Lithium battery physical discharge system and discharge process

Abstract

The invention discloses a lithium battery physical discharge system and a discharge process, and belongs to the technical field of battery discharge. The system comprises an annular conveying line, the side edges, located at different positions, of the annular conveying line are provided with a feeding unit and a discharging unit respectively, and a battery discharging tool is placed on the annular conveying line; the feeding unit is used for conveying a battery to be discharged to the battery discharging tool, and the discharging unit is used for conveying away the discharged battery on the battery discharging tool. According to the invention, full-automatic discharge production of the lithium battery can be realized, the production efficiency is effectively improved, and the labor cost is saved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of battery discharge, and more specifically, relates to a lithium battery physical discharge system and discharge process. Background Art

[0002] At present, the recycling process of waste lithium-ion power batteries mostly adopts the method of live crushing or salt water discharge for preliminary treatment. However, live crushing requires a large amount of inert gas protection, and there is a risk of fire or even explosion if it is not handled properly. Salt water discharge has the problems of long cycle and incomplete discharge, and it will also produce a large amount of wastewater that needs secondary treatment. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a safe, environmentally friendly and stable means of physically discharging waste lithium-ion power batteries.

[0003] At present, the means of physically discharging lithium batteries in the prior art generally form a circuit with the positive and negative electrodes of the battery through two metal sheets with positive and negative electrodes respectively. For example, the Chinese patent application number is CN202121508053.6, and the patent document published on January 11, 2022 discloses a lithium battery discharge recovery tool, including a frame, and a lifting device, a discharge device and a lithium battery positioning device arranged on the frame; the discharge device includes a lifting plate and a plurality of discharge probes slidably connected to the frame, each of the discharge probes is arranged on the lifting plate in parallel and at intervals, and a group of the discharge probes corresponds to a group of lithium batteries and is used to contact and discharge with the electrodes of the corresponding lithium batteries; the lifting end of the lifting device passes through the top of the frame and is connected to the lifting plate, which is used to drive the lifting plate to lift and lower in the frame; the lithium battery positioning device is arranged at the bottom of the discharge device, which is used to position and fix each lithium battery. Batch discharge of multiple groups of lithium batteries is achieved, and the efficiency of lithium battery recycling is improved.

[0004] The Chinese patent application number is CN201820137691.3, and the patent document published on September 7, 2018, discloses a battery charging and discharging tool, including a base, a bracket plate arranged parallel to the base, and guide rods fixed on the left and right sides of the base for guiding the bracket plate; a movable metal gasket is provided on the lower plate surface of the bracket plate; a metal pole is provided at the bottom of the metal gasket; and a connecting wire is connected to the metal gasket. The two metal poles of the tool are in contact with the positive and negative poles of the battery respectively, and the lead-out wires are connected to the wires of the charging and discharging cabinet to form a loop to charge and discharge the battery. While charging and discharging, the battery status data information is collected, and the data collection line can be connected to the metal gasket through a threaded hole to realize the real-time collection of battery voltage, current and other status information. The tool can adapt to square batteries of different sizes and specifications, and the limit plate and limit rod can move along the through-hole guide rail according to the specific size of the battery.

[0005] Both of the above solutions use physical means, that is, contacting the external electrodes with the positive and negative poles of the battery to form a circuit for discharge. However, the existing equipment discharges lithium batteries individually, and has not formed a systematic and fully automated overall process, which cannot be applied to large-scale production in factories. Summary of the invention

[0006] 1. Problems to be solved

[0007] In view of the problem that the existing physical discharge work of lithium batteries has not yet formed a systematic and fully automated overall process and cannot be applied to large-scale production in factories, the present invention provides a lithium battery physical discharge system and discharge process, which can realize fully automated discharge production of lithium batteries, effectively improve production efficiency and save labor costs.

[0008] 2. Technical solution

[0009] To solve the above problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions.

[0010] A lithium battery physical discharge system comprises a ring conveyor line, wherein the sides of the ring conveyor line at different positions are respectively provided with a loading unit and a unloading unit, and a battery discharge tool is placed on the ring conveyor line; the loading unit is used to convey the battery to be discharged to the battery discharge tool, and the unloading unit is used to convey the battery that has been discharged on the battery discharge tool away.

[0011] As a further improvement of the technical solution, an annular cooling water trough is arranged on one side of the annular conveyor line; the battery discharge tooling comprises a frame, a workbench is arranged at the bottom of the frame, a liftable pressure plate is arranged above the workbench, a pair of metal sheets with positive and negative properties are respectively provided on the bottom surface of the pressure plate, a heat conducting plate extending outward is provided on the side of the frame, and a resistor with a length direction extending downward is provided at the bottom of the heat conducting plate.

[0012] As a further improvement of the technical solution, a telescopic mechanism is installed at the upper end of the frame, and the telescopic part of the telescopic mechanism extends downward and connects to the pressure plate; the telescopic mechanism is a structure that moves the bolt downward to push the pressure plate by rotating the bolt.

[0013] As a further improvement of the technical solution, at least one device for tightening or loosening the bolts is respectively provided on the annular conveyor lines at the loading unit and the unloading unit.

[0014] As a further improvement of the technical solution, the frame is provided with a guide column extending in the height direction, a guide sleeve is slidably mounted on the guide column, and the pressure plate is fixedly connected to the guide sleeve.

[0015] As a further improvement of the technical solution, the loading unit includes a pallet conveying device, a battery clamping device and a pallet pushing device; the pallet conveying device is used to convey the pallet to the loading station, the battery clamping device is used to clamp the battery to be discharged onto the pallet, and the pallet pushing device is used to push the pallet to the discharge station of the battery discharge tooling.

[0016] As a further improvement of the technical solution, the loading unit also includes an electrode detection device for detecting the battery.

[0017] As a further improvement of the technical solution, the unloading unit includes a tray return device, a battery clamping device and a tray pushing device; the tray pushing device is used to push the tray in the battery discharge tooling onto the tray return device, the battery clamping device is used to clamp the battery that has completed discharge from the tray, and the tray return device is used to return the empty tray to the loading station.

[0018] As a further improvement of the technical solution, the unloading unit also includes an electrode detection device for detecting the battery.

[0019] A lithium battery physical discharge process, using the above lithium battery physical discharge system, includes the following steps:

[0020] 1. The loading unit detects the batteries to be discharged, selects the batteries that meet the discharge conditions and places them on the tray, and then sends the tray to the battery discharge tooling of the circular conveyor line;

[0021] 2. The battery discharge tooling works to discharge the batteries inside it, and at the same time the circular conveyor line is driven to move the battery discharge tooling along the circular conveyor line;

[0022] 3. When the battery discharge tooling moves to the unloading unit, the discharge is completed. The unloading unit takes out the batteries in the battery discharge tooling and tests them. The batteries that pass the discharge are selected and sent to the next process. The tray is transported back to the loading unit.

[0023] 3. Beneficial effects

[0024] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0025] (1) The present invention provides a lithium battery physical discharge system, which, through the assembly line arrangement of a loading unit, a ring conveyor line and a unloading unit, enables the battery to be discharged within a conveying cycle from the loading unit to the unloading unit, thereby realizing the fully automated production of lithium battery physical discharge, effectively improving production efficiency and saving labor costs;

[0026] (2) The present invention provides a physical discharge system for lithium batteries, wherein a discharge tool is provided with a heat conducting plate extending outward on the side of a frame, and a resistor extending downward in length is provided at the bottom of the heat conducting plate. In this way, when the discharge tool is working, the resistor located on one side of the frame and extending downward can be placed in an annular cooling water tank, thereby achieving rapid heat dissipation and cooling of the resistor. At the same time, the dissipated heat can heat the circulating water in the water tank, so that the preheated circulating water can flow to the next process requiring warm water to participate in the operation, thereby realizing the utilization of thermal energy resources. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the discharge system of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the discharge tooling of the present invention without a tray;

[0029] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the discharge tooling with a tray of the present invention;

[0030] In the figure: 1. frame; 2. workbench; 3. pressure plate; 4. metal sheet; 5. heat conducting plate; 6. resistor; 7. guide column; 8. guide sleeve; 9. telescopic mechanism; 10. limit block; 11. battery tray; 12. guide wheel; 13. circular conveyor line; 14. loading unit; 15. unloading unit; 16. circular cooling water tank. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Although these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to implement the present invention, it should be understood that other embodiments may be implemented and various changes may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The more detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention below is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but is merely for illustration and does not limit the description of the features and characteristics of the present invention, in order to propose the best mode for performing the present invention, and is sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to implement the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is limited only by the appended claims.

[0032] Example 1

[0033] A lithium battery physical discharge system can realize fully automated physical discharge of waste lithium batteries and improve production efficiency. Its specific structure and technical effects are described in detail below.

[0034] like Figure 1As shown, the system includes an annular conveyor line 13, and an annular cooling water tank 16 extending along the annular conveyor line 13 is provided on one side of the annular conveyor line 13. Loading units 14 and unloading units 15 are respectively provided on the sides of the annular conveyor line 13 at different positions, and a battery discharge tool is placed on the annular conveyor line 13. The loading unit 14 is used to transport the battery to be discharged to the battery discharge tool, and the unloading unit 15 is used to transport the battery that has been discharged on the battery discharge tool.

[0035] Specifically, the loading unit 14 includes a tray conveying device, a battery clamping device, a tray pushing device and an electrode detection device. The tray conveying device is used to convey the tray 11 to the loading station, and any existing conveying device similar to a belt conveyor can be used. The battery clamping device is used to clamp the battery to be discharged onto the tray 11, and a robot is used. The tray pushing device is used to push the tray 11 to the discharge station of the battery discharge tooling, which can be achieved by a cylinder or an electric push rod. The electrode detection device is a device for detecting various parameters of the battery, which belongs to the prior art in this field and will not be described in detail here.

[0036] The unloading unit 15 is similar to the loading unit 14, and includes a tray return device, a battery clamping device, a tray push-out device, and an electrode detection device. The tray push-out device is used to push the tray 11 in the battery discharge tooling onto the tray return device, which can be achieved by a cylinder or an electric push rod. The difference from the loading unit 14 is that it needs to be installed on the circular conveyor line 13 to push the tray out. The battery clamping device is used to clamp the discharged battery from the tray 11, and it uses a robot. The tray return device is used to return the empty tray 11 to the loading station, and an existing conveying device similar to a belt conveyor can be used.

[0037] like Figure 2 As shown, the discharge tooling includes a frame 1, a workbench 2 is provided at the bottom of the frame 1, a liftable pressing plate 3 is provided above the working table 2, a pair of metal sheets 4 having positive and negative properties are provided on the bottom of the pressing plate 3, a heat conducting plate 5 extending outward is provided on the side of the frame 1, and a resistor 6 extending downward in length direction is provided at the bottom of the heat conducting plate 5. In this embodiment, there are a plurality of resistors 6, which are arranged on the heat conducting plate 5 at intervals.

[0038] In this way, when the discharge tooling is working, the resistor 6 located on one side of the frame 1 and extending downward can be placed in the annular cooling water tank, thereby achieving rapid heat dissipation and cooling of the resistor 6. At the same time, the dissipated heat can heat the circulating water in the water tank, so that the preheated circulating water flows to the next process that requires warm water to participate in the operation, thereby realizing the utilization of thermal energy resources.

[0039] Since the discharge of the battery requires the pressing plate 3 to be pressed down so that the metal sheet contacts the positive and negative poles of the battery to form a circuit, the downward control of the pressing plate 3 is very critical. In view of this, the discharge tooling is provided with a guide column 7 extending in the height direction on the frame 1, and a guide sleeve 8 is slidably installed on the guide column 7, and the pressing plate 3 is fixedly connected to the guide sleeve 8. The telescopic mechanism 9 adopts a structure that pushes the pressing plate by rotating the bolt, that is, a structure with a threaded hole is provided on the top of the frame 1, and the thread can be moved up and down by rotating in the threaded hole, so that the pressing plate 3 below is pushed by the connecting rod to realize the lifting and lowering of the pressing plate 3. The telescopic mechanism 9 is equipped with a sensor for detecting the torque of the bolt, and / or a sensor for detecting the distance between the pressing plate 3 and the battery. In this embodiment, both sensors are installed. At the same time, a limit block 10 is installed on the lower side of the guide column 7.

[0040] In order to tighten the screw of the battery discharge tool at the loading unit 14 and loosen the bolt at the unloading unit 15, at least one device for tightening or loosening the bolt needs to be provided on the circular conveyor line 13 at the loading unit 14 and the unloading unit 15. Specifically, the motor is lifted and lowered by a lifting device, and then the screwdriver bit matching the bolt is connected through the motor output shaft, so that the discharge tool can be tightened or loosened by the rotation of the motor.

[0041] By setting the guide column 7 and the guide sleeve 8, the lifting direction of the pressing plate 3 can be accurate, so as to better discharge the battery. When the pressing plate 3 is pressed down to make the metal sheet 4 contact with the battery electrode for discharge, the degree of pressing down of the pressing plate 3 can be well controlled by the torque sensor and the distance sensor to avoid insufficient pressing down to cause unsatisfactory discharge effect or excessive pressing down to cause battery damage. The limit block 10 on the lower side of the guide column 7 can also prevent the pressing plate 3 from being pressed down too much, which further ensures the safety of battery discharge.

[0042] In addition, if Figure 2 As shown, the discharge tool is also equipped with a tray 11, which is sent to the discharge tool by a loading unit 14 and can be movably arranged on the workbench 2, on which the batteries to be discharged are placed. Guide wheels 12 are installed on both sides of the bottom of the tray 11, and guide rails matching the guide wheels 12 are installed at corresponding positions on both sides of the workbench 2. At the same time, the surface of the tray 11 is paved with a soft cushion.

[0043] The tray 11 can be used to transport the battery in cooperation with the loading and unloading unit, and the guide wheels 12 and the guide rails make the movement of the tray in the workbench 2 more convenient and accurate, so that the battery can be accurately delivered to the discharge station. The soft pad makes the placement of the battery on the tray more stable, ensuring the stable discharge work.

[0044] The working process of the discharge system is as follows:

[0045] 1. The loading unit 14 detects the batteries to be discharged, selects the batteries that meet the discharge conditions after detection and classification by the electrode detection device, places them on the tray 11 through the robot, and then sends the tray 11 to the battery discharge tooling of the ring conveyor line 13.

[0046] Second, the tightening device on the annular conveyor line 13 tightens the bolts of the battery discharge tooling, so that the metal sheet 4 of the battery discharge tooling contacts the positive and negative electrodes of the battery, and discharges the battery inside, and at the same time the annular conveyor line 13 drives the battery discharge tooling to move along the annular conveyor line 13. During the movement, the resistor is always in the annular cooling water tank 16, and the heat energy is transferred to the water tank for release.

[0047] 3. When the battery discharge tool moves to the unloading unit 15, the discharge is completed. The unloading unit 15 takes out the batteries in the battery discharge tool and inspects them. After inspection and classification by the electrode detection device, the batteries that meet the discharge standards are selected and sent to the next process. For the very few batteries that do not meet the discharge standards, they are sent to the unqualified production line. The tray 11 is then transported back to the loading unit 14 to work again.

[0048] In summary, the physical discharge system and discharge process of a lithium battery in this embodiment can realize fully automated discharge production of lithium batteries, effectively improve production efficiency, and save labor costs.

[0049] The examples described in the present invention are merely descriptions of the preferred implementation modes of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the concept and scope of the present invention. Without departing from the design concept of the present invention, various modifications and improvements made to the technical solutions of the present invention by engineers and technicians in this field should all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A lithium battery physical discharge system, characterized in that: The invention comprises an annular conveyor line (13), wherein a loading unit (14) and a unloading unit (15) are respectively arranged on the sides of the annular conveyor line (13) at different positions, and a battery discharge tool is placed on the annular conveyor line (13); the loading unit (14) is used to transport batteries to be discharged onto the battery discharge tool, and the unloading unit (15) is used to transport batteries that have been discharged from the battery discharge tool away.

2. A lithium battery physical discharge system according to claim 1, characterized in that: A circular cooling water trough (16) is arranged on one side of the circular conveyor line (13); the battery discharge tooling comprises a frame (1); a workbench (2) is arranged at the bottom of the frame (1); a liftable pressing plate (3) is arranged above the workbench (2); a pair of metal sheets (4) having positive and negative electrode properties are arranged on the bottom of the pressing plate (3); a heat conducting plate (5) extending outward is arranged on the side of the frame (1); a resistor (6) extending downward in length direction is arranged at the bottom of the heat conducting plate (5).

3. A lithium battery physical discharge system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The upper end of the frame (1) is provided with a telescopic mechanism (9), the telescopic part of which extends downward and is connected to the pressure plate (3); the telescopic mechanism (9) is a structure in which the bolt is rotated to move the bolt downward to push the pressure plate (3).

4. A lithium battery physical discharge system according to claim 3, characterized in that: At least one device for tightening or loosening bolts is respectively provided on the annular conveyor line (13) at the loading unit (14) and the unloading unit (15).

5. A lithium battery physical discharge system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The frame (1) is provided with a guide column (7) extending in the height direction, a guide sleeve (8) is slidably mounted on the guide column (7), and the pressing plate (3) is fixedly connected to the guide sleeve (8).

6. A lithium battery physical discharge system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The loading unit (14) comprises a tray conveying device, a battery clamping device and a tray pushing device; the tray conveying device is used to convey the tray (11) to the loading station, the battery clamping device is used to clamp the battery to be discharged onto the tray (11), and the tray pushing device is used to push the tray (11) to the discharge station of the battery discharge tooling.

7. A lithium battery physical discharge system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The loading unit (14) also includes an electrode detection device for detecting the battery.

8. A lithium battery physical discharge system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The unloading unit (15) comprises a tray return device, a battery clamping device and a tray pushing device; the tray pushing device is used to push the tray (11) in the battery discharge tooling onto the tray return device, the battery clamping device is used to clamp the discharged battery from the tray (11), and the tray return device is used to return the empty tray (11) to the loading station.

9. A lithium battery physical discharge system according to claim 8, characterized in that: The unloading unit (15) also includes an electrode detection device for detecting the battery.

10. A lithium battery physical discharge process, characterized in that: The lithium battery physical discharge system according to any one of claims 1 to 9 comprises the following steps:

1. The loading unit (14) detects the batteries to be discharged, selects the batteries that meet the discharge conditions and places them on the tray (11), and then sends the tray (11) to the battery discharge tooling of the ring conveyor line (13); 2. The battery discharge tooling is operated to discharge the batteries therein, and at the same time the annular conveyor line (13) is driven to move the battery discharge tooling along the annular conveyor line (13); 3. When the battery discharge tool moves to the unloading unit (15), the discharge is completed. The unloading unit (15) takes out the batteries in the battery discharge tool and tests them, selects the batteries that pass the discharge and sends them to the next process, and the tray (11) is transported back to the loading unit (14).

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