Sagger transportation device for positive and negative electrode powder of lithium battery

Abstract

The invention discloses a sagger transportation device for positive and negative electrode powder of a lithium battery, which comprises a conveying line and a clamping mechanism, and is characterized in that the conveying line comprises a plurality of chain wheel driving units consisting of driving chain wheels, transmission shafts, one-way bearings, shaft sleeves and supporting wheels. Through the clutch characteristic of the one-way bearing, two working modes of the supporting wheel are realized: when the driving chain wheel is driven, the supporting wheel actively rotates to convey the saggar; and when the driving chain wheel stops, the supporting wheel can be driven by external force to follow up. By means of the design, the saggar can be accurately conveyed by the chain wheel system and can be rapidly conveyed to the loading station in a friction-free mode by the clamping mechanism, and seamless switching between the chain wheel system and the loading station is achieved. The problems that in the prior art, the transportation efficiency is low, friction is large, and an emergency mode is lacked are solved, and the efficiency and reliability of the lithium battery powder bowl loading procedure are remarkably improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of lithium-ion battery production equipment technology, specifically to a device for transporting a crucible loaded with positive and negative electrode powders for lithium batteries. Background Technology

[0002] In the production of positive and negative electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries, filling powdered positive and negative electrode materials into saggers and then sending them into a kiln for high-temperature sintering is a crucial step. The efficiency and reliability of this step directly affect the performance and production cost of the final battery product.

[0003] Currently, the most common method of conveying crucibles in the industry relies on continuous conveyor lines using rollers or ceramic wheels. While these technologies are widely used, they have gradually revealed the following limitations in actual production:

[0004] Level 1: Efficiency bottleneck problem.

[0005] Traditional roller or ceramic wheel conveyor lines typically have slow transport speeds, generally below 6 m / min. This has become the speed bottleneck of the entire potting-sintering production line, limiting further capacity increases and failing to meet the high-efficiency requirements of modern large-scale lithium battery manufacturing.

[0006] The second level: system complexity and friction loss issues.

[0007] To seamlessly integrate the processes of feeding, loading, and unloading the sagger, existing systems often require multiple independent drive and conveying mechanisms. For example, the feeding and unloading conveyor lines typically require separate drive units for connection and operation. This not only increases system complexity and manufacturing costs but also easily leads to problems such as inaccurate positioning and jamming at the junctions of the various conveyor lines. More importantly, when rapid positioning or special station operations are required, auxiliary mechanisms such as lifting and translation are often necessary. These mechanisms inevitably generate friction and wear when in contact with the sagger. Over long-term operation, this not only leads to component wear but may also cause uneven compaction or even spillage of the powder inside the sagger due to frictional vibration, affecting product quality.

[0008] The third level: functional redundancy and lack of emergency response capabilities.

[0009] The existing continuous conveying system has a tightly coupled infeed and outfeed process, lacking flexibility. When a link in the production line (such as the subsequent clamping mechanism) fails, the entire conveying system often has to be shut down, making independent emergency operations impossible. This design lacks redundancy and backup; once a failure occurs, it will lead to a complete production line shutdown, resulting in high maintenance costs and impacting production continuity.

[0010] Therefore, there is an urgent need in this field for a sauté transport device that can overcome existing efficiency bottlenecks, reduce frictional losses, and possess greater flexibility and emergency response capabilities. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the above-mentioned defects of the prior art and provide a crucible transport device for positive and negative electrode powders of lithium batteries. This device can achieve efficient and low-friction transport and has an emergency fault mode.

[0012] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0013] A crucible transport device for lithium battery positive and negative electrode powders includes a conveyor line for carrying the crucibles and a clamping mechanism for clamping and transporting the crucibles. The conveyor line includes a plurality of sprocket drive units, each sprocket drive unit comprising:

[0014] Drive sprocket;

[0015] A drive shaft driven by the drive sprocket;

[0016] A one-way bearing fixedly mounted on the drive shaft;

[0017] A bushing is fitted over the one-way bearing, and the bushing is fixedly connected to the outer ring of the one-way bearing;

[0018] and a support wheel fixedly connected to the bushing;

[0019] When the drive sprocket is driven, the transmission shaft drives the outer ring of the one-way bearing through the inner ring, thereby causing the bushing and the support wheel to rotate actively to transport the sagger; when the drive sprocket stops, the support wheel is subjected to external force, which can cause the bushing and the outer ring of the one-way bearing to rotate freely relative to their inner ring.

[0020] By utilizing the core structure of a "one-way bearing," the support wheel is creatively equipped with both "active drive" and "passive follow-up" working modes. This solves the efficiency bottleneck, friction loss, and system complexity problems caused by the single continuous drive mode in the background technology, realizing efficient, low-friction flexible transportation and providing the system with emergency fault handling capabilities.

[0021] Preferably, the support wheel is a ceramic wheel or an anti-static engineering plastic wheel.

[0022] By specifying that the support wheels are made of "antistatic or insulating materials", the risk of combustion or explosion caused by static electricity generated by friction during the transportation of lithium battery powder is effectively eliminated, greatly improving the safety and reliability of the production process.

[0023] Furthermore, specifying the support wheel as a "ceramic wheel or an anti-static engineering plastic wheel" provides a preferred and feasible solution. Ceramic wheels combine high hardness, wear resistance, and insulation properties; while anti-static engineering plastic wheels offer the advantages of light weight and low cost while ensuring safety.

[0024] Preferably, the drive sprocket is a double-row sprocket; multiple sprocket drive units are connected in series by multiple chains through their double-row sprockets, and are uniformly driven by a drive motor to drive the sprocket group connected in series in the corresponding working area.

[0025] By employing a "double-row sprocket" and connecting multiple chains in series, a single motor can synchronously drive multiple support wheel assemblies. This design simplifies the drive structure, reduces cost and control complexity, while ensuring the synchronicity of movement of all support wheels, thus improving the stability and reliability of transportation.

[0026] Preferably, the drive shaft is further fitted with a bearing assembly, the bearing assembly including a bearing housing, at least one support bearing installed in the bearing housing, a limiting nut for axial positioning, and an oil seal for sealing.

[0027] The installed bearing assembly provides stable and reliable support for the drive shaft, ensuring smooth power transmission. The limit nut prevents axial movement, while the oil seal effectively prevents dust from entering the bearing, greatly extending the service life and operational reliability of the equipment under harsh working conditions.

[0028] Preferably, the bearing assembly includes two side-by-side support bearings.

[0029] The design incorporates two parallel support bearings, creating a more stable support structure capable of withstanding greater loads and further preventing the drive shaft from swaying or vibrating under stress, thus ensuring a smooth transportation process.

[0030] Preferably, the end of the drive shaft is also provided with an auxiliary support bearing to prevent the support wheel from jumping during transportation.

[0031] By installing an auxiliary support bearing at the end of the drive shaft, the vibration that may occur in the entire gear train during high-speed servoing or load changes is effectively suppressed, further ensuring the smoothness of transportation and positioning accuracy.

[0032] Preferably, the bushing is fixed to the support wheel by a pin.

[0033] Connecting the bushing and the support wheel by "pin fixing" is a simple, reliable and easy-to-maintain fixing method that ensures the reliability of power transmission.

[0034] Preferably, the joint between the bushing and the support wheel is provided with a tapered guide surface.

[0035] The tapered guide surface facilitates the installation and alignment of the support wheel and bushing, while also enhancing the stress performance of the joint, preventing stress concentration, and improving structural strength.

[0036] Preferably, the front end of the bushing is provided with a snap ring groove for installing a snap ring to axially limit the support wheel.

[0037] Preferably, when the clamping mechanism malfunctions, the saucer transport device can switch to a mode in which the support wheel is actively driven by the drive sprocket for saucer transport.

[0038] It was clarified that in the event of a clamping mechanism failure, the system can switch to sprocket drive mode. This provides the entire production system with redundancy and emergency response capabilities, significantly reducing downtime and improving the overall efficiency and robustness of the production line.

[0039] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0040] 1. High-efficiency and frictionless rapid transport: The clutch function of the one-way bearing enables seamless switching between "active drive" and "passive follow-up" modes for the support wheel. When the clamping mechanism is working, the drive sprocket stops, and the support wheel follows, allowing the crucible to be quickly (speeds can be increased to over 20m / min) and frictionlessly dragged to the loading station, greatly improving transport efficiency and avoiding frictional wear and powder spillage.

[0041] 2. System simplification and cost reduction: The method of using a clamping mechanism to push the sagger assembly eliminates the need for a separate drive device at the outlet end, simplifying the system structure and reducing manufacturing costs.

[0042] 3. Excellent emergency handling capability: When the clamping mechanism fails, the device can immediately switch to the mode of actively driving the support wheel by the drive sprocket to continue conveying the crock, ensuring the continuous operation of the production line under special circumstances, providing a valuable maintenance window, and enhancing the robustness of the entire production system.

[0043] 4. High safety and reliability: Based on the characteristics of lithium battery positive and negative electrode powders, anti-static support wheels are selected to completely eliminate the risk of static electricity ignition and ensure production safety. Attached Figure Description

[0044] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of one embodiment of the crucible transport device of the present invention.

[0045] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the sprocket drive unit in this invention.

[0046] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the sprocket drive unit in this invention.

[0047] Explanation of main component symbols

[0048] 1-Drive sprocket;

[0049] 2-Drive shaft;

[0050] 3-One-way bearing;

[0051] 4-Sleeve;

[0052] 5-Support wheel;

[0053] 6-Bearing assembly, 61-Bearing housing, 62-Support bearing, 63-Limit nut, 64-Oil seal;

[0054] 8-Clamping mechanism;

[0055] 9-Sagger set.

[0056] The following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will further illustrate the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0057] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments.

[0058] like Figure 1-3 As shown, a crucible transport device for lithium battery positive and negative electrode powders is provided, including a conveyor line for carrying the crucibles and a clamping mechanism 8 for clamping and transporting the crucibles. The conveyor line includes several sprocket drive units, each sprocket drive unit comprising:

[0059] Drive sprocket 1;

[0060] The drive shaft 2 is driven by the drive sprocket 1;

[0061] A one-way bearing 3 is fixedly sleeved on the transmission shaft 2;

[0062] A bushing 4 is fitted over the one-way bearing 3, and the bushing 4 is fixedly connected to the outer ring of the one-way bearing 3;

[0063] and the support wheel 5 fixedly connected to the bushing 4;

[0064] When the drive sprocket 1 is driven, the transmission shaft 2 drives the outer ring of the one-way bearing 3 through the inner ring, thereby causing the bushing 4 and the support wheel 5 to rotate actively to transport the sagger; when the drive sprocket 1 stops, the support wheel 5 is subjected to external force and can cause the bushing 4 and the outer ring of the one-way bearing 3 to rotate freely relative to their inner ring.

[0065] Through the core structure of the "one-way bearing 3", the support wheel 5 is creatively equipped with two working modes: "active drive" and "passive follow-up". This solves the efficiency bottleneck, friction loss and system complexity problems caused by the single continuous drive mode in the background technology, realizes efficient and low-friction flexible transportation, and provides the system with emergency handling capabilities for failures.

[0066] In some embodiments, the support wheel 5 is a ceramic wheel or an antistatic engineering plastic wheel.

[0067] By specifying that the support wheel 5 is made of "antistatic material or insulating material", the risk of combustion or explosion caused by static electricity generated by friction during the transportation of lithium battery powder is effectively eliminated, which greatly improves the safety and reliability of the production process.

[0068] Furthermore, specifying the support wheel 5 as a "ceramic wheel or an anti-static engineering plastic wheel" provides a preferred and feasible solution. Ceramic wheels combine high hardness, wear resistance, and insulation properties; while anti-static engineering plastic wheels offer the advantages of light weight and low cost while ensuring safety.

[0069] In some embodiments, the drive sprocket 1 is a double-row sprocket; multiple sprocket drive units are connected in series by multiple chains through their double-row sprockets, and are uniformly driven by a drive motor to drive the sprocket group connected in series in the corresponding working area.

[0070] By employing a "double-row sprocket" and connecting multiple chains in series, a single motor can synchronously drive multiple sets of support wheels (5 groups). This design simplifies the drive structure, reduces cost and control complexity, while ensuring the synchronous movement of all support wheels (5 groups), thus improving the stability and reliability of transportation.

[0071] In some embodiments, the transmission shaft 2 is further fitted with a bearing assembly 6, the bearing assembly 6 including a bearing housing 61, at least one support bearing 62 installed in the bearing housing 61, a limiting nut 63 for axial positioning, and an oil seal 64 for sealing.

[0072] The "bearing assembly 6" provides stable and reliable support for the drive shaft 2, ensuring smooth power transmission. The "limit nut 63" prevents axial movement, while the "oil seal 64" effectively prevents dust from entering the bearing, greatly extending the service life and operational reliability of the equipment under harsh working conditions.

[0073] In some embodiments, the bearing assembly 6 includes two side-by-side support bearings 62.

[0074] The "two parallel support bearings 62" form a more stable support structure, which can withstand a larger load and further prevent the drive shaft 2 from swaying or vibrating when under force, thus ensuring a smooth transportation process.

[0075] In some embodiments, the end of the drive shaft 2 is further provided with an auxiliary support bearing 62 to prevent the support wheel 5 from jumping during transportation.

[0076] By installing an auxiliary support bearing 62 at the end of the drive shaft 2, the jumping phenomenon that may occur in the entire gear train when it is moving at high speed or when the load changes is effectively suppressed, and the smoothness and positioning accuracy of transportation are further guaranteed.

[0077] In some embodiments, the bushing 4 and the support wheel 5 are fixed by a pin.

[0078] Connecting the bushing 4 and the support wheel 5 by "pin fixing" is a simple, reliable and easy-to-maintain fixing method that ensures the reliability of power transmission.

[0079] In some embodiments, the joint between the bushing 4 and the support wheel 5 is provided with a tapered guide surface.

[0080] The tapered guide surface facilitates the installation and alignment of the support wheel 5 and the bushing 4, while also enhancing the stress performance of the joint, preventing stress concentration, and improving structural strength.

[0081] In some embodiments, the front end of the bushing 4 is provided with a snap ring groove for mounting a snap ring to axially limit the support wheel 5.

[0082] In some embodiments, when the clamping mechanism 8 malfunctions, the device can switch to a mode in which the support wheel 5 is actively driven by the drive sprocket 1 for sacrificial vessel transport.

[0083] It was clarified that when clamping mechanism 8 malfunctions, the system can switch to sprocket drive mode. This provides the entire production system with redundancy and emergency response capabilities, significantly reducing downtime and improving the overall efficiency and robustness of the production line.

[0084] Specifically:

[0085] See Figure 1 The lithium battery positive and negative electrode powder crucible transport device provided by the present invention mainly includes a conveyor line and a set of laterally movable clamping mechanisms 8. A set of crucibles 9 to be loaded are placed on the conveyor line.

[0086] See Figure 2 and Figure 3 The core of the conveyor line is the sprocket drive unit. The drive sprocket 1 (a double-row sprocket in this example) is fixed to the drive shaft 2 via a key connection. A one-way bearing 3 is fixedly mounted on the drive shaft 2, its inner ring rotating synchronously with the drive shaft 2. The outer ring of the one-way bearing 3 has a keyway, which is fixed to the bushing 4 by a set screw. The support wheel 5 is fixedly connected to the bushing 4 by a pin, thus forming a single unit with the bushing 4. A bearing assembly 6 is also mounted on the drive shaft 2. This assembly is fixedly installed via a bearing seat 61, and its interior has two support bearings 62 for stable support. A limiting nut 63 is located near the sprocket end for axial positioning, and an oil seal 64 is located near the bushing 4 end to prevent dust intrusion.

[0087] Its working principle is as follows:

[0088] Active drive mode: When the drive motor (not shown) drives the drive sprocket 1 to rotate via the chain, the power is transmitted sequentially through the transmission shaft 2, the inner and outer rings of the one-way bearing 3, and the bushing 4, and finally to the support wheel 5, causing it to rotate actively, thereby conveying the sagger assembly 9 on top of it forward.

[0089] Passive follow-up mode: When the clamping mechanism 8 needs to quickly drag the crucible, the drive motor stops. At this time, the clamping mechanism 8 clamps the crucible assembly 9 and moves it quickly. The friction generated between the bottom of the crucible and the support wheel 5 will drive the support wheel 5 to rotate. At this time, the support wheel 5 drives the outer ring of the one-way bearing 3 through the bushing 4, so that it rotates freely relative to the locked inner ring (because the drive shaft 2 has stopped). This achieves "zero resistance" follow-up of the support wheel 5, and the crucible is pulled away quickly without friction.

[0090] Multiple sprocket drive units with identical structures are connected in series by multiple chains through their double-row sprockets and are driven by only one drive motor, resulting in a compact structure and good synchronization.

[0091] The above description is merely an embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application.

[0092] Although this application discloses several aspects and embodiments, other aspects and embodiments will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the scope of protection of this application. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed in this application are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit this application. The actual scope of protection of this application is determined by the claims.

Claims

1. A crucible transport device for lithium battery positive and negative electrode powders, comprising a conveyor line for carrying the crucibles and a clamping mechanism for clamping and transporting the crucibles, characterized in that, The conveyor line includes several sprocket drive units, each sprocket drive unit comprising: Drive sprocket; A drive shaft driven by the drive sprocket; A one-way bearing fixedly mounted on the drive shaft; A bushing is fitted over the one-way bearing, and the bushing is fixedly connected to the outer ring of the one-way bearing; and a support wheel fixedly connected to the bushing; When the drive sprocket is driven, the transmission shaft drives the outer ring of the one-way bearing through the inner ring of the one-way bearing, thereby causing the bushing and the support wheel to rotate actively to transport the sagger; when the drive sprocket stops, the support wheel is subjected to external force, which can cause the bushing and the outer ring of the one-way bearing to rotate freely relative to the inner ring of the one-way bearing.

2. The sagger transport device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The support wheel is a ceramic wheel or an anti-static engineering plastic wheel.

3. The sagger transport device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The drive sprocket is a double-row sprocket; multiple sprocket drive units are connected in series by multiple chains through their double-row sprockets, and are uniformly driven by a drive motor to drive the sprocket group connected in series in the corresponding working area.

4. The sagger transport device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The drive shaft is also fitted with a bearing assembly, which includes a bearing housing, at least one support bearing installed in the bearing housing, a limiting nut for axial positioning, and an oil seal for sealing.

5. The sagger transport device as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The bearing assembly includes two side-by-side support bearings.

6. The sagger transport device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The end of the drive shaft is also provided with an auxiliary support bearing to prevent the support wheel from jumping during transportation.

7. The sagger transport device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The bushing is fixed to the support wheel by a pin.

8. The sagger transport device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The joint between the bushing and the support wheel is provided with a tapered guide surface.

9. The sagger transport device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The front end of the bushing is provided with a snap ring groove for installing a snap ring to axially limit the support wheel.

10. The sagger transport device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, When the clamping mechanism malfunctions, the saucer transport device can switch to a mode in which the support wheel is actively driven by the drive sprocket for saucer transport.

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