Method and device for arranging accurate positions of multiple battery cells on battery module production line

Abstract

The invention provides a method and a device for arranging the accurate positions of a plurality of battery cells on a battery module production line, and the method comprises the steps: planning at least one standard feature of each battery cell in the plurality of battery cells required by a battery module, and detecting at least one judgment feature of each battery cell in the plurality of battery cells in batches, and continuously carrying the plurality of battery cells in batches, comparing the judgment characteristics with the standard characteristics, applying at least one rotary reversing guide process to the battery cells with inconsistent judgment characteristics and standard characteristics, and splicing the plurality of battery cells to form the battery module, so as to improve the arrangement efficiency of identifying and arranging the levels of the plurality of battery cells.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery module composed of a plurality of battery cells assembled together, and particularly to a method and device for aligning a plurality of battery cells on a battery module production line. Background Art

[0002] In order to meet net-zero emissions, electric vehicles have become a major player in the vehicle industry in recent years. It is known that electric vehicles rely on battery modules for power storage and supply, and each battery module is assembled from a plurality of battery cells. Each battery cell has positive and negative contact points. Before assembly, each battery cell must adjust the relative positions of the positive and negative contact points (hereinafter referred to as alignment) in advance according to the established series or parallel requirements, so that after assembly, the battery cells can be electrically connected into the battery module through a conductive circuit.

[0003] According to the current technology of the battery module production line, most rely on manual identification of the positive and negative contact points of each battery cell, and rely on manual alignment and assembly of the battery cell alignment. Therefore, in terms of assembly efficiency and defective product elimination operations, it is still impossible to effectively improve, so it is urgent to be improved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method and device for aligning a plurality of battery cells on a battery module production line in view of the current situation of the above-mentioned existing technology, so as to improve the existing technology.

[0005] The present invention provides a method for aligning a plurality of battery cells on a battery module production line, including: planning at least one standard feature of each battery cell among the plurality of battery cells required for the battery module, and batch detecting at least one determination feature of each battery cell among the plurality of battery cells, then batch transporting the plurality of battery cells to move, and then batch-aligning the alignment of the plurality of battery cells according to at least one of the determination features, so as to assemble the plurality of battery cells into the battery module; wherein, at least one of the standard features includes a pole-direction standard feature of the relative positions of the positive and negative contact points of the battery cells required for the assembly of the battery module, and at least one of the determination features includes a pole-direction determination feature for detecting the relative positions of the positive and negative contact points of the battery cells. When there is a difference between the pole-direction determination feature and the pole-direction standard feature, during the process of batch-aligning the alignment of the plurality of battery cells, a rotation and direction-changing process is applied to at least one of the battery cells with different pole-direction features, so that the pole-direction features of each battery cell among the plurality of battery cells are made consistent with the standard feature.

[0006] In a further implementation method, it further includes:

[0007] During the process of batch transporting the plurality of battery cells to move, it includes applying an adjustment spacing process to the plurality of battery cells.

[0008] At least one of the standard features further includes a good product standard feature of the standard outer contour of the battery cell, and at least one of the judgment features further includes a defective product judgment feature for detecting the outer contour of the battery cell. When there is a difference between the defective product judgment feature and the good product standard feature, a defective product removal process and a good product replacement process are sequentially performed for at least one of the battery cells with the defective product judgment feature during the process of batch transport of the plurality of battery cells. The spacing adjustment process is performed after the good product replacement process.

[0009] At least one of the determination features also includes a barcode determination feature for recording the battery cell parameters, and at least one of the standard features also includes a barcode sequence feature for providing a record of the barcode determination feature. After detecting the barcode determination feature of each battery cell, the parameters of each battery cell in the assembled battery module will be recorded in the barcode sequence feature.

[0010] In addition, the above method can be fully implemented based on a device for aligning the positions of multiple battery cells on a battery module production line provided by the present invention, and the aligning device includes: an inspection area station, including a chamber constructed on a feed conveyor line for allowing the multiple battery cells to pass through in batches, and a plurality of detection elements arranged in the chamber, and the plurality of detection elements are used to batch detect at least one determination feature of each of the multiple battery cells; a control unit, which has at least one standard feature of each of the battery cells built in, and stores and determines at least one determination feature and at least one standard feature of each of the battery cells; a multi-axis transporter, which is electrically connected to the control unit and is attached with a fixture, for driving the fixture to batch capture and transport the multiple battery cells that have passed the detection of the determination features in the inspection area station at one time; a level aligning area station, including a control unit according to the batch The number of multiple battery cells is calculated, and multiple battery cell embedding slots of equal quantity are planned on a row of whole machines. The multi-axis transporter transports the multiple battery cells in batches to the multiple battery cell embedding slots at one time to place and then arrange each of the battery cells; wherein each of the battery cell embedding slots is connected to a rotator, and each of the rotators is used to drive each of the battery cells in each of the battery cell embedding slots to rotate; at least one of the determination features includes a polarity determination feature for detecting the relative position of the positive and negative contacts of the battery cell, and at least one of the standard features includes a polarity standard feature for the relative position of the positive and negative contacts of the battery cell required by the battery module. When the control unit determines that there is a difference between the polarity determination feature and the standard feature, the rotator of at least one of the battery cells with the different polarity features is driven to rotate, so as to correct the polarity features of the multiple battery cells in the quasi-position arrangement station.

[0011] In further device implementation details, it also includes:

[0012] The fixture is provided with multiple pairs of clamping claws capable of opening and closing, which are used to batch pick up and transport the plural battery cells passing through the detection area station and detecting the determination features at one time. Multiple thrusters and multiple sets of transmission elements are paired and arranged on the fixture. Each set of the transmission elements is transmission-connected between each thruster and each pair of the clamping claws. Each thruster can drive each pair of the clamping claws to move relatively through each set of the transmission elements, so as to adjust the relative spacing between each battery cell after multiple pairs of the clamping claws jointly pick up the plural battery cells. Multiple pairs of the clamping claws on the fixture are distributed at intervals along a straight line and adjust the relative spacing between each battery cell on the straight line.

[0013] Multiple battery cell embedding grooves transmission-connected with the rotator are jointly arranged on a lifting and arranging platform. The lifting and arranging platform can drive multiple battery cell embedding grooves to lift synchronously under the drive of a lifter.

[0014] At least one of the standard features further includes a good product standard feature of the standard outer contour of the battery cell. At least one of the determination features further includes a defective product determination feature for detecting the outer contour of the battery cell. The arranging device further includes a defective product discharging area station and a good product replenishing area station arranged adjacent to each other. When the control unit determines that there is a difference between the defective product determination feature and the good product standard feature, the multi-axis transporter batches and transports the plural battery cells to the defective product discharging area station to drive the clamping claws holding the defective product determination feature to release a defective product battery cell, and the good product replenishing area station replenishes a good product battery cell for the clamping claws that have released each defective product battery cell.

[0015] The defective product discharging area station is composed of a defective product discharging line adjacent to the detection area station and the alignment and arranging area station. The good product replenishing area station is composed of at least one good product lifter adjacent to the defective product discharging area station and the alignment and arranging area station. The good product lifters are arranged at intervals along the straight line in a plurality.

[0016] At least one of the determination features further includes a barcode determination feature for recording the battery cell parameters, and at least one of the standard features further includes a barcode sequence feature for providing the barcode determination feature to record.

[0017] According to the above implementation content, the effects generated by the present invention include:

[0018] 1. Automatically identify the positive and negative directions of each battery cell to be assembled in the battery module production line, and according to the series and parallel requirements of each battery cell in the battery module, use the rotation and commutation means to guide the battery cells with inconsistent positive directions, so as to facilitate the automatic arrangement and assembly of plural battery cells into a battery module, and improve the problem of poor assembly efficiency of manually identifying, arranging and assembling battery cells.

[0019] 2. During the process of batch transporting a plurality of battery cells, the relative spacing between the plurality of battery cells can be automatically adjusted to facilitate overcoming the problem of inconsistent spacing between the picking and placing slots at the picking end and placing end of the plurality of battery cells.

[0020] 3. The process of automatically adjusting the relative spacing between a plurality of battery cells is performed by a jig attached to a multi-axis transporter. There is no need to add a spacing conversion area station, which can relatively save the alignment and splicing time of the plurality of battery cells and is beneficial to improving the process rate.

[0021] 4. During the automatic alignment process of a plurality of battery cells, it has the functions of detecting, removing defective products and replenishing good products, which can effectively improve the assembly yield of the battery module.

[0022] For this reason, please further refer to the drawings and elaborate on the preferred embodiments of the present invention as described below. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] Figure 1 It is a top view schematic diagram of the device for aligning and arranging a plurality of battery cells of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 It is the use of Figure 1 The step block diagram of the method for aligning and arranging a plurality of battery cells using the shown device.

[0025] Figure 3 It is Figure 2 The comparison schematic diagram of the judgment characteristics and standard characteristics of the shown battery cell.

[0026] Figure 4 It is Figure 1 The three-dimensional schematic diagram of the shown alignment and arrangement area station.

[0027] Figure 5 It is Figure 4 The action schematic diagram of the battery cell embedding groove carrying the battery cell for rotation and commutation.

[0028] Figure 6 It is Figure 1 The comparison and explanation diagram of the shown feeding carrier and the arranging machine table, showing that the relative spacing between the plurality of battery cell accommodating grooves on the feeding carrier and the plurality of battery cell embedding grooves on the arranging machine table is not equal.

[0029] Figure 7 It is Figure 1 The three-dimensional external view of the shown jig.

[0030] Figure 8 It is Figure 7 The side view schematic diagram of

[0031] Figure 9 It is Figure 7 The top view schematic diagram of

[0032] Figures 10a to 10c In sequence is Figure 7 An action illustration diagram for adjusting the relative spacing by successively separating multiple clamping claws.

[0033] Figure 11 It is composed of Figure 2 A block schematic diagram of another additional step extended therefrom.

[0034] Figure 12 It is Figure 1 A three-dimensional external view of the good product replacement area station shown.

[0035] Explanation of reference numerals: 10 - battery cell; 11 - positive electrode contact; 12 - negative electrode contact; 13 - long side; 14 - short side; 15 - defective battery cell; 16 - good battery cell; 20 - detection area station; 21 - feeding conveyor line; 22 - chamber; 23 - detection element; 24 - feeding stage; 241 - battery cell accommodation groove; 30 - control unit; 40 - multi-axis handler; 50 - alignment and rectification area station; 51 - rectification machine table; 52 - battery cell embedding groove; 53 - rectification platform; 54 - rotator; 55 - lifter; 56 - flipper; 561 - flipping table; 562 - clamping jaw; 563 - driver; 60 - fixture; 61 - base plate; 62 - connecting seat; 63 - pusher; 64 - transmission element; 641 - active sliding seat; 642 - driven sliding seat; 643 - pull rod; 644 - stop portion; 65 - slide rail; 66 - clamping claw; 661 - positioning clamping claw; 662 - sliding clamping claw; 662' - front sliding clamping claw; 662'' - rear sliding clamping claw; 70 - discharging area; 71 - discharging stage; 80 - defective product removal area station; 81 - defective product discharging line; 90 - good product replacement area station; 91 - good product lifter; 911 - placement groove; 912 - lifter; 913 - base; C - standard feature; C1 - pole direction standard feature; C2 - good product standard feature; C3 - bar code sequence feature; D - determination feature; D1 - pole direction determination feature; D2 - defective product determination feature; D3 - bar code determination feature; H1, H2 - relative spacing; L - straight line; S1 to S6, S41 - step description. Detailed implementation manners

[0036] Since the battery module is assembled by a plurality of battery cells with positive and negative polarities, when planning the automated production line of the battery module, at least the positive and negative polarity features of each battery cell must be identified, and then aligned according to the established specifications of series or parallel connection, and then assembled into the required battery module.

[0037] To perform the above alignment process, first, please refer to Figure 1, provided by the present invention, is an alignment device for performing the alignment process of a plurality of battery cells 10 on the production line of a battery module. The alignment process means the process of aligning the relative positions of the battery cells 10 according to the established series or parallel plan of the plurality of battery cells 10 during the production of the battery module.

[0038] Figure 1 The alignment device provided therein at least includes a detection area station 20, a control unit 30, a multi-axis transporter 40, and an alignment area station 50. Figure 1 And it is shown by a dashed line that the control unit 30 is electrically connected between the detection area station 20, the multi-axis transporter 40, and the alignment area station 50. The control unit 30 may be composed of elements with logical program control capabilities such as PLC and MCU.

[0039] The detection area station 20 includes a chamber 22 constructed on a feeding conveyor 21 for the batch passage of the plurality of battery cells 10. A plurality of detection elements 23 are arranged in the chamber 22. The plurality of detection elements 23 can be made of photosensitive coupling elements (CCD) or other light sensing elements such as lasers or infrared rays, so that the plurality of detection elements 23 can be arranged around the inner wall of the chamber 22. It must be stated that the batch means the number of battery cells required to assemble a single battery module.

[0040] The multi-axis transporter 40 can be a robotic arm or other automatic handling equipment with multi-axis movement capabilities, used to be installed between the detection area station 20 and the alignment area station 50 to be responsible for batch handling of the plurality of battery cells 10. Further, a jig 60 is installed on the handling head of the multi-axis transporter 40. The multi-axis transporter 40 can drive the jig 60 to batch pick up and transport the plurality of battery cells 10 passing through the detection of the determination feature D in the detection area station 20 to the alignment area station 50 according to the instructions of the control unit 30.

[0041] The alignment area station 50 includes a plurality of cell embedding slots 52 equal in number to the plurality of battery cells 10 in batch planned on an alignment machine table 51. The multi-axis transporter 40 can batch transport the plurality of battery cells 10 to be placed in the plurality of cell embedding slots 52 at one time, and align the positions of the battery cells 10 by means of the relative positions between the plurality of cell embedding slots 52.

[0042] Please further refer to Figure 2 , provided by the present invention, for the alignment of a plurality of battery cells 10 on the battery module production line, can be performed according to Figure 1 the alignment device shown and perform an alignment method, including performing the following steps S1 to S6.

[0043] Step S1: Plan the standard features of a plurality of battery cells

[0044] In this step, at least one standard feature C of the plurality of battery cells is planned according to the established specifications of the plurality of battery cells 10 required for the battery module to be assembled, and at least one of the standard features C is built and stored in Figure 1 the control unit 30 shown

[0045] Please refer further to Figure 3 , providing that at least one of the standard features C must at least include a pole direction standard feature C1 of the relative positions of the positive and negative electrode contacts of the plurality of battery cells 10. In addition, at least one of the standard features C may further include a good product standard feature C2 of the standard outer contour of each battery cell 10 and a barcode sequence feature C3 for recording the barcode determination feature D3 described below

[0046] Step S2: Detect the determination features of the plurality of battery cells

[0047] In this step, according to the number of the plurality of battery cells 10 required for assembling the battery module, the detection area station 20 shown in Figure 1 is used to batch detect at least one determination feature D of each battery cell 10 in the plurality of battery cells at one time. Further, by means of the feeding conveyor 21, a feeding carrier 24 is stepped, and a plurality of battery cell accommodating grooves 241 for batch accommodating the plurality of battery cells 10 are equidistantly arranged on the feeding carrier 24, so that the feeding carrier 24 can batch carry the required number of the plurality of battery cells 10 through the chamber 22 by means of the plurality of battery cell accommodating grooves 241, and the determination feature D of each battery cell 10 is detected by means of the plurality of detection elements 23, and the determination feature D is stored in Figure 1 the control unit 30 shown. Among them, the plurality of battery cells 10 are vertically placed in an interval array on the feeding carrier 24, each battery cell 10 is in a rectangular shape, and a positive electrode contact 11 and a negative electrode contact 12 are exposed on the X-Y plane, and each battery cell 10 has two long side end faces 13 and two short side end faces 14 distributed on both sides of the positive electrode contact 11 and the negative electrode contact 12

[0048] Please refer further to Figure 3 , providing that at least one of the determination features D must at least include a pole direction determination feature D1 of the relative positions of the positive and negative electrode contacts of the battery cell 10. In addition, at least one of the determination features D may further include a defective product determination feature D2 of the outer contour of each battery cell 10 and a barcode determination feature D3 for recording the parameters of each battery cell 10

[0049] Step S3: Batch handling of the movement of the plurality of battery cells

[0050] In this step, the one shown in Figure 1The shown control unit 30 drives the fixture 60 on the multi-axis handler 40 to batch pick up the plural battery cells 10 on the feeding stage 24 of the chamber 22 at one time, and then the multi-axis handler 40 transports the plural battery cells 10 to the alignment and sorting area station 50 for placement.

[0051] Step S4: Compare the standard feature and the determination feature

[0052] In this step, by Figure 1 the control unit 30 storing the standard feature C and the determination feature D of each battery cell 10, compare the standard feature C and the determination feature D to determine whether there is a difference between the determination feature D and the standard feature C of each of the relatively positioned battery cells 10.

[0053] When there is a difference between the determination feature D and the standard feature C, when the pole direction determination feature D1 including the relative positions of the positive and negative contacts of each battery cell 10 is opposite to or inconsistent with the pole direction standard feature C1, when the good product determination feature D2 of the outer contour of each battery cell 10 is inconsistent with the good product standard feature C2, or when the barcode determination feature D3 of each battery cell 10 is inconsistent with the barcode sequence feature C3, continue to execute the following step S5. When there is no difference between the above determination feature D and the above standard feature C, step S6 is continued to be executed from this step S4.

[0054] Step S5: Align the positions of the plural battery cells

[0055] This step is to perform pre-alignment before assembling according to the established specifications of the plural battery cells 10 in the battery module to be assembled. And this step is by Figure 1 the shown control unit 30 controlling each battery cell embedding slot 52 in the alignment and sorting area station 50 to align the positions of the battery cells 10 placed in its slots.

[0056] Furthermore, since the pole direction determination feature D1 of the relative positions of the positive and negative contacts of each battery cell 10 must be the same as or consistent with the pole direction standard feature C1, which is an essential element for implementing the method of the present invention, during the process of aligning the positions of the plural battery cells 10 in this step, it especially includes performing respective turning processes on the battery cells 10 whose pole direction determination feature D1 is opposite to or inconsistent with the pole direction standard feature C1.

[0057] For this reason, further refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , respectively provide Figure 1The three-dimensional and front-view images of the quasi-alignment area station 50 shown in the figure indicate that at least one row of aligning platforms 53 are arranged on the aligning machine 51, and the plurality of battery cell embedding grooves 52 are arranged on the aligning platform 53 at equal intervals and in a manner that they do not interfere with each other when they rotate, so as to provide batches of the plurality of battery cells 10 for placement; in addition, the bottoms of the plurality of battery cell embedding grooves 52 are respectively connected to a rotator 54 through the aligning platform 53, and each rotator 54 can be made of a pneumatic rotary cylinder or a motor to drive the battery cells 10 in each battery cell embedding groove 52 to rotate.

[0058] In the above step S4, when the control unit 30 determines that the polarity determination feature D1 of each battery cell 10 is opposite to or inconsistent with the polarity standard feature C1 (that is, there is a difference), the control unit 30 will then drive the rotator 54 of at least one of the battery cells 10 whose polarity determination feature D1 is different to rotate in this step S5, so as to correct the polarity positions of the positive and negative contacts 11, 12 of the plurality of battery cells 10 in the level arrangement station 50, that is, to correct the polarity positions of the positive contacts 11 and the negative contacts 12 of the plurality of battery cells 10 in the required batch of each battery module to be consistent with the planning of the polarity standard feature C1.

[0059] Furthermore, the row finishing platform 53 can be a fixed platform fixed on the row finishing machine 51, or can be a fixed platform such as Figure 4 and Figure 5 A lifting platform that can be lifted and lowered along the Z axis is shown. Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, a lifter 55 can be arranged at the bottom of the arranging platform 53 along the Z-axis direction, so that the arranging platform 53 is implemented as a lifting platform. The control unit 30 can drive the lifter 55 to drive the plurality of battery cell embedding slots 52 to be lifted along the Z-axis direction, so that the plurality of battery cells 10 transported by the multi-axis transporter 40 in step S3 can be accurately placed in each battery cell embedding slot 52, and it is convenient for each battery cell embedding slot 52 with the battery cell 10 to perform the rotation reversing and unloading process; in addition, the control unit 30 can also drive the lifter 55 to drive the plurality of battery cell embedding slots 52 to descend and reset along the Z-axis direction.

[0060] In addition, according to the planning requirements of the battery module, such as Figure 1 As shown, the arranged cells 10 can be assembled in a horizontal position. Figure 4 The flipper 56 shown performs a flipping process on the arranged plurality of battery cells 10. Figure 4On the aligning machine 51 provided in the leveling and aligning area station 50, a flipper 56 can also be configured adjacent to the side of the aligning machine 51. The flipper 56 includes a flipping table 561, multiple groups of clamping jaws 562, and a driver 563 fixedly disposed on the aligning machine 51. Multiple groups of the clamping jaws 562 are arranged on the flipping table 561 at equal amounts and equal intervals at the relative positions of the multiple battery cell embedding slots 52, and multiple groups of the clamping jaws 562 are axially connected via the driver 563 to form a transmission connection. Among them, each group of the clamping jaws 562 can be made of a clamping jaw cylinder with the ability to open and close; the driver 563 can be composed of a motor drivingly connected to a gear reducer or replaced by a rotary cylinder.

[0061] The function of the flipper 56 is that after the alignment of multiple battery cells in step S5 is completed, it can immediately pick up each battery cell 10 on multiple battery cell embedding slots 52 through multiple groups of the clamping jaws 562 and synchronously leave the battery cell embedding slots 52 (i.e., discharging), and synchronously drive each battery cell 10 to flip 90 degrees (as Figure 1 shown), so that the long side end face 13 on one side of each battery cell 10 is exposed in the X-Y plane, facilitating the execution of subsequent step 6. During the process of the flipper 56 flipping and discharging the battery cells, it can maintain the alignment between the battery cells 10 after the leveling and alignment.

[0062] Step S6: Assembling multiple battery cells into a battery module

[0063] As Figure 1 shown, in this step, a discharging carrier 71 is placed on a discharging area 70 to provide discharging for the assembled multiple battery cells 10. The discharging area 70 can be composed of a discharging conveyor line capable of transporting the discharging carrier 71 to move, and is located on one side of the leveling and aligning area station 50; the flipper 56 can assemble the multiple battery cells 10 required for each battery module in a batch-by-batch and multiple handling manner on the discharging carrier 71. Since the long side end face 13 of each battery cell 10 is exposed in the X-Y plane, it is beneficial to apply glue on the long side end face 13, and thus it is beneficial to assemble each battery module in a stacking and bonding manner.

[0064] During the execution of the above steps S1 to S6, it can be known from the process of aligning multiple battery cells 10 in step S5 that the battery cells 10 with inconsistent positive and negative directions must be subjected to a process of rotating and reversing. Among them, the multiple battery cell embedding slots 52 are arranged on the aligning platform 53 at equal intervals and in a manner that they do not interfere with each other during their respective rotations, so as Figure 6As shown, the relative spacing H2 between multiple battery cell embedding grooves 52 is not necessarily equal to the relative spacing H1 between multiple battery cell accommodating grooves 241 on the feeding platform 24. In other words, based on the established requirement of reducing the component space, the feeding platform 24 generally does not consider that the relative spacing H1 between multiple battery cell accommodating grooves 241 must be sufficient to supply the requirement for the rotation of each battery cell accommodating groove 241. Therefore, the relative spacing H1 between multiple battery cell accommodating grooves 241 is necessarily smaller than the relative spacing H2 between multiple battery cell embedding grooves 52 sufficient to provide rotation in step S5.

[0065] Based on this, during the process of using the multi-axis transporter 40 to batch transport a plurality of battery cells 10 to the alignment and rectification area station 50 for placement in step S3 of the present invention, an operation of adjusting the spacing is further included for the plurality of battery cells 10.

[0066] The operation of adjusting the spacing refers to that after the jig 60 picks up the plurality of battery cells 10 with a relative spacing H1 on the feeding platform 24 at one time, during the transportation process, the jig 60 has the ability to adjust the relative spacing between the plurality of battery cells 10, that is, to make the relative spacing between the plurality of battery cells 10 equal to the relative spacing H2 between multiple battery cell embedding grooves 52. Then, the multi-axis transporter 40 can accurately place the adjusted plurality of battery cells 10 into multiple battery cell embedding grooves 52 for rectification.

[0067] For this purpose, multiple pairs of grippers 66 with opening and closing capabilities can be planned and set on the jig 60 for batch picking up and transporting at one time Figure 1 the plurality of battery cells 10 in the detection area station 20 shown that pass the detection of the determination features.

[0068] Furthermore, in the embodiments listed in the present invention, the number of the batch of the plurality of battery cells 10 is 5. Please refer to Figures 7 to 10a together, wherein;

[0069] Figures 7 to 8 It is jointly revealed that multiple pairs of the grippers 66 include a positioning gripper 661 and two pairs of transverse sliding grippers 662. The two pairs of transverse sliding grippers 662 are respectively paired by a front sliding gripper 662' and a rear sliding gripper 662", and are then arranged on both sides of the positioning gripper 661. Among them, each gripper 66 can be composed of a commercially available cylinder-type gripper.

[0070] The jig 60 includes a base plate 61 and an adapter seat 62 configured on the base plate 61 for attaching to the multi-axis transporter 40. The jig 60 further includes two thrusters 63 and two sets of transmission elements 64 configured on the base plate 61.

[0071] The two sets of the transmission elements 64 are respectively drivingly connected between one of the thrusters 63 and a pair of the sliding claws 662, and the two thrusters 63 respectively drive a pair of the sliding claws 662 to move relatively in sequence via each set of the transmission elements 64, so as to adjust the relative spacing between the respective cells 10 after a plurality of pairs of the claws 66 pick up a batch of the plural cells 10. Wherein, the two thrusters 63 can be made of air cylinders, and the two pairs of the claws 66 are spaced apart along a straight line L (as shown in Figure 9 ), and the relative spacing between the respective cells 10 is adjusted along the straight line L.

[0072] Furthermore, please refer to Figure 10a . It is revealed that two sets of slide rails 65 can be arranged at the bottom of the seat plate 61 corresponding to the two sets of the transmission elements 64, and each set of the slide rails 65 can be composed of a single or two slide rails; a driving slide seat 641 is installed on each of the front sliding claws 662' of each set of the transmission elements 64, and a driven slide seat 642 is installed on the rear sliding claws 662"; the driving slide seat 641 and the driven slide seat 642 are respectively slidably arranged on the corresponding slide rails 65, and a pull rod 643 is fixedly connected to the driving slide seat 641. The pull rod 643 passes through the driven slide seat 642, and a stop portion 644 is formed at the end of the pull rod 641. With such an arrangement, Figure 10a it is also revealed that the relative spacing H1 between the plurality of cell accommodating grooves 241 on the feeding platform 24 as shown in Figure 6 can be maintained between the plurality of the claws 66, so that the plurality of the claws 66 on the jig 60 can smoothly pick up the plural cells 10 on the plurality of the cell accommodating grooves 241.

[0073] Please further refer to Figure 10b . It is described that when each thruster 63 directly pushes the driving slide seat 641 slidably arranged on each set of the slide rails 65 to move relatively apart, at this time, the pull rod 643 fixedly connected to the driving slide seat 641 moves along with the driving slide seat 641.

[0074] Continuously refer to Figure 10c . It is continuously described that through the continuous pushing of each thruster 63, the stop portion 644 of each pull rod 643 will pull the driven slide seat 642 to move relatively apart accordingly, so that the relative spacing as shown in Figure 6The relative spacing H2 between multiple of the battery cell embedding slots 52 on the shown aligning machine 51 is provided to facilitate the smooth placement of the multiple claws 66 on the jig 60 to place the plural battery cells 10 in the multiple battery cell embedding slots 52 for the rotation and reorientation process. Subsequently, during the process of resetting and retracting, each pusher 63 can sequentially pull the front sliding claws 662' and the rear sliding claws 662" to move and reset them respectively.

[0075] Please refer to Figure 11 , and further illustrate that when Figure 3 at least one of the standard features C can include the good product standard feature C2, and at least one of the determination features D can include the defective product determination feature D2, Figure 2 between the shown step S4 and step S5, a step S41 can be added.

[0076] Step S41: Remove defective products and supplement with good products (such as Figure 11 )

[0077] This step means that when Figure 1 and Figure 2 the control unit 30 shown determines that there is a difference between the defective product determination feature D2 and the good product standard feature C2, during the process of using the multi-axis handler 40 to batch transport the plural battery cells 10 to the alignment and leveling area station 50 for placement in step S3, for at least one of the battery cells 10 with the defective product determination feature D2, a defective product removal process and a good product supplement process are sequentially performed, and the above-mentioned spacing adjustment process can be carried out after the good product supplement process. Furthermore, in order to be able to actually execute this step S41, the alignment device of the present invention further includes a defective product removal area station and a good product supplement area station.

[0078] Please refer back to Figure 1 , and provide that the defective product removal area station 80 can be composed of a defective product discharge line 81 adjacent to between the detection area station 20 and the alignment and leveling area station 50. Once the control unit 30 determines that there is a difference between the defective product determination feature D2 and the good product standard feature C2, the multi-axis handler 40 batches transports the plural battery cells 10 to the defective product removal area station 80 to drive the claws 66 holding the defective product determination feature to release a defective battery cell 15 to the defective product discharge line 81.

[0079] In order to execute the above step S41, a predefined external standard profile of a good battery cell can be built in step S4 as the comparison standard for the good product standard feature C2. The external standard profile can be the predefined specification dimensions of three end faces of the good battery cell to detect and remove defective battery cells with damaged external shapes.

[0080] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 12, the good product replacement area station 90 can be constituted by at least one good product lifter 91 adjacent to the defective product unloading area station 80 and the alignment and rectification area station 50; at least one of the good product lifters 91 includes a placement groove 911 capable of accommodating a good product battery cell 16 and a lifter 912 for driving the lifting of the placement groove 911. The lifter 912 can be made of a pneumatic cylinder and is fixed on a base 913. Among them, the good product battery cell 16 placed in the placement groove 911 has the standard feature C described in step S1, so there is no need to perform the comparison process of step S4. Based on this configuration, the good product replacement area station 90 can replace the good product battery cell 16 for the clamping claws 66 that have released each defective product battery cell 15, so that the battery cells clamped by the multiple clamping claws 66 on the jig 60 are all good products, so as to prevent defective product battery cells 15 from being mixed into the alignment and rectification of the plurality of battery cells in step S5 and subsequent processes.

[0081] Furthermore, please cooperate with Figure 1 and Figure 12 As shown, it is also provided that the good product lifters 91 can be arranged at intervals along Figure 9 the straight line L shown to form a plurality of them, so that the plurality of good product lifters 91 can correspond to multiple pairs of the clamping claws 66 on the jig 60 that have been adjusted to the corresponding relative distances, and it is beneficial to replace the good product battery cell 16 for the clamping claws 66 that have released each defective product battery cell 15, so as to facilitate reducing the moving path of the multi-axis transporter 40 during the process of transporting good product battery cells.

[0082] The above embodiments only express the preferred implementation modes of the present invention, but cannot be construed as limiting the scope covered by the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should be based on the content of the claims defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A method for aligning multiple battery cells on a battery module production line, characterized in that, it includes: Planning at least one standard feature of each of the multiple battery cells required for the battery module, and batch detecting at least one determination feature of each of the multiple battery cells. Subsequently, batch transporting the multiple battery cells to move, and then batch-aligning the positions of the multiple battery cells according to at least one of the determination features, so as to assemble the multiple battery cells into the battery module; Wherein, at least one of the standard features includes a pole-direction standard feature of the relative positions of the positive and negative contacts of the battery cells required for the assembly of the battery module. At least one of the determination features includes a pole-direction determination feature for detecting the relative positions of the positive and negative contacts of the battery cells. When there is a difference between the pole-direction determination feature and the pole-direction standard feature, during the process of batch-aligning the positions of the multiple battery cells, a rotation and orientation process is applied to at least one of the battery cells with different pole-direction features, so as to align the pole-direction features of each of the multiple battery cells with the standard feature.

2. The method for aligning multiple battery cells on a battery module production line according to claim 1, characterized in that, During the process of batch transporting the multiple battery cells to move, it includes applying an adjustment spacing process to the multiple battery cells.

3. The method for aligning multiple battery cells on a battery module production line according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one of the standard features further includes a good product standard feature of the standard outer contour of the battery cell. At least one of the determination features further includes a defective product determination feature for detecting the outer contour of the battery cell. When there is a difference between the defective product determination feature and the good product standard feature, during the process of batch transporting the multiple battery cells to move, a defective product removal process and a good product replacement process are sequentially performed on at least one of the battery cells with the defective product determination feature.

4. The method for aligning multiple battery cells on a battery module production line according to claim 3, characterized in that, During the process of batch transporting the multiple battery cells to move, it includes applying an adjustment spacing process to the multiple battery cells.

5. The method for aligning multiple battery cells on a battery module production line according to claim 4, characterized in that, This adjustment spacing process is carried out after the good product replacement process.

6. The method for aligning multiple battery cells on a battery module production line according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one of the determination features further includes a barcode determination feature for recording battery cell parameters. At least one of the standard features further includes a barcode sequence feature for providing the barcode determination feature to record. And after detecting the barcode determination feature of each battery cell, record the parameters of each battery cell in the assembled battery module in the barcode sequence feature.

7. An apparatus for aligning multiple battery cells on a battery module production line, characterized in that, it includes: A detection area station, including a chamber constructed on a feeding conveyor line that can allow the multiple battery cells to pass through in batches, and a plurality of detection elements arranged in the chamber, and the plurality of detection elements are used to batch detect at least one determination feature of each of the multiple battery cells; A control unit, which has built-in at least one standard feature of each of the battery cells, and stores and determines at least one of the determination features and at least one of the standard features of each of the battery cells; A multi-axis handler, electrically connected to the control unit and attached with a jig, for driving the jig to batch pick up and transport the plurality of battery cells that pass the detection of the determination features in the detection area station at one time; An alignment and arranging area station, which includes a plurality of battery cell embedding slots of equal quantity planned on an arranging table according to the quantity of the plurality of battery cells in batch. The multi-axis handler transports the plurality of battery cells to the plurality of battery cell embedding slots in batch at one time and places them therein to align and arrange each of the battery cells; Wherein: Each of the battery cell embedding slots is drivingly connected to a rotator, and each of the rotators is used to drive each of the battery cells in each of the battery cell embedding slots to turn; At least one of the determination features includes a pole direction determination feature for detecting the relative positions of the positive and negative contact points of the battery cell, and at least one of the standard features includes a pole direction standard feature of the relative positions of the positive and negative contact points of the battery cell required by the battery module. When the control unit determines that there is a difference between the pole direction determination feature and the standard feature, it drives the rotator of at least one of the battery cells with different pole direction features to rotate, so as to correct the pole direction features of the plurality of battery cells in the alignment and arranging area station.

8. The alignment and arranging device for aligning a plurality of battery cells on a battery module production line as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that, The jig is provided with multiple pairs of claws with opening and closing capabilities, for batch picking up and transporting the plurality of battery cells that pass the detection of the determination features in the detection area station at one time.

9. The alignment and arranging device for aligning a plurality of battery cells on a battery module production line as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that, The jig is pairwise configured with a plurality of pushers and multiple groups of transmission elements. Each group of the transmission elements is drivingly connected between each of the pushers and each pair of the claws. Each of the pushers can drive each pair of the claws to move relatively via each group of the transmission elements, so as to adjust the relative spacing between each of the battery cells after the multiple pairs of the claws jointly pick up the plurality of battery cells.

10. The alignment and arranging device for aligning a plurality of battery cells on a battery module production line as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that, The multiple pairs of the claws on the jig are distributed at intervals along a straight line and adjust the relative spacing between each of the battery cells on the straight line.

11. The alignment and arranging device for aligning a plurality of battery cells on a battery module production line as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that, The plurality of battery cell embedding slots drivingly connected with the rotators are jointly arranged on a lifting alignment and arranging platform, and the lifting alignment and arranging platform can be driven by a lifter to drive the plurality of battery cell embedding slots to lift synchronously.

12. The alignment and arranging device for aligning a plurality of battery cells on a battery module production line as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that, At least one of the standard features further includes a good product standard feature of the standard outer contour of the battery cell, and at least one of the determination features further includes a defective product determination feature for detecting the outer contour of the battery cell. The alignment device further includes a defective product removal area station and a good product replenishment area station arranged adjacent to each other. When the control unit determines that there is a difference between the defective product determination feature and the good product standard feature, the multi-axis transporter batch-transports the plurality of battery cells to the defective product removal area station to drive the jaws holding the defective product determination feature to release a defective product battery cell, and the good product replenishment area station replenishes a good product battery cell for the jaws that have released each defective product battery cell.

13. The alignment device for aligning a plurality of battery cells on the battery module production line according to claim 12, wherein, the defective product removal area station is composed of a defective product discharge line adjacent to the detection area station and the alignment area station, and the good product replenishment area station is composed of at least one good product lifter adjacent to the defective product removal area station and the alignment area station.

14. The alignment device for aligning a plurality of battery cells on the battery module production line according to claim 13, wherein, the good product lifters are arranged at intervals along the straight line in a plurality.

15. The alignment device for aligning a plurality of battery cells on the battery module production line according to claim 7, wherein, at least one of the determination features further includes a barcode determination feature for recording the battery cell parameters, and at least one of the standard features further includes a barcode sequence feature for providing the barcode determination feature to record.

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