Battery module boxing equipment, battery production system and battery module boxing method

Abstract

The invention provides battery module boxing equipment, a battery production system and a battery module boxing method, and belongs to the technical field of batteries. The battery module boxing equipment comprises a clamping mechanism and a rotary table. The clamping mechanism is used for clamping a battery module, and the rotary table comprises a base, a rotating seat and a driving part. The rotating seat is fixedly connected with the clamping mechanism, and the rotating seat is configured to be rotatably arranged on the base around the rotating axis of the rotating seat. The driving piece is used for driving the rotating base and the clamping mechanism to rotate relative to the base together. The battery module is adjusted through the rotary table, the adjusting steps are simplified, the adjusting precision is improved, and meanwhile the overall production efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a battery module loading device, a battery production system, and a battery module loading method. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, with the increasing demand for battery capacity, in order to increase battery capacity, multiple battery cells are usually connected in series to form a battery pack, and multiple battery packs are arranged in double rows or multiple rows to form a battery module.

[0003] In the subsequent production of battery modules, the battery modules need to be placed into a battery box. Typically, multiple battery modules are placed inside a single battery box, and these modules are sequentially placed into the box to form a battery. The assembly space inside the battery box is small, and in order to achieve the placement of the battery modules, the relative positional relationship between the battery modules and the battery box needs to be repeatedly adjusted. This adjustment is quite cumbersome, resulting in low production efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application aims to at least address one of the technical problems existing in the background art. Therefore, one object of this application is to provide a battery module loading device, a battery production system, and a battery module loading method to improve / mitigate / solve the problems in the related art.

[0005] An embodiment of the first aspect of this application provides a battery module loading device, including a clamping mechanism and a turntable. The clamping mechanism is used to clamp the battery module, and the turntable includes a base, a rotating seat, and a driving member. The rotating seat is fixedly connected to the clamping mechanism and is configured to be rotatably disposed on the base about its own axis of rotation. The driving member is used to drive the rotating seat and the clamping mechanism to rotate together relative to the base.

[0006] In the technical solution of this application embodiment, a turntable is set up to drive the clamping mechanism to rotate, thereby driving the battery module on the clamping mechanism to rotate, and thus realizing the adjustment of the relative position between the battery module and the battery box. This compensates for the material deviation of the battery module on the clamping mechanism, so that the battery module can be in the accurate box-entry position to complete the subsequent box-entry operation. Using a turntable to adjust the battery module simplifies the adjustment steps, improves the adjustment accuracy, and improves the overall production efficiency.

[0007] In some embodiments, the battery module loading device further includes a positioning mechanism disposed on the turntable. The positioning mechanism is used to indicate the angle of rotation of the rotating seat relative to the base. By setting up the positioning mechanism to detect the angle of rotation of the rotating seat relative to the base, the rotation angle of the battery module is detected, thereby improving the detection accuracy and providing accurate control basis for the opening or stopping of the drive component.

[0008] In some embodiments, the battery module loading device further includes a detection mechanism; the detection mechanism is used to determine the angular deviation value of the battery module on the clamping mechanism relative to the battery box, and the drive member is configured to drive the rotating seat to rotate around the rotation axis by a preset angle based on the angular deviation value. This compensates for the angular deviation value, thereby improving the accuracy of the relative position between the battery module and the battery box, so as to meet the requirement of the battery module completing accurate loading operation in a small loading space.

[0009] In some embodiments, the rotating base includes a transmission assembly and a cylinder. A drive member is located on one side of the base in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The output end of the drive member is connected to the input end of the transmission assembly, and the output end of the transmission assembly is connected to the cylinder. The cylinder is rotatably mounted on the base. By providing the transmission assembly, the power output from the drive member located on one side of the base can be transmitted to the cylinder, and the rotation angle of the cylinder can be precisely controlled at a suitable transmission ratio.

[0010] In some embodiments, the transmission assembly includes a first transmission wheel and a second transmission wheel. The first transmission wheel is connected to the output end of the drive member, and the second transmission wheel is connected to the cylinder. The first and second transmission wheels are coupled together. This facilitates the reliable input of power from the drive member to the cylinder, thereby reliably driving the clamping mechanism and the battery module to rotate in sequence.

[0011] In some embodiments, the turntable further includes a bushing. The outer surface of the cylinder has a protrusion, and the bushing and the second transmission wheel are sleeved on opposite sides of the protrusion along the axial direction of the bushing. The protrusion has a first end face and a second end face facing away from each other along the axial direction of the bushing. The first end face is detachably connected to the second transmission wheel, and the second end face is slidably connected to the end face of the bushing. By providing the bushing, the accuracy of the cylinder assembly and positioning can be improved, and the frictional force of the cylinder during rotation can be reduced.

[0012] In some embodiments, the battery module loading device further includes a lifting assembly. The lifting assembly is fixedly connected to the rotating base, and its output end is connected to the clamping mechanism. The output end of the lifting assembly is used to connect to the battery module. By setting the lifting assembly, the battery module located above the battery box is lowered into the battery box, thereby completing the battery module loading operation.

[0013] In some embodiments, the lifting assembly includes a first lifting unit and a second lifting unit. The first lifting unit includes a first driving component connected to a rotating base and a shaft pulverizedly connected to the first driving component. The shaft is connected to a clamping mechanism and moves vertically together under the drive of the first driving component. The second lifting unit is fixedly connected to the shaft and is configured to drive the battery module to move vertically independently of the first lifting unit. The two-stage lowering of the battery module into the battery box via the first and second lifting units reduces interference between the clamping mechanism and the battery box or the battery module already inside the battery box, thus meeting the requirements for battery module placement.

[0014] In some embodiments, the battery module loading device further includes a floating connector. The floating connector is connected to both the shaft and the clamping mechanism, allowing the clamping mechanism to move at least relative to the shaft in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical. By providing the floating connector, the relative position between the battery module and the battery housing can be adjusted horizontally during battery module loading, further improving the accuracy of the battery module's position relative to the battery housing, thereby enhancing the precision and quality of battery module loading.

[0015] In some embodiments, the battery module loading device further includes a side-pushing mechanism. The side-pushing mechanism has a first end and a second end movable horizontally relative to the first end. The first end is connected to a shaft, and the second end is connected to a clamping mechanism. The side-pushing mechanism drives the clamping mechanism to move horizontally relative to the shaft. By adjusting the relative position between the battery module and the battery housing in the horizontal direction using the side-pushing mechanism, the accuracy of the battery module's position relative to the battery housing is improved, thereby enhancing the precision and quality of battery module loading.

[0016] In some embodiments, the output end of the second lifting unit includes at least one adsorption unit, which is used to adsorb and connect with the surface of the battery module. By setting the adsorption unit to connect with the battery module, the ease of connection is improved, and damage to the surface of the battery module is reduced.

[0017] In some embodiments, the output end of the second lifting unit further includes a pressing unit, which is configured to move vertically, and the lowest point of the pressing unit in the vertical direction is lower than the lowest point of at least one adsorption unit. By setting the pressing unit to further press the battery module, the battery module can be fully lowered to the bottom of the battery box, thereby assembling the battery module into place.

[0018] An embodiment of the second aspect of this application provides a battery production system, which includes the battery module loading device described in the above embodiments.

[0019] An embodiment of the third aspect of this application provides a battery module loading method, applied to the battery module loading equipment or battery production system as described in the above embodiments, comprising: controlling a clamping mechanism to clamp the battery module and move it above the battery casing; and controlling the clamping mechanism and the battery module to rotate together relative to the battery casing by a preset angle.

[0020] In some embodiments, controlling the clamping mechanism and the battery module to rotate together relative to the battery housing by a preset angle further includes: acquiring position information of the battery module and the battery housing; determining a preset angle based on the position information; and controlling the clamping mechanism and the battery module to rotate together relative to the battery housing based on the preset angle. By detecting the position information of the battery module and the battery housing, accurate basis is provided for the control of the drive component.

[0021] In some embodiments, after controlling the clamping mechanism and the battery module to rotate together relative to the battery box by a preset angle, the method further includes: controlling the shaft of the first lifting unit to move vertically until the battery module is adjusted to a preset height above the battery box; and controlling the output end of the second lifting unit to move vertically until the battery module is adjusted to the bottom of the battery box. This achieves a two-stage descent of the battery module into the box, reducing interference during the battery module insertion process and improving the efficiency of battery module insertion.

[0022] In some embodiments, the preset height is less than the distance between the top surface of the battery module already placed in the battery box and the bottom of the battery box. Furthermore, after controlling the shaft of the first lifting unit to move vertically until the battery module is adjusted to the preset height above the battery box, the method further includes controlling the side-pushing mechanism to drive the clamping mechanism to move horizontally relative to the shaft until the battery module contacts an adjacent battery module already placed in the battery box. By controlling the side-pushing mechanism to adjust the relative position between the battery module and the battery box in the horizontal direction, the accuracy of the battery module's position relative to the battery box is further improved.

[0023] In some embodiments, controlling the output end of the second lifting unit to move vertically until the battery module is adjusted to the bottom of the battery box further includes: releasing the adsorption connection between the adsorption unit and the battery module, and controlling the driving top pressure unit to apply pressure to the battery module toward the bottom of the box. By applying force to the battery module through the top pressure unit, the battery module and the bottom of the battery box can fit together as closely as possible, that is, the battery module is assembled in place as much as possible, thus improving the quality of battery module assembly.

[0024] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of this application. In order to better understand the technical means of this application and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this application more obvious and understandable, the following are specific embodiments of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0025] In the accompanying drawings, unless otherwise specified, the same reference numerals throughout the various drawings denote the same or similar parts or elements. These drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. It should be understood that these drawings depict only some embodiments disclosed in this application and should not be construed as limiting the scope of this application.

[0026] Figure 1 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a battery module box-loading device according to some embodiments of this application;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the turntable in some embodiments of this application;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of a battery module box-mounting device according to some embodiments of this application;

[0029] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A magnified structural diagram at point A;

[0030] Figure 5 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a battery module box-loading device according to some embodiments of this application;

[0031] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a floating connector according to some embodiments of this application;

[0032] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the side-pushing mechanism in some embodiments of this application;

[0033] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating a battery module loading method according to some embodiments of this application.

[0034] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0035] 1. Battery module packing equipment;

[0036] 10. Clamping mechanism;

[0037] 11. Turntable; 110. Base; 111. Rotating seat; 1111. Transmission assembly; 1111a. First transmission wheel; 1111b. Second transmission wheel; 1112. Cylinder; 1112a. Protrusion; 112. Driving component; 113. Bushing;

[0038] 12. Positioning mechanism;

[0039] 13. Lifting assembly; 130. First lifting unit; 1301. First driving component; 1302. Shaft; 131. Second lifting unit; 1311. Adsorption unit; 1312. Top pressure unit;

[0040] 14. Floating connector; 140. First connecting plate; 141. Bearing; 142. Second connecting plate;

[0041] 15. Side-push mechanism; 151. First end; 152. Second end. Detailed Implementation

[0042] The embodiments of the technical solution of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this application and are therefore merely examples, and should not be used to limit the scope of protection of this application.

[0043] 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 application pertains; the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application; the terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, in the specification, claims, and foregoing description of the drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0044] In the description of the embodiments of this application, technical terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish different objects and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number, specific order, or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly defined.

[0045] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0046] In the description of the embodiments in this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0047] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "multiple" refers to two or more (including two), similarly, "multiple sets" refers to two or more (including two sets), and "multiple pieces" refers to two or more (including two pieces).

[0048] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the technical terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" 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 the embodiments of this application and simplifying the description, and are not intended to 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 the embodiments of this application.

[0049] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, technical terms such as "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0050] Currently, judging from market trends, battery applications are becoming increasingly widespread. Batteries are not only used in energy storage systems such as hydropower, thermal power, wind power, and solar power plants, but also extensively in electric vehicles such as electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and electric cars, as well as in military equipment and aerospace. With the continuous expansion of battery applications, market demand is also constantly increasing.

[0051] Currently, with the increasing demand for battery capacity, in order to increase battery capacity, multiple battery cells are usually connected in series to form a battery pack, and multiple battery packs are arranged in double rows or multiple rows to form a battery module.

[0052] In the subsequent production of battery modules, the modules need to be placed into a box. Typically, multiple battery modules are placed inside a single battery box, and these modules are sequentially placed into the box to form a battery. Current technology involves manual placement of the modules into the box using auxiliary tooling. However, the assembly space inside the battery box is limited, and the incoming battery modules often have slight deviations, making placement difficult. To achieve proper placement, the relative position between the battery module and the battery box needs to be repeatedly adjusted, which is cumbersome. Furthermore, the weight of the battery modules makes manual adjustment difficult and time-consuming, resulting in low production efficiency.

[0053] Based on the above considerations, this application provides a battery module loading device, a battery production system, and a battery module loading method. The battery module loading device includes a clamping mechanism and a turntable. The clamping mechanism is used to clamp the battery modules, and the turntable includes a base, a rotating seat, and a driving component. The rotating seat is fixedly connected to the clamping mechanism and is configured to be rotatably mounted on the base about its own axis of rotation. The driving component is used to drive the rotating seat and the clamping mechanism to rotate together relative to the base.

[0054] By setting up a turntable to drive the clamping mechanism to rotate, which in turn drives the battery module on the clamping mechanism to rotate, thereby adjusting the relative position between the battery module and the battery box. This compensates for material deviations in the clamping mechanism, ensuring that the battery module is in the accurate position for subsequent box insertion. Using a turntable to adjust the battery module simplifies the adjustment process, improves adjustment accuracy, and enhances overall production efficiency.

[0055] The battery module loading equipment disclosed in this application can be used, but is not limited to, for loading battery modules into boxes during battery production. A battery production system equipped with the battery module loading equipment disclosed in this application can be used for loading battery modules into boxes during battery production.

[0056] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, Figure 1 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a battery module box-loading device according to some embodiments of this application. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a turntable according to some embodiments of this application. Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of a battery module box-mounting device according to some embodiments of this application. Figure 4 for Figure 3 A magnified structural diagram at point A.

[0057] This application provides a battery module loading device 1, including a clamping mechanism 10 and a turntable 11. The clamping mechanism 10 is used to clamp the battery module, and the turntable 11 includes a base 110, a rotating seat 111, and a driving member 112. The rotating seat 111 is fixedly connected to the clamping mechanism 10, and the rotating seat 111 is configured to be rotatably disposed on the base 110 about its own rotation axis. The driving member 112 is used to drive the rotating seat 111 and the clamping mechanism 10 to rotate together relative to the base 110.

[0058] The clamping mechanism 10 is a component capable of providing clamping force to clamp the battery module. In some embodiments, the clamping mechanism 10 clamps the battery module using grippers.

[0059] In the turntable 11, the base 110 is a relatively fixed component used to fix the drive component 112 and to support the rotating seat 111, so that the rotating seat 111 can rotate stably relative to the base 110.

[0060] In some embodiments, the drive element 112 may be a motor.

[0061] By setting up a turntable 11 to drive the clamping mechanism 10 to rotate, the battery module on the clamping mechanism 10 will rotate, thereby adjusting the relative position between the battery module and the battery box. This compensates for the material deviation of the battery module on the clamping mechanism 10, ensuring that the battery module is in the accurate box-loading position for subsequent box-loading operations. Using the turntable 11 to adjust the battery module simplifies the adjustment steps, improves the adjustment accuracy, and enhances overall production efficiency.

[0062] like Figure 2 As shown, according to some embodiments of this application, the battery module loading device 1 further includes a positioning mechanism 12, which is disposed on the turntable 11 and is used to indicate the angle of rotation of the rotating seat 111 relative to the base 110.

[0063] In some embodiments, the positioning mechanism 12 can be configured as a photoelectric sensor, which is fixed on the base 110. When the sensing block on the rotating seat 111 rotates to the photoelectric sensor along with the rotating seat 111, the photoelectric sensor is triggered, thereby determining the angle of rotation of the rotating seat 111 relative to the base 110.

[0064] In other embodiments, the base 110 is provided with three positioning mechanisms 12, which are arranged at intervals around the rotation axis of the rotating seat 111. The central angle between two adjacent positioning mechanisms 12 relative to the rotation axis is 90 degrees. Thus, the positioning mechanism 12 can indicate the angle of rotation of the rotating seat 111 relative to the base 110, which can include 90 degrees and 180 degrees. This is applicable to adjustment scenarios that require rotating the battery module by 90 degrees or 180 degrees. That is, after the battery module is rotated by 90 degrees or 180 degrees, the drive unit 112 stops, and then the battery is placed into the box. It is understood that the more positioning mechanisms 12 are arranged, the more angles can be indicated, and the more adjustment angles can be covered, thereby improving the comprehensiveness of positioning detection.

[0065] By setting up a positioning mechanism 12 to detect the angle of the rotating seat 111 relative to the base 110, the rotation angle of the battery module is detected, thereby improving the detection accuracy and providing accurate control basis for the opening or stopping of the drive component 112.

[0066] According to some embodiments of this application, the battery module loading device 1 further includes a detection mechanism; the detection mechanism is used to determine the angular deviation value of the battery module on the clamping mechanism 10 relative to the battery box, and the driving member 112 is configured to drive the rotating seat 111 to rotate around the rotation axis by a preset angle based on the angular deviation value.

[0067] In some embodiments, the detection mechanism can be a camera, which can capture a first image of the battery module and battery housing from a top-down perspective. The first image is compared with a second image showing the battery module and battery housing in a standard position to determine whether there is an angular deviation in the battery module and to calculate the angular deviation value. When there is an angular deviation in the battery module, the drive member 112 drives the rotating seat 111 to rotate for compensation, so as to rotate the battery module to the accurate position.

[0068] By setting up a detection mechanism to detect the angular deviation value of the battery module relative to the battery box, the driving component 112 drives the battery module to rotate to compensate for the angular deviation value, thereby improving the accuracy of the relative position between the battery module and the battery box, so as to enable the battery module to complete the accurate box insertion operation in a small box space.

[0069] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, according to some embodiments of this application, the rotating base 111 includes a transmission assembly 1111 and a cylinder 1112. The driving member 112 is located on one side of the base 110 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The output end of the driving member 112 is connected to the input end of the transmission assembly 1111, and the output end of the transmission assembly 1111 is connected to the cylinder 1112. The cylinder 1112 is rotatably disposed on the base 110.

[0070] The transmission assembly 1111 is a component that realizes power transmission, thereby transmitting the power of the drive member 112 to the cylinder 1112 to drive the cylinder 1112 to rotate, and can select a suitable transmission ratio according to requirements. In some embodiments, the transmission assembly 1111 can be a gear transmission assembly.

[0071] In some embodiments, the cylinder 1112 is sleeved on the shaft 1302 and fixedly connected to the shaft 1302, and one end of the shaft is connected to the clamping mechanism 10.

[0072] By setting up the transmission assembly 1111, the power output from the drive unit 112 arranged on one side of the base can be transmitted to the cylinder 1112, and the rotation angle of the cylinder 1112 can be precisely controlled under a suitable transmission ratio.

[0073] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, according to some embodiments of this application, the transmission assembly 1111 includes a first transmission wheel 1111a and a second transmission wheel 1111b. The first transmission wheel 1111a is connected to the output end of the drive member 112, and the second transmission wheel 1111b is connected to the cylinder 1112. The first transmission wheel 1111a and the second transmission wheel 1111b are coupled together.

[0074] The coupling connection means that when the first transmission wheel 1111a rotates, the first transmission wheel 1111a can drive the second transmission wheel 1111b to rotate. In some embodiments, the first transmission wheel 1111a and the second transmission wheel 1111b can be configured as gears, or the first transmission wheel 1111a and the second transmission wheel 1111b can be configured as friction wheels.

[0075] In some embodiments, the axis of the first transmission wheel 1111a is parallel to the axis of the second transmission wheel 1111b. The second transmission wheel 1111b is sleeved on the cylinder 1112. The diameter of the first transmission wheel 1111a is smaller than the diameter of the second transmission wheel 1111b. Correspondingly, the transmission ratio of the transmission assembly 1111 is greater than 1, thereby realizing the deceleration of the drive component 112 and improving the accuracy of the rotation control of the cylinder 1112.

[0076] By configuring the transmission assembly 1111 as a first transmission wheel 1111a and a second transmission wheel 1111b coupled to each other, the power of the drive member 112 can be reliably input to the cylinder 1112, thereby driving the clamping mechanism 10 and the battery module to rotate reliably in sequence.

[0077] like Figure 4 As shown, according to some embodiments of this application, the turntable 11 further includes a bushing 113. The outer surface of the cylinder 1112 has a protrusion 1112a, and the bushing 113 and the second transmission wheel 1111b are sleeved on opposite sides of the protrusion 1112a along the axial direction of the bushing 113. The protrusion 1112a has a first end face and a second end face that are opposite to each other along the axial direction of the bushing 113. The first end face is detachably connected to the second transmission wheel 1111b, and the second end face is slidably connected to the end face of the bushing 113.

[0078] The bushing 113 serves for lubrication and positioning. The second end face of the protrusion 1112a is slidably connected to the end face of the bushing 113, which reduces the friction of the cylinder 1112 during rotation, thereby reducing wear on the cylinder 1112 during rotation. During assembly, the bushing 113 serves as the assembly datum for the cylinder 1112. The cylinder 1112 is assembled into place simply by fitting the second end face of the protrusion 1112a against the end face of the bushing 113.

[0079] By setting the bushing 113, the assembly and positioning accuracy of the cylinder 1112 can be improved, and the friction of the cylinder 1112 during rotation can be reduced.

[0080] like Figure 5 As shown, Figure 5This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a battery module loading device according to some embodiments of this application. According to some embodiments of this application, the battery module loading device 1 further includes a lifting assembly 13. The lifting assembly 13 is fixedly connected to the rotating seat 111, and the output end of the lifting assembly 13 is connected to the clamping mechanism 10. The output end of the lifting assembly 13 is used to connect to the battery module.

[0081] The output end of the lifting component 13 is connected to the clamping mechanism 10. It can be understood that the lifting component 13 can drive the clamping mechanism 10 to rise and fall, that is, it can drive the clamping mechanism 10 and the battery module on the clamping mechanism 10 to rise and fall synchronously. The output end of the lifting component 13 is used to connect to the battery module; it can also be understood that the lifting component 13 can independently drive the battery module to rise and fall.

[0082] By setting up the lifting component 13, the battery module located above the battery box is lowered into the battery box, thereby completing the battery module installation operation.

[0083] like Figure 5 As shown, according to some embodiments of this application, the lifting assembly includes a first lifting unit 130 and a second lifting unit 131. The first lifting unit 130 includes a first driving component 1301 connected to a rotating seat 111 and a shaft 1302 pulsatorically connected to the first driving component 1301. The shaft 1302 is connected to a clamping mechanism 10 and moves vertically together under the drive of the first driving component 1301. The second lifting unit 131 is fixedly connected to the shaft 1302 and is configured to drive the battery module to move vertically independently of the first lifting unit 130.

[0084] The first lifting unit 130 is used to drive the clamping mechanism 10 and the battery module to descend in the first stage, so that the battery module first approaches the battery box. Then, the second lifting unit 131 drives the battery module to descend in the second stage. At this time, the clamping mechanism 10 is relatively stationary, that is, the clamping mechanism 10 will not enter the battery box along with the battery module, so as to reduce interference between the clamping mechanism 10 and the battery box or the battery module already in the battery box.

[0085] The battery module is lowered into the box in two stages by the first lifting unit 130 and the second lifting unit 131, which reduces the interference between the clamping mechanism 10 and the battery box or the battery module already in the battery box, and meets the requirements for the battery module to be placed into the box.

[0086] like Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a floating connector according to some embodiments of this application.

[0087] According to some embodiments of this application, the battery module loading device 1 further includes a floating connector 14. The floating connector 14 is connected to the shaft 1302 and the clamping mechanism 10 respectively, so that the clamping mechanism 10 can move at least relative to the shaft 1302 in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[0088] In some embodiments, the floating connector 14 includes a first connecting plate 140, a bearing 141, and a second connecting plate 142. The first connecting plate 140 is connected to the second connecting plate 142 via the bearing 141. Under the action of the bearing 141, the second connecting plate 142 can move horizontally relative to the first connecting plate 140. The first connecting plate 140 is connected to the shaft 1302, and the second connecting plate 142 is connected to the clamping mechanism 10.

[0089] By setting the floating connector 14, the relative position between the battery module and the battery box can be adjusted in the horizontal direction during the battery module insertion process, so as to further improve the accuracy of the battery module's position relative to the battery box, thereby improving the accuracy and quality of the battery module insertion.

[0090] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the side-pushing mechanism in some embodiments of this application.

[0091] According to some embodiments of this application, the battery module loading device 1 further includes a side-pushing mechanism 15. The side-pushing mechanism 15 has a first end 151 and a second end 152 that can move horizontally relative to the first end 151. The first end 151 is connected to a shaft 1302, and the second end 152 is connected to a clamping mechanism 10. The side-pushing mechanism 15 is used to drive the clamping mechanism 10 to move horizontally relative to the shaft 1302.

[0092] One of the first end 151 and the second end 152 is a fixed end, and the other is an output end. In some embodiments, the side-pushing mechanism 15 is configured as a cylinder, the first end 151 corresponds to the piston rod of the cylinder, the second end 152 corresponds to the cylinder body of the cylinder, the piston rod is connected to the first connecting plate 140, and the cylinder body is connected to the clamping mechanism 10. When the piston rod extends relative to the cylinder body, the first connecting plate 140, which is fixed to the piston rod, is relatively stationary, thereby driving the clamping mechanism 10 to move horizontally relative to the first connecting plate 140 under the action of the reaction force.

[0093] By pushing the clamping mechanism 10 horizontally through the side-pushing mechanism 15, the battery module can move a certain distance horizontally relative to the battery box, thereby adjusting the relative position between the battery module and the battery box in the horizontal direction. Using the side-pushing mechanism 15 to adjust the relative position between the battery module and the battery box improves the accuracy of the battery module's position relative to the battery box, thus improving the precision and quality of the battery module's insertion into the box.

[0094] like Figure 5 As shown, according to some embodiments of this application, the output end of the second lifting unit 131 includes at least one adsorption unit 1311, which is used to adsorb and connect with the surface of the battery module.

[0095] In some embodiments, the adsorption unit 1311 can be configured as a suction cup, which uses negative pressure to adsorb the top surface of the battery module. When the battery module is driven by the second lifting unit 131 to descend into the box in the second stage, the clamping mechanism 10 releases the battery module and is connected to the battery module only through the suction cup.

[0096] By setting up the connection between the adsorption unit 1311 and the battery module, the convenience of connection is improved and damage to the surface of the battery module is reduced.

[0097] like Figure 5 As shown, according to some embodiments of this application, the output end of the second lifting unit 131 further includes a top pressing unit 1312, which is configured to move in a vertical direction, and the lowest point of the top pressing unit 1312 in the vertical direction is lower than the lowest point of at least one adsorption unit 1311.

[0098] The top pressure unit 1312 is a component used to apply pressure to the bottom of the battery box towards the battery module. After the battery module completes the second stage of descent into the box, the adsorption unit 1311 separates from the battery module, and the top pressure unit 1312 is activated, thereby pressing the battery module further towards the bottom of the box, so that the battery module comes into contact with the bottom of the box.

[0099] By setting the top pressure unit 1312 to further press the battery module, the battery module can be fully lowered to the bottom of the battery box, thereby assembling the battery module in place.

[0100] An embodiment of the second aspect of this application provides a battery production system, including the battery module loading device 1 as described in the above embodiment.

[0101] In some embodiments, a battery production system may be constructed using the battery module loading device 1 disclosed in the embodiments of this application for loading battery modules into the battery box during the battery production process.

[0102] The battery production system in this embodiment can have all the beneficial effects of the battery module boxing equipment 1 described above, which will not be repeated here.

[0103] like Figure 8 As shown, Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating a battery module loading method according to some embodiments of this application. A third aspect of this application provides a battery module loading method, applied to the battery module loading equipment or battery production system described above. The method includes:

[0104] Step 810: Control the clamping mechanism to clamp the battery module and move it above the battery box.

[0105] Step 820: Control the clamping mechanism and the battery module to rotate together relative to the battery box by a preset angle.

[0106] The battery module loading method can be executed by the controller of the battery module loading equipment or by another computer device. The following description uses the controller of the battery module loading equipment as an example to illustrate the method steps of this embodiment.

[0107] In step 810, the controller can send a control command to the clamping mechanism, which clamps the battery module and moves it horizontally, thereby adjusting the relative position between the battery module and the battery box, so that the battery module is located directly above the insertion position in the battery box.

[0108] In step 820, the controller can send a control command to the drive unit, which drives the rotating seat to rotate relative to the base, thereby driving the clamping mechanism and the battery module to rotate, so that the battery module can rotate relative to the battery box by a preset angle, thereby achieving the purpose of compensating for the incoming deviation of the battery module.

[0109] By controlling the clamping mechanism and driving components, the relative position between the battery module and the battery box can be adjusted to compensate for the incoming deviation of the battery module, reduce the interference phenomenon during the battery module loading process, improve the adjustment efficiency, and thus improve the loading efficiency of the battery module.

[0110] In some embodiments, step 820 further includes: acquiring position information of the battery module and the battery housing; determining a preset angle based on the position information; and controlling the clamping mechanism and the battery module to rotate together relative to the battery housing based on the preset angle.

[0111] In some embodiments, the position information of the battery module and battery housing can be acquired by a camera. The controller can send control commands to the camera, which takes a first image of the battery module and battery housing from a top-down perspective. The first image is compared with a second image showing the battery module and battery housing in a standard position to determine whether there is an angular deviation in the battery module. If there is an angular deviation in the battery module, a drive component rotates the rotating base to compensate for it, thereby rotating the battery module to the accurate position.

[0112] By detecting the positional information of the battery module and the battery housing, accurate information is provided for the control of the drive components, enabling the drive components to rotate the battery module to the accurate position and improving the accuracy of the relative position between the battery module and the battery housing.

[0113] In some embodiments, after step 820, the method further includes: controlling the shaft of the first lifting unit to move vertically until the battery module is adjusted to a preset height above the battery box; and controlling the output end of the second lifting unit to move vertically until the battery module is adjusted to the bottom of the battery box.

[0114] In this step, the controller can issue control commands to the first drive component of the first lifting unit. The first drive component drives the shaft to simultaneously lower the clamping mechanism, battery module, and second lifting unit in the first stage, bringing the battery module closer to the battery box. The precision requirements in this stage are relatively low, and a higher descent speed can be used to improve the efficiency of loading into the box.

[0115] After the first stage of descent is completed, the controller can issue control commands to the clamping mechanism and the second lifting unit. The clamping mechanism separates from the battery module, and only the second lifting unit drives the battery module to descend in the second stage. This reduces interference between the clamping mechanism and the battery box or the battery module already installed inside the battery box.

[0116] By controlling the clamping mechanism, the first lifting unit, and the second lifting unit, the battery module can be lowered into the box in two stages, reducing interference during the battery module insertion process and improving the efficiency of battery module insertion.

[0117] In some embodiments, the preset height is less than the height of the top surface of the battery module already placed in the box from the bottom of the battery box, and wherein, after controlling the shaft of the first lifting unit to move vertically until the battery module is adjusted to the preset height above the battery box, the method further includes: controlling the side pushing mechanism to drive the clamping mechanism to move horizontally relative to the shaft until the battery module contacts the adjacent battery module already placed in the box.

[0118] In this step, the preset height is the height of the battery module from the bottom of the battery box, where the bottom refers to the inner surface of the battery box's base plate. The controller can send control commands to the side-pushing mechanism, which pushes the clamping mechanism horizontally, thereby moving the battery module horizontally a preset distance. This allows the battery module to contact an adjacent battery module already in the box, thus adjusting the relative position between the battery module and the battery box in the horizontal direction, further improving the accuracy of the battery module's position relative to the battery box.

[0119] By controlling the side-pushing mechanism to adjust the relative position between the battery module and the battery housing in the horizontal direction, the accuracy of the battery module's position relative to the battery housing is further improved.

[0120] In some embodiments, controlling the output end of the second lifting unit to move vertically until the battery module is adjusted to the bottom of the battery box, the method further includes: releasing the adsorption connection between the adsorption unit and the battery module, and controlling the driving top pressure unit to apply pressure to the battery module toward the bottom of the box.

[0121] After the second descent is completed, the controller can send a command to the adsorption unit of the second lifting unit to release the adsorption connection, and at the same time send a descent control command to the top pressure unit to apply force to the top surface of the battery module.

[0122] By applying force to the battery module through the top pressure unit, the battery module and the bottom of the battery box can fit together as closely as possible, thus assembling the battery module into place as much as possible and improving the quality of battery module assembly.

[0123] The following is combined with Figures 1 to 8 The embodiments of this application will be described in further detail.

[0124] The battery module loading equipment includes a clamping mechanism 10, a turntable 11, a positioning mechanism 12, a detection mechanism, a lifting assembly 13, a floating connector 14, and a side-pushing mechanism 15.

[0125] The turntable 11 includes a base 110, a rotating seat 111, and a drive member 112. The rotating seat 111 is fixedly connected to the clamping mechanism 10, and the rotating seat 111 is configured to be rotatably mounted on the base 110 about its own axis of rotation. The drive member 112 is used to drive the rotating seat 111 and the clamping mechanism 10 to rotate together relative to the base 110.

[0126] The rotating base 111 includes a cylindrical body 1112 and a meshing pinion and a large gear. The pinion is connected to the driving member 112, and the large gear is sleeved on the cylindrical body 1112. The protrusion 1112a on the cylindrical body 1112 is located between the large gear and the bushing 113. The shaft 1302 is connected to the clamping mechanism 10 through a floating connector 14.

[0127] There are three positioning mechanisms 12, which are arranged sequentially and at intervals on the base 110. The detection mechanism is a camera, which is used to detect the angular deviation value of the battery module relative to the battery box. The camera then drives the cylinder 1112, shaft 1302, clamping mechanism 10 and battery module to rotate in sequence through the drive component 112, thereby adjusting the relative position between the battery module and the battery box.

[0128] The lifting assembly 13 includes a first lifting unit 130 and a second lifting unit 131 to achieve a two-stage descent of the battery module. After the first stage of descent is completed, the battery module is pushed horizontally a certain distance by the side pushing mechanism 15. Then, the clamping mechanism 10 releases the battery module, and the adsorption unit 1311 of the second lifting unit 131 adsorbs the battery module and drives the battery module to continue to descend, thus completing the second stage of descent of the battery module. After the second stage of descent is completed, the adsorption unit 1311 separates from the battery module, and the top pressing unit 1312 of the second lifting unit 131 presses the battery module toward the bottom of the battery box, so that the battery module abuts against the bottom of the box.

[0129] In some embodiments, the battery module loading device 1 may further include a controller, which is signal-connected to the clamping mechanism 10, the driving component 112, the positioning mechanism 12, the detection mechanism, the lifting component 13 and the side pushing mechanism 15, respectively, to control the above components to perform the battery module loading method in the above embodiments.

[0130] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and not to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and they should all be covered within the scope of the claims and specification of this application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the embodiments can be combined in any way. This application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A battery module boxing apparatus, characterized by, The battery module boxing device comprises: a clamping mechanism for clamping a battery module; a rotary table comprising a base, a rotary seat and a driving member; the rotary seat is fixedly connected with the clamping mechanism, and the rotary seat is configured to be rotatably arranged on the base about an own rotation axis; the driving member is used to drive the rotary seat and the clamping mechanism to rotate relative to the base.

2. The battery module in-box apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by, Further comprising: a positioning mechanism arranged on the rotary table, the positioning mechanism is used to indicate the angle of rotation of the rotary seat relative to the base.

3. The battery module in-box apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The battery module boxing device further comprises a detection mechanism; the detection mechanism is used to determine the angle deviation of the battery module on the clamping mechanism relative to the battery box, and the driving member is configured to drive the rotary seat to rotate about the rotation axis by a preset angle based on the angle deviation.

4. The battery module in-box apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The rotary seat comprises a transmission assembly and a cylinder; the driving member is located on one side of the base in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis, the output end of the driving member is connected with the input end of the transmission assembly, the output end of the transmission assembly is connected with the cylinder, and the cylinder is rotatably arranged on the base.

5. The battery module in-box apparatus according to claim 4, wherein The transmission assembly comprises a first transmission wheel and a second transmission wheel; the first transmission wheel is connected with the output end of the driving member, the second transmission wheel is connected with the cylinder, and the first transmission wheel and the second transmission wheel are power-coupled.

6. The battery module in-box apparatus according to claim 5, wherein The rotary table further comprises a shaft sleeve; the outer surface of the cylinder has a protruding portion, the shaft sleeve and the second transmission wheel are sleeved on opposite sides of the protruding portion along the axial direction of the shaft sleeve; the protruding portion has a first end face and a second end face facing away from each other along the axial direction of the shaft sleeve, the first end face is detachably connected with the second transmission wheel, and the second end face is slidingly connected with the end face of the shaft sleeve.

7. The battery module in-box apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by, Further comprising: a lifting assembly; the lifting assembly is fixedly connected with the rotary seat, and the output end of the lifting assembly is connected with the clamping mechanism, and the output end of the lifting assembly is used to be connected with the battery module.

8. The battery module in-box apparatus according to claim 7, wherein The lifting assembly comprises a first lifting unit and a second lifting unit, the first lifting unit comprises a first driving part connected with the rotary seat and a shaft body in transmission connection with the first driving part, the shaft body is connected with the clamping mechanism and moves together in a vertical direction under the drive of the first driving part; the second lifting unit is fixedly connected with the shaft body, and the second lifting unit is configured to drive the battery module to move in the vertical direction independently of the first lifting unit.

9. The battery module boxing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a floating connector; the floating connector is respectively connected with the shaft body and the clamping mechanism, so that the clamping mechanism can at least move relative to the shaft body in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction.

10. The battery module boxing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: a side pushing mechanism; the side pushing mechanism has a first end and a second end capable of moving relative to the first end in the horizontal direction, the first end is connected with the shaft body, and the second end is connected with the clamping mechanism, and the side pushing mechanism is used to drive the clamping mechanism to move relative to the shaft body in the horizontal direction.

11. The battery module in-box apparatus of claim 8, wherein, The output end of the second lifting unit comprises at least one adsorption unit for adsorptive connection with the surface of the battery module.

12. The battery module in-box apparatus of claim 11, wherein, The output end of the second lifting unit further comprises a top pressing unit configured to move along the vertical direction, and the lowest point of the top pressing unit along the vertical direction is lower than the lowest point of the at least one adsorption unit.

13. A battery production system characterized by comprising: The battery module boxing device comprises the battery module boxing device according to any one of claims 1 to 12. 14.A method of boxing a battery module, applied to the battery module boxing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12 or the battery production system according to claim 13, characterized by, The battery module boxing device comprises: controlling the clamping mechanism to clamp the battery module and move above the battery box; controlling the clamping mechanism and the battery module to jointly rotate relative to the battery box by a preset angle.

15. The battery module-in-a-box method of claim 14, wherein, The control of the clamping mechanism and the battery module to jointly rotate relative to the battery box by a preset angle comprises: obtaining position information of the battery module and the battery box; determining the preset angle according to the position information; controlling the clamping mechanism and the battery module to jointly rotate relative to the battery box according to the preset angle.

16. The battery module in-box method of claim 14, wherein, After the driving of the clamping mechanism and the battery module to jointly rotate relative to the battery box by a preset angle, the battery module boxing device comprises: controlling the shaft body of the first lifting unit to move along the vertical direction until the battery module is adjusted to a preset height above the battery box; controlling the output end of the second lifting unit to move along the vertical direction until the battery module is adjusted to the bottom of the battery box.

17. The battery module-in-a-box method of claim 16, wherein, The preset height is less than the height of the top surface of the battery module that has been boxed from the bottom of the battery box, and wherein After the control of the shaft body of the first lifting unit to move along the vertical direction until the battery module is adjusted to a preset height above the battery box, the battery module boxing device comprises: controlling the side pushing mechanism to drive the clamping mechanism to move relative to the shaft body along the horizontal direction to the battery module in contact with the adjacent battery module that has been boxed.

18. The battery module-in-a-box method of claim 16, wherein, After the control of the output end of the second lifting unit to move along the vertical direction until the battery module is adjusted to the bottom of the battery box, the battery module boxing device further comprises: releasing the adsorptive connection of the adsorption unit with the battery module; controlling the driving top pressing unit to apply pressure to the battery module towards the bottom of the box.

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