Soft package battery stacking work station

Abstract

The invention provides a soft package battery stacking work station which comprises an accessory preparation mechanism used for feeding an end plate and a heat insulation plate; the battery cell preparation mechanism is used for supplying single battery cells, the battery cell preparation mechanism and the accessory preparation structure are adjacently arranged, and a stacking area is defined by the battery cell preparation mechanism and the accessory preparation structure; the battery cell stacking mechanism is arranged in the stacking area and is used for stacking end plates, heat insulation plates and single battery cells to form a battery module; the first transfer mechanism is arranged between the battery cell stacking mechanism and the accessory preparation mechanism and is used for transferring an end plate and a heat insulation plate from the accessory preparation mechanism to the battery cell stacking mechanism; and the second transfer mechanism is arranged between the battery cell stacking mechanism and the battery cell preparation mechanism and is used for transferring the single battery cells from the battery cell preparation mechanism to the battery cell stacking mechanism. The device is compact in structure and beneficial to solving the problem of site limitation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of battery technology, and more particularly to a workstation for stacking pouch batteries. Background Technology

[0002] Pouch batteries are composed of stacked individual pouch cells, with the stacking direction of the individual pouch cells defining the height of the pouch battery. End plates are located at both ends of the pouch battery along its height, and heat insulation plates are placed between adjacent individual pouch cells. Existing pouch cell stacking equipment requires high manual intervention and is inefficient. Furthermore, it requires a large operating space when using robotic arms to move individual pouch cells or heat insulation plates, placing significant demands on available space. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, the purpose of this invention is to provide a pouch battery stacking workstation with a compact structure, which helps to solve the problem of limited space.

[0004] The embodiments of the present invention are achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0005] A pouch battery stacking workstation includes: an accessory preparation mechanism for supplying end plates and heat insulation plates; a cell preparation mechanism for supplying individual battery cells, wherein the cell preparation mechanism and the accessory preparation mechanism are arranged adjacent to each other and together form a stacking area; a cell stacking mechanism disposed within the stacking area for stacking end plates, heat insulation plates, and individual battery cells to form a battery module; a first transfer mechanism disposed between the cell stacking mechanism and the accessory preparation mechanism for transferring end plates and heat insulation plates from the accessory preparation mechanism to the cell stacking mechanism; and a second transfer mechanism disposed between the cell stacking mechanism and the cell preparation mechanism for transferring individual battery cells from the cell preparation mechanism to the cell stacking mechanism.

[0006] According to a preferred embodiment, the accessory preparation mechanism includes a first frame, on which a gantry double-drive structure is configured. The first frame is configured with a loading area and a unloading area. The gantry double-drive structure is configured with a first gripping structure, which is capable of reciprocating between the loading area and the unloading area under the action of the gantry double-drive structure.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment, the loading area is provided with a first slide plate that can move relative to the first frame to approach or move away from the unloading area. The first slide plate is provided with at least one first pallet and at least one second pallet. The first pallet is used for stacking end plates, and the second pallet is used for stacking heat insulation plates. The first pallet is provided with a first guide rod for limiting the end plates, and the second pallet is provided with a second guide rod for limiting the heat insulation plates. The first guide rod extends vertically and is parallel to the second guide rod.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment, the unloading area is provided with a second sliding plate, which is movable relative to the first frame to move closer to or away from the first transfer mechanism; a third pallet is provided on the second sliding plate for placing the end plate or the heat insulation plate; the third pallet is provided with a first limiting surface and a second limiting surface, both of which are perpendicular to the third pallet; the third pallet is provided with a first pressing block corresponding to the first limiting surface and a second pressing block corresponding to the second limiting surface, the first pressing block being able to move closer to or away from the first limiting surface, and the second pressing block being able to move closer to or away from the second limiting surface, and the end plate or the heat insulation plate being placed within the area jointly defined by the first limiting surface, the first pressing block, the second limiting surface, and the second pressing block.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, the first gripping structure includes a first adapter frame and a first fixed plate. The first adapter frame is assembled on the gantry dual-drive structure. A first guide shaft is disposed on the first fixed plate. The first guide shaft extends vertically and passes through the first adapter frame and is slidably connected to it. A first driving member for driving the first fixed plate to move vertically is disposed on the first adapter frame. A first gripping module is disposed on the first fixed plate.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment, the first gripping module includes a second fixed plate disposed on the first fixed plate, the second fixed plate being provided with a first suction cup and a first pressing assembly; the first pressing assembly includes a first pressing shaft extending vertically, the first pressing shaft passing through and slidably connected to the second fixed plate, the upper end of the first pressing shaft being provided with a first limiting block, the lower end of the first pressing shaft being provided with a first pressing block, and the first pressing shaft being sleeved with a first spring, the first spring being pressed between the second fixed plate and the first pressing block; normally, in the vertical direction, the first pressing block is lower than the first suction cup.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the first gripping module further includes two first claws disposed on the first fixed plate, the two first claws being able to move closer to or further away from each other.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, the first fixed plate is further provided with a second gripping module, which can move closer to or further away from the first gripping module.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the second gripping module includes a third fixed plate movably disposed on the first fixed plate, the third fixed plate being provided with a second suction cup and a second pressing assembly; the second pressing assembly includes a second pressing shaft extending vertically, the second pressing shaft passing through and slidably connected to the third fixed plate, a second limiting block being disposed at the upper end of the second pressing shaft, a second pressing block being disposed at the lower end of the second pressing shaft, and a second spring being sleeved on the second pressing shaft, the second spring being pressed between the third fixed plate and the second pressing block; normally, in the vertical direction, the second pressing block is lower than the second suction cup.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the cell stacking mechanism includes a second frame, on which a rotating tray is disposed, and at least two stacking modules are disposed on the rotating tray; each stacking module includes a vertical support frame disposed on the rotating tray, and a platform support frame is movably disposed on the vertical support frame along the vertical direction; two shaping structures are mirror-displayed on the rotating tray, and the platform support frame is located between the two shaping structures.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the shaping structure includes a third frame, on which upright plates are movably mounted. The upright plates of the two shaping structures can move closer to or further away from each other along the length direction of a single battery cell. Two limiting guide strips are mirror-imagely mounted on the upright plates. The limiting guide strips extend vertically and are provided with mutually perpendicular third and fourth limiting surfaces. The third limiting surface corresponds to the ends of the end plate, the heat insulation plate, and the single battery cell along their length direction, and the fourth limiting surface corresponds to the ends of the end plate, the heat insulation plate, and the single battery cell along their width direction.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the upright plate is provided with two mirror-shaped straightening blocks, which can move closer to or further away from each other along the width direction of the individual battery cell, and the straightening blocks are positioned near the top of the limiting guide strip.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, a stacking plate is disposed on the top of the vertical support, and the platform support can move closer to or further away from the stacking plate in the vertical direction.

[0018] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention have at least the following advantages and beneficial effects:

[0019] This invention stores end plates and heat insulation plates in the accessory preparation mechanism and individual battery cells in the cell preparation mechanism. The accessory preparation mechanism and the cell preparation mechanism are arranged adjacent to each other, and the cell stacking mechanism is set in the stacking area. This makes the distance between the cell stacking mechanism and the accessory preparation mechanism and the cell preparation mechanism similar, which helps to make the transfer efficiency of the first transfer mechanism and the second transfer mechanism more consistent, thereby improving the utilization rate of the first transfer mechanism and the second transfer mechanism, which is conducive to improving the cell stacking efficiency. In addition, the workstation has a compact structure, which helps to solve the problem of limited space. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of the present invention and should not be regarded as a limitation on the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural diagram of a pouch battery stacking workstation provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a top view of the soft-pack battery stacking workstation provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a first three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the accessory preparation mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a second three-dimensional structural diagram of the accessory preparation mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 5 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the first skateboard stacking end plate and heat insulation plate provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of one form of the combined structure of the second slide plate and the third support plate provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of another form of the combination structure of the second slide plate and the third support plate provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the first grasping structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 9A three-dimensional structural diagram of the first fixing plate, the first gripping module, and the second gripping module assembled according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 10 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the first clamping assembly provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 11 A cross-sectional view of the first clamping assembly provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 12 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the cell stacking mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 13 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the battery cell stacking mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present invention after the battery cells are stacked.

[0034] Figure 14 This is a first three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the shaping structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the second three-dimensional structure of the shaping structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 16 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the first transfer mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 17 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the second grasping structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Icons: 1. Parts preparation mechanism; 11. First frame; 111. Loading area; 112. Unloading area; 12. Gantry dual-drive structure; 13. First gripping structure; 131. First adapter frame; 132. First fixing plate; 1321. First guide shaft; 1322. Stabilizing plate; 133. First driving component; 134. First gripping module; 1341. Second fixing plate; 1342. First suction cup; 1343. First clamping assembly; 13431. First pressure shaft; 13432. First linear bearing ; 13433, First limiting block; 13434, First pressing block; 13435, First spring; 1344, First connecting plate; 1345, First claw body; 135, Second gripping module; 1351, Third fixing plate; 1352, Second suction cup; 1353, Second clamping assembly; 14, First sliding plate; 141, First support plate; 1411, First guide rod; 142, Second support plate; 1421, Second guide rod; 1422, Brush; 143, Pad strip; 15, Second sliding plate; 1 51. Third pallet; 1511. First limiting block; 1512. Second limiting block; 1513. First clamping block; 1514. Second clamping block; 152. Column; 2. Cell preparation mechanism; 3. Cell stacking mechanism; 31. Second frame; 32. Rotating pallet; 33. Stacking module; 331. Vertical frame; 3311. Stacking pressure plate; 332. Platform support; 333. Shaping structure; 3331. Third frame; 3332. Upright plate; 33321. Second guide shaft; 3333. Limiting guide bar; 33331, third limiting surface; 33332, fourth limiting surface; 3334, L-adjusting block; 3335, straightening block; 4, first transfer mechanism; 41, fourth frame; 42, four-axis robot; 43, second gripping structure; 431, integrated plate; 432, third gripping module; 4321, first cylinder; 4322, second cylinder; 4323, gripping plate; 4324, second claw body; 4325, third suction cup; 5, second transfer mechanism; a, end plate; b, heat insulation plate. Detailed Implementation

[0039] To better understand and implement this invention, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0040] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0041] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein in the description of the invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention.

[0042] Please refer to Figures 1 to 17 A soft-pack battery stacking workstation includes an accessory preparation mechanism 1, a cell preparation mechanism 2, a cell stacking structure, a first transfer mechanism 4, and a second transfer mechanism 5. The accessory preparation mechanism 1 supplies end plates a and heat insulation plates b; the cell preparation mechanism 2 supplies individual cells, and is adjacent to the accessory preparation structure, forming a stacking area; the cell stacking mechanism 3 is located within the stacking area and is used to stack end plates a, heat insulation plates b, and individual cells to form a battery module; the first transfer mechanism 4 is located between the cell stacking mechanism 3 and the accessory preparation mechanism 1, and is used to transfer end plates a and heat insulation plates b from the accessory preparation mechanism 1 to the cell stacking mechanism 3; the second transfer mechanism 5 is located between the cell stacking mechanism 3 and the cell preparation mechanism 2, and is used to transfer individual cells from the cell preparation mechanism 2 to the cell stacking mechanism 3. Specifically, as shown... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, during use, end plate a and heat insulation plate b are stored in accessory preparation mechanism 1, and individual battery cells are stored in battery cell preparation mechanism 2. Accessory preparation mechanism 1 and battery cell preparation mechanism 2 are arranged adjacent to each other. Battery cell stacking mechanism 3 is set in the stacking area, so that the distance between battery cell stacking mechanism 3 and accessory preparation mechanism 1 and battery cell preparation mechanism 2 is similar. This is conducive to making the transfer efficiency of the first transfer mechanism 4 and the second transfer mechanism 5 more consistent, thereby improving the utilization rate of the first transfer mechanism 4 and the second transfer mechanism 5, which is conducive to improving the battery cell stacking efficiency. In addition, the workstation has a compact structure, which is conducive to solving the problem of limited space.

[0043] Furthermore, such as Figure 3As shown, the component preparation mechanism 1 includes a first frame 11, on which a gantry dual-drive structure 12 is configured. The first frame 11 has a loading area 111 and a unloading area 112. A first gripping structure 13 is configured on the gantry dual-drive structure 12, which can reciprocate between the loading area 111 and the unloading area 112 under the action of the gantry dual-drive structure 12. The loading area 111 can store a large quantity of end plates a and heat insulation plates b for stacking soft-pack batteries. The first gripping structure 13, in conjunction with the gantry dual-drive structure 12, transfers the end plates a and heat insulation plates b from the loading area 111 to the unloading area 112 as needed, completing the preparation of end plates a and heat insulation plates b. This facilitates the first transfer mechanism 4's precise gripping of end plates a and heat insulation plates b. By transferring end plates a and heat insulation plates b between the loading area 111 and the unloading area 112, the first transfer mechanism 4 can improve its efficiency in handling the cell stacking machine. The feeding efficiency of structure 3 is specifically that the end plate a and heat insulation plate b in the unloading area 112 are the single transfer volume of the first transfer mechanism 4. There is no stacking in the loading area 111. Therefore, the spatial position of the first transfer mechanism 4 when picking up materials in the unloading area 112 is fixed, which reduces the operation difficulty of the first transfer mechanism 4 and helps to improve the operation accuracy of the first transfer mechanism 4 and stabilize the production cycle. Furthermore, when the end plate a and heat insulation plate b are replenished in the loading area 111, it does not affect the feeding operation of the first transfer mechanism 4 on the cell stacking mechanism 3.

[0044] like Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, the loading area 111 is equipped with a first slide plate 14 that can move relative to the first frame 11 to approach or move away from the unloading area 112. The first slide plate 14 is equipped with at least one first pallet 141 and at least one second pallet 142. The first pallet 141 is used to stack end plates a, and the second pallet 142 is used to stack heat insulation plates b. The first pallet 141 is equipped with a first guide rod 1411 for limiting end plates a, and the second pallet 142 is equipped with a second guide rod 1421 for limiting heat insulation plates b. The first guide rod 1411 extends vertically and the first guide rod 1411 and the second guide rod 1421 are parallel.

[0045] In this embodiment, optionally, there are two first trays 141 and two second trays 142. One of the first trays 141 has its lower end plate of the pouch battery stacked on it, while the other first tray 141 has its upper end plate of the pouch battery stacked on it. It should be noted that the difference between the upper and lower end plates is that the inner plane of the upper end plate faces downwards, while the inner plane of the lower end plate faces upwards. Both second trays 142 have heat insulation plates b stacked on them. In this embodiment, there are two types of heat insulation plates b with different thicknesses; therefore, a thicker heat insulation plate is placed on one second tray 142, and a thinner heat insulation plate is placed on the other second tray 142. The first guide rod 1411 is used to maintain the structural stability of the end plate a stacked on the first tray 141, limiting the end plate a at both ends in the length direction and both ends in the width direction; correspondingly, the second guide rod 1421 is used to maintain the structural stability of the heat insulation plate b stacked on the second tray 142, limiting the heat insulation plate b at both ends in the length direction and both ends in the width direction. In some embodiments, since the heat insulation plate b is relatively thin, in order to prevent two adjacent heat insulation plates b from sticking together and causing more than one heat insulation plate b to be grasped at a time, at least a portion of the top of the second guide rod 1421 is provided with a brush 1422, the bristles of the brush 1422 being on the path of the heat insulation plate b moving upward in the vertical direction, so as to separate the heat insulation plate b that is stuck to the lower side of the target heat insulation plate b during the grasping process.

[0046] In some embodiments, such as Figure 5 As shown, a pad strip 143 is disposed on the upper side of the first slide plate 14. The first support plate 141 and the second support plate 142 are both mounted on the first slide plate 14 via the pad strip 143. The pad strip 143 creates a gap between the first slide plate 14 and both the first support plate 141 and the second support plate 142. Detection holes (not shown in the figure) are provided through both the first support plate 141 and the second support plate 142. A photoelectric sensing component (not shown in the figure) is installed within this gap to detect the presence or absence of end plate a and heat insulation plate b through the detection hole, determining whether end plate a is present on the first support plate 141 and whether heat insulation plate b is present on the second support plate 142. Optionally, the photoelectric sensing component is a photoelectric sensor.

[0047] like Figure 4As shown, the unloading area 112 is equipped with a second sliding plate 15, which can move relative to the first frame 11 to approach or move away from the first transfer mechanism 4; a third pallet 151 is arranged on the second sliding plate 15 for placing the end plate a or the heat insulation plate b; a first limiting surface and a second limiting surface are arranged on the third pallet 151, both of which are perpendicular to the third pallet 151; a first pressing block 1513 corresponding to the first limiting surface and a second pressing block 1514 corresponding to the second limiting surface are arranged on the third pallet 151, the first pressing block 1513 can approach or move away from the first limiting surface, and the second pressing block 1514 can approach or move away from the second limiting surface. The end plate a or the heat insulation plate b is placed within the area defined by the first limiting surface, the first pressing block 1513, the second limiting surface, and the second pressing block 1514. In this embodiment, as shown... Figure 4 As shown, the structure consisting of the second slide plate 15 and the third support plate 151 on the first frame 11 is in two sets, one set for supporting end plate a and the other set for supporting heat insulation plate b. Of course, in another embodiment, it can also be one set, with end plate a and heat insulation plate b placed on the same third support plate 151.

[0048] like Figure 6 The diagram shows one configuration of the second sliding plate 15 and the third support plate 151, used to support end plate a. Specifically, the third support plate 151 is mounted on the second sliding plate 15 via a column 152. A first limiting block 1511 is provided at one end of the end plate a along its length, with a first limiting surface on the side of the first limiting block 1511 facing the end plate a. A second limiting block 1512 is provided at one end of the end plate a along its width, with a second limiting surface on the side of the second limiting block 1512 facing the end plate a. Both the first limiting block 1511 and the second limiting block 1512 are fixedly connected to the third support plate 151. Both the first limiting surface and the second limiting surface are reference surfaces, working in conjunction with the first pressing block 1513 and the second pressing block 1514 to limit the end plate a. In this embodiment, both the first pressing block 1513 and the second pressing block 1514 are driven by cylinders mounted on the third support plate 151.

[0049] like Figure 7 As shown, this is another configuration of the second sliding plate 15 and the third support plate 151, used to support the heat insulation plate b. Figure 6 Unlike the bearing end plate a shown, the third support plate 151 supporting the heat insulation plate b has two placement stations for the heat insulation plate b, corresponding to the assembly conditions of the thin and thick heat insulation plates b in this embodiment. The rest of the structure is the same and will not be described again here. Of course, it is also possible to have two placement stations on the third support plate 151 when the specifications of the heat insulation plates b are the same.

[0050] In this embodiment, optionally, the first slide plate 14 and the second slide plate 15 are slidably mounted on the first frame 11 via a slide rail slider assembly, and the first frame 11 is correspondingly provided with rodless cylinders for driving the first slide plate 14 and the second slide plate 15.

[0051] like Figure 8 As shown, the first gripping structure 13 includes a first adapter frame 131 and a first fixing plate 132. The first adapter frame 131 is assembled on the gantry dual-drive structure 12. A first guide shaft 1321 is disposed on the first fixing plate 132. The first guide shaft 1321 extends vertically and passes through the first adapter frame 131 and is slidably connected to it. A first driving member 133 for driving the first fixing plate 132 to move vertically is disposed on the first adapter frame 131. A first gripping module 134 is disposed on the first fixing plate 132. In this embodiment, there are two first guide shafts 1321, which are arranged in parallel. The top ends of the two first guide shafts 1321 are connected by a stabilizing plate 1322 to maintain the structural stability of the two first guide shafts 1321. Optionally, the first driving member 133 is an electric cylinder. The first gripping module 134 is used to grip end plate a or heat insulation plate b in the loading area 111 and transfer end plate a or heat insulation plate b to the unloading area 112 under the drive of the gantry dual drive structure 12.

[0052] like Figures 9 to 11As shown, the first gripping module 134 includes a second fixed plate 1341 disposed on the first fixed plate 132. The second fixed plate 1341 is equipped with a first suction cup 1342 and a first pressing assembly 1343. The first pressing assembly 1343 includes a first pressing shaft 13431, which extends vertically and passes through the second fixed plate 1341 and is slidably connected to it. A first limiting block 13433 is disposed at the upper end of the first pressing shaft 13431, and a first pressing block 13434 is disposed at the lower end of the first pressing shaft 13431. A first spring 13435 is sleeved on the first pressing shaft 13431 and is pressed between the second fixed plate 1341 and the first pressing block 13434. Under normal conditions, in the vertical direction, the first pressing block 13434 is lower than the first suction cup 1342. In this embodiment, the first pressure shaft 13431 is slidably connected to the second fixed plate 1341 via the first linear bearing 13432, and the first linear bearing 13432 is fixedly connected to the second fixed plate 1341. This can be understood as the first linear bearing 13432 and the second fixed plate 1341 being an integral structure. In this embodiment, the first spring 13435 indirectly abuts against the second fixed plate 1341 via the first linear bearing 13432. In some embodiments, if the inner diameter of the first spring 13435 is larger than the outer diameter of the first linear bearing 13432, that is, when the first spring 13435 is sleeved outside the first linear bearing 13432, then the first spring 13435 directly abuts against the second fixed plate 1341. Here, the first suction cup 1342 is used to adsorb the heat insulation plate b. Since the first pressing block 13434 is lower than the first suction cup 1342 in the vertical direction, during the downward movement of the first gripping module 134 in the vertical direction, the first pressing block 13434 first abuts against the heat insulation plate b. As the first gripping structure 13 continues to move downward, the first pressing shaft 13431 moves upward relative to the second fixed plate 1341 under the action of the first pressing block 13434, and the first spring 13435 is compressed. During this process, the first pressing block 13434 can compact the stacked heat insulation plates b so that the uppermost heat insulation plate b will not shift downward significantly when the first suction cup 1342 is in action, ensuring that the first suction cup 1342 can fully fit with the uppermost heat insulation plate b so that the first suction cup 1342 can more reliably adsorb and grip the heat insulation plate b.

[0053] For end plate a, with its inner surface facing upwards (i.e., the lower end plate of the soft-pack battery), it can be gripped by the first suction cup 1342. However, the upper end plate cannot be gripped by the first suction cup 1342 because its outer surface is uneven. Also, due to the greater weight of end plate a, if... Figure 9As shown, the first gripping module 134 also includes two first claw bodies 1345 disposed on the first fixed plate 132, which can move closer or further apart. In this embodiment, the second fixed plate 1341 is assembled to the first fixed plate 132 via two first connecting plates 1344. A gripper cylinder is disposed on the first fixed plate 132, which is located between the first fixed plate 132 and the second fixed plate 1341. The gripper cylinder is used to drive the two first claw bodies 1345 to move closer or further apart. In this embodiment, the second fixed plate 1341 is located between the two first claw bodies 1345. The first claw bodies 1345 can be used to cooperate with the first suction cup 1342 to grip end plate a, or they can be used alone to grip end plate a. When in use, when the first gripping module 134 grips the heat insulation plate b, the two first claws 1345 are kept away from each other to avoid interference. At this time, the heat insulation plate b can be gripped by the first suction cup 1342. When the first gripping module 134 grips the end plate a, it is preferable that the two first claws 1345 cooperate to grip the end plate a.

[0054] In this embodiment, in order to improve the grasping efficiency of the first grasping structure 13, such as Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, a second gripping module 135 is also configured on the first fixed plate 132. The second gripping module 135 can move closer to or further away from the first gripping module 134. Here, the second gripping module 135 is movably disposed on the first fixed plate 132 to adjust the distance between the second gripping module 135 and the first gripping module 134, thereby adapting to a wider range of material handling environments. Preferably, the second gripping module 135 is used to grip the heat insulation plate b. Since a pouch battery includes two end plates a and several heat insulation plates b during the pouch battery stacking process, the gripping requirements for the heat insulation plates b are higher. Therefore, the cooperation of the first gripping module 134 and the second gripping module 135 can ensure the gripping efficiency of the heat insulation plates b. In some embodiments, such as... Figure 8 As shown, when the inner plane of end plate a is facing upwards, the second gripping module 135 can also be used to grip end plate a.

[0055] Specifically, the second gripping module 135 includes a third fixed plate 1351 movably mounted on the first fixed plate 132. The third fixed plate 1351 is equipped with a second suction cup 1352 and a second pressing assembly 1353. The second pressing assembly 1353 includes a second pressing shaft extending vertically through the third fixed plate 1351 and slidably connected thereto. A second limiting block is located at the upper end of the second pressing shaft, and a second pressing block is located at the lower end. A second spring is sleeved on the second pressing shaft and presses between the third fixed plate 1351 and the second pressing block. Normally, in the vertical direction, the second pressing block is lower than the second suction cup 1352. In this embodiment, the third fixed plate 1351 is slidably connected to the first fixed plate 132 via a slide rail slider assembly and is driven by a cylinder mounted on the first fixed plate 132 to allow the third fixed plate 1351 to move closer to or further away from the second fixed plate 1341. The second suction cup 1352 has the same structure as the first suction cup 1342, and the second pressing assembly 1353 has the same structure and function as the first pressing assembly 1343. Specifically, the second pressing shaft corresponds to the first pressing shaft 13431, the second spring corresponds to the first spring 13435, and the second pressing block corresponds to the first pressing block 13434. Further details will not be provided here.

[0056] like Figure 12As shown, the cell stacking mechanism 3 includes a second frame 31, on which a rotating tray 32 is disposed, and at least two stacking modules 33 are disposed on the rotating tray 32. The stacking module 33 includes a vertical support 331 disposed on the rotating tray 32, and a platform support 332 is movably disposed on the vertical support 331 along the vertical direction. Two shaping structures 333 are mirror-displayed on the rotating tray 32, and the platform support 332 is located between the two shaping structures 333. A stacking pressure plate 3311 is disposed on the top of the vertical support 331, and the platform support 332 can move closer to or further away from the stacking pressure plate 3311 along the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the rotating tray 32 is rotatably mounted on the second frame 31 via a DD motor. There are two stacking modules 33, evenly distributed around the central axis of the selection tray. During use, after one stacking module 33 completes the stacking of pouch batteries, the rotating tray 32 rotates 180° to unload the pouch batteries from that module. Simultaneously, the other stacking module 33 can simultaneously stack pouch batteries, which helps ensure the production efficiency of pouch batteries. Similarly, when there are three stacking modules 33, after one stacking module 33 completes the stacking of pouch batteries, the rotating tray 32 rotates 120° to unload the pouch batteries from that module. The next adjacent stacking module 33 rotates to the stacking station to stack pouch batteries, while the other stacking module 33 remains idle. Preferably, there are two stacking modules 33. In this embodiment, a linear module is configured on the vertical support 331, and the platform support 332 is movably assembled with the vertical support 331 via the linear module. In use, individual battery cells, end plates a, and heat insulation plates b are stacked on the platform support 332 in a specific order. For each individual battery cell, end plate a, and heat insulation plate b on the platform support 332, spatial positioning is corrected by the shaping structure 333 to ensure the stacking accuracy of the pouch battery. In this embodiment, the platform support 332 can move vertically. After stacking individual battery cells, end plates a, or heat insulation plates b, the platform support 332 can move downwards in the vertical direction by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the individual battery cell, end plate a, or heat insulation plate b. This ensures that the upper side of the stacked pouch battery remains at a fixed height, facilitating the unloading of materials by the first transfer mechanism 4 and the second transfer mechanism 5 at the stacking module 33, and reducing the control difficulty of the first transfer mechanism 4 and the second transfer mechanism 5.

[0057] like Figure 14 and Figure 15As shown, the shaping structure 333 includes a third frame 3331, on which a vertical plate 3332 is movably mounted. The vertical plates 3332 of the two shaping structures 333 can move closer to or further away from each other along the length direction of the individual battery cell. Two limiting guide strips 3333 are mirror-arranged on the vertical plate 3332. The limiting guide strips 3333 extend vertically and are equipped with a third limiting surface 33331 and a fourth limiting surface 33332 that are perpendicular to each other. The third limiting surface 33331 corresponds to the ends of the end plate a, the heat insulation plate b, and the individual battery cell in the length direction, and the fourth limiting surface 33332 corresponds to the ends of the end plate a, the heat insulation plate b, and the individual battery cell in the width direction. In this embodiment, a second guide shaft 33321 is disposed on the upright plate 3332. The second guide shaft 33321 is slidably connected to the third frame 3331 through a second linear bearing. A cylinder for driving the upright plate 3332 to move is disposed on the third frame 3331.

[0058] The third limiting surface 33331 acts on the ends of end plate a, heat insulation plate b and individual battery cell in the length direction, and the fourth limiting surface 33332 acts on the ends of end plate a, heat insulation plate b and individual battery cell in the width direction, thereby realizing the attitude adjustment of end plate a, heat insulation plate b and individual battery cell.

[0059] In some embodiments, two limiting guide strips 3333 are adjustablely disposed on the upright plate 3332. Specifically, the two limiting guide strips 3333 can move closer to or further away from each other along the width direction of the individual battery cell, that is, the distance between the two fourth limiting surfaces 33332 on the same shaping structure 333 can be adjusted. With this arrangement, the posture adjustment of the end plate a, heat insulation plate b, and individual battery cells with different width specifications can be realized.

[0060] like Figure 14 As shown, optionally, the limiting guide strip 3333 is slidably mounted on the upright plate 3332 via a slide rail slider assembly. An L-adjustment block 3334 is configured on the upright plate 3332. The L-adjustment block 3334 is detachably mounted on both the upright plate 3332 and the limiting guide strip 3333. The upright plate 3332 has several adjusting screw holes, and the L-adjustment block 3334 has a slotted hole. The L-adjustment block 3334 is connected to the upright plate 3332 by bolts or screws, which pass through the slotted hole and are fitted into the adjusting screw hole. By using the slotted hole in conjunction with the adjusting screw hole, the position of the L-adjustment block 3334 can be adjusted, thereby adjusting the distance between two adjacent limiting guide strips 3333.

[0061] In this embodiment, since the limiting guide strip 3333 is in a fixed state during use, the limiting guide strip 3333 is only adjusted when changing the specifications of the soft pack battery. The gap between the two limiting guide strips 3333 needs to ensure that the single cell, end plate a and heat insulation plate b can be smoothly inserted. Therefore, the passive limiting accuracy relying solely on the fourth limiting surface 33332 is too low.

[0062] In this embodiment, as Figure 14 As shown, two mirror-image straightening blocks 3335 are configured on the upright plate 3332. The two straightening blocks 3335 can move closer to or further away from each other along the width direction of the individual battery cell. The straightening blocks 3335 are positioned near the top of the limiting guide strip 3333. In this embodiment, the straightening blocks 3335 are mounted on the limiting guide strip 3333 by cylinders. When it is necessary to adjust the individual battery cell, end plate a, or heat insulation plate b, the two straightening blocks 3335 move closer to each other under the drive of the corresponding cylinders, thereby actively adjusting the battery cell by applying force through the straightening blocks 3335.

[0063] In summary, when using this cell stacking mechanism 3, firstly, end plate a is placed on platform support 332, with the two upright plates 3332 relatively close to each other. The position of end plate a on platform support 332 is adjusted along the length direction of end plate a by the third limiting surface 33331, while the position of end plate a on platform support 332 is adjusted along the width direction of end plate a by the two straightening blocks 3335 on the same shaping structure 333. After the adjustment is completed, the third limiting surface 33331 and the straightening blocks 3335 are reset, and platform support 332 moves downward along the vertical direction by the thickness of end plate a. Subsequently, individual cells are placed on end plate a, and the spatial position adjustment method of individual cells is the same as that of end plate a. The subsequent adjustment methods of heat insulation plate b and the spatial position adjustment methods of individual cells and end plate a are the same as the aforementioned steps, and will not be repeated here. In this way, high-precision stacking of soft-pack batteries can be achieved. After stacking is completed, the platform support 332 moves upward in the vertical direction to cooperate with the stacking pressure plate 3311 to press the soft pack battery. Then, the rotating tray 32 rotates 180° to transfer the soft pack battery to the unloading station for unloading.

[0064] like Figure 16 and Figure 17As shown, the first transfer mechanism 4 includes a fourth frame 41, on which a four-axis robot 42 is mounted. The execution end of the four-axis robot 42 is equipped with a second gripping structure 43. The second gripping structure 43 includes an integrated plate 431 mounted on the four-axis robot 42. The integrated plate 431 is equipped with two third gripping modules 432. Each gripping module includes a first cylinder 4321 and a second cylinder 4322 mounted on the integrated plate 431. A gripping plate 4323 is mounted on the first cylinder 4321. The gripping plate 4323 is driven by the first cylinder 4321 to move in the vertical direction. The second cylinder 4322 is a gripper cylinder. The execution end of the gripper cylinder is equipped with a second claw body 4324. The gripping plate 4323 is located between the two second claw bodies 4324. A third suction cup 4325 is mounted on the integrated plate 431. The two second claw bodies 4324 can move closer to or further away from each other under the drive of the gripper cylinder. Thus, end plate a and heat insulation plate b can be gripped by the third suction cup 4325 and / or the second claw 4324.

[0065] Optionally, the second transfer mechanism 5 has the same structure as the first transfer mechanism 4, which will not be described in detail here.

[0066] The battery cell preparation mechanism 2 includes a machine base and a battery cell carrier mounted on the machine base. Individual battery cells are placed on the battery cell carrier for gripping by the second transfer mechanism 5. Optionally, the individual battery cells can be fed in real-time by a robotic arm. In this case, the battery cell carrier is essentially a transfer station. After the robotic arm loads the battery cells onto the battery cell carrier, the second transfer mechanism 5 transfers them to the battery cell stacking mechanism 3. During the stacking process, the robotic arm transfers individual battery cells to the battery cell carrier. Preferably, when gripping individual battery cells, a third suction cup 4325 is used for negative pressure adsorption. The battery cell carrier here serves to support the individual battery cells, providing upward support in the vertical direction. The specific structure is not limited in this embodiment.

[0067] The technical means disclosed in this invention are not limited to those disclosed in the above embodiments, but also include technical solutions composed of any combination of the above technical features. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications without departing from the principles of this invention, and these improvements and modifications are also considered within the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

1. A workstation for stacking pouch batteries, characterized in that, include: Accessory preparation mechanism, used for feeding end plates and heat insulation plates; A cell preparation mechanism is used to supply individual cells. The cell preparation mechanism and the accessory preparation structure are arranged adjacent to each other, and the two together form a stacking area. A cell stacking mechanism is disposed within the stacking area for stacking end plates, heat insulation plates, and individual cells to form a battery module; The first transfer mechanism is located between the cell stacking mechanism and the accessory preparation mechanism, and is used to transfer the end plate and the heat insulation plate from the accessory preparation mechanism to the cell stacking mechanism. The second transfer mechanism is located between the cell stacking mechanism and the cell preparation mechanism, and is used to transfer individual cells from the cell preparation mechanism to the cell stacking mechanism.

2. The pouch battery stacking workstation according to claim 1, characterized in that, The accessory preparation mechanism includes a first frame, on which a gantry double-drive structure is configured. The first frame is configured with a loading area and a unloading area. The gantry double-drive structure is configured with a first gripping structure, which can reciprocate between the loading area and the unloading area under the action of the gantry double-drive structure.

3. The pouch battery stacking workstation according to claim 2, characterized in that, The loading area is equipped with a first slide plate that can move relative to the first frame to approach or move away from the unloading area. The first slide plate is equipped with at least one first tray and at least one second tray. The first tray is used to stack end plates, and the second tray is used to stack heat insulation plates. The first pallet is provided with a first guide rod for limiting the end plate, and the second pallet is provided with a second guide rod for limiting the heat insulation plate. The first guide rod extends vertically and the first guide rod and the second guide rod are parallel.

4. The pouch battery stacking workstation according to claim 2, characterized in that, The unloading area is equipped with a second sliding plate, which can move relative to the first frame to move closer to or away from the first transfer mechanism. The second slide plate is equipped with a third support plate for placing the end plate or the heat insulation plate; The third pallet is configured with a first limiting surface and a second limiting surface, both of which are perpendicular to the third pallet. The third pallet is provided with a first pressing block corresponding to the first limiting surface and a second pressing block corresponding to the second limiting surface. The first pressing block can move closer to or away from the first limiting surface, and the second pressing block can move closer to or away from the second limiting surface. The end plate or the heat insulation plate is placed in the area defined by the first limiting surface, the first pressing block, the second limiting surface and the second pressing block.

5. The pouch battery stacking workstation according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first gripping structure includes a first adapter frame and a first fixed plate. The first adapter frame is assembled on the gantry dual-drive structure. A first guide shaft is disposed on the first fixed plate. The first guide shaft extends in the vertical direction and passes through the first adapter frame and is slidably connected to it. A first driving member for driving the first fixed plate to move in the vertical direction is disposed on the first adapter frame. The first fixed plate is equipped with a first gripping module.

6. The pouch battery stacking workstation according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first gripping module includes a second fixing plate disposed on the first fixing plate, and the second fixing plate is provided with a first suction cup and a first clamping component; The first pressing assembly includes a first pressing shaft, which extends vertically and passes through and is slidably connected to the second fixing plate. A first limiting block is disposed at the upper end of the first pressing shaft, and a first pressing block is disposed at the lower end of the first pressing shaft. A first spring is sleeved on the first pressing shaft, and the first spring is pressed between the second fixing plate and the first pressing block. Under normal conditions, in the vertical direction, the first pressing block is lower than the first suction cup.

7. The pouch battery stacking workstation according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first gripping module also includes two first claws disposed on the first fixed plate, the two first claws being able to move closer to or further away from each other.

8. The pouch battery stacking workstation according to any one of claims 5-7, characterized in that, The first fixed plate is also equipped with a second gripping module, which can move closer to or further away from the first gripping module.

9. The pouch battery stacking workstation according to claim 8, characterized in that, The second gripping module includes a third fixing plate movably disposed on the first fixing plate, and the third fixing plate is provided with a second suction cup and a second clamping assembly; The second pressing assembly includes a second pressing shaft, which extends vertically and passes through the third fixing plate and is slidably connected thereto. A second limiting block is disposed at the upper end of the second pressing shaft, and a second pressing block is disposed at the lower end of the second pressing shaft. A second spring is sleeved on the second pressing shaft, and the second spring is pressed between the third fixing plate and the second pressing block. Under normal conditions, the second pressure block is lower than the second suction cup in the vertical direction.

10. The pouch battery stacking workstation according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cell stacking mechanism includes a second frame, on which a rotating tray is configured, and on which at least two stacking modules are configured; The stacking module includes a vertical support frame disposed on the rotating tray, and a platform support is movably disposed on the vertical support frame along the vertical direction. Two shaping structures are mirror-displayed on the rotating tray, and the platform support is located between the two shaping structures.

11. The pouch battery stacking workstation according to claim 10, characterized in that, The shaping structure includes a third frame, on which upright plates are movably mounted. The upright plates of the two shaping structures can move closer to or further away from each other along the length of a single battery cell. Two limiting guide strips are mirror-image mounted on the upright plates. The limiting guide strips extend vertically and are equipped with mutually perpendicular third and fourth limiting surfaces. The third limiting surface corresponds to the ends of the end plate, the heat insulation plate, and the single battery cell along their length, and the fourth limiting surface corresponds to the ends of the end plate, the heat insulation plate, and the single battery cell along their width.

12. The pouch battery stacking workstation according to claim 11, characterized in that, The upright plate is equipped with two mirror-shaped straightening blocks. The two straightening blocks can move closer to or further away from each other along the width direction of the individual battery cell. The straightening blocks are positioned near the top of the limiting guide strip.

13. The pouch battery stacking workstation according to claim 10, characterized in that, The top of the vertical support is equipped with a stacking pressure plate, and the platform support can move closer to or further away from the stacking pressure plate in the vertical direction.

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