Welding head, welding device and control method of welding device

Abstract

The present application provides a welding head, a welding device and a control method for the welding device, which relate to the field of battery manufacturing technology. The welding head includes a head body and a heating element. The head body has a connecting cavity. The inlet of the connecting cavity is located on the top surface of the head body, and the outlet of the connecting cavity is located on the bottom surface of the head body. The connecting cavity is used for the laser beam to pass through and weld the workpiece to be processed by the laser beam. The heating element is provided on the head body. When the welding head and the workpiece to be processed are connected in a cooperative manner, the heating element heats the workpiece to be processed in a non-contact manner. Through such a heating element, a thermal compensation effect is formed during laser beam welding of the workpiece, so that the workpiece to be processed is heated evenly, and the absorption rate of the laser beam by the workpiece to be processed is improved, thereby improving the assembly efficiency and assembly yield of the battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of battery manufacturing technology, and in particular to a welding pressure head, a welding device, and a control method for the welding device. Background Art

[0002] During the battery assembly process, the tabs of the battery cell and the cover of the shell are laser welded.

[0003] During the welding process, the laser emitter on the welding equipment emits a laser beam toward the pole tab side, and after the laser beam heats the connection area between the pole tab and the cover plate, the laser emitter emits a laser beam toward the pole tab side again to connect the pole tab and the cover plate together.

[0004] However, such a welding process results in reduced battery assembly efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present application provides a welding head, a welding device and a control method for the welding device, which can solve the problem of low battery assembly efficiency, thereby improving the battery assembly efficiency.

[0006] In order to achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] The present application provides a welding pressure head, comprising:

[0008] A ram body, the ram body having a communication cavity, the inlet of the communication cavity being located on the top surface of the ram body, the outlet of the communication cavity being located on the bottom surface of the ram body, the communication cavity being used for allowing a laser beam to pass through and for welding a workpiece to be processed by the laser beam;

[0009] A heating element, the heating element being arranged on the pressing head body;

[0010] When the welding pressure head and the workpiece to be processed are connected in a cooperative manner, the heating element heats up the workpiece to be processed in a non-contact manner.

[0011] In some embodiments, the heating element is disposed near the bottom surface of the press head body.

[0012] In some embodiments, the heating element is disposed outside the press head body.

[0013] In some embodiments, the pressure head body has a mounting cavity, and the mounting cavity and the communicating cavity are separately arranged along the wall thickness direction of the pressure head body; the heating element is installed in the mounting cavity.

[0014] In some embodiments, the press head body has a first portion and a second portion connected to each other, the first portion has a first cavity, and the first cavity extends along the height direction of the press head body; the second portion has a second cavity, and the second cavity extends along the height direction of the press head body;

[0015] The first portion and the second portion are matched to connect the first chamber and the second chamber to form the communicating chamber.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first portion and the second portion are integrally formed.

[0017] In some embodiments, the second portion is detachably connected to the first portion.

[0018] In some embodiments, the second portion has a first surface, and the first surface forms a bottom surface of the indenter body.

[0019] In some embodiments, the heating element is disposed in the second portion.

[0020] In some embodiments, the cross-sectional area of ​​the communication cavity gradually decreases along the direction from the top surface to the bottom surface of the pressure head body.

[0021] In some embodiments, the heating element includes a temperature radiation element, and a temperature radiation end of the temperature radiation element faces the bottom surface of the pressure head body.

[0022] In some embodiments, the heating element includes an induction coil, which is wound around the press head body; the induction coil is used to be magnetically conductive with the workpiece to be processed;

[0023] The end of the induction coil is used to be electrically connected to a power source.

[0024] In some embodiments, the indenter body has a fixed portion, and the induction coil is wound around the fixed portion.

[0025] In some embodiments, the indenter body includes an insulator.

[0026] In some embodiments, the pressure head body has an air flow channel, the air flow channel has an air flow inlet and a first air flow outlet, the air flow inlet is located on the peripheral side of the pressure head body, and the first air flow outlet is located on the inner side of the pressure head body and connected to the connecting cavity.

[0027] In some embodiments, the air flow inlet and the first air flow outlet are disposed near the bottom of the pressure head body.

[0028] In some embodiments, along a direction from the top surface to the bottom surface of the pressure head body, a height of the first air flow outlet is higher than a height of the air flow inlet.

[0029] In some embodiments, the air flow channel further has a second air flow outlet, and the second air flow outlet is located on the top surface of the pressure head body.

[0030] In some embodiments, the number of the air flow channels is at least two, and at least two of the air flow channels are located on a peripheral side of the communicating cavity.

[0031] In some embodiments, the inner sidewall of the press head body has a protective layer; the protective layer covers at least a portion of the inner sidewall.

[0032] In some embodiments, the welding head further includes a temperature detection component, which is disposed on the head body, with the detection end of the temperature detection component facing the bottom surface of the head body; the temperature detection component is used to obtain temperature information of the workpiece to be processed.

[0033] In some embodiments, the temperature detecting member is located in the communicating cavity.

[0034] In some embodiments, along the first direction, the extension length of the outlet of the communicating cavity is L1; along the second direction, the extension length of the outlet of the communicating cavity is L2; ​​L1 and L2 satisfy: L1 ≥ L2;

[0035] In a plane perpendicular to the height direction of the pressure head body, the first direction and the second direction intersect.

[0036] In some embodiments, L1 satisfies: 10 mm ≤ L1 ≤ 300 mm;

[0037] And / or, L2 satisfies: 3mm≤L2≤100mm.

[0038] In a second aspect, the present application provides a welding device, comprising: a welding mechanism and the welding pressure head provided in the first aspect. The welding pressure head is connected to the welding mechanism.

[0039] In some embodiments, the welding mechanism includes: a laser emitting element, and the laser emitting end of the laser emitting element and the communicating cavity of the welding pressure head are arranged opposite to each other.

[0040] In some embodiments, the welding device further includes an air supply assembly, wherein an air supply port of the air supply assembly is connected to an air flow inlet of the welding pressure head.

[0041] In some embodiments, the welding mechanism includes a dust removal assembly, and a dust removal port of the dust removal assembly is connected to the inlet of the communication cavity of the welding pressure head.

[0042] In a third aspect, the present application provides a control method for a welding device, which is applied to the welding device provided in the second aspect; the method comprises:

[0043] obtaining position information of a workpiece to be processed between welding heads in the welding device, controlling a heating element of the welding head to start according to the position information and preset position information to heat the workpiece to be processed, and obtaining temperature information of the workpiece to be processed;

[0044] According to the temperature information and the preset temperature information, the heating element is controlled to stop, and the laser emitting element of the welding device is controlled to emit a laser beam to weld the workpiece to be processed.

[0045] In some embodiments, controlling the heating element of the welding head to start according to the position information and the preset position information further includes:

[0046] The gas supply component of the welding device is controlled to start up to supply preset gas to the welding pressure head.

[0047] In some embodiments, controlling the heating element of the welding head to start according to the position information and the preset position information further includes:

[0048] The dust removal component of the welding device is controlled to start, so as to form a negative pressure in the communication cavity of the welding pressure head.

[0049] The welding head, welding device and control method of the welding device provided in the present application relate to the field of battery manufacturing technology. The welding head includes a head body and a heating element. The head body has a connecting cavity. The inlet of the connecting cavity is located on the top surface of the head body, and the outlet of the connecting cavity is located on the bottom surface of the head body. The connecting cavity is used for the laser beam to pass through and weld the workpiece to be processed by the laser beam. The heating element is provided on the head body. When the welding head and the workpiece to be processed are connected in a cooperative manner, the heating element heats the workpiece to be processed in a non-contact manner. Through such a heating element, a thermal compensation effect is formed in the laser beam welding of the workpiece, so that the workpiece to be processed is heated evenly, and the absorption rate of the laser beam by the workpiece to be processed is improved, thereby improving the assembly efficiency and assembly yield of the battery. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0051] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a first welding head provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0052] Figure 2 A top view of a first welding pressure head provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0053] Figure 3 for Figure 2 AA section view;

[0054] Figure 4 A left side view of the first welding head provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0055] Figure 5 A bottom view of the first welding head provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0056] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a second welding head provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0057] Figure 7 A top view of a second welding head provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0058] Figure 8 for Figure 7 BB cross-sectional view;

[0059] Figure 9 A left side view of the second welding head provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0060] Figure 10 This is a bottom view of the second welding head provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0061] Description of reference numerals:

[0062] 100-welding pressure head;

[0063] 110-Indenter body;

[0064] 111-communication cavity; 1111-inlet; 1112-outlet;

[0065] 112-installation cavity;

[0066] 113-first part; 1131-first chamber;

[0067] 114-second part; 1141-second chamber;

[0068] 115-fixed part;

[0069] 116 - air flow channel; 1161 - air flow inlet; 1162 - first air flow outlet; 1163 - second air flow outlet;

[0070] 117-temperature detection component;

[0071] 120-heating element;

[0072] 121-Induction coil. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0073] To make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of this application. In the absence of conflict, the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0074] First, see Figures 1 to 3 、 Figures 6 to 8 An embodiment of the present application provides a welding ram 100, including a ram body 110, the ram body 110 having a connecting cavity 111, an inlet 1111 of the connecting cavity 111 being located on the top surface of the ram body 110, and an outlet 1112 of the connecting cavity 111 being located on the bottom surface of the ram body 110, the connecting cavity 111 being used for allowing a laser beam to pass through and for welding a workpiece to be processed by the laser beam.

[0075] It can be understood that during the use of the welding ram 100, the bottom surface of the ram body 110 faces the workpiece to be processed and abuts against the workpiece to be processed, so that pressure is applied to the workpiece to be processed through the ram body 110, so that the workpiece to be processed remains stable during laser beam welding, thereby improving the welding effect.

[0076] It should be noted that the workpiece to be processed in the embodiment of the present application can be the tabs of the battery cell and the cover of the shell, or the busbar and the battery pole, etc., which can be any workpiece that can be welded by laser beam, and the embodiment of the present application does not limit this.

[0077] When the laser beam is welding the workpiece to be processed, the absorption rate of the laser beam by the workpiece to be processed increases as the temperature of the workpiece to be processed increases. Therefore, in some embodiments, the temperature of the workpiece to be processed can be increased by passing the laser beam through the connecting cavity 111 and being emitted from the outlet 1112 of the connecting cavity 111. This allows a high-energy laser beam to subsequently pass through the connecting cavity 111 and be emitted from the workpiece to complete the laser beam welding operation.

[0078] However, in such a welding process, the laser beam needs to be emitted twice, and the laser beam used to heat the workpiece to be processed is emitted from a limited area on the workpiece to be processed. In order to ensure uniform temperature distribution of the workpiece to be processed, the processing area of ​​the workpiece to be processed needs to be split and the laser beam is emitted in sequence at the corresponding processing areas on the workpiece to be processed. This takes a long time to heat the workpiece to be processed, resulting in a long welding process, an increased welding process cycle, and reduced battery assembly efficiency. In addition, the laser beam is emitted in sequence at the processing areas of the workpiece to be processed. During this process, the temperature distribution of the workpiece to be processed after being heated by the laser beam is uneven, further resulting in poor welding quality of the workpiece after laser beam welding and a reduced battery yield.

[0079] To solve this problem, the welding head 100 in the embodiment of the present application further includes a heating element 120, which is disposed on the head body 110. When the welding head 100 is connected to the workpiece to be processed, the heating element 120 heats the workpiece to be processed in a non-contact manner.

[0080] In this way, by arranging a heating element 120 on the pressure head body 110 and heating the workpiece to be processed in a non-contact manner through the heating element 120, preheating in the laser beam welding process and thermal compensation for the workpiece welding are formed. Furthermore, the non-contact heating method can make the workpiece to be processed heated evenly, which helps to promote the absorption of the laser beam by the workpiece to be processed, thereby increasing the welding efficiency of the laser beam, thereby improving the assembly efficiency of the battery, and can also improve the welding quality, and further improve the assembly yield of the battery.

[0081] See Figure 1 and Figure 8Optionally, the heating element 120 is disposed near the bottom surface of the press head body 110. That is, along the height direction of the press head body 110, the distance between the heating element 120 and the bottom surface of the press head body 110 is smaller than the distance between the heating element 120 and the top surface of the press head body 110. In this way, by disposing the heating element 120 near the bottom surface of the press head body 110, when the press head body 110 abuts against the workpiece to be processed, the heating element 120 is close to the workpiece to be processed, ensuring that the workpiece to be processed can be heated up quickly, which helps to heat the workpiece to be processed and then be welded by the laser beam, thereby improving the assembly efficiency of the battery and improving the assembly yield of the battery.

[0082] See Figure 1 、 Figure 3 and Figure 4 As an optional embodiment, the heating element 120 is disposed outside the pressure head body 110. That is, the heating element 120 can be disposed on the peripheral outer wall of the pressure head body 110. This facilitates the connection between the heating element 120 and the pressure head body 110, improving the assembly efficiency of the welding pressure head 100. Furthermore, it facilitates the disassembly and maintenance of the heating element 120 and the pressure head body 110, reducing the maintenance difficulty and maintenance cost of the welding pressure head 100.

[0083] During the process of laser beam welding the workpiece to be processed, welding slag will be generated, and the welding slag will easily splash onto the cavity wall of the connecting cavity 111. By setting the heating element 120 outside the pressure head body 110, a protective effect is formed on the heating element 120, which can prevent the welding slag from splashing onto the heating element 120, thereby extending the service life of the heating element 120 and reducing the maintenance cost of the heating element 120.

[0084] It should be noted that the heating element 120 in the embodiment of the present application can be located outside the press head body 110 and close to the bottom surface of the press head body 110. There is no requirement for the specific position of the heating element 120 on the peripheral outer wall of the press head body 110.

[0085] Combine Figure 6 、 Figure 7 and Figure 8 Optionally, the pressure head body 110 has a mounting cavity 112 , and the mounting cavity 112 and the communicating cavity 111 are separately arranged along the wall thickness direction of the pressure head body 110 ; the heating element 120 is installed in the mounting cavity 112 .

[0086] It should be noted that the opening of the mounting cavity 112 can be toward the bottom surface of the pressure head body 110 so that the heating element 120 can be installed in the mounting cavity 112. The mounting cavity 112 in the embodiment of the present application can be an annular cavity, and along the thickness direction of the pressure head body 110, the annular cavity is arranged around the outer periphery of the communicating cavity 111. Of course, the mounting cavity 112 can also be a cylindrical cavity, etc., and the embodiment of the present application does not require the shape of the mounting cavity 112. Furthermore, the number of mounting cavities 112 in the embodiment of the present application can be one or more, and there is no limitation on this.

[0087] It is not difficult to understand that the installation cavity 112 and the connecting cavity 111 are separately arranged and not connected to each other, and the heating element 120 is arranged in the installation cavity 112, so that the heating element 120 can be isolated from the connecting cavity 111 through the installation cavity 112. The installation cavity 112 forms the installation and protection function of the heating element 120, which can prevent welding slag from splashing onto the heating element 120, thereby extending the service life of the heating element 120 and reducing the maintenance cost of the heating element 120.

[0088] See Figures 6 to 9 In some embodiments, the pressing head body 110 has a first part 113 and a second part 114, the first part 113 has a first chamber 1131, and the first chamber 1131 extends along the height direction of the pressing head body 110; the second part 114 has a second chamber 1141, and the second chamber 1141 extends along the height direction of the pressing head body 110; the first part 113 and the second part 114 are matched to connect the first chamber 1131 and the second chamber 1141 to form a connecting chamber 111.

[0089] It is easy to understand that the first chamber 1131 penetrates the first portion 113 along the height direction of the indenter body 110, and the second chamber 1141 penetrates the second portion 114 along the height direction of the indenter body 110. When the first portion 113 and the second portion 114 are aligned, the first chamber 1131 and the second chamber 1141 are connected to form a connecting chamber 111. In other words, the connecting chamber 111 penetrates the indenter body 110 along the height direction of the indenter body 110. In this way, the laser beam emission path is formed through such a connecting chamber 111. In the process of the laser beam passing through the connecting chamber 111, there is a possibility that the laser beam is reflected and scattered by the cavity wall of the connecting chamber 111, resulting in the problem of energy loss of the laser beam.

[0090] To solve this problem, see Figure 3 and Figure 8 In an optional embodiment of the present application, the cross-sectional area of ​​the communicating cavity 111 gradually decreases along the direction from the top surface to the bottom surface of the pressure head body 110 .

[0091] It can be understood that the cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting cavity 111 on the side close to the top surface of the indenter body 110 is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting cavity 111 on the side close to the bottom surface of the indenter body 110, and in the direction from the top surface to the bottom surface of the indenter body 110, because the cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting cavity 111 gradually decreases, the cross-sectional profile of the connecting cavity 111 in this direction is trumpet-shaped. In this way, such a connecting cavity 111 can play a role in focusing the laser beam, so that the laser beam gradually concentrates as it passes through the connecting cavity 111, which helps to reduce the reflection loss and heat dissipation loss of the laser beam, thereby increasing the energy density of the laser beam, further enhancing the welding efficiency and effect of the laser beam on the workpiece to be processed, and increasing the assembly efficiency and assembly yield of the battery.

[0092] There are many ways to align the first portion 113 and the second portion 114. As an optional embodiment, the first portion 113 and the second portion 114 can be integrally formed. For example, injection molding, dry pressing, isostatic pressing, and other molding processes are used, although this is not required by the present embodiment. This integrated molding process improves the manufacturing efficiency of the indenter body 110.

[0093] As an optional embodiment, the second part 114 is detachably connected to the first part 113. This facilitates the connection and disassembly between the first part 113 and the second part 114, reduces the maintenance difficulty of the pressure head body 110, and thus reduces the maintenance cost of the welding pressure head 100.

[0094] For example, the second part 114 and the first part 113 may be detachably connected by a snap-fitting manner or by a plug-fitting manner, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0095] It should be noted that the inlet 1111 of the communicating cavity 111 may be located on the surface of the first portion 113 facing away from the second portion 114, and correspondingly, the outlet 1112 of the communicating cavity 111 may be located on the surface of the second portion 114 facing away from the first portion 113. Alternatively, the inlet 1111 of the communicating cavity 111 may be located on the surface of the second portion 114 facing away from the first portion 113, and correspondingly, the outlet 1112 of the communicating cavity 111 may be located on the surface of the first portion 113 facing away from the second portion 114. This embodiment of the present application is not limited to this.

[0096] It should also be noted that the heating element 120 can be disposed in the first portion 113 or in the second portion 114 , and there is no limitation to this.

[0097] As one optional embodiment, the second portion 114 has a first surface, which forms the bottom surface of the pressure head body 110. It is readily understood that the outlet 1112 of the communication cavity 111 is located on the first surface, and the inlet 1111 of the communication cavity 111 is located on the surface of the first portion 113 facing away from the second portion 114 along the height direction of the pressure head body 110. Furthermore, along the direction from the top surface to the bottom surface of the pressure head body 110, the cross-sectional area of ​​the second cavity 1141 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the first cavity 1131, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the first cavity 1131 gradually decreases, while the cross-sectional area of ​​the second cavity 1141 gradually decreases.

[0098] In conjunction with the aforementioned embodiment, the first surface abuts the workpiece to be processed. As an optional embodiment, the heating element 120 is disposed on the second portion 114. It is easy to understand that by disposing the heating element 120 on the second portion 114 and reducing the distance between the heating element 120 and the workpiece to be processed, the energy loss caused by the heating element 120 heating the workpiece to be processed in a non-contact manner can be reduced, thereby increasing the absorption rate of the laser beam by the workpiece to be processed, thereby improving the welding efficiency and welding effect, and further improving the assembly efficiency and assembly yield of the battery.

[0099] For example, see Figure 8 The installation cavity 112 may be located in the second portion 114, and the heating element 120 may be located in the installation cavity 112, that is, the heating element 120 is disposed on the second portion 114. Of course, the heating element 120 may also be disposed on the circumferential outer wall of the second portion 114, which is not required in this embodiment of the present application.

[0100] It is readily understood that the heating element 120 raises the temperature of the workpiece in a non-contact manner. Numerous heating elements 120 can achieve non-contact heating. Alternatively, the heating element 120 may include a temperature radiating element, with the temperature radiating end of the temperature radiating element facing the bottom surface of the press head body 110.

[0101] Exemplarily, the temperature radiating element includes an infrared heater, a ceramic radiating element, or the like. The temperature radiating end of the temperature radiating element is directed toward the bottom surface of the indenter body 110 to radiate heat toward the workpiece to be processed, thereby heating the workpiece. During laser beam welding, this increases the workpiece's absorption rate of the laser beam, thereby improving welding efficiency and, consequently, battery assembly efficiency. Furthermore, because the workpiece to be processed is uniformly heated in the temperature radiation field, the quality of laser beam welding of the workpiece to be processed can be ensured, thereby improving the assembly quality and stability of the battery.

[0102] See Figure 1 、 Figure 4 、 Figure 6 and Figure 8Optionally, the heating element 120 includes an induction coil 121, which is wound around the pressure head body 110; the induction coil 121 is used for magnetic conduction with the workpiece to be processed; and the end of the induction coil 121 is used for electrical connection with a power supply.

[0103] In this way, a magnetic field is generated by the setting of the induction coil 121, and eddy currents are formed inside the workpiece to be processed, so as to achieve rapid heating of the workpiece to be processed in the magnetic field, thereby speeding up the assembly rhythm of the battery and improving the assembly efficiency of the battery. It can also increase the heating area to be processed, so that the workpiece to be processed is heated evenly, so as to efficiently absorb the laser beam, further improve the welding rhythm of the workpiece, and improve the assembly efficiency and assembly yield of the battery.

[0104] For example, see Figure 1 and Figure 8 The induction coil 121 can be arranged on the outside of the press head body 110 or in the installation cavity 112 of the press head body 110 .

[0105] In some embodiments, the induction coil 121 can be disposed in the second portion 114, wherein the second portion 114 and the first portion 113 are detachably connected. In this embodiment, the induction coil 121 can be disposed outside the second portion 114 or within the mounting cavity 112 of the second portion 114, without limitation.

[0106] See Figure 3 、 Figure 4 、 Figure 8 In some embodiments, the indenter body 110 has a fixing portion 115, and the induction coil 121 is wound around the fixing portion 115. In this way, the induction coil 121 is stably connected to the indenter body 110 through the fixing portion 115, thereby improving the connection stability between the induction coil 121 and the indenter body 110.

[0107] For example, the fixing portion 115 may be a slot, a groove, a bezel, a clamp, etc., which is not limited in the present embodiment. Figure 3 and Figure 4 When the induction coil 121 is disposed outside the indenter body 110, the fixing portion 115 may be located on the circumferential outer wall of the indenter body 110. Figure 8 When the induction coil 121 is disposed in the installation cavity 112 , the fixing portion 115 may be located in the installation cavity 112 .

[0108] The power supply in the embodiment of the present application may be an AC power supply, or a combined power supply of a DC power supply and an inverter.

[0109] When the induction coil 121 is energized, a magnetic field is generated. The ram body 110 in the embodiment of the present application includes an insulating part to prevent the ram body 110 from generating eddy currents under the action of the magnetic field, thereby avoiding heating of components on the ram body 110, etc., and further ensuring the safety of the welding ram 100.

[0110] Exemplarily, the insulating member includes a graphite member, a ceramic member, etc., and no specific requirement is made thereto.

[0111] In the embodiment of the present application, the laser beam passes through the connecting cavity 111 and welds to the workpiece to be processed at the outlet 1112. During the welding process, there is a problem of slag splashing, and the direction and angle of the slag splashing cannot be predicted. The slag may splash onto the cavity wall of the connecting cavity 111. As the welding pressure head 100 is used for a long time, the slag accumulates on the cavity wall of the connecting cavity 111, which will block the passage of the laser beam in the connecting cavity 111, causing energy loss of the laser beam, so that the assembly efficiency and assembly effect of the battery are deteriorated. Furthermore, the slag accumulated on the cavity wall of the connecting cavity 111 is not easy to clean, and the welding pressure head 100 needs to be constantly replaced, which increases the production cost of the battery. In addition, the slag is also easy to remain on the workpiece or other components of the battery, resulting in the problem of internal short circuit and thermal runaway of the battery during use, resulting in poor battery yield and safety.

[0112] To solve the above problems, see Figure 3 and Figure 8 In the embodiment of the present application, the pressure head body 110 has an air flow channel 116, the air flow channel 116 has an air flow inlet 1161 and a first air flow outlet 1162, the air flow inlet 1161 is located on the peripheral side of the pressure head body 110, and the first air flow outlet 1162 is located on the inner side of the pressure head body 110 and connected to the connecting cavity 111.

[0113] It is not difficult to understand that the air flow channel 116 is connected to the connecting cavity 111 through the first air flow outlet 1162. After the gas enters the air flow channel 116 through the air flow inlet 1161, it enters the connecting cavity 111 through the first air flow outlet 1162 and is discharged through the outlet 1112 of the connecting cavity 111. During the welding process, the spattered welding slag can be carried out of the connecting cavity 111 by the air flow, thereby preventing the welding slag from accumulating on the cavity wall of the connecting cavity 111, thereby solving the problem of the energy loss of the laser beam caused by the accumulation of welding slag on the cavity wall of the connecting cavity 111, thereby improving the assembly efficiency and assembly effect of the battery, reducing the maintenance cost of the welding pressure head 100, extending the service life of the welding pressure head 100, and further reducing the production cost of the battery. As the welding slag is discharged under the action of the air flow, it can prevent the welding slag from remaining on the battery components, thereby reducing the probability of internal short circuit and thermal runaway of the battery, thereby improving the yield and safety of the battery.

[0114] It is easy to understand that the heating element 120 is disposed on the ram body 110. As the heating element 120 heats the workpiece to be processed, the ram body 110 also heats up. Furthermore, as the laser beam passes through the connecting cavity, the inner wall of the ram body 110 inevitably absorbs a portion of the laser beam's energy, causing the ram body 110 to heat up. It is understandable that as the temperature of the ram body 110 increases, the ram body 110's absorption rate of the laser beam also increases. A decrease in the energy of the laser beam used for welding will result in a decrease in the welding effect and efficiency of the workpiece to be processed.

[0115] In order to solve this problem, in the embodiment of the present application, the air flow channel 116 further has a second air flow outlet 1163 , and the second air flow outlet 1163 is located on the top surface of the pressure head body 110 .

[0116] In this way, after the gas is introduced into the air flow channel, part of the gas enters the connecting cavity 111 through the first air flow outlet 1162 to improve the welding quality and discharge the welding slag in the connecting cavity 111. Part of the gas is discharged from the air flow channel 116 through the second air flow outlet 1163. In the air flow channel 116, the gas and the pressure head body 110 undergo heat exchange to reduce the temperature of the pressure head body 110, thereby achieving cooling and protection of the pressure head body 110, reducing the probability of deformation of the pressure head body 110 due to temperature increase, and further ensuring the structural reliability and stability of the welding pressure head 100. Furthermore, the absorption rate of the laser beam by the pressure head body 110 can be reduced, so that the energy of the laser beam is concentrated on welding the workpiece to be processed, thereby improving the welding efficiency and welding effect, thereby improving the assembly efficiency and assembly yield of the battery.

[0117] In addition, during the welding process, the gas enters the air flow channel 116 through the air flow inlet 1161 and can also be discharged through the second air flow outlet 1163, which can avoid the problem of poor air flow caused by blockage of the first air flow outlet 1162 and damage to the welding pressure head 100, thereby improving the service life of the welding pressure head 100 and ensuring the stability and safety of the battery during assembly.

[0118] It should be noted that in the embodiment of the present application, the second air flow outlet 1163 is arranged at the top of the pressure head body 110, which can extend the flow path and duration of the gas in the air flow channel 116, so that the gas can fully contact the pressure head body 110 and undergo heat exchange, so as to improve the heat utilization rate of the gas and reduce the welding energy consumption during the battery assembly process, thereby reducing the production cost of the battery.

[0119] In some embodiments, the air flow inlet 1161 and the first air flow outlet 1162 are disposed near the bottom of the ram body 110. It is readily understood that the first air flow outlet 1162 is disposed near the bottom of the ram body 110, and that the air flow enters the air flow channel 116 through the air flow inlet 1161 and enters the bottom of the communication cavity 111 through the first air flow outlet 1162. When the welding ram 100 is engaged with a workpiece to be processed, the air flow forms an air curtain at the outlet 1112 of the communication cavity 111, i.e., above the workpiece to be processed, thereby isolating oxygen and improving welding quality.

[0120] See Figure 3 and Figure 8 Optionally, the height of the first airflow outlet 1162 is higher than the height of the airflow inlet 1161 along the direction from the top surface to the bottom surface of the pressure head body 110. In this way, the airflow enters from a low position and is discharged from a high position, naturally forming an upward unidirectional flow, avoiding the generation of airflow vortexes in the connecting cavity 111, and improving the discharge efficiency and effect of welding slag.

[0121] See Figure 3 and Figure 8 Optionally, the number of the air flow channels 116 is at least two, and at least two air flow channels 116 are located on the peripheral side of the connecting cavity 111 .

[0122] For example, the number of air flow channels 116 may be two, three, or more. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the number of air flow channels 116. The provision of multiple air flow channels 116 can ensure that even if the first air flow outlets 1162 of some air flow channels 116 are blocked, gas can still be introduced into the communication cavity 111, thereby improving the stability of the welding slag discharge of the welding head 100.

[0123] It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, nitrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, etc. can be introduced into the air flow channel 116, and the embodiment of the present application does not impose any limitation on this.

[0124] During use of the welding head 100 , although welding slag can be discharged through the provision of the air flow channel 116 , there is still a situation where welding slag splashes and accumulates on the cavity wall of the communicating cavity 111 .

[0125] To address this issue, the inner sidewall of the ram body 110 in the embodiment of the present application is provided with a protective layer; the protective layer covers at least a portion of the inner sidewall. Thus, the provision of the protective layer on the inner sidewall of the ram body 110 protects the wall of the communicating cavity 111, thereby allowing for cleaning of welding slag during maintenance of the welding ram 100, reducing wear and tear on the welding ram 100 and extending its service life.

[0126] Exemplarily, the protective layer may be a diamond-like carbon layer (DLC), a polymer composite layer, etc., and the embodiments of the present application do not make specific requirements for this.

[0127] See Figure 3 and Figure 8 In some embodiments, the welding ram 100 further includes a temperature detection member 117, which is disposed on the ram body 110, with the detection end of the temperature detection member 117 facing the bottom surface of the ram body 110; the temperature detection member 117 is used to obtain temperature information of the workpiece to be processed.

[0128] The embodiment of the present application can detect the temperature information of the workpiece to be processed under the action of the heating element 120 through the setting of the temperature detection element 117, so as to control the temperature of the workpiece to be processed and the emission time of the laser beam, improve the welding processing rhythm, and thereby improve the assembly efficiency and assembly effect of the battery.

[0129] Exemplarily, the temperature detection component 117 includes a temperature sensor, a temperature coupling component, and the like.

[0130] See Figure 3 and Figure 8 Optionally, the temperature detecting member 117 is located in the communicating cavity 111. In this way, the temperature detecting member 117 obtains the temperature information of the workpiece to be processed at the outlet 1112 of the communicating cavity 111, thereby increasing the accuracy of the temperature information of the workpiece to be processed obtained by the temperature detecting member 117.

[0131] The first direction and the second direction intersect in a plane perpendicular to the height direction of the indenter body 110. The first direction may be the length direction of the indenter body 110, and the second direction may be the width direction of the indenter body 110.

[0132] See Figure 5 and Figure 10 Optionally, along the first direction, the extension length of the outlet 1112 of the communicating cavity 111 is L1; along the second direction, the extension length of the outlet 1112 of the communicating cavity 111 is L2; ​​L1 and L2 satisfy: L1≥L2.

[0133] For example, L1 satisfies: 10 mm ≤ L1 ≤ 300 mm. L1 can be: 10 mm, 30 mm, 50 mm, 80 mm, 100 mm, 200 mm, 300 mm, etc., and there is no specific requirement for this.

[0134] For example, L2 satisfies: 3mm≤L2≤100mm. L2 can be: 3mm, 10mm, 20mm, 50mm, 70mm, 100mm, etc., and no specific requirements are made.

[0135] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application may further provide a welding device, comprising: a welding mechanism and the welding pressure head 100 provided in the first aspect, wherein the welding pressure head 100 is connected to the welding mechanism.

[0136] In some embodiments, the welding mechanism can drive the welding head 100 to move relative to the workpiece to be processed, so as to adjust the relative position between the welding head 100 and the workpiece to be processed.

[0137] Optionally, the welding mechanism includes a laser emitting element, wherein the laser emitting end of the laser emitting element is disposed opposite to the communication cavity 111 of the welding head 100. Thus, by once connecting the welding mechanism and the welding head 100, and emitting a laser beam through the laser emitting element of the welding mechanism, welding of the workpiece to be processed is achieved.

[0138] In some embodiments, the welding apparatus further includes a gas supply assembly, the gas supply port of which is in communication with the air flow inlet 1161 of the welding ram 100. Thus, shielding gas is supplied to the air flow channel 116 and the communicating cavity 111 through the gas supply assembly, so that the flow of shielding gas can reduce the residual and accumulation of welding slag on the ram body 110.

[0139] In some embodiments, the welding mechanism includes a dust removal assembly, the dust removal port of which is in communication with the inlet 1111 of the communication chamber 111. The dust removal assembly can generate a negative pressure in the communication chamber 111, thereby ensuring stable contact between the workpiece and the bottom surface of the press head body 110 during welding, and can also assist in the flow of the shielding gas, thereby improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the discharge of welding slag.

[0140] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a control method for a welding device, which is applied to the welding device provided in the second aspect; the method includes:

[0141] The position information of the workpiece to be processed between the welding pressure heads 100 in the welding device is obtained, and according to the position information and preset position information, the heating element 120 of the welding pressure head 100 is controlled to start to heat the workpiece to be processed and obtain the temperature information of the workpiece to be processed.

[0142] According to the temperature information and the preset temperature information, the heating element 120 is controlled to stop, and the laser emitting element of the welding device is controlled to emit a laser beam to weld the workpiece to be processed.

[0143] It can be understood that by controlling the welding device, when the workpiece to be processed and the welding head 100 are located at the preset positions, the heating element 120 on the welding head 100 heats the workpiece to be processed. And the temperature information of the workpiece to be processed is obtained through the temperature detection element 117 on the welding head 100. When the temperature information of the workpiece to be processed reaches the preset temperature information, the heating element 120 stops, and the laser emitting element emits a laser beam to the workpiece to be processed to weld the workpiece. In this process, the workpiece to be processed is preheated by the heating element 120 to help improve the absorption rate of the workpiece to be processed to the laser beam, thereby improving the processing rhythm of the welding process and further improving the welding efficiency. Furthermore, the heating element 120 heats the workpiece to be processed in a non-contact manner, which can make the temperature distribution of the workpiece uniform, help improve the welding quality, and thus ensure the assembly yield of the battery.

[0144] It should be noted that the preset position in the embodiment of the present application is the position where the bottom surface of the press head body 110 abuts against the workpiece to be processed.

[0145] In some embodiments, controlling the activation of the heating element 120 of the welding head 100 based on the position information and the preset position information further includes controlling the activation of a gas supply assembly of the welding device to supply a preset gas to the welding head 100. In this way, supplying the preset gas to the welding head 100 through the gas supply assembly before welding can remove oxygen from the communicating cavity 111, thereby reducing the oxygen content of the weld after welding and ensuring welding quality. It can also remove impurities such as dust from the communicating cavity 111.

[0146] It should be noted that the preset gas in this embodiment is the protective gas mentioned in the aforementioned embodiment, as well as the gas introduced into the gas flow channel 116, such as nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, etc.

[0147] In some embodiments, controlling the activation of the heating element 120 of the welding head 100 based on the position information and the preset position information also includes controlling the activation of a dust removal component of the welding device to form a negative pressure within the communication chamber 111. Thus, by activating the dust removal component before welding, impurities within the communication chamber 111 are discharged, and during the welding process, spattered welding slag is discharged, thereby improving the welding quality of the workpiece after welding and improving the assembly effect of the battery.

[0148] It should be noted that after the laser beam operation is completed, the welding head 100 and the workpiece are separated from each other, and the gas supply component and the dust removal component can continue to work until the workpiece is separated from the workbench of the welding device.

[0149] It should be noted that references in this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "an exemplary embodiment," "some embodiments," and the like indicate that the described embodiment may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not necessarily every embodiment includes that particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Furthermore, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in conjunction with an embodiment, it is within the knowledge of those skilled in the art to implement such feature, structure, or characteristic in conjunction with other embodiments, whether explicitly described or not.

[0150] Generally speaking, terms should be understood, at least in part, based on the context in which they are used. For example, as used herein, the term "one or more" can be used to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic in the singular sense, or can be used to describe a combination of features, structures, or characteristics in the plural sense, depending at least in part on the context. Similarly, terms such as "a," "an," or "the" can also be understood to convey either singular or plural usage, depending at least in part on the context.

[0151] It should be readily understood that “on,” “above,” and “over” in this application should be interpreted in the broadest manner, such that “on” means not only “directly on something,” but also includes “on something” with intervening features or layers therebetween, and “above” or “over” includes not only the meaning of “above” or “over,” but also includes “above” or “over” with no intervening features or layers therebetween (i.e., directly on something).

[0152] Additionally, spatially relative terms, such as "below," "beneath," "beneath," "above," and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe the relationship of one element or feature to other elements or features as depicted in the figures. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90° or at other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptors used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

[0153] 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 make equivalent replacements for some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A welding pressure head, characterized in that: include: A press head body (110), the press head body (110) having a communication cavity (111), an inlet (1111) of the communication cavity (111) being located on the top surface of the press head body (110), and an outlet (1112) of the communication cavity (111) being located on the bottom surface of the press head body (110), the communication cavity (111) being used for allowing a laser beam to pass through and for welding a workpiece to be processed by the laser beam; the press head body (110) including an insulating member; A heating element (120), the heating element (120) being arranged on the pressure head body (110); When the welding pressure head (100) and the workpiece to be processed are connected in a cooperative manner, the heating element (120) heats the workpiece to be processed in a non-contact manner; A temperature detecting member (117) is provided on the pressing head body (110), with a detecting end of the temperature detecting member (117) facing the bottom surface of the pressing head body (110); the temperature detecting member (117) is used to obtain temperature information of the workpiece to be processed.

2. The welding pressure head according to claim 1, characterized in that The heating element (120) is arranged close to the bottom surface of the pressure head body (110).

3. The welding pressure head according to claim 2, characterized in that The heating element (120) is arranged outside the pressure head body (110).

4. The welding pressure head according to claim 2, characterized in that The pressure head body (110) has a mounting cavity (112), and along the wall thickness direction of the pressure head body (110), the mounting cavity (112) and the communicating cavity (111) are separately arranged; the heating element (120) is installed in the mounting cavity (112).

5. The welding pressure head according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The pressure head body (110) comprises a first portion (113) and a second portion (114); the first portion (113) comprises a first cavity (1131), and the first cavity (1131) extends along the height direction of the pressure head body (110); the second portion (114) comprises a second cavity (1141), and the second cavity (1141) extends along the height direction of the pressure head body (110); The first portion (113) and the second portion (114) are aligned to allow the first chamber (1131) and the second chamber (1141) to communicate with each other and form the communicating chamber (111).

6. The welding pressure head according to claim 5, characterized in that The first part (113) and the second part (114) are integrally formed.

7. The welding pressure head according to claim 5, characterized in that The second part (114) is detachably connected to the first part (113).

8. The welding pressure head according to claim 5, characterized in that The second portion (114) has a first surface, and the first surface forms the bottom surface of the indenter body (110).

9. The welding pressure head according to claim 8, characterized in that: The heating element (120) is disposed on the second portion (114).

10. The welding pressure head according to claim 5, characterized in that Along the direction from the top surface to the bottom surface of the pressure head body (110), the cross-sectional area of ​​the communication cavity (111) gradually decreases.

11. The welding pressure head according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The heating element (120) comprises a temperature radiation element, wherein the temperature radiation end of the temperature radiation element faces the side where the bottom surface of the pressure head body (110) is located.

12. The welding pressure head according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The heating element (120) comprises an induction coil (121), and the induction coil (121) is wound around the pressure head body (110); the induction coil (121) is used for magnetic conduction with the workpiece to be processed; The end of the induction coil (121) is used for electrical connection to a power source.

13. The welding pressure head according to claim 12, characterized in that The pressure head body (110) has a fixed portion (115), and the induction coil (121) is wound around the fixed portion (115).

14. The welding pressure head according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The pressure head body (110) has an air flow channel (116), and the air flow channel (116) has an air flow inlet (1161) and a first air flow outlet (1162). The air flow inlet (1161) is located on the peripheral side of the pressure head body (110), and the first air flow outlet (1162) is located on the inner side of the pressure head body (110) and is connected to the connecting cavity (111).

15. The welding pressure head according to claim 14, characterized in that The air flow inlet (1161) and the first air flow outlet (1162) are arranged near the bottom of the pressure head body (110).

16. The welding pressure head according to claim 15, characterized in that Along the direction from the top surface to the bottom surface of the pressure head body (110), the height of the first airflow outlet (1162) is higher than the height of the airflow inlet (1161).

17. The welding head according to claim 14, characterized in that The air flow channel (116) further has a second air flow outlet (1163), and the second air flow outlet (1163) is located on the top surface of the pressure head body (110).

18. The welding head according to claim 14, characterized in that The number of the air flow channels (116) is at least two, and at least two of the air flow channels (116) are located on the peripheral side of the communication cavity (111).

19. The welding pressure head according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The inner side wall of the pressure head body (110) has a protective layer; the protective layer covers at least a portion of the inner side wall.

20. The welding pressure head according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The temperature detecting member (117) is located in the communicating cavity (111).

21. The welding pressure head according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: Along the first direction, the extension length of the outlet (1112) of the communicating cavity (111) is L1; along the second direction, the extension length of the outlet (1112) of the communicating cavity (111) is L2; ​​L1 and L2 satisfy: L1≥L2; In a plane perpendicular to the height direction of the pressure head body (110), the first direction and the second direction intersect.

22. The welding head according to claim 21, characterized in that The L1 satisfies: 10mm≤L1≤300mm; And / or, L2 satisfies: 3mm≤L2≤100mm.

23. A welding device, characterized in that: include: Welding mechanism; A welding pressure head (100), wherein the welding pressure head (100) is the welding pressure head (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 22; the welding pressure head (100) is connected to the welding mechanism.

24. The welding device according to claim 23, characterized in that The welding mechanism comprises a laser emitting component, wherein the laser emitting end of the laser emitting component and the communicating cavity (111) of the welding pressure head (100) are arranged relative to each other.

25. The welding device according to claim 23, characterized in that It also includes an air supply component, wherein the air supply port of the air supply component is connected to the air flow inlet (1161) of the welding pressure head (100).

26. The welding device according to claim 23, characterized in that The welding mechanism comprises a dust removal component, wherein a dust removal port of the dust removal component is in communication with an inlet (1111) of a communication cavity (111) of the welding pressure head (100).

27. A control method for a welding device, characterized in that: Applicable to the welding device according to any one of claims 23 to 26; the method comprising: Acquiring position information of a workpiece to be processed between a welding head (100) in the welding device, controlling a heating element (120) of the welding head (100) to start according to the position information and preset position information to heat the workpiece to be processed, and acquiring temperature information of the workpiece to be processed; According to the temperature information and the preset temperature information, the heating element (120) is controlled to stop, and the laser emitting element of the welding device is controlled to emit a laser beam to weld the workpiece to be processed.

28. The control method of the welding device according to claim 27, characterized in that: According to the position information and the preset position information, the heating element (120) of the welding pressure head (100) is controlled to start, and further comprising: The gas supply component of the welding device is controlled to start up so as to supply a preset gas to the welding pressure head (100).

29. The control method of the welding device according to claim 27, characterized in that: According to the position information and the preset position information, the heating element (120) of the welding pressure head (100) is controlled to start, and further comprising: The dust removal component of the welding device is controlled to start, so as to form a negative pressure in the communication cavity (111) of the welding pressure head (100).

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