Battery cell clamping jaw with automatic width positioning function and material taking method

Abstract

The application discloses a battery cell clamping jaw with automatic width positioning function and a material taking method. The clamping jaw comprises a base, a width positioning mechanism and a material taking mechanism arranged on the base. The material taking mechanism comprises a material taking driving unit, a material taking plate and a plurality of suction cups. The power output end of the material taking driving unit is mounted on the base. The material taking plate is located below the base and connected with the base through a guide assembly. The width positioning mechanism comprises a width positioning driving cylinder and two positioning plates. The upper ends of the two positioning plates are rotationally connected with the base. The left side and the right side of the width positioning driving cylinder are rotationally connected with the middle positions of the two positioning plates respectively. The two positioning plates are driven to approach or move away by the width positioning driving cylinder. The distance between the two positioning plates gradually increases from top to bottom. The application has a delicate structure. The width positioning mechanism is added to the battery cell clamping jaw. The width of the battery cell and other products can be positioned during the material taking process. Time is saved and efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of mechanical device technology, and in particular to a battery cell gripper with automatic width positioning function and a method for picking up the battery cell. Background Technology

[0002] In today's era of pursuing clean and environmentally friendly energy development, new energy vehicles are widely used in people's lives. The battery cell is the heart of an electric vehicle. Multiple cells are assembled into a battery cell assembly, and multiple battery cell assemblies are then combined to form a complete battery cell module, which can be roughly considered as a rectangular cube. The automated production and assembly process of battery cell modules inevitably involves the handling of cells from blister packs. The existing process for handling battery cells is roughly as follows: First, a robot gripper picks up the battery cell from the blister pack. Because the position of the battery cell in the width direction inside the blister pack is not precise enough, and downstream processing often requires high positional accuracy, the robot will drive the gripper to place the battery cell at a secondary positioning station. At the secondary positioning station, the battery cell is processed. During this process, the robot needs to wait. After the secondary positioning, the robot drives the gripper to pick up the battery cell again from the secondary positioning station and place it on a conveyor belt or other station to meet the positional accuracy requirements in the width direction. Width positioning is required during the transfer of battery cells. However, in existing technologies, this action requires a separate width positioning device, which increases the robot's waiting time and wastes time and resources. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main technical problem solved by this invention is to provide a battery cell gripper with automatic width positioning function. The structure is ingeniously designed. By adding a width positioning mechanism to the battery cell gripper, the width of products such as battery cells can be positioned during the material handling process, saving time and improving efficiency.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, one technical solution adopted by the present invention is: to provide a battery cell gripper with automatic width positioning function, including a base and a width positioning mechanism and a material picking mechanism disposed on the base;

[0005] The material handling mechanism includes a material handling drive unit, a material handling plate, and multiple suction cups. The power output end of the material handling drive unit is installed on the base. The material handling plate is located below the base and the two are connected by a guide component. The suction cups are installed on the material handling plate.

[0006] The width positioning mechanism includes a width positioning drive cylinder and two positioning plates. The upper ends of the two positioning plates are rotatably connected to the base. The left and right sides of the width positioning drive cylinder are rotatably connected to the middle position of the two positioning plates, respectively. The width positioning drive cylinder drives the two positioning plates to move closer or further away. The distance between the two positioning plates gradually increases from top to bottom. The two positioning plates are located on the outside of the material picking plate.

[0007] Furthermore, the material handling drive unit is a material handling drive cylinder, which is mounted on a mounting base, and the power output end of the material handling drive cylinder is fixedly connected to the base.

[0008] Furthermore, the guiding assembly includes a guide post and a guide sleeve. The guide sleeve is mounted on the base, the guide post passes through the guide sleeve and can slide along the guide sleeve, and the upper end of the guide post is mounted on the mounting base and the lower end is mounted on the material picking plate.

[0009] Furthermore, the tail end and power output end of the width positioning drive cylinder are both equipped with a first rotating shaft, and the two ends of the first rotating shaft are respectively fixedly connected to a positioning plate.

[0010] The upper end of the positioning plate is rotatably connected to the base via a second rotating shaft.

[0011] Furthermore, each of the positioning plates has a hollowed-out positioning claw at its lower end. The two positioning claws are defined as the first positioning claw and the second positioning claw, and the distance between the first positioning claw and the second positioning claw of the same battery cell clamping claw gradually increases from top to bottom.

[0012] The size of the first positioning claw is larger than that of the second positioning claw. When multiple battery cell clamps are installed on the same crossbeam, the second positioning claw of the battery cell clamp on the left can extend into the interior of the first positioning claw of the battery cell clamp on the right.

[0013] Furthermore, the suction cup is a double-layered accordion-type vacuum suction cup.

[0014] Furthermore, the present invention also provides a method for picking up battery cell grippers with automatic width positioning function, wherein the battery cell grippers are installed at the end of a robot arm;

[0015] The material handling method is as follows: The robot drives the cell gripper to the blister pack containing the cell to grab it. The positioning plate opens under the action of the width positioning drive cylinder, and the cylinder shaft of the material handling drive cylinder retracts, driving the suction cup to pick up the cell. After the cell is picked up, the cylinder shaft of the material handling drive cylinder extends, causing the cell to rise a certain distance. During the process of the robot driving the cell to move, the positioning plate closes under the action of the width positioning drive cylinder, so that the cell is positioned and centered in the width direction, thus completing the positioning of the cell in the width direction. After the robot drives the cell gripper to the position, it places the cell in the required position, and then the robot drives the cell gripper to rise and leave.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0017] This invention includes a base and a width positioning mechanism and a material handling mechanism disposed on the base. The material handling mechanism includes a material handling drive unit, a material handling plate, and multiple suction cups. The width positioning mechanism includes a width positioning drive cylinder and two positioning plates. The distance between the two positioning plates gradually increases from top to bottom. This invention features a sophisticated structural design. By adding a width positioning mechanism to the battery cell gripper, the width of products such as battery cells can be positioned during the material handling process, eliminating the need for the robot to perform other unnecessary actions, reducing robot waiting time, saving time, and improving efficiency and production cycle time. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for an additional positioning platform and positioning mechanism, saving manufacturing costs. Moreover, it is small in size, occupies little space, and has a compact structure.

[0018] The above description is merely an overview of the technical solution of the present invention. In order to better understand the technical means of the present invention and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 This is the front view of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of the width positioning mechanism of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a left view of the width positioning mechanism of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 5 This is a plan view of the battery cell transport method of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure when multiple battery cell clamps of the present invention are installed on the same crossbeam;

[0025] The parts in the attached diagram are labeled as follows:

[0026] 1. Base; 2. Width positioning mechanism; 21. Width positioning drive cylinder; 22. Positioning plate; 221. First positioning claw; 222. Second positioning claw; 23. First rotating shaft; 24. Second rotating shaft; 3. Material picking mechanism; 31. Material picking drive unit; 32. Material picking plate; 33. Suction cup; 34. Guide post; 35. Guide sleeve; 36. Mounting base.

[0027] 10 battery cell grippers, 20 robots, 30 blister packs, and 40 belt conveyors. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The following specific embodiments illustrate the detailed implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand the advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. The present invention can also be implemented in other different ways, that is, different modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope disclosed in the present invention.

[0029] The descriptions of positions such as up, down, left, and right in this embodiment are based on the orientation in the accompanying drawings, have no special meaning, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this invention.

[0030] Example: A battery cell gripper with automatic width positioning function, such as... Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the battery cell clamping claw 10 includes a base 1, a width positioning mechanism 2, and a material picking mechanism 3 disposed on the base;

[0031] The material handling mechanism 3 includes a material handling drive unit 31, a material handling plate 32, and a plurality of suction cups 33. The power output end of the material handling drive unit 31 is installed on the base 1. The material handling plate 32 is located below the base 1 and the two are connected by a guide component. The suction cups 33 are installed on the material handling plate.

[0032] The width positioning mechanism 2 includes a width positioning drive cylinder 21 and two positioning plates 22. The upper ends of the two positioning plates 22 are rotatably connected to the base 1. The left and right sides of the width positioning drive cylinder 21 are rotatably connected to the middle positions of the two positioning plates 22, respectively. The width positioning drive cylinder 21 drives the two positioning plates 22 to move closer or further away. The distance between the two positioning plates 22 gradually increases from top to bottom. The two positioning plates are located on the outer side of the material handling plate. The width positioning mechanism in this invention has an ingenious structural design that can be integrated with the existing battery cell grippers without increasing the volume of the battery cell grippers.

[0033] In this embodiment, the material picking drive unit 31 is a material picking drive cylinder, which is mounted on a mounting base 36, and the power output end of the material picking drive cylinder is fixedly connected to the base 1.

[0034] In this embodiment, the guiding component includes a guide post 34 and a guide sleeve 35. The guide sleeve 35 is mounted on the base 1. The guide post 34 passes through the guide sleeve 35 and can slide along the guide sleeve 35. The upper end of the guide post 34 is mounted on the mounting base 36 and the lower end is mounted on the material picking plate 32.

[0035] In this embodiment, a first rotating shaft 23 is installed at both the tail end and the power output end of the width positioning drive cylinder, and the two ends of the first rotating shaft are respectively fixedly connected to a positioning plate.

[0036] The upper end of the positioning plate 22 is rotatably connected to the base via the second rotating shaft 24.

[0037] When the cylinder shaft of the width positioning drive cylinder 21 extends, the first rotating shaft rotates, causing the positioning plate to open outward, and the upper end of the positioning plate rotates around the second rotating shaft with the base; the action of the cylinder shaft of the width positioning drive cylinder retracting is exactly the opposite.

[0038] In this embodiment, the width positioning mechanism can open or close the positioning plate by means of a width positioning drive cylinder in conjunction with a guide component, a first rotating shaft, a second rotating shaft, etc. The structure is ingeniously designed and saves power energy.

[0039] In this embodiment, as Figures 1 to 6 As shown, each of the positioning plates 22 has a hollowed-out positioning claw at its lower end. The two positioning claws are defined as the first positioning claw 221 and the second positioning claw 222. The distance between the first positioning claw and the second positioning claw of the same battery cell clamp also gradually increases from top to bottom.

[0040] like Figure 6 As shown, the size of the first positioning claw is larger than that of the second positioning claw. When multiple battery cell clamps are installed on the same crossbeam, the second positioning claw of the battery cell clamp on the left can extend into the interior of the first positioning claw of the battery cell clamp on the right.

[0041] First, positioning claws ensure better width positioning and prevent product offset during width positioning. Second, the distance between the two positioning plates of the battery cell gripper gradually increases from top to bottom, and the distance between the first and second positioning claws of the same battery cell gripper also gradually increases from top to bottom. The size of the first positioning claw is larger than that of the second positioning claw. When multiple battery cell grippers are installed on the same crossbeam, the second positioning claw of the left battery cell gripper can extend into the interior of the first positioning claw of the right battery cell gripper. That is, when all positioning claws are open, the smaller second positioning claw can fit into the larger first positioning claw without interference. Therefore, without affecting the gripping stroke, the overall structure is more compact, smaller, and occupies less space. Compared to non-perforated positioning claws or vertically parallel positioning claws, installing multiple battery cell grippers on the same crossbeam requires a larger stroke, occupies more space, and results in a larger overall structure volume.

[0042] In this embodiment, the suction cup 33 is a double-layer suction cup, such as an accordion-type vacuum suction cup. This suction cup allows the object to move a certain distance within a horizontal plane perpendicular to the suction cup axis while it is being held. Therefore, while the suction cup holds the product, the width positioning mechanism can position and adjust the product in the width direction from both the left and right sides.

[0043] The working principle and process of this invention:

[0044] like Figure 5 As shown, the battery cell gripper 10 can be mounted on other driving devices, such as the end of the arm of the robot 20, to drive its movement within a spatial range. The robot drives the battery cell gripper to the blister box 30 where the battery cell is located to grab the battery cell. The positioning plate opens under the action of the width positioning driving cylinder, and the cylinder shaft of the material picking driving cylinder retracts, driving the suction cup (double-layer structure, allowing displacement of the picked-up object within a certain range) to pick up the battery cell. After the battery cell is picked up, the cylinder shaft of the material picking driving cylinder extends to lift the battery cell a certain distance. During the battery cell handling process (such as during the lifting of the battery cell), the positioning plate closes under the action of the width positioning driving cylinder, so that the battery cell is positioned and centered in the width direction, thus completing the positioning of the battery cell in the width direction. After the robot drives the battery cell gripper to the position, it places the battery cell in the required position, such as the conveyor belt 40 or other workstations, and then the robot drives the battery cell gripper to rise and leave.

[0045] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structure made using the content of the present invention specification and drawings, or directly or indirectly applied to other related technical fields, is similarly included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A battery cell gripper with automatic width positioning function, characterized in that: The battery cell gripper includes a base (1) and a width positioning mechanism (2) and a material picking mechanism (3) disposed on the base (1); The material handling mechanism (3) includes a material handling drive unit (31), a material handling plate (32) and a plurality of suction cups (33). The power output end of the material handling drive unit (31) is installed on the base. The material handling plate (32) is located below the base (1) and the two are connected by a guide component. The suction cups are installed on the material handling plate. The width positioning mechanism (2) includes a width positioning drive cylinder (21) and two positioning plates (22). The upper ends of the two positioning plates are rotatably connected to the base. The left and right sides of the width positioning drive cylinder (21) are rotatably connected to the middle position of the two positioning plates (22). The width positioning drive cylinder (21) drives the two positioning plates (22) to move closer or further away. The distance between the two positioning plates (22) gradually increases from top to bottom. The two positioning plates (22) are located on the outside of the material picking plate (32). Each of the positioning plates (22) has a hollowed-out positioning claw at its lower end. The two positioning claws are defined as the first positioning claw (221) and the second positioning claw (222). The distance between the first positioning claw and the second positioning claw of the same battery cell clamp also gradually increases from top to bottom. The size of the first positioning claw is larger than that of the second positioning claw. When multiple battery cell clamps are installed on the same crossbeam, the second positioning claw of the battery cell clamp on the left can extend into the interior of the first positioning claw of the battery cell clamp on the right.

2. The cell gripper with automatic width positioning function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The material picking drive unit (31) is a material picking drive cylinder, which is mounted on a mounting base (36) and the power output end of the material picking drive cylinder is fixedly connected to the base.

3. The cell gripper with automatic width positioning function according to claim 2, characterized in that: The guiding assembly includes a guide post (34) and a guide sleeve (35). The guide sleeve (35) is mounted on the base. The guide post (34) passes through the guide sleeve and can slide along the guide sleeve. The upper end of the guide post is mounted on the mounting base and the lower end is mounted on the material picking plate.

4. The cell gripper with automatic width positioning function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tail end and power output end of the width positioning drive cylinder (21) are both equipped with a first rotating shaft (23), and the two ends of the first rotating shaft are respectively fixedly connected to a positioning plate (22). The upper end of the positioning plate (22) is rotatably connected to the base via a second rotating shaft (24).

5. The cell gripper with automatic width positioning function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The suction cup (33) is a double-layered accordion-type vacuum suction cup.

6. A method for picking up battery cells using the automatic width positioning gripper as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The battery cell gripper (10) is mounted at the end of the arm of the robot (20); The material handling method is as follows: the robot drives the battery cell gripper to the blister box (30) where the battery cell is located to grab the battery cell. The positioning plate opens under the action of the width positioning drive cylinder, and the cylinder shaft of the material handling drive cylinder retracts, driving the suction cup to pick up the battery cell. After the battery cell is picked up, the cylinder shaft of the material handling drive cylinder extends to raise the battery cell a certain distance. During the process of the robot driving the battery cell to move, the positioning plate closes under the action of the width positioning drive cylinder, so that the battery cell is positioned in the center in the width direction, and the positioning of the battery cell in the width direction can be completed. After the robot drives the battery cell gripper to the position, the battery cell is placed in the required position, and then the robot drives the battery cell gripper to rise and leave.

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