Electrode shaping methods, electrode shaping devices, and battery production equipment

Abstract

This application relates to a tab shaping method, a tab shaping apparatus, and battery production equipment. The tab shaping method is used to shape the tabs of a pre-assembled assembly. The pre-assembled assembly includes a top cover, an adapter piece disposed on the top cover, and two paired sets of battery cells. Each battery cell set includes at least one battery cell, and each battery cell includes a cell body and a tab, with the end of the tab connected to the cell body being the root. The tab shaping method includes: driving the two paired sets of battery cells to rotate towards each other to perform a cell-joining action; during the cell-joining action, applying an outward supporting force to the tabs through a first shaping member; and during and / or after the cell-joining action, applying an inward constraining force to the tabs through a second shaping member, wherein the second shaping member is closer to the root of the tab than the first shaping member. The above technical solution effectively avoids some tabs from piercing the battery cell body due to disordered bending during the casing process, reducing the risk of internal short circuits in the battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a method for shaping tabs, a device for shaping tabs, and battery production equipment. Background Technology

[0002] In the manufacturing process of prismatic batteries, the tabs of the two paired sets of cells need to be welded and fixed to the adapter plates on the top cover. During welding, the two sets of cells are laid flat on both sides of the top cover. After welding, the two sets of cells need to be joined together, that is, the two sets of cells are rotated towards each other to fit and align, so that they can be easily installed into the battery casing later.

[0003] During the rotation of two sets of battery cells towards each other, they may bend at the tab positions, easily creating tab redundancy. During subsequent cell assembly, this redundancy can easily puncture the cell interior under pressure, causing an internal short circuit. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize the battery manufacturing process to mitigate the risk of short circuits caused by tab redundancy. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a tab shaping method, a tab shaping device, and battery production equipment to address the problem that loose and disordered tabs can easily pierce into the cell under pressure during the cell assembly process in related technologies, causing internal short circuits.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a tab shaping method for shaping the tabs of a pre-assembled body. The pre-assembled body includes a top cover, an adapter plate disposed on the top cover, and two paired sets of battery cell groups. Each battery cell group includes at least one battery cell, and each battery cell includes a battery cell body and a tab. The end of the tab connected to the battery cell body is the root. The tab shaping method includes:

[0006] The two sets of paired battery cells are driven to rotate in opposite directions to perform the cell-combining action;

[0007] During the core-combining process, the first shaping component applies an outward supporting force to the electrode tab;

[0008] During and / or after the core-joining process, an inward constraint force is applied to the tab by a second shaping member, wherein the second shaping member is closer to the root of the tab than the first shaping member.

[0009] In some embodiments, the tab shaping method further includes: after the step of driving the two paired sets of cells to rotate toward each other to perform a cell-joining action, driving the cell bodies of the two paired sets of cells to move toward the top cover.

[0010] In some embodiments, during the process of driving the cell bodies of the two paired cell groups to move toward the top cover, the first shaping member is driven to move outward; and the second shaping member is driven to move inward.

[0011] In some embodiments, while driving the second shaping member to move inward, the second shaping member is simultaneously driven to move towards the top cover.

[0012] In some embodiments, the tab shaping method further includes a first positioning step before the step of driving the two paired sets of cells to rotate toward each other to perform the cell-joining action: driving the first shaping member to move so that the first shaping member abuts against the tab.

[0013] In some embodiments, during the core-fitting process, the step of applying an outward supporting force to the tab by the first shaping member includes: driving the first shaping member to move outward to push the tab outward.

[0014] In some embodiments, the tab shaping method further includes a second positioning step: driving the second shaping member to move so that the second shaping member abuts against the tab during and / or after the core-closing operation.

[0015] In some embodiments, the step of applying an inward constraint force to the tab by the second shaping member during and / or after the core-closing operation includes: driving the second shaping member to move inward to push the tab to retract inward.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first shaping member is driven to separate from the electrode tab; the second shaping member is driven to separate from the electrode tab.

[0017] In some embodiments, the step of driving the first shaping member to separate from the electrode includes:

[0018] The first shaping component is driven to move along a first direction so that it leaves the area between the tabs of the two sets of battery cells. The first direction intersects with the second direction and a third direction. The second direction is the arrangement direction of the two sets of battery cells after they are assembled. The third direction is the thickness direction of the top cover.

[0019] In some embodiments, each group of battery cells is provided with a corresponding first shaping component on its tabs; and each group of battery cells is provided with a corresponding second shaping component on its tabs.

[0020] In some embodiments, a first tension detection unit is provided on the first shaping member, which can acquire the tension of the corresponding tab in real time. The tab shaping method further includes: adjusting the position of the first shaping member according to the detection result of the first tension detection unit so that the tension of the corresponding tab is within a first preset range.

[0021] In some embodiments, the second shaping member is provided with a second tension detection unit, which can acquire the tension of the corresponding tab in real time. The tab shaping method further includes: adjusting the position of the second shaping member according to the detection result of the second tension detection unit so that the tension of the corresponding tab is within a second preset range.

[0022] Secondly, some embodiments of this application also provide an electrode ear shaping device including an opening module and a closing module;

[0023] The spreading module includes: a first driving mechanism, a second driving mechanism, and a first shaping component. The first driving mechanism is used to drive the first shaping component to move along a first direction, and the second driving mechanism is used to drive the first shaping component to move along a second direction.

[0024] The gathering module includes: a third driving mechanism, a fourth driving mechanism, and a second shaping component. The third driving mechanism is used to drive the second shaping component to move along a second direction, and the fourth driving mechanism is used to drive the second shaping component to move along a first direction or a third direction or to rotate around the axis of the second direction.

[0025] Among them, the first direction intersects with the second direction and also intersects with the third direction. The second direction is the arrangement direction of the two sets of paired cells after they are combined, and the third direction is the thickness direction of the top cover.

[0026] In some embodiments, the spreading module includes a fifth driving mechanism for driving the first shaping member to move along a third direction.

[0027] In some embodiments, the retracting module includes: a sixth driving mechanism for driving the second shaping member to move along a first direction or rotate about an axis in a second direction; and a third driving mechanism for driving the second shaping member to move along a third direction.

[0028] Thirdly, some embodiments of this application also provide a battery production equipment including a core-combining drive mechanism and a tab-shaping device of any of the above, wherein the core-combining drive mechanism is used to drive two paired sets of battery cells to combine, and the tab-shaping device is used to shape the tabs of the two sets of battery cells.

[0029] The aforementioned tab shaping method, tab shaping device, and battery production equipment, through the application of an outward supporting force to the multi-layer tabs by a first shaping component during the core-combining process of two sets of cells rotating in opposite directions, can effectively resist the inward bending tendency of the multi-layer tabs caused by the movement of the cell body, and prevent excessive redundancy caused by the accumulation in the middle of the tabs. Simultaneously, by setting a second shaping component closer to the root of the tabs than the first shaping component, and applying an inward constraining force to the multi-layer tabs during or after the core-combining process, the root area of ​​the tabs near the cell body can be specifically gathered, preventing dispersion or outward warping in this area due to the large number of layers. The two opposing forces act together on different sections of the tabs, thus actively shaping the multi-layer tabs as a whole during the dynamic core assembly process and stabilizing them in an approximately "S"-shaped configuration. This integrates the originally loose and disordered multi-layer tabs into a regular and compact form, effectively preventing the tabs from piercing the cell body due to disordered bending during core assembly and subsequent casing, thereby reducing the risk of internal short circuits in the battery. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a method for shaping the tabs according to some embodiments.

[0031] Figure 2 This is a top view showing the mating relationship between the tab shaping device and the pre-assembled body in some embodiments.

[0032] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a pre-assembled assembly before the two sets of battery cells are combined, according to some embodiments.

[0033] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the pre-assembled component during the assembly process of two sets of battery cells.

[0034] Figure 5 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the pre-assembled structure at the end of the combination of two sets of battery cells.

[0035] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing the two sets of battery cells in the pre-assembled assembly being pressed down onto the top cover.

[0036] YY', First Direction; XX', Second Direction; ZZ', Third Direction;

[0037] 10. Pre-assembled body; 100. Top cover; 200. Adapter piece; 300. Cell assembly; 300A. First cell assembly; 300B. Second cell assembly; 310. Cell; 311. Cell body; 312. Tab; 312a. Root; 312b. Head; 301. Space;

[0038] 20. Spreading module; 21. First shaping component; 30. Closing module; 31. Second shaping component. Detailed Implementation

[0039] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0040] In the description of this application, it should be understood that if terms such as "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" appear, these terms indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application 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, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0041] Furthermore, where the terms "first" and "second" appear, these terms are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, where the term "multiple" appears, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0042] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., 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, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0043] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the use of descriptions such as "above" or "below" the second feature indicates that the first and second features are in direct contact or indirect contact via an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. Similarly, "below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0044] It should be noted that if an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. If an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. If so, the terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0045] As mentioned in the background section, during the cell bonding process, the two sets of cells rotate in opposite directions, which can easily lead to redundant tabs. The redundant parts can easily pierce into the cell under pressure, causing an internal short circuit.

[0046] For 2JR (Jelly-Roll) battery cells, where each group contains one cell and two groups contain two cells in total, each solder point on the adapter plate corresponds to only one cell's tab, resulting in a smaller number of tab layers. Related technologies utilize tab shaping devices and methods to guide the tabs of 2JR battery cells into a "C" shape, resulting in a more regular tab shape and reducing the risk of internal short circuits caused by redundant components.

[0047] However, for 4JR cells (i.e., two cells in each group, four cells in total) or more JR cells, one solder point on the adapter corresponds to the tabs of more than two cells, significantly increasing the number of tabs per solder point. During the rotation of the two groups of cells towards each other, due to the large number of tab layers, not all tabs can be constrained into a "C" shape, resulting in some tabs remaining loose and disordered after the cells are assembled. During subsequent cell insertion, these loose and disordered tabs can easily pierce the cell interior under pressure, causing internal short circuits.

[0048] Please see Figure 1 This application provides a method for shaping the electrode ear through some embodiments. See also... Figure 2 and Figure 3The tab shaping method is used to shape the tabs 312 of the pre-assembled body 10. The pre-assembled body 10 includes a top cover 100, an adapter piece 200 disposed on the top cover 100, and two sets of paired cell groups 300. The cell group 300 includes at least one cell 310. The cell 310 includes a cell body 311 and a tab 312. The end of the tab 312 connected to the cell body 311 is the root 312a, and the end of the tab 312 connected to the adapter piece 200 is the head 312b.

[0049] For ease of description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the orientation is described below using a first direction YY', a second direction XX', and a third direction ZZ', where the first direction YY', the second direction XX', and the third direction ZZ' intersect each other. Optionally, these three directions are perpendicular to each other. Optionally, the second direction XX' is the arrangement direction of the two paired sets of battery cells 300 after being combined, and the third direction ZZ' is the thickness direction of the top cover 100.

[0050] The two paired cell groups 300 are designated as the first cell group 300A and the second cell group 300B. Each cell group 300 may contain one cell 310 or two or more cells 310. Tabs 312 extend from the cell body 311. The heads 312b of all tabs 312 in the same cell group 300 converge and are fixed to the same welding position on the adapter plate 200. The heads 312b of the tabs 312 can be fixed to the adapter plate 200 by ultrasonic welding. (See reference...) Figure 3 Before the two sets of battery cells 300 are combined, the two sets of battery cells 300 can be laid flat on both sides of the top cover 100 along the second direction XX' to facilitate the welding of the tabs 312 and the adapter pieces 200 during the welding process. At this time, the thickness direction of the battery cell body 311 in the battery cell set 300 is along the third direction ZZ'. After the welding is completed, the cells need to be combined.

[0051] The method of ear reshaping includes the following steps:

[0052] S100: Drives the two paired sets of battery cells 300 to rotate in opposite directions to perform the cell-combining action.

[0053] S200: During the core-combining process, the first shaping component 21 applies an outward supporting force to the tab 312.

[0054] S300: During and / or after the core-closing operation, an inward constraint force is applied to the tab 312 by the second shaping member 31, wherein the second shaping member 31 is closer to the root 312a of the tab 312 than the first shaping member 21.

[0055] It should be noted that the "outward" and "inward" directions described in the above electrode shaping method are relative to the spatial orientation defined by the pre-assembled body 10 during the core assembly process: see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 4 and Figure 5 During or after the first cell group 300A and the second cell group 300B are combined, a space 301 is defined between the tabs 312 of the first cell group 300A and the tabs 312 of the second cell group 300B. "Outward" refers to the direction from the space 301 towards the outside of the tab 312; the first shaping member 21 applies an outward supporting force to the tab 312, which points towards the outside of the tab 312. "Inward" refers to the direction from the outside of the tab 312 towards the inside of the space 301; the second shaping member 31 applies an inward restraining force to the tab 312, which points towards the inside of the space 301. In the embodiments of this application, the "outward" and "inward" directions can be along a second direction XX'.

[0056] Optionally, the first shaping component 21 is a first shaping needle, and the second shaping component 31 is a second shaping needle.

[0057] In the above embodiments, during the core-combining process of the two sets of battery cells 300 rotating in opposite directions, the first shaping member 21 applies an outward supporting force to the multi-layer tabs 312, which can effectively resist the inward bending tendency of the multi-layer tabs 312 caused by the movement of the battery cell body 311, and prevent excessive redundancy caused by the accumulation in the middle of the tabs 312. At the same time, by setting a second shaping member 31 that is closer to the root 312a of the tabs 312 than the first shaping member 21, and applying an inward restraining force to the multi-layer tabs 312 during or after the core-combining process, the area of ​​the tabs 312 near the root 312a of the battery cell body 311 can be specifically gathered, preventing the area from becoming scattered or warped outward due to the large number of layers. The two opposing forces act together on different sections of the tab 312, thereby actively shaping the multi-layer tab 312 as a whole during the dynamic core assembly process and stabilizing it in an approximately "S"-shaped configuration. This integrates the originally loose and disordered multi-layer tabs into a regular and compact form, effectively preventing the tab 312 from piercing the cell body 311 due to disordered bending during core assembly and subsequent casing, thus reducing the risk of internal short circuits in the battery.

[0058] Combination Figure 5 and Figure 6 In some embodiments, the tab shaping method further includes: after step S100, driving the cell bodies 311 of the paired two sets of cells 300 to move toward the top cover 100.

[0059] During the cell assembly process, the cell bodies 311 of the first cell group 300A and the second cell group 300B rotate towards each other. After the cell assembly is completed, the distance between the cell bodies 311 of the two cell groups 300 and the top cover 100 is relatively large, and the tabs 312 are in a relatively loose state due to the length margin.

[0060] Therefore, in this embodiment, after the core assembly is completed, the cell bodies 311 of the first cell group 300A and the second cell group 300B are driven to move closer to the top cover 100, thereby reducing the distance between the cell bodies 311 and the top cover 100. During this process, the tabs 312 are compressed to be more compact and regular, effectively reducing the risk that the tabs 312 may accidentally bend and insert into the cell body 311 due to looseness during the subsequent casing process.

[0061] Combination Figure 5 and Figure 6 In some embodiments, during the process of driving the cell bodies 311 of the two paired cell groups 300 to move toward the top cover 100, the first shaping member 21 is driven to move outward and the second shaping member 31 is driven to move inward.

[0062] In the above embodiment, during the process of pressing the cell body 311 down toward the top cover 100, the first shaping component 21 is driven to move outward and the second shaping component 31 is driven to move inward. The continuous outward movement of the first shaping component 21 applies outward tension to the middle of the tab 312, effectively counteracting the inward curling tendency of the middle of the tab 312 caused by the downward pressure. At the same time, the synchronous inward movement of the second shaping component 31 applies inward constraint to the root 312a region of the tab 312, preventing the root 312a region from turning outward or twisting due to the downward pressure. This two-way coordinated action, during the process of the total length of the tab 312 being compressed, controls the deformation trajectory of different sections through two action points, so that each section of the tab 312 is gradually straightened and the tension is redistributed during the downward pressure process, and finally forms a regular shape that is both compact and has a clear "S" shaped spatial orientation after compression.

[0063] Combination Figure 5 and Figure 6 In some embodiments, the tab shaping method further includes: while driving the second shaping member 31 to move inward, simultaneously driving the second shaping member 31 to move towards the top cover 100.

[0064] In the above embodiment, while controlling the second shaping member 31 to move inward to constrain the root 312a of the tab 312, it is simultaneously controlled to move downward along the top cover 100. This coordinated action allows the second shaping member 31 to continuously conform to the movement trajectory of the root 312a of the tab 312 when the cell body 311 is pressed down. During this process, the constraint force of the second shaping member 31 on the root 312a of the tab 312 always maintains a suitable angle, causing the tab material to smoothly retract inward and naturally extend, cooperating with the outward expansion support formed by the first shaping member 21, and jointly guiding the tab 312 to form a stable and clearly defined regular "S" shaped structure during compression.

[0065] See Figure 3 In some embodiments, the tab shaping method further includes a first positioning step before step S100: driving the first shaping member 21 to move so that the first shaping member 21 abuts against the tab 312.

[0066] It should be noted that in this step, the contact point between the first shaping component 21 and the tab 312 is approximately located in the middle of the tab 312. For example... Figure 3 As shown, before the core is combined, two sets of battery cells 300 are laid flat on both sides of the top cover 100, and the first shaping component 21 can be located on the upper side of the tab 312 along the third direction ZZ'.

[0067] In the above embodiment, before the core-combining action begins, the first shaping component 21 is controlled to move to a position where it contacts the tab 312. This pre-positioning establishes a stable point of action for the first shaping component 21 before the tab 312 begins to deform. When the cell assembly 300 begins to rotate in opposite directions, the tab 312 receives support from the first shaping component 21 immediately upon being subjected to tensile force. This pre-set contact point effectively constrains the activity space of the tab 312 in the initial stage of deformation, ensuring that it stretches and bends according to a preset trajectory from the beginning. This avoids random twisting or local folding that may occur due to a lack of constraint in the initial stage, and establishes a good deformation starting point for the subsequent formation of a regular "S"-shaped tab 312 configuration.

[0068] See Figures 3 to 5 In some embodiments, step S200 includes: driving the first shaping member 21 to move outward to push the tab 312 outward.

[0069] In the above embodiments, during the core-combining process, the first shaping component 21 is synchronously controlled to move outward, actively expanding the tab 312 outward. This expansion operation provides a definite external support for the tab 312 when it is deformed by the rotation and stretching of the cell body 311. This support force directly counteracts the tendency of the tab 312 to bend inward naturally due to the rotation of the core-combining process, thereby effectively suppressing the problem of the tab 312 collapsing into the battery and forming redundant wrinkles.

[0070] In some embodiments, the tab shaping method further includes a second positioning step before step S300: driving the second shaping member 31 to move so that the second shaping member 31 abuts against the tab 312.

[0071] In the above embodiment, before applying constraint force through the second shaping member 31, a second positioning step is performed. This involves controlling the second shaping member 31 to move until it maintains stable contact with the root 312a region of the tab 312. This pre-contact operation establishes the accurate position of the second shaping member 31 before force is applied, ensuring that the subsequent closing force can be precisely applied to the specific area of ​​the root 312a of the tab 312. By adopting a positioning-before-force application control method, the second shaping member 31 and the first shaping member 21 are coordinated in spatial position, providing a reliable spatial reference for the stable forming of the "S"-shaped configuration of the tab 312.

[0072] In some embodiments, step S300 includes: driving the second shaping member 31 to move inward to push the tab 312 to retract inward.

[0073] In the above embodiment, during step S300, the second shaping member 31 is controlled to move inward, applying a continuous constraint force to the root 312a section of the tab 312. This inward movement causes the material in the root region of the tab 312 to contract smoothly along a certain path, cooperating with the outward expansion support formed by the first shaping member 21. The synergistic effect of the two establishes a stable tension distribution on the tab 312, guiding the tab material to maintain an ideal shape transition during the contraction process, ultimately forming an "S"-shaped spatial configuration that combines structural compactness and morphological regularity.

[0074] In some embodiments, the electrode shaping method further includes: driving the first shaping member 21 to separate from the electrode 312; and driving the second shaping member 31 to separate from the electrode 312.

[0075] After the shaping is completed, the first shaping component 21 and the second shaping component 31 are controlled to disengage from the tab 312 to facilitate subsequent processes. At the same time, since the shaping has been completed, the tab 312 can stably maintain its shaped form.

[0076] In some embodiments, the step of driving the first shaping member 21 to separate from the tab 312 includes: driving the first shaping member 21 to move along a first direction YY' so that the first shaping member 21 leaves the area between the tabs 312 of the two sets of battery cells 300.

[0077] In the above embodiments, see Figure 6The second direction XX' is the arrangement direction of the two sets of battery cells 300 after they are combined, and the third direction ZZ' is the thickness direction of the top cover 100. During the separation process, the first shaping component 21 is controlled to move along the first direction YY' and exit the space 301 between the tabs 312 of the two sets of battery cells 300, avoiding interference between the first shaping component 21 and the tabs 312, the top cover 100 and the battery cell body 311, while ensuring the integrity of the shape of the tabs 312.

[0078] See Figure 5 and Figure 6 In some embodiments, each electrode 312 of each battery cell group 300 is provided with a corresponding first shaping member 21. Each electrode 312 of each battery cell group 300 is provided with a corresponding second shaping member 31.

[0079] In this embodiment, each battery cell group 300's tabs 312 are equipped with corresponding first shaping component 21 and second shaping component 31. During the cell assembly process, the tabs 312 of both battery cell groups 300 can simultaneously obtain effective shaping control, ensuring that both sets of tabs 312 complete the "S"-shaped shaping synchronously under the same conditions. This guarantees the consistency of the morphology of the two sets of tabs 312 inside the battery.

[0080] In some embodiments, a first tension detection unit is provided on the first shaping member 21. The first tension detection unit can acquire the tension of the corresponding tab 312 in real time. The tab shaping method further includes: adjusting the position of the first shaping member 21 according to the detection result of the first tension detection unit so that the tension of the corresponding tab 312 is within a first preset range.

[0081] In this embodiment, the first tension detection unit disposed on the first shaping member 21 can continuously monitor the real-time tension change of the corresponding tab 312. Based on the detection result of the first tension detection unit, the tension acting on the tab 312 is controlled by adjusting the position of the first shaping member 21 inward or outward. For example, when the detected tension exceeds the upper limit of the first preset range, the first shaping member 21 is controlled to move inward appropriately to reduce the tension; when the detected tension is lower than the lower limit of the first preset range, the first shaping member 21 is controlled to move outward to increase the tension. In this way, the tab 312 can always maintain a suitable tension state during the shaping process, which not only ensures the accurate forming of the "S" shape, but also effectively prevents tab damage or insufficient shaping caused by abnormal tension.

[0082] In some embodiments, the second shaping member 31 is provided with a second tension detection unit, which can acquire the tension of the corresponding tab 312 in real time. The tab shaping method further includes: adjusting the position of the second shaping member 31 according to the detection result of the second tension detection unit so that the tension of the corresponding tab 312 is within a second preset range.

[0083] In this embodiment, the second tension detection unit disposed on the second shaping member 31 can continuously monitor the real-time tension change of the corresponding tab 312. Based on the detection result of the second tension detection unit, the tension acting on the tab 312 is controlled by adjusting the position of the second shaping member 31 inward or outward. For example, when the detected tension exceeds the upper limit of the second preset range, the second shaping member 31 is controlled to move outward appropriately to reduce the tension; when the detected tension is lower than the lower limit of the second preset range, the second shaping member 31 is controlled to move inward to increase the tension. In this way, the tab 312 can always maintain a suitable tension state during the shaping process, which not only ensures the accurate forming of the "S" shape, but also effectively prevents tab damage or insufficient shaping caused by abnormal tension.

[0084] In the above embodiments, the first tension detection unit / second tension detection unit can be a thin-film strain gauge or a flexible pressure sensor. These sensors can be tightly fitted to the outer surface of the first shaping member 21 / second shaping member 31, forming a complete detection coating layer. When the first shaping member 21 / second shaping member 31 contacts the tab 312, the first tension detection unit / second tension detection unit can monitor the tension of the tab 312 in real time, thereby adjusting the position of the first shaping member 21 / second shaping member 31 in real time to ensure that the tab 312 maintains a suitable tension state throughout the shaping process.

[0085] In the above embodiments, the first preset range and the second preset range can be independently set according to the force state at the contact position between the tab 312 and the first shaping member 21 / second shaping member 31. Since the first shaping member 21 and the second shaping member 31 act on two different positions of the tab 312, the material deformation characteristics and force state at the two different positions are different during the shaping process. Therefore, the first preset range and the second preset range can be optimized separately for the material characteristics and target shape of their respective corresponding sections.

[0086] See Figure 2 Some embodiments of this application provide an electrode ear shaping device, which includes an opening module 20 and a closing module 30.

[0087] The expansion module 20 includes a first driving mechanism, a second driving mechanism, and a first shaping component 21. The first driving mechanism is used to drive the first shaping component 21 to move along a first direction YY', and the second driving mechanism is used to drive the first shaping component 21 to move along a second direction XX'.

[0088] The gathering module 30 includes a third driving mechanism, a fourth driving mechanism, and a second shaping component 31. The third driving mechanism is used to drive the second shaping component 31 to move along the second direction XX', and the fourth driving mechanism is used to drive the second shaping component 31 to move along the first direction YY' or the third direction ZZ' or rotate around the axis of the second direction XX'.

[0089] Among them, the first direction YY' intersects with the second direction XX' and intersects with the third direction ZZ'. The second direction XX' is the arrangement direction of the two paired sets of battery cells 300 after being combined. The third direction ZZ' is the thickness direction of the top cover 100.

[0090] In the above embodiments, the spreading module 20 drives the first shaping member 21 to move along the second direction XX' via the second driving mechanism. During the core-closing process, the first shaping member 21 applies an outward supporting force to the multi-layer tabs 312, effectively resisting the inward bending tendency of the multi-layer tabs 312 caused by the movement of the cell body 311, and preventing excessive redundancy caused by the accumulation of tabs 312 in the middle. The gathering module 30 drives the second shaping member 31 to move along the second direction XX' via the third driving mechanism. During and / or after the core-closing process, it applies an inward restraining force to the multi-layer tabs 312, specifically gathering the area of ​​the tabs 312 near the root 312a of the cell body 311, preventing dispersion or outward warping in this area due to the large number of layers. The two opposing forces act together on different sections of the tab 312, thereby actively shaping the multi-layer tab 312 as a whole during the dynamic core assembly process and stabilizing it in an approximately "S"-shaped configuration. This integrates the originally loose and disordered multi-layer tabs into a regular and compact form, effectively preventing the tab 312 from piercing the cell body 311 due to disordered bending during core assembly and subsequent casing, thus reducing the risk of internal short circuits in the battery.

[0091] After the tab 312 is shaped, the spreading module 20 drives the first shaping component 21 to move along the first direction YY' through the first driving mechanism, so that the first shaping component 21 can leave the area between the tabs 312 of the two sets of battery cells 300, that is, leave the shaping station; the closing module 30 drives the second shaping component 31 to move along the first direction YY' or the third direction ZZ' or rotate around the axis of the second direction XX' through the fourth driving mechanism, so that the second shaping component 31 can detach from the tab 312 and leave the shaping station.

[0092] In some alternative embodiments, the output end of the first drive mechanism is connected to the first shaping member 21, and the output end of the second drive mechanism is connected to the first drive mechanism. In other alternative embodiments, the output end of the second drive mechanism is connected to the first shaping member 21, and the output end of the first drive mechanism is connected to the second drive mechanism.

[0093] In some alternative embodiments, the output end of the third drive mechanism is connected to the second shaping member 31, and the output end of the fourth drive mechanism is connected to the third drive mechanism. In other alternative embodiments, the output end of the fourth drive mechanism is connected to the second shaping member 31, and the output end of the third drive mechanism is connected to the fourth drive mechanism.

[0094] In some embodiments, the spreading module 20 includes a fifth driving mechanism for driving the first shaping member 21 to move along a third direction ZZ'.

[0095] In the above embodiment, a fifth driving mechanism is provided in the spreading module 20 to drive the first shaping component 21 to move along the third direction ZZ', so that the position of the first shaping component 21 can be adjusted in the third direction ZZ'. During the core closing and pressing process, when the relative height between the tab 312 and the top cover 100 changes, the fifth driving mechanism can drive the first shaping component 21 to adaptively adjust its position along the third direction ZZ', thereby ensuring that the contact point between the first shaping component 21 and the tab 312 is always maintained at a suitable height.

[0096] The first drive mechanism, the second drive mechanism, and the fifth drive mechanism can be connected in any order to form a series connection structure, and the connection order can be flexibly adjusted according to the actual mechanical layout. Regardless of the connection order, the first shaping component 21 can ultimately achieve independent movement along the first direction YY', the second direction XX', and the third direction ZZ'. The first shaping component 21 can be connected to the output end of any one of the first drive mechanism, the second drive mechanism, and the fifth drive mechanism.

[0097] In some embodiments, the third drive mechanism is used to drive the second shaping member 31 to move along a third direction ZZ'. The retracting module 30 includes a sixth drive mechanism, which is used to drive the second shaping member 31 to move along a first direction YY' or rotate about an axis in a second direction XX'.

[0098] In the above embodiment, the gathering module 30 drives the second shaping component 31 to move along the third direction ZZ' via the third driving mechanism, so that it can move down synchronously during the pressing of the cell body 311, thereby continuously conforming to the change in the position of the base of the electrode 312 and maintaining a stable and effective constraint of the electrode 312 by the second shaping component 31. At the same time, the sixth driving mechanism added to the gathering module 30 provides the second shaping component 31 with the ability to move along the first direction YY' or rotate around the second direction XX' axis, so that after the second shaping component 31 completes the shaping, it can smoothly detach from the contact with the electrode 312 and exit the shaping station.

[0099] The third, fourth, and sixth drive mechanisms can be connected in any order to form a series connection structure, and the connection order can be flexibly adjusted according to the actual mechanical layout. Regardless of the connection order, the second shaping component 31 can ultimately achieve independent motion capabilities, moving along the second direction XX' and the third direction ZZ', as well as moving along the first direction YY' or rotating around the second direction XX'. The second shaping component 31 can be connected to the output end of any of the third, fourth, and sixth drive mechanisms.

[0100] In some embodiments, the retraction module 30 may not include the sixth drive mechanism. After the tab 312 is shaped, since the second shaping member 31 is located outside the tab 312, the second shaping member 31 can be driven outward along the second direction XX' by the third drive mechanism, thereby separating the second shaping member 31 from the tab 312. The second shaping member 31 can be disengaged from the shaping station by being driven to move along the third direction ZZ' by the fourth drive mechanism.

[0101] Some embodiments of this application provide a battery production apparatus, including a core-combining drive mechanism and a tab-shaping device of any of the above embodiments. The core-combining drive mechanism is used to drive two paired sets of battery cells 300 to combine, and the tab-shaping device is used to shape the tabs 312 of the two sets of battery cells 300.

[0102] In the aforementioned battery production equipment, the cell-combining drive mechanism can drive two sets of cell groups 300 to rotate in opposite directions to perform the cell-combining action. During the cell-combining process, the tab shaping device uses the first shaping member 21 to apply an outward supporting force to the multi-layer tabs 312, which can effectively resist the inward bending tendency of the multi-layer tabs 312 caused by the movement of the cell body 311, and prevent excessive redundancy caused by the accumulation in the middle of the tabs 312. At the same time, by setting a second shaping member 31 that is closer to the root 312a of the tabs 312 than the first shaping member 21, and applying an inward restraining force to the multi-layer tabs 312 during or after the cell-combining process, the tab shaping device can specifically gather the area of ​​the tabs 312 near the root 312a of the cell body 311, and prevent this area from spreading or warping outward due to the large number of layers. The two opposing forces act together on different sections of the tab 312, thereby actively shaping the multi-layer tab 312 as a whole during the dynamic core assembly process and stabilizing it in an approximately "S"-shaped configuration. This integrates the originally loose and disordered multi-layer tabs into a regular and compact form, effectively preventing the tab 312 from piercing the cell body 311 due to disordered bending during core assembly and subsequent casing, thus reducing the risk of internal short circuits in the battery.

[0103] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0104] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A tab shaping method for shaping tabs of a pre-assembly, the pre-assembly comprising a top cover, an adapter plate arranged on the top cover, and two groups of cell sets matched with each other, each cell set comprising at least one cell, the cell comprising a cell body and a tab, the tab being connected to one end of the cell body as a root; characterized in that, The electrode ear reshaping method includes: The two sets of battery cells that are paired together are driven to rotate towards each other to perform a cell-combining action; After performing the cell-combining action, the cell bodies of the two paired cell groups are driven to move toward the top cover; During the core-combining process, the first shaping component applies an outward supporting force to the electrode tab; During and / or after the core-combining operation, an inward constraint force is applied to the tab by a second shaping member, wherein the second shaping member is closer to the root of the tab than the first shaping member; During the process of the battery cell bodies of the two paired battery cell groups moving towards the top cover, the first shaping component is driven to move outward and the second shaping component is driven to move inward. The outward supporting force and the inward constraining force work together on different sections of the tab.

2. The electrode ear shaping method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: While driving the second shaping component to move inward, it is also driven to move towards the top cover.

3. The electrode ear reshaping method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before the step of driving the two sets of battery cells to rotate towards each other to perform the cell-joining action, a first positioning step is also included: driving the first shaping member to move so that the first shaping member abuts against the electrode tab.

4. The electrode ear shaping method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of applying an outward supporting force to the tab during the core-combining process includes: driving the first shaping component to move outward to push the tab outward.

5. The electrode ear shaping method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before the step of applying an inward constraint force to the tab by the second shaping member during and / or after the core-joining operation, a second positioning step is included: driving the second shaping member to move so that the second shaping member abuts against the tab.

6. The electrode ear reshaping method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of applying an inward constraint force to the tab by the second shaping member during and / or after the core-combining operation includes: driving the second shaping member to move inward to push the tab to retract inward.

7. The electrode ear shaping method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: Drive the first shaping component to separate from the electrode tab; The second shaping element is driven to separate from the electrode tab.

8. The electrode ear shaping method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The step of driving the first shaping member to separate from the electrode includes: The first shaping component is driven to move along a first direction so that it leaves the area between the tabs of the two sets of battery cells, wherein the first direction intersects with a second direction and a third direction, the second direction being the arrangement direction of the two sets of battery cells after they are assembled, and the third direction being the thickness direction of the top cover.

9. The electrode ear shaping method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the tabs in each group of battery cells is provided with a corresponding first shaping component; each of the tabs in each group of battery cells is provided with a corresponding second shaping component.

10. The electrode ear shaping method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first shaping component is provided with a first tension detection unit, which can acquire the tension of the corresponding electrode tab in real time. The electrode tab shaping method further includes: adjusting the position of the first shaping component according to the detection result of the first tension detection unit, so that the tension of the corresponding electrode tab is within a first preset range; and / or, The second shaping component is provided with a second tension detection unit, which can acquire the tension of the corresponding tab in real time. The tab shaping method further includes: adjusting the position of the second shaping component according to the detection result of the second tension detection unit so that the tension of the corresponding tab is within a second preset range.

11. A tab shaping device, characterized in that, For implementing the tab shaping method as described in any one of claims 1-10, the tab shaping device includes an opening module and a closing module; The spreading module includes: a first driving mechanism, a second driving mechanism, and a first shaping component. The first driving mechanism is used to drive the first shaping component to move along a first direction, and the second driving mechanism is used to drive the first shaping component to move along a second direction. The gathering module includes: a third driving mechanism, a fourth driving mechanism, and a second shaping component. The third driving mechanism is used to drive the second shaping component to move along a second direction, and the fourth driving mechanism is used to drive the second shaping component to move along a first direction or a third direction or rotate around the axis of the second direction. Wherein, the first direction intersects with the second direction and also intersects with a third direction, the second direction is the arrangement direction of the two sets of paired battery cells after assembly, and the third direction is the thickness direction of the top cover; The spreading module includes a fifth driving mechanism, which is used to drive the first shaping component to move along the third direction.

12. The electrode ear shaping device according to claim 11, characterized in that, The gathering module includes: a sixth driving mechanism, which drives the second shaping component to move along a first direction or rotate around an axis in the second direction; and a third driving mechanism, which drives the second shaping component to move along the third direction.

13. A battery manufacturing equipment, characterized in that, The device includes a core-combining drive mechanism and a tab-shaping device according to any one of claims 11-12, wherein the core-combining drive mechanism is used to drive two paired sets of battery cell assemblies, and the tab-shaping device is used to shape the tabs of the two sets of battery cell assemblies.

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