt; 160-Unloading limit component; 161-Limit drive unit; 162-Stop; 200-Second conveying device; 210-Roller; 220-Second driving component; 230-Left guide plate; 240-Right guide plate; 250-Fifth driving component; 251-Mounting beam; 252-Drive cylinder; 253-Slide rail; 260-Steering stop; 261-Stop driving component; 262-Stop block; 300-Third conveying device; 301-Accommodation space; 310-First conveyor belt; 320-Second conveyor belt; 330-Third driving component; 340-Transmission rod 350 - Auxiliary component; 351 - Roller body; 360 - Lifting device; 361 - Lifting drive assembly; 362 - Mounting plate; 363 - Drive cylinder; 364 - Guide rail; 365 - Slider; 366 - L-shaped connecting plate; 367 - Lifting plate; 400 - Fourth material conveying device; 410 - Roller; 420 - Fourth drive component; 430 - Guide plate; 440 - Position detection assembly; 50 - Side positioning assembly; 510 - Side limiting component; 511 - Upper limit part; 512 - Lower limit part; 52 0 - Lateral drive component; 521 - Upper drive unit; 522 - Lower drive unit; 60 - Rear positioning assembly; 610 - Rear limit component; 620 - Rearward drive component; 70 - Front positioning assembly; 710 - Rotating component; 711 - Connecting rod; 712 - Positioning plate; 713 - Recessed area; 720 - Rotation drive component; 721 - Rotation cylinder; 722 - Fixed plate; 80 - Outward assembly; 810 - Lifting drive component; 820 - Slanted pull plate; 821 - Connecting plate; 822 - Slanted plate; 823 - Vertical plate. Detailed Implementation

[0039] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, they are provided so that the invention will be thorough and complete, and the concept of the exemplary embodiments will be fully conveyed to those skilled in the art. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar structures, and therefore their detailed description will be omitted.

[0040] The described features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Numerous specific details are provided in the following description to give a full understanding of embodiments of the invention. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details described, or other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of the invention.

[0041] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention can be practiced without one or more of these details. In other instances, certain technical features well-known in the art have not been described in order to avoid obscuring the invention.

[0042] Example 1

[0043] Please see Figure 1 The diagram schematically illustrates the structure of the pallet 20 and the stacking fixture 21. The stacking fixture 21 includes a packaging shell 22 and a blister pack 23. The blister pack 23 has multiple battery slots for placing lithium batteries. The packaging shell 22 is generally a cardboard shell with its opening facing upwards. When lithium batteries are being loaded and stacked, as the pallet 20 is transported to a preset operating position, an external operator places the packaging shell on the pallet 20, and then the blister pack 23 is placed inside the packaging shell 22, forming the stacking fixture 21. After the stacking fixture 21 is positioned at a predetermined location using a positioning device, a robot places the lithium batteries into the blister pack 23 and stacks the blister packs 23 upwards sequentially. After multiple blister packs 23 are stacked upwards to a certain height, they are then covered downwards by a cover plate (not shown), thus completely enclosing the multiple blister packs 23.

[0044] Please see Figures 1-3 This disclosure provides a lithium battery stacking and conveying equipment 10, which has a loading and unloading area 101, a turning area 102, a temporary storage area 103, and a positioning area 104. The pallet 20 is transported to the positioning area 104 by the lithium battery stacking and conveying equipment 10, and then a stacking fixture 21 is placed on the pallet. The stacking fixture 21 is precisely positioned by the positioning device in the positioning area 104.

[0045] Specifically, in the loading and unloading area 101, pallets 20 are loaded and unloaded using forklifts or similar means. In the turning area 102, pallets 20 are transported to the temporary storage area 103 or the positioning area 104. In the temporary storage area 103, one pallet 20 can be temporarily stored to avoid downtime. In the positioning area 104, the pallets can be precisely positioned to meet the placement requirements of the batteries.

[0046] Please see Figure 2In this embodiment, the loading / unloading area 101 is equipped with a first conveying device 100. The output end of the first conveying device 100 is close to the turning area 102 to transport the pallet 20 to the turning area 102. The first conveying device 100 is configured as a roller conveyor assembly. Specifically, the first conveying device 100 includes multiple spaced roller belts 110. Each roller belt 110 is rotatably equipped with multiple rollers. The gaps between the multiple roller belts 110 facilitate manual handling or loading / unloading using a forklift.

[0047] Specifically, the left and right roller belts 110 are each connected to a first drive member 120. The first drive member 120 includes a drive motor 121 and a transmission member 122 that is connected to the drive motor 121. The transmission member 122 may include, for example, a drive pulley, a driven pulley, and a synchronous belt or chain. The output end of the drive motor 121 is fixedly connected to the drive pulley. Each roller on the roller belt 110 is provided with a driven pulley. The drive pulley and the driven pulley are connected by a synchronous belt or chain. The driven pulleys of two adjacent rollers on the roller belt 110 are also connected by a synchronous belt or chain. When the drive motor 121 rotates, it drives the rollers to rotate through the transmission member 122.

[0048] Furthermore, at least one auxiliary roller belt 150 is provided between the left and right roller belts 110. The auxiliary roller belt 150 has one or more rollers, and the rolling direction of the rollers is the same as the conveying direction of the roller belts 110 on both sides. By setting the auxiliary roller belt 150, the pallet 20 is supported and assisted in conveying, thereby improving the conveying stability of the first material conveying device 100.

[0049] Furthermore, guide plates 130 are provided on both sides of the first material conveying device 100. The guide plates 130 extend along the rolling direction of the roller belt 110 to prevent the pallet 20 from shifting during transportation.

[0050] Furthermore, the loading / unloading area 101 is also equipped with a position detection component 140. One or more position detection components 140 can be configured to detect the position of empty or full pallets. Specifically, the position detection component 140 can be configured as a photoelectric switch sensor, which is mounted on the guide plate 130. Furthermore, the position detection component 140 can be signal-connected to the first conveying device 100, and the drive motor of the first conveying device 100 can be controlled to rotate forward or backward according to the detection signal from the position detection component 140, thereby realizing automatic loading and unloading of pallets.

[0051] Furthermore, a discharge limiting member 160 is provided at the end of the loading / unloading area 101 away from the turning area 102. The discharge limiting member 160 can be one or more. For example, in this embodiment, discharge limiting members 160 are provided on both sides of the first conveying device 100. The discharge limiting member 160 is used to limit the front end of the pallet 20 to prevent the full pallet 20 from exceeding the transport area. Specifically, the discharge limiting member 160 includes a limiting drive part 161 and a stop part 162. The limiting drive part 161 is used to drive the stop part 162 to move, thereby limiting the front end of the pallet 20. The limiting drive part 161 can be, for example, a drive cylinder, and the output end of the drive cylinder is connected to the stop part 162. The drive cylinder drives the stop part 162 outward to achieve the limiting. The stop part 162 can be, for example, an L-shaped or other shaped stop structure; this disclosure does not impose specific limitations.

[0052] Please see Figure 2 and Figure 5 In this embodiment, the turning zone 102 is equipped with a second conveying device 200, which is used to transport the pallet 20 from the turning zone 102 to the positioning zone 104 or the loading / unloading zone 101. Specifically, the second conveying device 200 is configured as a roller conveyor assembly, including multiple rollers 210 and a second driving member 220 for driving the rollers to rotate. The structure of the second driving member 220 can be referred to the first driving member 120, and will not be described again here. The output end of the second conveying device 200 is close to the positioning zone 104. When the second driving member 220 rotates forward, it transports the pallet 20 to the positioning zone 104. When the second driving member 220 rotates in reverse, it transports the pallet 20 to the loading / unloading zone 101.

[0053] To facilitate the transport of pallet 20 from turning zone 102 to temporary storage zone 103 or positioning zone 104, in this embodiment, turning zone 102 is further equipped with a third conveying device 300, which extends from turning zone 102 to temporary storage zone 103. The third conveying device 300 is connected to a lifting device 360, which drives the third conveying device 300 to rise or fall. When the lifting device 360 ​​lifts the third conveying device 300, the pallet 20 can contact the third conveying device 300 and separate from the second conveying device 200, allowing the pallet 20 to be transported to temporary storage zone 103 via the third conveying device 300. When the lifting device 360 ​​moves the third material conveying device 300 downward, the third material conveying device 300 separates from the pallet 20, avoiding the conveying path of the second material conveying device 200. This allows the pallet 20 to be conveyed from the positioning area 104 to the turning area 102 and the loading / unloading area 101 when the pallet 20 is temporarily stored in the temporary storage area 103. This enables the full pallet to be returned while the pallet is temporarily stored, reducing waiting time and greatly improving work efficiency.

[0054] Specifically, the third material handling device 300 is configured as a conveyor belt type conveyor assembly for transporting pallets 20 from the turning area 102 to the temporary storage area 103, or from the temporary storage area 103 to the turning area 102. Specifically, the third material handling device 300 includes a first conveyor belt 310, a second conveyor belt 320, and a third drive member 330. The first conveyor belt 310 and the second conveyor belt 320 are connected by a transmission rod 340 to achieve synchronous rotation of the first conveyor belt 310 and the second conveyor belt 320. The output end of the third drive member 330 is connected to the first conveyor belt 310 to drive the first conveyor belt 310. Specifically, the third drive member 330 can be connected to the first conveyor belt 310 via a synchronous belt assembly.

[0055] Specifically, the lifting device 360 ​​includes a lifting drive assembly 361 and a lifting plate 367, and the third material conveying device 300 is mounted on the lifting plate 367. The third material conveying device 300 has lifting drive assemblies 361 on both sides along its conveying direction. The drive end of the lifting drive assembly 361 is fixedly connected to the lifting plate 367, and the lifting drive assembly 361 drives the lifting plate 367 to move, thereby causing the third material conveying device 300 to rise or fall.

[0056] Furthermore, the lifting plate 367 is configured as a base plate extending from the turning area 102 to the temporary storage area 103, with the center of the base plate extending through it. The first conveyor belt 310 and the second conveyor belt 320 are respectively installed on both sides of the base plate. The lifting drive assembly 361 includes a mounting plate 362, a drive cylinder 363 fixed to the mounting plate 362, a guide rail 364, and a slider 365. The piston rod of the drive cylinder 363 is fixed to the base plate. Guide rails 364 are provided on both sides of the drive cylinder 363, the guide rails 364 are vertically arranged, and slidably connected to the slider 365. The slider 365 is fixedly connected to the base plate via an L-shaped connecting plate 366. The movement of the piston rod of the drive cylinder 363 causes the base plate to rise or fall along the guide rails 364.

[0057] Furthermore, a receiving space 301 is formed between the first conveyor belt 310 and the second conveyor belt 320, and the second material conveying device 200 is disposed within the receiving space 301, that is, the first conveyor belt 310 and the second conveyor belt 320 are respectively arranged on opposite sides of the second material conveying device 200. This arrangement greatly saves floor space.

[0058] Furthermore, an auxiliary guide 350 is also provided in the temporary storage area 103, positioned between the first conveyor belt 310 and the second conveyor belt 320. Specifically, the auxiliary guide 350 has one or more rollers 351, the rolling direction of which is the same as the conveying direction of the third material handling device 300. By providing the auxiliary guide 350, more support points can be provided for the pallet 20, ensuring the stability of the pallet 20 during operation.

[0059] Furthermore, the second material conveying device 200 is provided with a left guide plate 230 and a right guide plate 240 extending along its conveying direction on both sides. The right guide plate 240 is located on the side away from the temporary storage area 103 and is configured as a fixed plate; the left guide plate 230 is located on the side closer to the temporary storage area 103 and is configured as a movable plate that can be raised and lowered. The left guide plate 230 is connected to a fifth driving member 250, which drives the left guide plate 230 to rise or fall. Specifically, the fifth driving member 250 includes a mounting beam 251, a driving cylinder 252 fixed to the top of the mounting beam 251, and slide rails 253 fixed to both ends of the mounting beam 251. The left guide plate 230 is fixedly connected to the output end of the driving cylinder 252, and both ends of the left guide plate 230 are slidably connected to the slide rails 253 on both sides. When the second material conveying device 200 is in conveying motion, the driving cylinder 252 drives the left guide plate 230 to fall, thereby limiting the side of the pallet 20. When the third material conveying device 300 is in the conveying motion, the drive cylinder 252 drives the left guide plate 230 to rise, so as to allow the pallet 20 to enter the temporary storage area 103.

[0060] Please see Figure 2 and Figure 3 Furthermore, a steering block 260 is provided at one end of the steering zone 102 near the positioning zone 104. The steering block 260 includes a blocking drive 261 and a stop 262. The blocking drive 261 drives the stop 262 to move, thereby restricting the pallet 20 from entering the positioning zone 104 from the steering zone 102. Specifically, the blocking drive 261 can be configured as a drive cylinder, and the stop 262 is connected to the output end of the drive cylinder. Further, in this embodiment, the steering block 260 can be set as one or more, and is set on the forward path of the pallet 20. The drive cylinder drives the stop 262 to rise, thereby preventing the pallet 20 from entering the positioning zone 104. The drive cylinder drives the stop to fall, thereby allowing the pallet 20 to enter the positioning zone.

[0061] It should be noted that in other embodiments, the steering blocking member 260 can be arranged on both sides of the forward path of the pallet 20, and the blocking driving member 261 can limit or release the pallet 20 by pushing out or retracting the driving block 262.

[0062] Please see Figure 2 and Figure 6In this embodiment, a fourth conveying device 400 may also be provided within the positioning area 104. The fourth conveying device 400 is used to transport the pallet 20 within the positioning area 104 to a preset operating position, or to transport the fully loaded pallet 20 after operation to the turning area 102. The fourth conveying device 400 is configured as a roller conveyor assembly, including multiple rollers 410 and a fourth driving member 420 for driving the rollers to rotate. The structure of the fourth driving member 420 can refer to that of the first driving member 120, and will not be described in detail here.

[0063] Furthermore, guide plates 430 are provided on both sides of the fourth material conveying device 400. The guide plates 430 extend along the conveying direction of the fourth material conveying device 400 to prevent the pallet 20 from shifting during transportation.

[0064] Furthermore, the first material conveying device 100, the second material conveying device 200 and the fourth material conveying device 400 have the same conveying direction, and the second material conveying device 200 and the third material conveying device 300 are set perpendicularly. The entire lithium battery stacking material conveying equipment 10 is set in a T-shape, which is convenient to operate and occupies a small area.

[0065] Furthermore, the positioning area 104 may also be equipped with a position detection component 440 for detecting whether the pallet 20 has reached the operating position. The position detection component 440 may be configured as a photoelectric switch sensor, for example, which is mounted on the guide plate 430.

[0066] See Figures 6-9 In this embodiment, the positioning area 104 is further provided with a positioning device for accurately positioning the stacking fixture 21. In this embodiment, the positioning device includes a side positioning component 50, a rear positioning component 60, and a front positioning component 70. The side positioning component 50 is used to position the left and right sides of the stacking fixture 21, and the rear positioning component 60 and the front positioning component 70 are used to position the front and rear of the stacking fixture 21, thereby achieving accurate positioning of the stacking fixture 21.

[0067] It should be noted that in other embodiments, the positions of the positioning area 104 and the temporary storage area 103 can be interchanged, that is, in Figure 1 The area 104 shown is used for stack caching. Figure 1 The stacking fixture 21 is positioned in area 103. Accordingly, a side positioning component 50, a rear positioning component 60, and a front positioning component 70 are provided in area 103.

[0068] In this embodiment, the side positioning component 50 includes a side limiting member 510 disposed on the left side of the fourth material conveying device 400 and a lateral driving member 520 connected to the side limiting member 510, for positioning the lateral position of the stacking fixture 21. The lateral driving member 520 drives the side limiting member 510 to move left and right, thereby pushing the stacking fixture 21 to perform lateral displacement.

[0069] It should be noted that in other embodiments, the side positioning component 50 may be arranged on the right side of the fourth material conveying device 400, or the side positioning component 50 may be arranged on both sides of the fourth material conveying device 400.

[0070] Further, in one embodiment, the lateral drive member 520 includes an upper drive portion 521 and a lower drive portion 522, and the lateral limiting member 510 includes an upper limit portion 511 and a lower limit portion 512 adapted to the lateral drive member 520. The upper drive portion 521 drives the upper limit portion 511 to move left and right to laterally position the blister pack 23; the lower drive portion 522 drives the lower limit portion 512 to move left and right to laterally position the encapsulation shell 22. The upper limit portion 511 and the lower limit portion 512 are both configured as a single block, which is connected to the upper drive portion 521 and the lower drive portion 522, respectively. The upper drive portion 521 and the lower drive portion 522 can be, for example, drive cylinders, with the piston rod of the drive cylinder connected to the block, thereby pushing the blister pack 23 and the encapsulation shell 22 to the right to the accurate position.

[0071] Furthermore, the side positioning component 50 can be configured as one or more. For example, in one embodiment, a single side positioning component 50 is configured and positioned in the middle of the stacking fixture 21. In another embodiment, at least two lateral drive components 520 can also be configured, with the two side positioning components 50 respectively positioned at the front and rear ends of the stacking fixture 21 to better position the stacking fixture 21.

[0072] In this embodiment, the rear positioning component 60 includes a rear limiting member 610 disposed at the rear end of the fourth material conveying device 400 and a rearward driving member 620 connected to the rear limiting member 610. The rearward driving member 620 is used to drive the rear limiting member to move back and forth. Specifically, the rearward driving member 620 is configured as a driving cylinder, and the output end of the driving cylinder is connected to the rear limiting member 610. Under the drive of the driving cylinder, the rear limiting member 610 moves forward to push the stacking fixture 21 forward to abut against the front positioning component 70, thereby positioning the stacking fixture 21 in the front-back direction.

[0073] In this embodiment, please refer to Figure 9The front positioning assembly 70 includes a rotating member 710 and a rotary drive member 720 connected to the rotating member 710. The rotary drive member 720 drives the rotating member 710 to rotate, thereby positioning the front position of the stacking fixture 21. Specifically, a front positioning assembly 70 is provided on both the left and right sides of the fourth material handling device 400, and the front positioning assembly 70 is installed near the front end of the fourth material handling device 400. The rotary drive member 720 can drive the rotating member 710 to rotate 90°, thereby forming a stop at the front position of the stacking fixture 21.

[0074] Furthermore, the rotary drive 720 is configured as a rotary cylinder 721. The rotary cylinder 721 is mounted on a fixed plate 722. The fixed plate 722 can be fixedly connected to the guide plate 430. The rotating component 710 includes a connecting rod 711 fixedly connected to the output shaft of the rotary cylinder 721 and a positioning plate 712 connected to the connecting rod 711. The axial direction of the output shaft of the rotary cylinder 721 is the conveying direction of the fourth material conveying device 400. When the rotary cylinder 721 rotates, it drives the connecting rod 711 and the positioning plate 712 to rotate around the output shaft of the rotary cylinder 721.

[0075] Furthermore, in one embodiment, a downwardly recessed area 713 is formed on the outer surface of the positioning plate 712. The recessed area 713 is used to install an elastic element, thereby avoiding indentation when in contact with the blister pack 23. The elastic element may be, for example, a silicone pad.

[0076] In another embodiment, the positioning plate 712 may also be covered with an outer covering layer, such as a soft rubber sleeve. By providing the soft rubber sleeve, the positioning plate 712 is prevented from directly contacting the blister pack 23 and causing indentations.

[0077] Further, in one embodiment, one or more of the left, right, and rear sides of the fourth feeding device 400 are also equipped with outward extension components 80, which are used to pry open the periphery of the packaging shell 22 outward. Specifically, in this embodiment, at least one outward extension component 80 is provided on the left, right, and rear sides of the fourth feeding device 400 to pry open the periphery of the packaging shell 22 outward. Further, each side may have one or more outward extension components 80. In this embodiment, at least two outward extension components 80 are provided on the right and rear sides of the fourth feeding device 400. The two outward extension components 80 on the rear side are respectively disposed on the left and right sides of the rear positioning component 60.

[0078] Further, please refer to Figure 10The extension assembly 80 includes a lifting drive 810 and a ramp 820. The lifting drive 810 drives the ramp 820 to rise or fall. Specifically, the lifting drive 810 is configured as a slide cylinder, and the output end of the slide cylinder has one or more mounting holes. The ramp 820 is detachably mounted to the mounting holes. For example, the ramp 820 can be fixed to the mounting holes using screws or other connecting parts.

[0079] Specifically, the inclined plate 820 includes a connecting plate 821 and an inclined plate 822. The connecting plate 821 is connected to the lifting drive component 810, and the inclined plate 822 is inclinedly connected to the connecting plate 821. The inclined plate 822 is inclined to facilitate the downward opening of the encapsulation shell 22.

[0080] Further, please refer to Figure 11 The inclined plate 820 may also include a vertical plate 823, which is connected to the end of the inclined plate 822 away from the connecting plate 821. The vertical plate 823 is vertically positioned to limit the side position of the blister pack 23.

[0081] It should be noted that the inclined plates 820 located on the right and rear sides of the fourth material conveying device 400 are each equipped with vertical plates 823 to limit the right and rear sides of the blister pack 23, respectively. The inclined plate 820 located on the left side of the fourth material conveying device 400 may not be equipped with vertical plates 823.

[0082] The working principle of the lithium battery stacking and material handling equipment in this embodiment of the invention is as follows:

[0083] In the initial state, the left guide plate 230 remains in a downward position, and the lifting device 360 ​​drives the third material conveying device 300 to a lower position. Through the first material conveying device 100, the second material conveying device 200, and the fourth material conveying device 400, the empty pallet 20 is transported sequentially from the loading / unloading area 101 to the turning area 102 and the positioning area 104, and finally arrives at the preset operating position in the positioning area 104. Then, the stacking fixture 21 is placed on the pallet, and the stacking fixture 21 is positioned by the positioning device.

[0084] The positioning process is as follows: The outward extension components 80 on the left, right, and rear sides of the fourth material conveying device 400 move, that is, the lifting drive component 810 drives the inclined pull plate 820 to move downward, prying open the plates around the packaging shell 22. Then, the side positioning component 50 on the left side moves, that is, the upper drive part 521 drives the upper limit part 511 to move to the right, pushing the blister pack 23 to move to the right and abut against the vertical plate 823 on the right side; the lower drive part 522 drives the lower limit part 512 to move to the right, pushing the packaging shell 22 to the right, thereby positioning the stacking fixture 21 at the left and right positions. The rear positioning component 60 and the front positioning component 70 move simultaneously, that is, the rear drive component 620 drives the rear limit part 610 to push forward; at the same time, the rotation drive component 720 drives the rotating component 710 to rotate downward, working together to position the blister pack 23 at the front and rear positions.

[0085] After positioning is complete, work with the robot to place the lithium batteries.

[0086] While a pallet 20 is being loaded in the positioning area 104, another empty pallet 20 continues to be transported from the loading / unloading area 101 to the turning area 102. The blocking drive component 261 of the turning blocking component 260 drives the stop block 262 to rise, preventing the pallet 20 from entering the positioning area 104. At the same time, the lifting device 360 ​​drives the third conveying device 300 to rise until it contacts the pallet 20, and the fifth drive component 250 lifts the left guide plate 230 upward. The empty pallet 20 is then transported to the temporary storage area 103 for temporary storage via the third conveying device 300.

[0087] When pallets 20 are temporarily stored in the temporary storage area 103, the blocking drive component 261 of the steering blocking component 260 drives the stop block 262 to descend. The lifting device 360 ​​drives the third material conveying device 300 to descend until it separates from the pallets 20, and the fifth drive component 250 drives the left guide plate 230 to fall back, transporting the full pallets 20 in the positioning area 104 to the turning area 102 and the loading / unloading area 101 in sequence. The unloading limit component 160 in the loading / unloading area 101 extends to restrict the full pallets 20 from continuing to move.

[0088] It should be noted that during the positioning process of the above-mentioned positioning device, the side positioning component 50 may first perform lateral positioning, and then the front positioning component 70 and the rear positioning component 60 may perform longitudinal positioning. Alternatively, the front positioning component 70 and the rear positioning component 60 may first perform longitudinal positioning, and then the side positioning component 50 may perform lateral positioning. Or, the side positioning component 50, the front positioning component 70, and the rear positioning component 60 may move simultaneously.

[0089] It should be understood that the various examples described above can be utilized in multiple directions (e.g., tilted, inverted, horizontal, vertical, etc.) and in multiple configurations without departing from the principles of the invention. The embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings are merely examples of effective application of the principles of the invention, and the invention is not limited to any specific details of these embodiments.

[0090] Of course, upon careful consideration of the above description of the representative embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily understand that various modifications, additions, substitutions, deletions, and other changes can be made to these specific embodiments, and that such changes are within the scope of the principles of the invention. Therefore, the foregoing detailed description should be clearly understood as being given by way of illustration and example only, and the spirit and scope of the invention are defined solely by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A lithium battery stacking and material handling equipment, characterized in that, include: The first material conveying device is configured in the loading and unloading area and is used to transport the pallet from the loading and unloading area to the turning area; The second material conveying device is configured in the turning area and is used to transport the pallet from the turning area to the first arrival area or the loading and unloading area; A third conveying device is used to transport pallets from the turning area to the second arrival area, or from the second arrival area to the turning area, and to avoid obstructing the conveying path of the second conveying device; wherein, one of the first arrival area or the second arrival area is a positioning area, and the other is a temporary storage area; and A positioning device, configured in the positioning area, is used to adjust the placement position of the stacking fixture placed on the pallet; The positioning device includes a side positioning component, a rear positioning component, and a front positioning component. The side positioning component includes a side limiting member disposed on the left and / or right side of the positioning area and a lateral driving member connected to the side limiting member. The lateral driving member is used to drive the side limiting member to move left and right to position the stacking fixture laterally. The rear positioning component and / or the front positioning component are used to drive the stacking fixture to move back and forth to limit the stacking fixture between the rear positioning component and the front positioning component. The first arrival area is configured as a positioning area, and the second arrival area is configured as a temporary storage area. The positioning area is also equipped with a fourth material conveying device for transporting the pallet to a preset operating position, or for transporting the fully loaded pallet after operation to the turning area. The rear positioning component includes a rear limiting member disposed at the rear end of the fourth material conveying device and a rearward driving member connected to the rear limiting member. The rearward driving member is used to drive the rear limiting member to move back and forth to position the rear position of the stacking fixture. The front positioning component includes a rotating member and a rotary driving member connected to the rotating member. The rotary driving member is used to drive the rotating member to rotate to position the front position of the stacking fixture. The first, second, and fourth material conveying devices are each provided with guide plates on both sides, and each guide plate extends along the corresponding conveying direction; wherein, the guide plate of the second material conveying device near the temporary storage area is configured as a movable plate that can be raised and lowered. When the second material conveying device moves, the movable plate lowers to limit the side of the stacking fixture; when the third material conveying device moves, the movable plate rises to allow the stacking fixture to enter the temporary storage area.

2. The lithium battery stacking and material handling equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The stacking fixture includes a packaging shell and a blister pack placed inside the packaging shell. One or more sides of the left, right, and rear sides of the positioning area are also equipped with an outward expansion component for prying open the periphery of the packaging shell. The outward expansion component includes a lifting drive and a slant plate. The lifting drive is used to drive the slant plate to rise or fall so that the periphery of the packaging shell unfolds outward. The slant plate has an inclined plate and a vertical plate connected to each other. The vertical plate is used to limit the side position of the blister pack.

3. The lithium battery stacking and material handling equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that, The lateral driving member includes an upper driving part and a lower driving part, and the lateral limiting member includes an upper limiting part and a lower limiting part adapted to the lateral driving member. The upper driving part drives the upper limiting part to move left and right to perform lateral positioning of the blister pack, and the lower driving part drives the lower limiting part to move left and right to perform lateral positioning of the packaging shell.

4. The lithium battery stacking and material handling equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The third material conveying device is connected to a lifting device, which includes a lifting drive assembly and a lifting plate. The third material conveying device is mounted on the lifting plate, and the drive end of the lifting drive assembly is fixedly connected to the lifting plate. The lifting drive assembly drives the lifting plate to move, thereby causing the third material conveying device to rise and contact the pallet to transport the pallet to the temporary storage area, or to cause the third material conveying device to descend and separate from the pallet to avoid the conveying path of the second material conveying device.

5. The lithium battery stacking and material handling equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that, The third material conveying device is provided with the lifting drive assembly at both ends along the conveying direction; the third material conveying device includes a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt, and an accommodating space is formed between the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt, and the second material conveying device is disposed in the accommodating space.

6. The lithium battery stacking and material handling equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that, The temporary storage area is also equipped with an auxiliary component, which is disposed between the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt. The auxiliary component includes one or more rollers, and the rolling direction of the rollers is the same as the conveying direction of the third material conveying device.

7. The lithium battery stacking and material handling equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The loading / unloading area is further provided with a loading limiter at the end away from the turning area. The loading limiter includes a limit drive and a stop. The limit drive is used to drive the stop to move, thereby limiting the forward position of the stacking fixture. The turning area is further provided with a turning stop at the end near the positioning area. The turning stop includes a blocking drive and a stop. The blocking drive is used to drive the stop to move, thereby restricting the stacking fixture from entering the positioning area from the turning area.

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