Full-automatic tray restraining and releasing device and method

Abstract

The application provides a full-automatic tray restraining and releasing device and method, wherein the device comprises a releasing mechanism, a cushion block carrying mechanism, a lifting mechanism, a restraining mechanism and a processor. In the process of restraining the tray, the restraining mechanism is controlled to act to apply pressure to the pressing plate, so that a space is formed between the pressing plate and the inner wall of the tray; the cushion block carrying mechanism is controlled to act to move the cushion block at the second layer position to the space, and the tray restraining is completed; in the process of releasing the tray, the releasing mechanism is controlled to act to apply pressure to the pressing plate, so that the pressure borne by the cushion block is released; the cushion block carrying mechanism is controlled to act to move the cushion block at the space to the lifting mechanism; the lifting mechanism is controlled to move the cushion block at the first layer position to the second layer position, and the tray releasing is completed, so that a stable and safe operation environment is provided for the lithium battery in the charging and discharging process, and the swelling and deformation problems caused by the change of the tray pressure in the charging and discharging process are avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of automatic production lines, and in particular to a fully automatic pallet restraint and release device and method. Background Art

[0002] With the booming development of new energy vehicles, demand for lithium batteries, a primary clean energy storage facility, has exploded. However, lithium batteries are prone to swelling during charging and discharging, increasing the distance between the positive and negative electrodes, which can increase internal resistance, leading to thermal runaway and even safety accidents.

[0003] The inventors discovered through their research that, to address the issue of lithium battery expansion and improve safety, new processes are constantly being introduced into the lithium battery manufacturing process. Among these processes, the "constraint" and "unconstraint" processes are particularly important. By applying external pressure to the battery at specific stages, this process effectively suppresses battery expansion, reduces variations in the distance between the positive and negative electrode films, and thus reduces internal resistance, improving the thermal stability and safety of the lithium battery.

[0004] However, traditional manual restraint and release methods are complex, inefficient, and difficult to achieve precise control, failing to meet the automated production demands of Industry 4.0. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop efficient, precise, and highly automated lithium battery restraint and release equipment to meet the needs of new processes and industrial development. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a fully automatic tray restraint and release device and method to provide a stable and safe operating environment to ensure that expansion and deformation problems caused by tray pressure changes are avoided during the charging and discharging process.

[0006] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a fully automatic pallet restraint and release device, comprising:

[0007] A release mechanism is used to apply pressure to the pressure plate on the pallet to relieve the pressure on the pads in the pallet;

[0008] A pad transport mechanism is located above the unconstraining mechanism and is used to move the pads in the tray to the lifting mechanism;

[0009] The lifting mechanism is located below the unconstraining mechanism and is used to move the pad located at the first layer position to the second layer position. Both the first layer position and the second layer position are used to store the pad;

[0010] The restraining mechanism is located below the lifting mechanism and is used to apply pressure to the pressure plate on the pallet to form a space between the pressure plate and the inner wall of the pallet, and the space is used to place the pad;

[0011] The processor is connected to the restraining mechanism, the pad transporting mechanism, the unrestraining mechanism and the lifting mechanism respectively, and is used to:

[0012] During the process of restraining the pallet, the restraining mechanism is controlled to apply pressure to the pressure plate on the pallet, so that a space is formed between the pressure plate and the inner wall of the pallet; the pad transport mechanism is controlled to move the pad located at the second layer into the space, thus completing the pallet restraint.

[0013] During the process of unconstraining the pallet, the unconstraining mechanism is controlled to apply pressure to the pressure plate on the pallet to relieve the pressure on the pad; the pad transporting mechanism is controlled to move the pad located in the space to the lifting mechanism; the lifting mechanism is controlled to move the pad located at the first layer position to the second layer position to complete the pallet unconstraint.

[0014] In an optional embodiment, the device further includes a roller conveying mechanism, the roller conveying mechanism being located between the unconstraining mechanism and the conveying mechanism, the roller conveying mechanism being used to convey the pallet on the conveying mechanism; and a processor being connected to the roller conveying mechanism, the processor being further used to:

[0015] Control the movement of the roller conveyor mechanism to move the pallet on the conveyor mechanism to the required work station.

[0016] In an optional embodiment, the unconstraint mechanism includes: a first pressure assembly, a first mounting plate, a first pressure rod, and a first pressure sensor, wherein the first pressure rod is connected to the first pressure assembly via the first mounting plate, the first pressure sensor is disposed between the first pressure assembly and the first mounting plate, and a processor is connected to the first pressure assembly and the first pressure sensor, respectively, and the processor is further configured to:

[0017] The first pressure component is controlled to start action, so that the first pressure rod moves toward the pressure plate. When the first pressure sensor reaches the first set pressure value, the first pressure component is controlled to stop action. The first set pressure value is the pressure value borne by the pad in the release tray.

[0018] In an optional embodiment, the unrestraining mechanism further includes: a hook assembly, the hook assembly being disposed on one side of the first mounting plate and being located on the same side as the first pressure rod, the processor being connected to the hook assembly, and the processor being further configured to:

[0019] After the tray is released, the first pressure component is controlled to perform the first state action, so that the hook component moves towards the pressure plate, and when the hook component is connected to the pressure plate; the first pressure component is controlled to perform the second state action, so that the hook component moves away from the pressure plate, and when the preset distance between the pressure plate and the lithium battery is reached, the first pressure component is controlled to stop the action.

[0020] In an optional embodiment, the restraint mechanism includes: a second pressure assembly, a second mounting plate, a second pressure rod, and a second pressure sensor, the second pressure rod being connected to the second pressure assembly via the second mounting plate, the second pressure sensor being disposed between the second pressure assembly and the second mounting plate, and the processor being connected to the second pressure assembly and the second pressure sensor, respectively, and the processor being further configured to:

[0021] The second pressurizing assembly is controlled to start moving, so that the second pressurizing rod moves toward the pressure plate. When the second pressure sensor reaches a second set pressure value, the second pressurizing assembly is controlled to stop moving. The second set pressure value is equal to the first set pressure value. The second set pressure value is the pressure value at which the lithium batteries in the tray are squeezed to prevent expansion and deformation.

[0022] In an optional embodiment, the pad transport mechanism includes: a translation assembly, a lifting assembly, and a clamping assembly, one end of the lifting assembly is connected to the translation assembly, and the other end is connected to the clamping assembly, and the processor is respectively connected to the translation assembly, the lifting assembly, and the clamping assembly, and the processor is further configured to:

[0023] Control the movement of the translation component to position the lifting component at the pad position in the pallet; control the movement of the clamping component to clamp or release the pad; control the movement of the lifting component to move the pad to the lifting mechanism.

[0024] In an optional embodiment, the lifting mechanism includes: a drive motor, a transmission assembly, and a positioning rod, the positioning rod and the drive motor are respectively connected to the transmission assembly, and the processor is connected to the drive motor, and the processor is used to:

[0025] The driving motor is controlled to move so that the positioning rod drives the pad located at the first layer position to move to the second layer position.

[0026] In an optional embodiment, a groove for storing a pad is provided on the positioning rod.

[0027] In an optional embodiment, the roller conveying mechanism includes: a check member, a blocking assembly, and a plurality of rollers, wherein the check member is disposed above the roller, the blocking assembly is slidably connected to the roller and is located below the roller, and the processor is respectively connected to the driving member and the blocking assembly of the roller, and the processor is further configured to:

[0028] The driving member of the control roller starts to move and moves the tray to the working position; when the tray contacts the return stop member, the driving member of the control roller stops moving; the blocking component is controlled to move so that the blocking component is located above the roller.

[0029] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a fully automatic tray restraint and release method, which is applied to a processor in the fully automatic tray restraint and release device as described above, and the method includes:

[0030] During the process of restraining the pallet, the restraining mechanism is controlled to apply pressure to the pressure plate on the pallet, so that a space is formed between the pressure plate and the inner wall of the pallet; the pad transport mechanism is controlled to move the pad located at the second layer into the space, thus completing the pallet restraint.

[0031] During the process of unconstraining the pallet, the unconstraining mechanism is controlled to apply pressure to the pressure plate on the pallet to relieve the pressure on the pad; the pad transporting mechanism is controlled to move the pad located in the space to the lifting mechanism; the lifting mechanism is controlled to move the pad located at the first layer position to the second layer position to complete the pallet unconstraint.

[0032] An embodiment of the present invention provides a fully automatic tray restraint device and method, which uses a restraint mechanism to apply pressure to the tray to prevent the lithium battery from expanding and deforming when squeezed; a pad transporting mechanism is used to place the pad inside the tray to ensure that the lithium battery will not be deformed due to tray pressure relief during the charging and discharging process; a restraint mechanism is used to apply pressure to the tray to relieve the pressure of the pad in the tray, and the pad transporting mechanism is used to remove the pad, and the restraint mechanism pulls out the pressure plate on the tray to increase the distance between it and the lithium battery, making it easier for subsequent equipment to remove the lithium battery from the tray; the restraint mechanism, the pad transporting mechanism and the restraint mechanism provide a stable and safe operating environment for the lithium battery during the charging and discharging process, ensuring that expansion and deformation problems caused by changes in tray pressure are avoided during the charging and discharging process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments. It should be understood that the following drawings only illustrate certain embodiments of the present invention and therefore should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For ordinary technicians in this field, other relevant drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0034] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a fully automatic pallet restraint and release device provided by an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0035] Figure 2 A state diagram showing a tray being restrained according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0036] Figure 3 A schematic structural diagram of a roller conveying mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0037] Figure 4 A schematic structural diagram of a restraint mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0038] Figure 5It shows a structural schematic diagram of a cushion block transporting mechanism provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 6 A schematic structural diagram of a lifting mechanism provided by an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0040] Figure 7 A schematic structural diagram of a de-constraint mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0041] Figure 8 A schematic flow chart of a fully automatic pallet restraint and release method provided by an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0042] Explanation of the main component symbols: 100-pad transport mechanism; 110-translational assembly; 120-lifting assembly; 130-clamping assembly; 200-unconstraint mechanism; 210-first pressure assembly; 220-first pressure sensor; 230-first mounting plate; 240-first pressure rod; 250-hook assembly; 300-lifting mechanism; 310-drive motor; 320-transmission assembly; 330-positioning rod; 400-constraint mechanism; 410-second pressure assembly; 420-second pressure sensor; 430-second mounting plate; 440-second pressure rod; 500-roller conveying mechanism; 510-check member; 520-roller; 530-blocking assembly; 600-tray; 610-pad; 620-pressure plate; 630-partition; 640-lithium battery. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present invention generally described and shown in the drawings herein can be arranged and designed in various different configurations. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely represents selected embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0044] With the increasing safety demands of lithium batteries, the latest lithium battery production processes have incorporated restraint and release procedures to effectively prevent expansion during charging and discharging. This increases the distance between the positive and negative electrode films, leading to increased internal resistance and ultimately causing overheating and thermal runaway. However, traditional manual restraint and release methods are complex, inefficient, and difficult to achieve precise control, failing to meet the automated production requirements of Industry 4.0. Based on this, the present invention provides a fully automatic pallet restraint and release device and method, which applies pressure to the pallet through a restraining mechanism to prevent the lithium battery from expanding and deforming when squeezed; places the pad inside the pallet through a pad transporting mechanism to ensure that the lithium battery will not be deformed due to the pressure release of the pallet during the charging and discharging process; applies pressure to the pallet through a restraining mechanism to release the pressure of the pad in the pallet, removes the pad through the pad transporting mechanism, and pulls out the pressure plate on the pallet through the restraining mechanism to increase the distance between it and the lithium battery, making it convenient for subsequent equipment to remove the lithium battery from the pallet, providing a stable and safe operating environment for the lithium battery during the charging and discharging process, and ensuring that expansion and deformation problems caused by changes in pallet pressure are avoided during the charging and discharging process.

[0045] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a fully automatic pallet restraint and release device provided in an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 1 As shown, the device includes: a relieving mechanism 200, a pad transporting mechanism 100, a lifting mechanism 300, a restraining mechanism 400 and a processor, wherein the pad transporting mechanism 100 is located above the relieving mechanism 200, the lifting mechanism 300 is located below the relieving mechanism 200, and the restraining mechanism 400 is located below the lifting mechanism 300, and the processor is connected to the restraining mechanism 400, the pad transporting mechanism 100, the relieving mechanism 200 and the lifting mechanism 300 respectively; the relieving mechanism 200 is used to apply pressure to the pressure plate 620 on the tray 600 to release the tension in the tray 600. The pressure on the pad 610 is borne by the pad; the pad transport mechanism 100 is used to move the pad 610 in the tray 600 to the lifting mechanism 300; the lifting mechanism 300 is located below the unconstraining mechanism 200 and is used to move the pad 610 located at the first layer position to the second layer position, and the first layer position and the second layer position are both used to store the pad 610; the restraining mechanism 400 is located below the lifting mechanism 300 and is used to apply pressure to the pressure plate 620 on the tray 600 to form a space between the pressure plate 620 and the inner wall of the tray 600, and the space is used to place the pad 610; the processor is used to:

[0046] During the process of restraining the pallet 600, the restraining mechanism 400 is controlled to apply pressure to the pressure plate 620 on the pallet 600, so that a space is formed between the pressure plate 620 and the inner wall of the pallet 600; the pad transporting mechanism 100 is controlled to move the pad 610 located at the second layer into the space, thus completing the restraint of the pallet 600;

[0047] During the process of unconstraining the pallet 600, the unconstraining mechanism 200 is controlled to apply pressure to the pressure plate 620 on the pallet 600 to relieve the pressure on the pad 610; the pad transporting mechanism 100 is controlled to move the pad 610 located in the space to the lifting mechanism 300; the lifting mechanism 300 is controlled to move the pad 610 located at the first layer position to the second layer position to complete the unconstraint of the pallet 600.

[0048] The fully automatic tray restraint and release device provided by the embodiment of the present invention is mainly divided into two working processes of restraining and releasing the tray 600, wherein pressure is applied to the tray 600 by the restraining mechanism 400, so as to prevent the lithium battery 640 from expanding and deforming when being squeezed, and then the pad 610 is placed inside the tray 600 by the pad transporting mechanism 100, to ensure that the lithium battery 640 will not be deformed due to the pressure relief of the tray 600 during the charging and discharging process; pressure is applied to the tray 600 by the release mechanism 200, so as to release the pressure of the pad 610 on the tray 600, and then the pad transporting mechanism 100 is used to remove the pad 610, and the release mechanism 200 then pulls out the pressure plate 620 on the tray 600 to increase the distance between it and the lithium battery 640, so as to facilitate the subsequent equipment to remove the lithium battery 640 from the tray 600, thereby providing a stable and safe operating environment for the lithium battery 640 during the charging and discharging process, and ensuring that the expansion and deformation problems caused by the pressure change of the tray 600 are avoided during the charging and discharging process.

[0049] In an optional embodiment, Figure 2 This is a state diagram for restraining the tray 600, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown, the tray 600 includes a tray 600 body, a partition 630 and a pressure plate 620. The partition 630 is located above the tray 600 body, and the pressure plate 620 is located at one end of the partition 630. In the process of restraining the tray 600, a plurality of lithium batteries 640 are first placed in the gap of the partition 630, and pressure is applied to the pressure plate 620 by the restraining mechanism 400 to form a space between the pressure plate 620 and the inner wall of the tray 600 body. When the applied pressure reaches a preset pressure value, the pad 610 is placed in the space by the pad transporting mechanism 100 to complete the restraining operation of the tray 600.

[0050] In an optional embodiment, the device also includes a roller conveying mechanism 500, which is located between the unconstraining mechanism 200 and the conveying mechanism, and the roller conveying mechanism 500 is used to convey the pallet 600 on the conveying mechanism; the processor is connected to the roller conveying mechanism 500, and the processor is also used to: control the action of the roller conveying mechanism 500 and move the pallet 600 on the conveying mechanism to the required work station.

[0051] In an optional embodiment, as Figure 3 As shown, the roller conveying mechanism 500 includes a check member 510, a blocking assembly 530 and a plurality of rollers 520. The check member 510 is arranged above the roller 520. The blocking assembly 530 is slidingly connected to the roller 520 and is located below the roller 520. The processor is respectively connected to the driving member of the roller 520 and the blocking assembly 530. The processor is also used to: control the driving member of the roller 520 to start action and move the tray 600 to the working position; when the tray 600 contacts the check member 510, control the driving member of the roller 520 to stop action; control the blocking assembly 530 to act so that the blocking assembly 530 is located above the roller 520.

[0052] Furthermore, the check member 510 is used to prevent the tray 600 from rebounding after being blocked in place, causing the position positioning to be offset; the blocking assembly 530 is used to block and position the tray 600, and retracts after the tray 600 is restrained or released (that is, the blocking assembly 530 is located under the roller 520) to square the tray 600, so that the tray 600 can be moved to the next workstation for transportation.

[0053] Among them, the check member 510 is located on one side of the conveying assembly composed of multiple rollers 520, and is arranged opposite to the blocking assembly 530. The blocking assembly 530 is located at the starting position of the conveying direction of the conveying assembly. The blocking assembly 530 includes a lifting member and a blocking member. One end of the blocking member is fixedly connected to one end of the lifting member. The lifting member is located below the roller 520. The lifting member drives the blocking member to move linearly towards or away from the roller 520, thereby realizing two states in which the blocking member is located above or below the roller 520. When the blocking assembly 530 is needed to position the tray 600, the lifting member drives the blocking member to move towards the roller 520, so that the blocking member is located above the roller 520; when the conveying assembly needs to move the tray 600 to the next workstation, the lifting member drives the blocking member to move away from the roller 520, so that the blocking member is located below the roller 520.

[0054] Specifically, the roller conveying mechanism 500 is mainly used to dock with the conveying mechanisms in front and behind the device to realize the conveyance of the pallet 600. The blocking component 530 and the check member 510 in the roller conveying mechanism 500 can block the pallet 600 in four positions, making it convenient for other mechanisms in the device to perform corresponding operations on the pallet 600.

[0055] In an optional implementation, Figure 4 As shown, the restraint mechanism 400 includes: a second pressure component 410, a second mounting plate 430, a second pressure rod 440 and a second pressure sensor 420. The second pressure rod 440 is connected to the second pressure component 410 through the second mounting plate 430. The second pressure sensor 420 is arranged between the second pressure component 410 and the second mounting plate 430. The processor is connected to the second pressure component 410 and the second pressure sensor 420 respectively. The processor is also used to: control the second pressure component 410 to start action, so that the second pressure rod 440 moves in the direction close to the pressure plate 620. When the second pressure sensor 420 reaches a second set pressure value, the second pressure component 410 is controlled to stop action. The second set pressure value is equal to the first set pressure value. The second set pressure value is the pressure value that squeezes the lithium battery 640 in the tray 600 to prevent expansion and deformation.

[0056] Furthermore, the second pressurizing component 410 can adopt a linear pressurizing component, which uses electricity, gas or liquid as a power source to provide power to drive the second pressurizing rod 440 to move closer to or away from the tray 600, thereby achieving a pressurizing action. Among them, the second pressurizing component 410 can adopt an electric cylinder component, a cylinder component or a hydraulic cylinder component, etc.

[0057] Specifically, the second pressure sensor 420 in the restraint mechanism 400 is mainly used to monitor the pressure between the second mounting plate 430 and the second pressurizing assembly 410 in real time, thereby indirectly detecting the pressure of the second pressurizing assembly 410 on the pallet 600; the second mounting plate 430 is mainly used to install the second pressure sensor 420 and the second pressurizing rod 440; the second pressurizing rod 440 is mainly used to contact the pressure plate 620 inside the pallet 600 and apply pressure to the pressure plate 620; the second sensor can monitor the pressure output by the second pressurizing assembly 410 in real time to achieve closed-loop pressure control.

[0058] The restraining mechanism 400 is mainly used for the restraining process of the pallet 600, which is as follows: the second pressure component 410 drives the second mounting plate 430 to move, thereby driving the second pressure rod 440 to apply pressure to the pressure plate 620 in the pallet 600, so that the partition 630 and the lithium battery 640 in the push plate are subjected to squeezing pressure. When the second pressure sensor 420 monitors that the output pressure value of the second pressure component 410 reaches the second preset pressure value, the second pressure component 410 stops applying pressure. At this time, a space is formed between the pressure plate 620 and the inner wall of the pallet 600. The pad 610 located at the second layer position is moved to the space through the pad transporting mechanism 100, thereby preventing the partition 630 and the lithium battery 640 in the pallet 600 from rebounding and releasing pressure after the restraining mechanism 400 is retracted.

[0059] In an optional embodiment, as Figure 5 As shown, the pad block transport mechanism 100 includes: a translation assembly 110, a lifting assembly 120 and a clamping assembly 130. One end of the lifting assembly 120 is connected to the translation assembly 110, and the other end is connected to the clamping assembly 130. The processor is respectively connected to the translation assembly 110, the lifting assembly 120 and the clamping assembly 130. The processor is also used to: control the movement of the translation assembly 110 so that the lifting assembly 120 is located at the position of the pad block 610 in the pallet 600; control the movement of the clamping assembly 130 to clamp or release the pad block 610; control the movement of the lifting assembly 120 to move the pad block 610 to the lifting mechanism 300.

[0060] Specifically, in the present application, the translation assembly 110 drives the lifting assembly 120 to move forward and backward by means of a motor plus a belt or chain; the lifting assembly 120 uses a motor plus a lead screw to achieve the up and down movement of the clamping assembly 130; and the clamping assembly 130 uses a clamping cylinder to achieve the clamping or loosening of the pad 610. The pad transport mechanism 100 is mainly used to remove the pad 610 from the pallet 600 or place the pad 610 into the pallet 600 after the pallet 600 is restrained or released, and then move the pad 610 to the lifting mechanism 300. The lifting mechanism 300 then moves the pad 610 to the second layer position, so that the pad 610 forms a complete closed loop.

[0061] It should be noted that the device in this application is divided into two layers, the upper layer being the first layer and the lower layer being the second layer. The first layer primarily performs the unconstraining process of the tray 600, while the second layer primarily performs the restraining process of the pusher. After unconstraining the tray 600, the pad transport mechanism 100 moves the pad 610 to the lifting mechanism 300, which then moves the pad 610 from the first layer to the second layer, allowing the pad transport mechanism 100 to quickly retrieve the pad 610 when restraining the tray 600.

[0062] Furthermore, a clamping piece is provided above the cushion block 610 , and the clamping assembly 130 in the cushion block transporting mechanism 100 completes the transportation of the cushion block 610 by clamping the clamping piece of the cushion block 610 .

[0063] In an optional embodiment, as Figure 6 As shown, the lifting mechanism 300 includes: a driving motor 310, a transmission assembly 320 and a positioning rod 330. The positioning rod 330 and the driving motor 310 are respectively connected to the transmission assembly 320. The processor is connected to the driving motor 310. The processor is used to: control the action of the driving motor 310 so that the positioning rod 330 drives the pad 610 located at the first layer position to move to the second layer position.

[0064] Furthermore, a groove for storing the cushion block 610 is provided on the positioning rod 330 , and the cushion block 610 is placed in the groove to achieve connection between the cushion block 610 and the positioning rod 330 .

[0065] Furthermore, the transmission assembly may be a belt assembly or a chain assembly.

[0066] Specifically, in this application, the drive motor 310 acts as a power source to provide rotational power to the transmission assembly 320. The drive motor 310 drives the conveyor assembly, thereby driving the positioning rod 330 to perform vertical linear motion. The positioning rod 330 is primarily used to buffer and position the cushion block 610. The lifting mechanism 300 transports the cushion block 610 from the first level to the second level of the device, enabling the cushion block 610 to flow between the unconstraining mechanism 200 and the restraining mechanism 400, thereby forming a closed loop.

[0067] In an optional embodiment, as Figure 7 As shown, the unconstraint mechanism 200 includes: a first pressure component 210, a first mounting plate 230, a first pressure rod 240 and a first pressure sensor 220. The first pressure rod 240 is connected to the first pressure component 210 through the first mounting plate 230. The first pressure sensor 220 is arranged between the first pressure component 210 and the first mounting plate 230. The processor is connected to the first pressure component 210 and the first pressure sensor 220 respectively. The processor is also used to: control the first pressure component 210 to start action, so that the first pressure rod 240 moves in the direction close to the pressure plate 620. When the first pressure sensor 220 reaches the first set pressure value, the first pressure component 210 is controlled to stop action. The first set pressure value is the pressure value borne by the pad 610 in the release tray 600.

[0068] In an optional embodiment, the unconstraint mechanism 200 also includes: a hook assembly 250, the hook assembly 250 is arranged on one side of the first mounting plate 230 and is located on the same side as the first pressure rod 240, the processor is connected to the hook assembly 250, and the processor is also used to: after completing the unconstraint of the tray 600, control the first pressure assembly 210 to perform a first state action, so that the hook assembly 250 moves in a direction close to the pressure plate 620, when the hook assembly 250 is connected to the pressure plate 620; control the first pressure assembly 210 to perform a second state action, so that the hook assembly 250 moves away from the pressure plate 620, and when the preset distance between the pressure plate 620 and the lithium battery 640 is reached, control the first pressure assembly 210 to stop the action.

[0069] Furthermore, the first pressurizing component 210 can adopt a linear pressurizing component, which uses electricity, gas or liquid as a power source to provide power to drive the first pressurizing rod 240 to move closer to or away from the tray 600, thereby achieving a pressure relief action. Among them, the first pressurizing component 210 can adopt an electric cylinder component, a cylinder component or a hydraulic cylinder component, etc.

[0070] Specifically, in the present application, the first pressure sensor 220 in the unconstraint mechanism 200 is mainly used to monitor the pressure between the first mounting plate 230 and the first pressurizing assembly 210 in real time, thereby indirectly detecting the pressure of the first pressurizing assembly 210 on the pallet 600; the first mounting plate 230 is mainly used to install the first pressure sensor 220 and the first pressurizing rod 240; the first pressurizing rod 240 is mainly used to contact the pressure plate 620 inside the pallet 600 and apply pressure to the pressure plate 620; the first sensor can monitor the pressure output by the first pressurizing assembly 210 in real time to achieve closed-loop pressure control.

[0071] The unconstraining mechanism 200 is mainly used for the unconstraining process of the tray 600, which is as follows: the first pressure component 210 drives the first mounting plate 230 to move, thereby driving the first pressure rod 240 to apply pressure to the pressure plate 620 in the tray 600, so that the pressure on the pad 610 in the tray 600 is released, and then the pad 610 in the tray 600 is taken out through the pad transport mechanism 100, and then the hook component 250 is connected to the pressure plate 620 in the tray 600, and the first pressure component 210 drives the pressure plate 620 to move away from the lithium battery 640, thereby driving the partition 630 in the tray 600 to move and increase the distance between the lithium battery 640, making it easier to remove the lithium battery.

[0072] The specific process of the fully automatic pallet restraint and release device of the present application for restraining and releasing the pallet 600 is as follows:

[0073] First, the tray 600 is transported to a designated position (i.e., a workstation of the roller conveyor mechanism 500 ) by the roller conveyor mechanism 500 , and the tray 600 is positioned using the blocking assembly 530 and the return stop 510 ;

[0074] In the first layer position of the device, the first pressing rod 240 driven by the releasing mechanism 200 exerts pressure on the pressing plate 620 on the tray 600, while the first pressure sensor 220 is used to monitor the pressure of the first pressing assembly 210 in real time. When the first pressing assembly 210 reaches the first set pressure value, the releasing mechanism 200 stops pressing, and at this time the pressure on the cushion block 610 on the tray 600 is completely released. Then, the cushion block carrying mechanism 100 on the first layer moves the clamping assembly 130 to the position directly above the cushion block 610, clamps the cushion block 610, and carries the cushion block 610 to the positioning rod 330 on the lifting mechanism 300 for buffering and positioning, and then the lifting mechanism 300 moves the cushion block 610 to the second layer position to wait for grabbing. After the cushion block 610 in the tray 600 is taken out, the releasing mechanism 200 starts to connect the hook assembly 250 with the pressing plate 620, and the first pressing assembly 210 starts to drive the hook assembly 250 to retract, thereby pulling the pressing plate 620 outwards, and the baffle 630 and the lithium battery on the tray 600 are also taken out together, until the pressing plate 620 is completely pulled out, and a gap is formed between each baffle 630 and the lithium battery, and the first pressing assembly 210 stops moving. Finally, the roller conveying mechanism 500 conveys the tray 600 to the next station to take out the lithium battery from the tray 600.

[0075] In the second layer position of the device, the second pressing rod 440 driven by the restraining mechanism 400 exerts pressure on the pressing plate 620 on the tray 600, while the second pressure sensor 420 is used to monitor the pressure of the second pressing assembly 410 in real time. When the second pressing assembly 410 reaches the second set pressure value, the restraining mechanism 400 stops pressing, and at this time the pressure is also transmitted to each baffle 630 and lithium battery in the tray 600 through the pressing plate 620, and since each lithium battery is in the same force direction, the pressure on each lithium battery is basically the same. At this time, since the pressing plate 620, the baffles 630 and the lithium batteries in the tray 600 have been squeezed to one side, a space is formed between the pressing plate 620 and the inner wall of the tray 600. In order to prevent the pressing plate 620, the baffles 630 and the lithium batteries from rebounding and releasing pressure after the restraining mechanism 400 retracts due to the lack of support force, the cushion block 610 is needed to fill this space. The cushion block 610 moved from the first layer position to the second layer position is clamped by the cushion block carrying mechanism 100, moved to the position above the tray 600, and then placed in the space position to complete the restraining of the tray 600. Finally, the roller conveying mechanism 500 conveys the tray 600 to the next station to charge and discharge the lithium battery, thereby providing a stable and safe operating environment for the lithium battery during charging and discharging, and ensuring that the lithium battery avoids swelling and deformation caused by changes in the pressure of the tray 600 during charging and discharging.

[0076] Figure 8A flowchart of a full-automatic tray restraining and releasing method provided by an embodiment of the present application is shown in FIG. 1. The method is applied to a processor in the full-automatic tray restraining and releasing device described above. The method comprises the following steps: Figure 8

[0077] In the process of restraining the tray:

[0078] Step S110: Control the restraining mechanism to act to apply pressure to the pressing plate on the tray, so that a space is formed between the pressing plate and the inner wall of the tray.

[0079] Step S120: Control the pad carrying mechanism to act to move the pad located at the second layer position into the space, and complete the restraining of the tray.

[0080] In the process of releasing the tray:

[0081] Step S210: Control the releasing mechanism to act to apply pressure to the pressing plate on the tray, and release the pressure borne by the pad.

[0082] Step S220: Control the pad carrying mechanism to act to move the pad located at the space to the lifting mechanism.

[0083] Step S230: Control the lifting mechanism to move the pad located at the first layer position to the second layer position, and complete the releasing of the tray.

[0084] In an alternative embodiment, the method further comprises:

[0085] Control the roller conveying mechanism to act to move the tray on the conveying mechanism to the required station.

[0086] In an alternative embodiment, in the process of releasing the tray, the method further comprises:

[0087] Control the first pressing assembly to start acting, so that the first pressing rod moves in the direction of approaching the pressing plate. When the first pressure sensor reaches a first set pressure value, control the first pressing assembly to stop acting. The first set pressure value is the pressure value borne by the pad in the tray.

[0088] In an alternative embodiment, in the process of releasing the tray, the method further comprises:

[0089] After completing the releasing of the tray, control the first pressing assembly to perform a first state action, so that the hook assembly moves in the direction of approaching the pressing plate. When the hook assembly is connected with the pressing plate, control the first pressing assembly to perform a second state action, so that the hook assembly moves in the direction of moving away from the pressing plate. When the pressing plate and the lithium battery reach a preset distance, control the first pressing assembly to stop acting.

[0090] ​In an optional embodiment, the process of restraining the tray further includes:

[0091] The second pressurizing assembly is controlled to start moving, so that the second pressurizing rod moves toward the pressure plate. When the second pressure sensor reaches a second set pressure value, the second pressurizing assembly is controlled to stop moving. The second set pressure value is equal to the first set pressure value. The second set pressure value is the pressure value at which the lithium batteries in the tray are squeezed to prevent expansion and deformation.

[0092] In an optional embodiment, the process of adding and releasing the restraint of the tray further includes:

[0093] Control the movement of the translation component to position the lifting component at the pad position in the pallet; control the movement of the clamping component to clamp or release the pad; control the movement of the lifting component to move the pad to the lifting mechanism.

[0094] In an optional embodiment, during the process of releasing the restraint of the pallet, the process further includes: controlling the drive motor to move so that the positioning rod drives the pad located at the first layer position to move to the second layer position.

[0095] In an optional embodiment, during the process of releasing the restraint of the pallet, the method further includes: a groove for storing a pad is provided on the positioning rod.

[0096] In an optional embodiment, the method further includes:

[0097] The driving member of the control roller starts to move and moves the tray to the working position; when the tray contacts the return stop member, the driving member of the control roller stops moving; the blocking component is controlled to move so that the blocking component is located above the roller.

[0098] The method provided in the embodiment of the present application has the same implementation principle and technical effects as those in the aforementioned device embodiment. For the sake of brief description, for matters not mentioned in the method embodiment, reference can be made to the corresponding content in the aforementioned device embodiment.

[0099] It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters denote similar items in the following drawings, and therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it does not need to be further defined or explained in subsequent drawings.

[0100] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer" and the like indicate positions or locations based on the positions shown in the accompanying drawings, or the positions or locations in which the inventive product is typically placed when in use. These terms are intended solely to facilitate the description of the present invention and to simplify the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the devices or components referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed, or operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third," etc., are used solely to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0101] In the description of the present invention, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "disposed," "installed," "connected," and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they may refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they may refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they may refer to internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0102] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only specific implementations of the present invention, which are used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit them. The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that any person skilled in the art can modify or easily conceive of changes to the technical solutions described in the above embodiments within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, or replace some of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications, changes, or replacements do not deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention. They should all be included in the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A fully automatic pallet restraint and release device, characterized in that: include: a release mechanism for applying pressure to a pressure plate on the pallet to release the pressure on the pads in the pallet; wherein the release mechanism comprises: a first pressure assembly, a first mounting plate, a first pressure rod, and a first pressure sensor, wherein the first pressure rod is connected to the first pressure assembly via the first mounting plate, and the first pressure sensor is disposed between the first pressure assembly and the first mounting plate; a pad block transporting mechanism, located above the unconstraining mechanism, and used for moving the pad blocks in the tray to the lifting mechanism; The lifting mechanism is located below the unconstraining mechanism and is used to move the cushion block located at the first layer position to the second layer position, and both the first layer position and the second layer position are used to store the cushion block; a restraining mechanism, located below the lifting mechanism, for applying pressure to the pressure plate on the pallet to form a space between the pressure plate and the inner wall of the pallet, wherein the space is used to place the spacer; wherein the restraining mechanism includes: a second pressure assembly, a second mounting plate, a second pressure rod, and a second pressure sensor, wherein the second pressure rod is connected to the second pressure assembly via the second mounting plate, and the second pressure sensor is disposed between the second pressure assembly and the second mounting plate; A processor is connected to the restraining mechanism, the pad transporting mechanism, the unrestraining mechanism and the lifting mechanism respectively, and is used to: During the process of restraining the pallet, the restraining mechanism is controlled to apply pressure to the pressure plate on the pallet, so that a space is formed between the pressure plate and the inner wall of the pallet; the pad transporting mechanism is controlled to move the pad located at the second layer into the space, thereby completing the pallet restraint; During the process of unconstraining the pallet, the unconstraining mechanism is controlled to apply pressure to the pressure plate on the pallet to relieve the pressure on the pad; the pad transporting mechanism is controlled to move the pad located in the space to the lifting mechanism; the lifting mechanism is controlled to move the pad located at the first layer position to the second layer position to complete the unconstraining of the pallet.

2. The fully automatic pallet restraint and release device according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The invention also includes a roller conveying mechanism, the roller conveying mechanism is located between the unconstraining mechanism and the conveying mechanism, and the roller conveying mechanism is used to convey the pallet on the conveying mechanism; the processor is connected to the roller conveying mechanism, and the processor is further used to: The roller conveying mechanism is controlled to move the tray on the conveying mechanism to a desired work station.

3. The fully automatic pallet restraint and release device according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The processor is connected to the first pressurizing component and the first pressure sensor respectively, and the processor is further configured to: The first pressure component is controlled to start action, so that the first pressure rod moves toward the direction of the pressure plate. When the first pressure sensor reaches a first set pressure value, the first pressure component is controlled to stop action. The first set pressure value is the pressure value for relieving the pad in the tray.

4. The fully automatic pallet restraint and release device according to claim 3 is characterized in that: The unrestraining mechanism further includes: a hook assembly, the hook assembly being disposed on one side of the first mounting plate and being located on the same side as the first pressure rod; the processor being connected to the hook assembly, and the processor being further configured to: After completing the release of the tray, the first pressure component is controlled to perform the first state action, so that the hook component moves towards the pressure plate, when the hook component is connected to the pressure plate; the first pressure component is controlled to perform the second state action, so that the hook component moves away from the pressure plate, when the preset distance between the pressure plate and the lithium battery is reached, the first pressure component is controlled to stop the action.

5. The fully automatic pallet restraint and release device according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The processor is connected to the second pressurizing component and the second pressure sensor respectively, and the processor is further configured to: The second pressurizing assembly is controlled to start operation, so that the second pressurizing rod moves toward the pressure plate. When the second pressure sensor reaches a second set pressure value, the second pressurizing assembly is controlled to stop operation. The second set pressure value is equal to the first set pressure value. The second set pressure value is the pressure value at which the lithium batteries in the tray are squeezed to prevent expansion and deformation.

6. The fully automatic pallet restraint and release device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pad transport mechanism includes: a translation assembly, a lifting assembly, and a clamping assembly. One end of the lifting assembly is connected to the translation assembly, and the other end is connected to the clamping assembly. The processor is connected to the translation assembly, the lifting assembly, and the clamping assembly respectively. The processor is further used to: Control the translation assembly to move the lifting assembly to locate the pad in the tray; control the clamping assembly to clamp or release the pad; and control the lifting assembly to move the pad to the lifting mechanism.

7. The fully automatic pallet restraint and release device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lifting mechanism includes: a driving motor, a transmission assembly and a positioning rod, wherein the positioning rod and the driving motor are respectively connected to the transmission assembly, and the processor is connected to the driving motor, and the processor is used to: The driving motor is controlled to move so that the positioning rod drives the pad located at the first layer position to move to the second layer position.

8. The fully automatic pallet restraint and release device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The positioning rod is provided with a groove for storing the pad.

9. The fully automatic pallet restraint and release device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The roller conveying mechanism includes: a check member, a blocking assembly, and a plurality of rollers, wherein the check member is arranged above the roller, the blocking assembly is slidably connected to the roller and is located below the roller, and the processor is respectively connected to the driving member of the roller and the blocking assembly, and the processor is further used to: The driving member of the roller is controlled to start moving, and the tray is moved to the working position; when the tray contacts the return stop member, the driving member of the roller is controlled to stop moving; and the blocking component is controlled to move so that the blocking component is located above the roller.

10. A fully automatic pallet restraint and release method, characterized in that: A processor used in a fully automatic pallet restraint and release device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the method comprising: During the process of restraining the pallet, the restraining mechanism is controlled to apply pressure to the pressure plate on the pallet, so that a space is formed between the pressure plate and the inner wall of the pallet; the pad transporting mechanism is controlled to move the pad located at the second layer into the space, thereby completing the pallet restraint; During the process of unconstraining the pallet, the unconstraining mechanism is controlled to apply pressure to the pressure plate on the pallet to relieve the pressure on the pad; the pad transporting mechanism is controlled to move the pad located in the space to the lifting mechanism; the lifting mechanism is controlled to move the pad located at the first layer position to the second layer position to complete the unconstraining of the pallet.

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