Sorting equipment

Abstract

The invention discloses sorting equipment, and belongs to the field of battery processing equipment. The sorting equipment is used for single batteries and comprises a feeding channel, a first detection unit, a plurality of discharging channels and a sorting assembly line, and the first detection unit is used for detecting parameter information of the single batteries at a discharging opening of the feeding channel. And the sorting assembly line is arranged between the discharging opening of the feeding channel and the feeding openings of the multiple discharging channels, and the sorting assembly line is configured to convey the single batteries to the corresponding discharging channels according to the parameter information detected by the first detection unit. According to the sorting assembly line, the battery monomers of different grades can be conveyed to the corresponding discharging channels according to the parameter information, the manipulator does not need to repeatedly act between the feeding channel and the different discharging channels, the sorting efficiency of the battery monomers is improved, and then the production efficiency of the battery is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of battery processing equipment, and in particular to a sorting device. Background Art

[0002] Batteries are widely used in electronic devices, such as electric vehicles, electric cars, electric airplanes, electric ships, etc.

[0003] How to improve the efficiency of battery production is an urgent problem to be solved in battery technology. Summary of the invention

[0004] In view of the above problems, the present application provides a sorting device that can improve the efficiency of battery production.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present application provides a sorting device, the sorting device is used for battery cells, the sorting device comprises a feed channel, a first detection unit, a plurality of discharge channels and a sorting assembly line, the first detection unit is used to detect parameter information of the battery cells at the discharge port of the feed channel. The sorting assembly line is arranged between the discharge port of the feed channel and the feed ports of the plurality of discharge channels, and the sorting assembly line is configured to transport the battery cells to the corresponding discharge channels according to the parameter information detected by the first detection unit.

[0006] In the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, the first detection unit is used to detect the parameter information of the battery monomer at the discharge port of the feed channel. The sorting line is arranged between the discharge port of the feed channel and the feed ports of multiple discharge channels, and the sorting line is configured to transport the battery monomer to the corresponding discharge channel according to the parameter information detected by the first detection unit. According to the parameter information, the sorting line can transport battery monomers of different grades to the corresponding discharge channels, without the need for the manipulator to repeatedly move between the feed channel and different discharge channels, thereby improving the sorting efficiency of the battery monomers and thus improving the production efficiency of the battery.

[0007] In some embodiments, the sorting line includes multiple forks, each of which is provided with a blocking mechanism, which moves in response to parameter information. By designing a blocking mechanism at the fork, the sorting of battery cells of different grades can be achieved. Multiple blocking mechanisms can define a single conveying path for the battery cells of each gear, thereby improving the sorting efficiency while reducing the risk of mixing of battery cells of different grades. At the same time, such a design improves the compatibility of the sorting mechanism. The number of sorting gears of the battery cells can be changed by simply controlling whether the blocking mechanism participates in the sorting process, without changing the structure of the sorting equipment or adding additional equipment.

[0008] In some embodiments, the number of discharge channels is N, the number of forks is N-1, and N is an integer greater than or equal to 2. Each additional discharge channel requires an additional fork, which reduces the risk of mixing materials during the battery cell sorting process due to one fork corresponding to multiple channels. At the same time, when changing the number of sorting gears for battery cells, the control logic is simplified and the efficiency of equipment debugging is improved.

[0009] In some embodiments, the sorting line includes a conveyor line body and a sorting plate, the sorting plate is arranged above the conveying surface of the conveyor line body, and the sorting plate is provided with a sorting channel with multiple forks. The use of a single conveyor line body in conjunction with the sorting plate to form a sorting channel with multiple forks is less costly than using multiple line bodies to form a sorting channel. At the same time, the channel shape and extension direction of the sorting plate are more flexible in design, can be adapted to different production line layouts, and the change of the sorting channel is more flexible.

[0010] In some embodiments, the conveyor line is a belt conveyor line. The conveying speed, width, length, etc. of the belt conveyor line can be adjusted according to the needs of the production cycle. The adjustment cost is low, and when the number of sorting gears of the battery cells changes, the conveyor line can be put back into production more efficiently.

[0011] In some embodiments, the sorting plate is an insulating plate, which reduces the risk of short circuit and scrapping of battery cells after contact with the sorting plate during the sorting process.

[0012] In some embodiments, the sorting line also includes a plurality of second detection units, which are arranged corresponding to the forks, and each second detection unit is arranged upstream of the corresponding fork. The second detection unit is used to detect the in-place information of the battery monomer, and the blocking mechanism acts in response to the in-place information and parameter information. After the sorting equipment determines the corresponding conveying path of the battery monomer in the sorting line according to the parameter information, since the second detection unit is arranged upstream of the corresponding fork, the downstream of the fork will only start to move to the position specified by the parameter information after the corresponding in-place information is received. On the one hand, the next battery monomer can be put into the feed port of the sorting line after the first battery monomer passes through the first fork. Shorten the beat and further improve the sorting efficiency of the sorting equipment. On the other hand, reduce the risk of mixing battery monomers.

[0013] In some embodiments, the second detection unit is a photoelectric sensor. Such a design enables the second detection unit to complete the detection in a non-contact state with the battery cell, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the battery cell or short circuit and scrapping.

[0014] In some embodiments, the blocking mechanism includes a driving member and a swing rod, the swing rod is rotatably arranged on the sorting plate, and the driving member is used to drive the swing rod to rotate. By rotating the swing rod, the sorting path of the sorting line is changed, and the assembly difficulty and cost are low.

[0015] In some embodiments, the sorting line further includes a plurality of third detection units, which are arranged at the discharge port of the sorting line, and are arranged corresponding to the discharge channel, and are used to send out a prompt signal when the discharge channel corresponding to it is full of battery cells. When the space available for battery cell buffering in the discharge channel is full, the third detection unit can send out an alarm, and there is no need for personnel to always watch the discharge channel, thereby reducing labor costs.

[0016] In some embodiments, the sorting equipment further includes a manipulator, which is used to carry the battery cells at the outlet of the feed channel to the feed inlet of the sorting line. Such a design can make the assembly position of the manipulator and the sorting line more flexible, reducing the limitations of the production line layout.

[0017] In some embodiments, multiple discharge channels are arranged along a first direction, and the feed channel, the sorting line and multiple discharge channels are arranged along a second direction, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. The discharge channels of different grades are basically located in the same area, which is convenient for manual or equipment transportation of sorted battery cells.

[0018] In some embodiments, the parameter information includes the planarity of the battery cell.

[0019] In some embodiments, the first detection unit is a 3D industrial camera. Such a design enables the first detection unit to have higher accuracy and higher detection efficiency.

[0020] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of the present application. In order to more clearly understand the technical means of the present application, which can be implemented in accordance with the contents of the specification, and in order to make other purposes, features and advantages of the present application more obvious and easy to understand, the specific implementation methods of the present application are listed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiments below. The accompanying drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments and are not to be considered as limiting the present application. Moreover, the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to represent the same components. In the drawings:

[0022] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0023] Figure 2 An exploded view of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0024] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of a battery module according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0025] Figure 4 An axonometric diagram of a sorting device according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0026] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of a partial structure of a sorting line according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0027] Figure 6 This is a workflow diagram of the sorting equipment of some embodiments of the present application.

[0028] The reference numerals in the specific implementation manner are as follows:

[0029] 1000-vehicle; 200-controller; 300-motor; 100-battery; 11-housing; 111-first part; 112-second part; 10-battery module; 12-battery cell; 40-sorting equipment; 41-feeding channel; 42-first detection unit; 43-discharging channel; 44-fork; 45-blocking mechanism; 451-driving member; 452-rocker; 46-conveyor line body; 47-sorting plate; 471-sorting channel; 48-second detection unit; 49-third detection unit; 410-manipulator; 411-base; X-first direction; Y-second direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The following embodiments of the technical solution of the present application are described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present application, and are therefore only used as examples, and cannot be used to limit the scope of protection of the present application.

[0031] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by technicians in the technical field to which this application belongs; the terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application; the terms "including" and "having" in the specification and claims of this application and the above-mentioned figure descriptions and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0032] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the technical terms "first", "second", etc. are only used to distinguish different objects, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number, specific order or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the meaning of "multiple" is more than two, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0033] Reference to "embodiments" herein means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of the phrase in various locations in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It is explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0034] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the term "multiple" refers to more than two (including two). Similarly, "multiple groups" refers to more than two groups (including two groups), and "multiple pieces" refers to more than two pieces (including two pieces).

[0035] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the technical terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc. indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, which are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the referred device or element must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0036] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, technical terms such as "installed", "connected", "connected", "fixed" and the like should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, and it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0037] In the present application, battery cells may include but are not limited to lithium-ion secondary batteries, lithium-ion primary batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, sodium-lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries or magnesium-ion batteries, etc. The shape of the battery cell may include but is not limited to a cylinder, a flat body, a rectangular parallelepiped or other shapes, etc. The battery cell may include but is not limited to a cylindrical battery cell, a square battery cell and a soft-pack battery cell according to the packaging method.

[0038] In some high-power applications such as electric vehicles, the application of batteries includes three levels: battery cells, battery modules and batteries. The battery module is formed by electrically connecting a certain number of battery cells together and placing them in a frame in order to protect the battery cells from external impact, heat, vibration, etc. The battery refers to the final state of the battery system installed in the electric vehicle. The battery mentioned in the embodiments of the present application refers to a single physical module that includes one or more battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. The battery generally includes a casing for encapsulating one or more battery cells. The casing can reduce the risk of liquid or other foreign matter affecting the charging or discharging of the battery cells.

[0039] The following will mainly focus on rectangular parallelepiped battery cells. It should be understood that the embodiments described below are also applicable to cylindrical battery cells or soft-pack battery cells in some aspects.

[0040] For a rectangular battery cell, the electrode terminal is generally disposed on the end cap portion. In some other cases, the electrode terminal may also be disposed on the housing portion. Multiple battery cells are connected in series and / or in parallel via the electrode terminals for use in various applications.

[0041] In the production process of battery cells, the consistency of battery cells is particularly important. It affects the reliability of battery cells after being assembled into the box. Therefore, a series of tests will be performed on the battery cells during the production process of battery cells, such as the flatness of the battery cells, the thickness of the battery cells, and the height of the battery cells. As for the flatness of the battery cells, the battery cells will be evacuated during the formation process of the battery cells. After the battery cells are evacuated, there may be a certain degree of depression on the outer surface of the battery cells, and the degree of depression varies. In some cases, multiple battery cells are electrically connected together and placed in a frame to form a battery module for use. At this time, structural glue is generally filled between adjacent battery cells to improve the structural stability of the battery module. If the battery cells with different degrees of depression are bonded, the dimensional deviation after stacking will be very different from the design value. When more battery cells are stacked and bonded, the overall dimensional tolerance of the battery module will be accumulated. For example, multiple battery cells will be arranged in an arc in a certain direction instead of in a straight line. This will cause great trouble to the assembly of the battery module. For example, when welding the battery module to the busbar, it is easy to encounter some situations where it is difficult to weld some battery cells to the busbar. For example, multiple battery cells are arranged in an arc in a certain direction. After the battery cells at the end of the arc are welded to the busbar to form a stable connection, the battery cells at the concave part of the arc may be far away from the busbar, making it difficult to weld them to the busbar to form a stable connection. Therefore, it is necessary to sort the battery cells and select the battery cells whose flatness difference is within a predetermined range so that they can be assembled using a reasonable assembly process.

[0042] In addition, since the degree of depression of the battery cells is different, that is, the flatness varies greatly, when filling the structural adhesive between adjacent battery cells, due to the good fluidity of the structural adhesive, it is easy to fail to fill the gaps between adjacent battery cells. Under the premise of quantitative use of structural adhesive, some battery cells may have a small bonding area, which may lead to the risk of failure of the connection between adjacent battery cells when subjected to external forces such as vibration. Therefore, it is necessary to screen out multiple battery cells whose flatness differs within a predetermined range and match them with the corresponding amount of structural adhesive for assembly. In some cases, the flatness of the battery cells can be divided into multiple gears, such as four gears, seven gears, and so on.

[0043] The development of battery technology must take into account many design factors at the same time, such as reliability, cycle life, discharge capacity, charge and discharge rate and other performance parameters. In addition, the efficiency of battery production must also be considered.

[0044] The usual sorting mechanism generally includes an upstream line, a multi-axis manipulator and multiple discharge lines. The multi-axis manipulator is arranged between the feed channel and the multiple discharge channels. Generally, a multi-axis manipulator is used to grab the battery cells of the corresponding gear from the upstream line and transfer them to the corresponding discharge line. In other words, the next battery cell sorting operation can only be performed after the multi-axis manipulator returns from the discharge line to the discharge port of the upstream line. Even if the upstream line has a conveying function, the upstream line needs to stop conveying during the process of the manipulator grabbing the battery cell for transportation to reduce the risk of the battery cell being damaged by leaving the production line. The production cycle is low and the production efficiency is low.

[0045] In view of this, the present application provides a sorting device, which is used for battery monomers. The sorting device includes a feed channel, a first detection unit, multiple discharge channels and a sorting assembly line. The first detection unit is used to detect the parameter information of the battery monomer at the discharge port of the feed channel. The sorting assembly line is arranged between the discharge port of the feed channel and the feed ports of the multiple discharge channels. The sorting assembly line is configured to transport the battery monomers to the corresponding discharge channels according to the parameter information detected by the first detection unit. According to the parameter information, the sorting assembly line can transport battery monomers of different grades to the corresponding discharge channels, without the need for the manipulator to repeatedly move between the feed channel and different discharge channels, thereby improving the sorting efficiency of the battery monomers and thus improving the production efficiency of the battery.

[0046] The technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are applicable to battery cells, batteries, and electrical equipment using batteries.

[0047] Electrical equipment includes, but is not limited to: battery vehicles, electric vehicles, ships, and spacecraft, etc. For example, spacecraft include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and spacecraft, etc.

[0048] For the convenience of description, the following embodiments are described by taking a vehicle 1000 as an example of an electrical device in an embodiment of the present application.

[0049] For example, Figure 1The schematic diagram of the structure of the vehicle 1000 of some embodiments of the present application, the vehicle 1000 can be a fuel vehicle, a gas vehicle or a new energy vehicle, and the new energy vehicle can be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or an extended-range vehicle, etc. The motor 300, the controller 200 and the battery 100 can be arranged inside the vehicle 1000, and the controller 200 is used to control the battery 100 to power the motor 300. For example, the battery 100 can be arranged at the bottom or the front or the rear of the vehicle 1000. The battery 100 can be used for powering the vehicle 1000, for example, the battery 100 can be used as the operating power supply of the vehicle 1000, for the circuit system of the vehicle 1000, for example, for the working power demand of the vehicle 1000 during startup, navigation and operation. In another embodiment of the present application, the battery 100 can not only be used as the operating power supply of the vehicle 1000, but also as the driving power supply of the vehicle 1000, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle 1000.

[0050] In order to meet different power requirements, the battery 100 may include a plurality of battery cells 12, wherein the plurality of battery cells 12 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection, wherein the hybrid connection refers to a mixture of series and parallel connections. The battery 100 may also be referred to as a battery pack. Optionally, a plurality of battery cells 12 may first be connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection to form a battery module 10, and a plurality of battery modules 10 may then be connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection to form a battery 100. In other words, a plurality of battery cells 12 may directly form a battery 100, or they may first form a battery module 10, and the battery module 10 may then form a battery 100.

[0051] For example, see Figure 2 , Figure 2 1 is an exploded view of a battery 100 in some embodiments of the present application. The battery 100 may include a plurality of battery cells 12. The battery 100 may also include a housing 11. The interior of the housing 11 is a hollow structure. The plurality of battery cells 12 are accommodated in the housing 11. Figure 2 As shown, they are respectively referred to as the first part 111 and the second part 112, and the first part 111 and the second part 112 are buckled together. The shapes of the first part 111 and the second part 112 can be determined according to the shapes of the combination of multiple battery cells 12, and the first part 111 and the second part 112 can both have an opening. For example, the first part 111 and the second part 112 can both be hollow cuboids and each has only one face as an open face, the opening of the first part 111 and the opening of the second part 112 are arranged opposite to each other, and the first part 111 and the second part 112 are buckled together to form a box body 11 with a closed chamber. After the multiple battery cells 12 are connected in parallel, in series, or in a mixed combination, they are placed in the box body 11 formed by the buckling of the first part 111 and the second part 112.

[0052] Optionally, the battery 100 may also include other structures, which are not described one by one here. For example, the battery may also include a busbar, which is used to realize electrical connection between multiple battery cells 12, such as parallel connection, series connection or mixed connection. Specifically, the busbar can realize electrical connection between battery cells 12 by connecting the electrode terminals of the battery cells 12. Further, the busbar can be fixed to the electrode terminals of the battery cells 12 by welding. The electrical energy of multiple battery cells 12 can be further led out through the box 11 through the conductive mechanism.

[0053] Please refer to Figure 3 , according to different power requirements, the number of battery cells 12 can be set to any value. Multiple battery cells 12 can be connected in series, parallel or mixed to achieve a larger capacity or power. Since the number of battery cells 12 included in each battery 100 may be large, for ease of installation, the battery cells 12 can be grouped, and each group of battery cells 12 constitutes a battery module 10. The number of battery cells 12 included in the battery module 10 is not limited and can be set according to requirements. The battery 100 may include multiple battery modules 10, which can be connected in series, parallel or mixed.

[0054] According to some embodiments of this application, please refer to Figure 4-Figure 5 The present application provides a sorting device 40, which is used for battery cells 12. The sorting device 40 includes a feed channel 41, a first detection unit 42, a plurality of discharge channels 43 and a sorting line. The first detection unit 42 is used to detect parameter information of the battery cells 12 at the discharge port of the feed channel 41. The sorting line is arranged between the discharge port of the feed channel 41 and the feed ports of the plurality of discharge channels 43. The sorting line is configured to transport the battery cells 12 to the corresponding discharge channels 43 according to the parameter information detected by the first detection unit 42.

[0055] The feed channel 41 may refer to a conveyor line connected to the previous station. The conveyor line may be a roller conveyor line, a belt conveyor, etc. The feed channel 41 may also be a channel without a conveying function, and the battery cells 12 to be sorted are transported to the feed port of the sorting line by manual operation.

[0056] The discharge channel 43 may have a conveying function, for example, it may be a roller conveyor line, a belt conveyor, etc. The discharge channel 43 may also be a channel without a conveying function, and the unloading and transporting operations of the sorted battery cells 12 are completed by manual operation.

[0057] The upstream of the sorting line refers to the side of the sorting line close to the feed channel 41 , and the downstream of the sorting line refers to the side of the sorting line close to the discharge channel 43 .

[0058] The first detection unit 42 may be a laser flatness measuring instrument, a 3D industrial camera, etc. In some embodiments, the first detection unit 42 may include two 3D industrial cameras, which are disposed on both sides of the feed channel 41 in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the feed channel 41 .

[0059] The parameter information of the battery cell 12 may include the flatness of the battery cell 12 , the thickness of the battery cell 12 , the height of the battery cell 12 , etc. In some embodiments, the flatness of the battery cell 12 refers to the flatness of the large surface of the battery cell 12 .

[0060] The parameter information may include multiple gears. Taking the parameter information of the flatness of the battery cell 12 as an example, the parameter information may include at least two gears, such as three gears, four gears, five gears, six gears, seven gears, etc. In some embodiments, the flatness of the battery cell 12 includes seven gears. The first gear has a flatness range of -0.7mm to -0.6mm; the second gear has a flatness range of -0.6mm to -0.5mm; the third gear has a flatness range of -0.5mm to -0.4mm; the fourth gear has a flatness range of -0.4mm to -0.3mm; the fifth gear has a flatness range of -0.3mm to -0.2mm; the sixth gear has a flatness range of -0.2mm to -0.1mm; and the seventh gear has a flatness range of -0.1mm to 0mm.

[0061] The sorting device 40 may include a controller, which is electrically connected to the first detection unit 42 and the sorting pipeline for processing signals and issuing instructions. In some embodiments, the discharge channel 43 and the feed channel 41 both have a conveying function, and the controller may also be electrically connected to the feed channel 41 and the discharge channel 43. In some embodiments, the controller may be a PLC controller.

[0062] The sorting line can have a certain conveying function. It can not only convey the battery cells 12 to be sorted in the feed channel 41 to the discharge channel 43, but also can sort the batteries 100 belonging to different gears to the corresponding discharge channels 43 during the conveying process of the battery cells 12.

[0063] The discharge port of the feed channel 41 may be directly connected to the feed port of the sorting line or indirectly connected. In the embodiment where the discharge port of the feed channel 41 is indirectly connected to the feed port of the sorting line, a protective device may be provided between the discharge port of the feed channel 41 and the feed port of the sorting line, and the protective device may include a plate body provided between the discharge port of the feed channel 41 and the feed port of the sorting line, and a protective layer is provided on the plate body, and the material of the protective layer may include but is not limited to Teflon. In other embodiments, the height of the feed channel 41 is different from the height of the conveying surface of the sorting line, and a manipulator 410 may be provided between the discharge port of the feed channel 41 and the feed port of the sorting line, and the manipulator 410 is used to transport the battery cell 12 at the discharge port of the feed channel 41 to the feed port of the sorting line. In some other embodiments, the manipulator 410 only needs to have the ability to move in one direction to complete the above-mentioned transporting operation. For example, the conveying direction of the feed channel 41 is the same as the conveying direction of the sorting line, and the manipulator 410 only needs to reciprocate in a single direction between the discharge port of the feed channel 41 and the feed port of the sorting line. In the embodiment where the sorting device 40 includes a controller, the controller can be electrically connected to the manipulator 410.

[0064] In some embodiments, the sorting line may include multiple wire bodies corresponding one to one with the discharge channel 43 , each wire body intersects with the discharge port of the feed channel 41 only at the feed end, and the discharge end of each wire body is connected to the discharge channel 43 .

[0065] In the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, the first detection unit 42 is used to detect the parameter information of the battery cell 12 at the discharge port of the feed channel 41. The sorting line is arranged between the discharge port of the feed channel 41 and the feed ports of the multiple discharge channels 43, and the sorting line is configured to convey the battery cell 12 to the corresponding discharge channel 43 according to the parameter information detected by the first detection unit 42. The sorting line can convey the battery cells 12 of different grades to the corresponding discharge channels 43 according to the parameter information, without the need for the manipulator 410 to repeatedly move between the feed channel 41 and different discharge channels 43, thereby improving the sorting efficiency of the battery cells 12, and further improving the production efficiency of the battery 100.

[0066] According to some embodiments of this application, please refer to Figure 4-Figure 5 The sorting line includes a plurality of forks 44, each of which is provided with a blocking mechanism 45, and the blocking mechanism 45 operates in response to the parameter information.

[0067] The fork 44 of the conveying channel is used to explain that if the sorting line has a conveying channel, and the conveying channel has a fork 44, it means that the conveying channel is divided into multiple sub-channels corresponding to the discharge channels 43 at only one node during its extension from the discharge port of the feed channel 41 to the feed ports of multiple discharge channels 43, and the position of the fork 44 is the position of the node.

[0068] The sorting line includes a plurality of forks 44, each of which can divide the conveying channel into at least two non-intersecting sub-channels during its extension, which also means that the conveying channel has the above-mentioned multiple nodes. During the extension of the conveying channel, the sub-channel closest to the discharge channel 43 will correspond to and be connected with the discharge channel 43 one by one. If a sub-channel separated from a node has a child node that divides the above-mentioned sub-channel into at least two non-intersecting sub-channels, then the node is called the parent node of this child node. Each node can have a finite number of child nodes or no child nodes, and the sub-channel separated from the node without child nodes will be connected to the discharge channel 43. The child node without a parent node can be called a root node, and the root node is the discharge port of the feed channel 41. In other words, the conveying channel of the sorting line can also be called a "tree branch" shaped sorting line.

[0069] In some embodiments, each of the above child nodes has only one parent node, the path from the root node to any node is unique, and there is no loop in the transmission channel. Such a design can reduce the risk of mixing of battery cells 12 of different grades.

[0070] In some embodiments, a plurality of discharge channels 43 are arranged along a first direction X, and a feed channel 41, a sorting line, and a plurality of discharge channels 43 are arranged along a second direction Y, and the second direction Y is perpendicular to the first direction X. The sorting line includes a plurality of rows of forks 44, each row of forks 44 includes at least one fork 44, and the plurality of rows of forks 44 are arranged at intervals along the second direction Y, and in the second direction Y, the difference in the number of forks 44 between two adjacent rows of forks 44 may be greater than or equal to 1.

[0071] In some embodiments, the blocking mechanism 45 may include multiple cylinders and multiple gates corresponding to the cylinders one by one. The gates are connected to the piston rods of the cylinders. Each cylinder and its corresponding gate correspond to one of the above-mentioned sub-channels. When the battery cell 12 needs to flow through this sub-channel according to the parameter information, the cylinder moves to draw the gate out of the ion channel in a direction perpendicular to the sorting line to open the sub-channel. When it is not necessary to flow through this sub-channel according to the parameter information, the cylinder does not move, and the gate closes this sub-channel. Each cylinder action can be reset within a predetermined time after completion. The predetermined time can be set as needed based on factors such as the conveying speed of the sorting line and the single action time of the cylinder.

[0072] When it is necessary to adjust the sorting gear of the sorting device 40, it is only necessary to set a blocking mechanism 45 to a normally closed state or an adjustable state. For example, when the sorting gear is reduced from seven to five, it is only necessary to set the two blocking mechanisms 45 downstream of the sorting line to a single state, that is, they are always in a state where only one of the corresponding sub-channels is opened and they do not act in response to the parameter information.

[0073] In other embodiments, a plurality of forks 44 are arranged at intervals along a fixed direction, and each fork 44 divides the conveying channel into a plurality of sub-channels, and the plurality of sub-channels are located on both sides of the fixed direction.

[0074] In some embodiments, there is only one channel between the first fork 44 of the sorting line near one end of the feed channel 41 and the discharge port of the feed channel 41, and the blocking mechanism 45 can directly respond to the parameter information to start moving and move to a predetermined position.

[0075] By designing a blocking mechanism 45 at the fork 44, the sorting of battery cells 12 of different grades is realized. Multiple blocking mechanisms 45 can define a single conveying path for the battery cells 12 of each grade, thereby improving the sorting efficiency and reducing the risk of mixing of battery cells 12 of different grades. At the same time, such a design improves the compatibility of the sorting mechanism. The number of sorting grades of the battery cells 12 can be changed by simply controlling whether the blocking mechanism 45 participates in the sorting process, without changing the structure of the sorting device 40 or adding additional equipment.

[0076] According to some embodiments of this application, please refer to Figure 4-Figure 5 The number of discharge channels 43 is N, the number of forks 44 is N-1, and N is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

[0077] The number of discharge channels 43 can be any value of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, etc., and the number of forks 44 corresponding to the discharge channels 43 can be any value of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, etc.

[0078] The number of discharge channels 43 is N, and the number of forks 44 is N-1, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2. This means that when the number of gears of the battery cells 12 is changed, only the number of forks 44 needs to be changed, and each time a discharge channel 43 is added, one fork 44 needs to be added, and each time a discharge channel 43 is reduced, one fork 44 needs to be reduced.

[0079] Each additional discharge channel 43 requires an additional fork 44, which reduces the risk of mixing materials during the sorting process of the battery cells 12 caused by one fork 44 corresponding to multiple channels. At the same time, when changing the number of sorting gears of the battery cells 12, the control logic is simplified and the efficiency of equipment debugging is improved.

[0080] According to some embodiments of this application, please refer to Figure 4-Figure 5 The sorting line includes a conveying line body 46 and a sorting plate 47 . The sorting plate 47 is arranged above the conveying surface of the conveying line body 46 . The sorting plate 47 is provided with a sorting channel 471 having a plurality of forks 44 .

[0081] The sorting channel 471 may be a strip-shaped notch that penetrates the sorting plate 47 along the thickness direction of the sorting plate 47 , and the battery cells 12 may flow along the channel formed by the strip-shaped notch. The sorting channel 471 is equivalent to defining a path for the battery cells 12 to flow. The battery cells 12 are still transported by the conveying line 46 .

[0082] The structure of the sorting channel 471 can be a tree-branch-shaped sorting plate of various shapes, etc.

[0083] The inner wall of the sorting channel 471 may be composed of a plurality of smoothly transitioned wall surfaces.

[0084] The sorting plate 47 may be an insulating plate or a non-insulating plate. In the embodiment where the sorting channel 471 is a non-insulating plate, an insulating layer may be provided on the portion of the sorting plate 47 forming the sorting channel 471 to reduce the risk of short circuit of the battery cells 12 .

[0085] When the arrangement of the sorting channel 471 needs to be changed, it is only necessary to redesign (open a gap of a different shape) and replace the sorting plate 47 without replacing the conveying line body 46.

[0086] The use of a single conveyor line 46 in conjunction with a sorting plate 47 to form a sorting channel 471 having multiple forks 44 is less costly than using multiple lines to form the sorting channel 471. At the same time, the channel shape and extension direction of the sorting plate 47 are more flexible, and can be adapted to different production line layouts, and the change of the sorting channel 471 is more flexible.

[0087] According to some embodiments of this application, please refer to Figure 4-Figure 5 The conveyor line body 46 is a belt conveyor line.

[0088] The belt conveyor line generally includes a driving pulley, a driven pulley, a belt connected to the driving pulley and the driven pulley, and a servo motor for driving the driving pulley to rotate. Generally, the above components are standardized components and can be directly purchased from the market after maintenance and improvement.

[0089] In some embodiments, the belt conveyor line is always in a state of conveying in a single direction, and the battery cells 12 are in contact with the outer surface of the belt of the belt conveyor line. For battery cells 12 of different gears, their paths are defined by the sorting plate 47 .

[0090] The conveying speed, width, length, etc. of the belt conveyor line can be adjusted according to the needs of the production rhythm. And the adjustment cost is low. When the number of sorting gears of the battery cell 12 changes, the conveyor line body 46 can be put back into production more efficiently.

[0091] According to some embodiments of this application, please refer to Figure 4-Figure 5 , the sorting plate 47 is an insulating plate.

[0092] The material of the sorting plate 47 can be a non-metallic plate such as bakelite, resin plate, etc.

[0093] The risk of short circuit and scrapping of the battery cells 12 after they come into contact with the sorting plate 47 during the sorting process is reduced.

[0094] According to some embodiments of this application, please refer to Figure 4-Figure 5 The sorting line also includes a plurality of second detection units 48, which are arranged corresponding to the forks 44. Each second detection unit 48 is arranged upstream of the corresponding fork 44. The second detection unit 48 is used to detect the location information of the battery cell 12, and the blocking mechanism 45 is actuated in response to the location information and parameter information.

[0095] After the blocking mechanism 45 is actuated, it will automatically reset after a set value is met. For example, the set value may be a period of time. That is to say, after the blocking mechanism 45 is actuated, the blocking mechanism 45 will reset after a set period of time.

[0096] Each second detection unit 48 is arranged upstream of the corresponding fork 44, and the second detection unit 48 is used to detect the in-place information of the battery cell 12, and the blocking mechanism 45 acts in response to the in-place information and parameter information. The parameter information defines the final position of the blocking mechanism 45, and the in-place information defines the time when the blocking mechanism 45 starts to act. In other words, only when the battery cell 12 flows to the second detection unit 48 corresponding to the fork 44 and the second detection unit 48 detects the information, the blocking unit will act to the predetermined position according to the parameter information and open the corresponding sub-channel. In other words, after a battery cell 12 passes through the blocking unit at the first fork 44, the next battery cell 12 can be transported to the feed port of the sorting line. There is no need to wait for the previous battery cell 12 to flow to the discharge channel 43 before the next battery cell 12 can start to be sorted. In some cases, there may be multiple battery cells 12 on the conveying surface of the sorting line at the same time, and they are transported from the discharge port of the feed channel 41 to the discharge channel 43.

[0097] Similarly, since a battery cell 12 completes a judgment each time it passes through a blocking mechanism 45, and the blocking mechanism 45 will reset after the above judgment is completed, when the next battery cell 12 passes through the blocking mechanism 45 again, the blocking mechanism 45 will be reactivated and will not affect the path of the previous battery cell 12. The risk of mixing is low.

[0098] The second detection unit 48 may include but is not limited to a photoelectric sensor, a pressure sensor, and the like.

[0099] After the sorting device 40 determines the corresponding conveying path of the battery cell 12 in the sorting line according to the parameter information, since the second detection unit 48 is arranged upstream of the corresponding fork 44, the downstream of the fork 44 will not start to move to the position defined by the parameter information until the corresponding position information is received. On the one hand, the next battery cell 12 can be put into the feed port of the sorting line after the first battery cell 12 passes through the first fork 44.

[0100] According to some embodiments of this application, please refer to Figure 4-Figure 5 The second detection unit 48 is a photoelectric sensor. Such a design enables the second detection unit 48 to complete the detection in a non-contact state with the battery cell 12, thereby reducing the risk of damage or short circuit of the battery cell 12.

[0101] According to some embodiments of this application, please refer to Figure 4-Figure 5 The blocking mechanism 45 includes a driving member 451 and a rocker rod 452 . The rocker rod 452 is rotatably disposed on the sorting plate 47 . The driving member 451 is used to drive the rocker rod 452 to rotate.

[0102] In some embodiments, the driving member 451 may be a swing cylinder, and the swing rod 452 is drivingly connected to the swing cylinder. The swing cylinder may drive the swing rod 452 to switch between at least two positions to change the flow path of the battery cell 12 .

[0103] The sorting path of the sorting line is changed by rotating the swing rod 452, and the assembly difficulty and cost are low.

[0104] According to some embodiments of this application, please refer to Figure 4-Figure 5 The sorting line also includes a plurality of third detection units 49, which are arranged at the discharge port of the sorting line. The third detection units 49 are arranged corresponding to the discharge channels 43, and are used to send a prompt signal when the corresponding discharge channels 43 are full of battery cells 12.

[0105] The third detection unit 49 may include but is not limited to photoelectric sensors, pressure sensors, etc. In an embodiment in which the discharge channel 43 has a conveying function, a baffle may be provided at the end of the discharge channel 43, and the baffle limits the total amount of battery cells 12 that can be buffered by the discharge channel 43. When the discharge channel 43 is full of battery cells 12 and the next battery cell 12 is ready to flow to the discharge channel 43, the third detection unit 49 will detect that the discharge channel 43 is full and may issue a reminder, such as an alarm tone, to remind the staff to pick up the material in time. Generally, when the prompt signal is issued, the feed channel 41 and the sorting line will stop running. Reduce the risk of damage caused by collision between materials.

[0106] When the space in the discharge channel 43 for caching the battery cells 12 is full, the third detection unit 49 can send out an alarm, eliminating the need for personnel to constantly monitor the discharge channel 43 , thereby reducing labor costs.

[0107] In the embodiment where the third detection unit 49 is a photoelectric sensor, when the third detection unit 49 is in a triggered state within a set time period, it is determined that the discharge channel 43 is full of battery cells 12. Being in a triggered state within a set time period can also be simply understood as being in a triggered state for a "long time". The specific value of the set time period can be adaptively adjusted according to the conveying speed of the sorting line, etc.

[0108] According to some embodiments of this application, please refer to Figure 4-Figure 5 The sorting device 40 also includes a robot 410, which is used to move the battery cells 12 at the outlet of the feed channel 41 to the feed inlet of the sorting line.

[0109] Due to the design of the sorting line, the battery cells 12 do not need to be sorted by the large-scale movement of the manipulator 410. The manipulator 410 only needs to move the battery cells 12 from the outlet of the feed channel 41 to the feed inlet of the sorting line. In some embodiments, the manipulator 410 can reciprocate in a single direction.

[0110] The sorting device 40 further includes a manipulator 410, which is used to carry the battery cells 12 at the outlet of the feed channel 41 to the feed inlet of the sorting line. Such a design can make the assembly position of the manipulator 410 and the sorting line more flexible, reducing the limitations of the production line layout.

[0111] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 6 , the diversion process can include the following steps:

[0112] S100, a detection unit obtains the flatness classification data of the battery cell 12 in the feed channel 41 and transmits the classification data to the PLC controller;

[0113] S200, the robot 410 moves the battery cell 12 at the outlet of the feed channel 41 to the feed inlet of the sorting line;

[0114] S300, the sorting line operates the blocking mechanism 45 and selectively opens a passage when the battery cell 12 flows through the second detection unit 48 corresponding to the fork 44 according to the sorting data memorized by the PLC controller;

[0115] S400, the belt conveyor line conveys the battery cell 12 from the discharge port of the feed channel 41 to the discharge channel 43 corresponding to the binning data;

[0116] S500 , manually taking out the battery cells 12 from the discharge channel 43 and placing them in a transfer box corresponding to the binning data thereof.

[0117] According to some embodiments of this application, please refer to Figure 4-Figure 5 , multiple discharge channels 43 are arranged along a first direction X, the feed channel 41, the sorting line and multiple discharge channels 43 are arranged along a second direction Y, and the second direction Y is perpendicular to the first direction X.

[0118] The feed channel 41 and the multiple discharge channels 43 are respectively located at the two ends of the sorting line in the second direction Y, which means that the multiple discharge channels 43 are basically located in the same area. In the embodiment of manually transporting the battery cells 12 after sorting, the range of movement when manually taking the battery cells 12 of different gears can be reduced. Similarly, in the embodiment of the battery cells 12 after equipment transport and sorting, multiple devices basically located in the same area can be used to transport the battery cells 12, or one device can be used to transport the battery cells 12, thereby reducing the space occupied by the sorting equipment 40.

[0119] The discharge channels 43 of different grades are basically located in the same area, which is convenient for manual or equipment transportation of the sorted battery cells 12 .

[0120] According to some embodiments of the present application, the parameter information includes the flatness of the battery cell 12 .

[0121] According to some embodiments of the present application, the first detection unit 42 is a 3D industrial camera. Such a design enables the first detection unit 42 to have higher accuracy and higher detection efficiency.

[0122] According to some embodiments of this application, please refer to Figure 4-Figure 5The present application provides a sorting device 40, which is used to sort battery cells 12 of seven different large-surface flatness levels. The sorting device 40 includes a feed channel 41, a first detection unit 42, seven discharge channels 43 and a sorting line. The first detection unit 42 is used to detect parameter information of the battery cells 12 at the discharge port of the feed channel 41. The seven discharge channels 43 are arranged along a first direction X, and the feed channel 41, the sorting line and the seven discharge channels 43 are arranged along a second direction Y, and the second direction Y is perpendicular to the first direction X. The first detection unit 42 includes two 3D industrial cameras, which are relatively arranged on both sides of the feed channel 41 in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the feed channel 41. A manipulator 410 is arranged between the feed channel 41 and the sorting line, and the manipulator 410 is used to transport the battery cells 12 at the discharge port of the feed channel 41 to the feed port of the sorting line. The sorting line is disposed between the discharge port of the feed channel 41 and the feed ports of the plurality of discharge channels 43 , and is configured to transport the battery cells 12 to the corresponding discharge channels 43 according to the parameter information detected by the first detection unit 42 .

[0123] The sorting line includes six forks 44, each of which is provided with a blocking mechanism 45, which moves in response to parameter information. The blocking mechanism 45 includes a swing cylinder and a swing rod 452, the swing rod 452 is rotatably provided on the sorting plate 47, and the swing cylinder is used to drive the swing rod 452 to rotate. The sorting line includes a belt conveyor line and a bakelite sorting plate, the bakelite sorting plate is provided above the conveying surface of the belt conveyor line, and the bakelite sorting plate is provided with a sorting channel 471 having six forks 44. In the extension direction of the sorting channel 471, each fork 44 will divide the channel into two, and finally form a tree-like sorting channel 471. The sorting line is installed on a base 411, and the base 411 has a receiving cavity, which accommodates the belt conveyor line. The sorting line also includes a servo motor, which is used to drive the belt conveyor line to run or stop running. The bakelite sorting plate is provided above the conveying surface of the belt conveyor line and defines the sorting channel 471.

[0124] The sorting line also includes a plurality of second detection units 48, which are arranged corresponding to the forks 44, and each second detection unit 48 is arranged upstream of the corresponding fork 44. The second detection unit 48 is used to detect the in-position information of the battery cell 12, and the swing cylinder controls the swing rod 452 to switch between the first position and the second position in response to the in-position information and parameter information, so as to selectively open a branch channel formed by the fork 44. The second detection unit 48 is a photoelectric sensor.

[0125] The sorting line also includes a plurality of third detection units 49, which are arranged at the discharge port of the sorting line, and are arranged corresponding to the discharge channel 43. The third detection unit 49 is used to send a prompt signal when the corresponding discharge channel 43 is full of battery cells 12. The third detection unit 49 is a photoelectric sensor, and sends a prompt signal when the third detection unit 49 is triggered for a long time.

[0126] The sorting device 40 further includes a controller, which is electrically connected to the first detection unit 42, the second detection unit 48, the third detection unit 49, the feeding channel 41, the discharging channel 43, the servo motor and the swing cylinder. The controller is a PLC controller.

[0127] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein by equivalents; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and they should all be included in the scope of the claims and specification of the present application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the various embodiments can be combined in any way. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions that fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A sorting device for battery cells, characterized in that: include: Feed channel; A first detection unit, used to detect parameter information of the battery cell at the outlet of the feed channel; Multiple discharge channels; The sorting assembly line is arranged between the discharge port of the feed channel and the feed ports of the plurality of discharge channels, and the sorting assembly line is configured to transport the battery cells to the corresponding discharge channels according to the parameter information detected by the first detection unit.

2. The sorting device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sorting line comprises a plurality of forks, each of which is provided with a blocking mechanism, and the blocking mechanism operates in response to the parameter information.

3. The sorting device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The number of the discharge channels is N, the number of the forks is N-1, and N is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

4. The sorting device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The sorting assembly line comprises a conveying line body and a sorting plate. The sorting plate is arranged above the conveying surface of the conveying line body. The sorting plate is provided with a sorting channel having a plurality of forks.

5. The sorting device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The conveyor line body is a belt conveyor line.

6. The sorting device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The sorting plate is an insulating plate.

7. The sorting device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The sorting line also includes a plurality of second detection units, which are arranged corresponding to the forks, and each of the second detection units is arranged upstream of the corresponding fork, and the second detection unit is used to detect the arrival information of the battery cell, and the blocking mechanism is actuated in response to the arrival information and the parameter information.

8. The sorting device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The second detection unit is a photoelectric sensor.

9. The sorting device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The blocking mechanism comprises a driving member and a rocker arm, wherein the rocker arm is rotatably arranged on the sorting plate, and the driving member is used for driving the rocker arm to rotate.

10. The sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The sorting line also includes a plurality of third detection units, which are arranged at the discharge port of the sorting line and correspond to the discharge channels. The third detection units are used to send out a prompt signal when the discharge channels corresponding to them are filled with the battery cells.

11. The sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The sorting equipment further includes a robot, which is used to carry the battery cells at the outlet of the feed channel to the feed inlet of the sorting line.

12. The sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The plurality of discharge channels are arranged along a first direction, the feed channel, the sorting line and the plurality of discharge channels are arranged along a second direction, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

13. The sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The parameter information includes the flatness of the battery cell.

14. The sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The first detection unit is a 3D industrial camera.

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