Conveying system and method for pole roll

Abstract

The invention discloses a conveying system and method for pole rolls. The conveying system comprises a plurality of buffer areas arranged between a roller press and a roll cutting machine, and a first cantilever AGV, a bearing AGV and a second cantilever AGV which are used in cooperation with the buffer areas. The system is simple in structure, a plurality of cache regions are arranged between the roller press and the roll cutting machine, and a mixed scheduling scheme of combining the cantilever AGV and the bearing AGV is adopted, so that the whole process automation is realized, and meanwhile, the overall operation efficiency of the system and the workshop space utilization rate are remarkably improved. By introducing the low-cost and high-efficiency bearing AGV to undertake the main tray transfer task, the dependence on the high-cost cantilever AGV is greatly reduced, the equipment purchase quantity and the overall investment cost are effectively reduced, in addition, when the bearing AGV is in butt joint with the buffer frame, no extra vehicle body operation space needs to be reserved, the channel occupied area is greatly saved compared with the cantilever AGV, and the transportation efficiency is improved. And the production line layout is further optimized, and the space utilization efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of lithium battery manufacturing technology, specifically to a conveying system and method for electrode rolls. Background Technology

[0002] In current lithium battery manufacturing processes, after the roll forming and slitting process, the transfer of electrode coils from unloading to loading generally relies on manual operation, resulting in low efficiency, high labor intensity, and poor handling consistency. To improve the automation level of the production line, existing technologies have attempted to use automated equipment such as cantilever AGVs or power assist arms to achieve the connection between roll forming unloading and loading.

[0003] However, the above solutions still have many shortcomings. First, cantilever AGVs are generally only suitable for wide-width roll forming scenarios. In such scenarios, the roll forming machine is equipped with a step-by-step feeding mechanism, which can separate and feed individual rolls one by one, and then the AGV completes the single-roll feeding to the cutting station. However, for rolls with smaller widths, especially in the "one-out-many" roll forming mode, multiple rolls are arranged side by side and closely, with the gap between the rolls usually less than 5mm. The roll forming machine cannot feed them one by one and can only push multiple rolls as a whole to the feeding AGV. Traditional AGVs lack the ability to separate multiple rolls, making it difficult to achieve the precise feeding of single rolls required for the subsequent cutting process. Even in wide-width scenarios, cantilever AGVs can usually only process one roll at a time. The need for multiple dockings with the roll forming machine increases the number of required equipment, complicates the system architecture, and significantly raises the overall investment cost. Secondly, the cantilever AGV requires high positioning accuracy and needs to reserve a large operating space during docking, which not only reduces the conveying cycle time and operating efficiency but also occupies a large amount of workshop area, affecting the space utilization rate of the production line. In addition, the cantilever AGV itself has high procurement costs, long operating distances, and a large number of deployments, which also increases the number of buffer zones used. Each buffer zone usually needs to be equipped with a pitch-changing mechanism to adapt to different specifications of pole rolls, further increasing the system cost. Therefore, a conveying system and method for pole rolls is proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a conveying system and method for polar rolls to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a conveying system for electrode rolls, comprising several buffer zones disposed between a roller press and a slitting machine, and a first cantilever AGV, a carrying AGV, and a second cantilever AGV used in conjunction with the buffer zones. The first cantilever AGV is used to transfer several electrode rolls on the roller press to the buffer zones disposed adjacent to the roller press; the carrying AGV is used to transfer trays on each buffer zone, the trays being used to carry electrode rolls; the second cantilever AGV is used to transfer multiple electrode rolls one by one from the buffer zone adjacent to the slitting machine to the slitting machine for loading.

[0006] As a further aspect of the present invention: the number of buffer zones is three, namely buffer zone A, buffer zone B and buffer zone C, buffer zone A is adjacent to the roller press, buffer zone C is adjacent to the slitting machine, and buffer zone B is located between buffer zone A and buffer zone C.

[0007] As a further aspect of the present invention: the buffer area is composed of multiple buffer frames, each buffer frame including two sets of oppositely arranged support frames, which are connected by a support rod, and each support frame is equipped with a photoelectric sensor for monitoring whether there is a polar roll in the tray located on the buffer area. The support frame is also equipped with a tri-color light.

[0008] As a further aspect of the present invention, the distance between the two support frames is greater than the width of the AGV.

[0009] As a further aspect of the present invention: the tray includes a base and a plurality of placement racks disposed on the base, the base being mounted on the upper surface of two support frames, and the placement racks being for placing electrode rolls.

[0010] As a further aspect of the present invention: the second cantilever AGV includes a moving part and a cantilever shaft disposed on the moving part.

[0011] As a further aspect of the present invention: the end of the cantilever shaft away from the moving part is provided with a receiving cavity, an electric cylinder and a guide rod are respectively installed on opposite end faces inside the receiving cavity, a push rod driven by the electric cylinder is movably sleeved on the outer circumferential surface of the guide rod, the cantilever shaft is located at the end of the receiving cavity, and two tensioning blocks are symmetrically arranged along its axial center via a rotating shaft, and both tensioning blocks are connected to a friction block by a spring.

[0012] A conveying method, applied to the conveying system, includes the following steps: S1. The roller press sends the unloading task to the first cantilever AGV. The first cantilever AGV places several pole rolls on the empty tray in the buffer area of ​​area A at once. S2. After receiving the occupancy information of buffer zone A, the carrying AGV will transfer the full pallet on buffer zone A to the empty storage space in buffer zone B, and at the same time transport the empty pallet on buffer zone B to the empty storage space in buffer zone A. S3. According to the material supply requirements of the coil cutter, the AGV carries the full pallet on the buffer area of ​​area B to the empty storage space of the buffer area of ​​area C to prepare for the material supply of the coil cutter. S4. The slitting machine issues a feeding task to the second cantilever AGV. The second cantilever AGV takes a single roll from the buffer area in zone C and completes the feeding. After all the multiple rolls of material have been consumed, the carrying AGV transfers the empty pallet on the buffer area in zone C to the empty storage space in the buffer area in zone B, and takes the full pallet from the buffer area in zone B for subsequent replenishment of the slitting machine.

[0013] As a further aspect of the present invention, the carrying AGVs all adopt the first-in, first-out principle during execution.

[0014] As a further aspect of the present invention: the number of the carrying AGVs is multiple, and all of the carrying AGVs can be used to transport pallets between buffer areas A, B and C.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: This application achieves full-process automation by setting up multiple buffer zones between the roller press and the slitting machine, and adopting a hybrid scheduling scheme combining cantilever AGVs and backpack AGVs, significantly improving the overall system operating efficiency and workshop space utilization while realizing full-process automation. By introducing low-cost, high-efficiency backpack AGVs to handle the main pallet transfer tasks, the reliance on high-cost cantilever AGVs is greatly reduced, effectively lowering the number of equipment purchased and the overall investment cost. Furthermore, backpack AGVs do not require additional vehicle operating space when docking with buffer racks, significantly saving aisle space compared to cantilever AGVs, further optimizing the production line layout and improving space utilization efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall conveying system for the polar rolls of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the space occupied by the backpack AGV and the buffer rack of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the space occupied by the cantilever AGV and the buffer rack of the present invention. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the cache rack of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the tray of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the docking of the first cantilever AGV of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the docking of the backpack AGV of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the docking of the second cantilever AGV of the present invention; Figure 9 This is an enlarged schematic diagram of point A in the present invention; Figure 10 This is an enlarged schematic diagram of the end of the cantilever shaft of the present invention; In the diagram: 1. Roller press; 2. Slitting machine; 3. Buffer area; 301. Support frame; 302. Support rod; 303. Photoelectric sensor; 304. Three-color light; 31. Buffer area A; 32. Buffer area B; 33. Buffer area C; 4. First cantilever AGV; 5. Back-mounted AGV; 6. Second cantilever AGV; 601. Moving part; 602. Cantilever shaft; 603. Receiving cavity; 604. Electric cylinder; 605. Guide rod; 606. Push rod; 607. Tensioning block; 608. Spring component; 609. Friction block; 7. Tray; 701. Base; 702. Placement rack. Detailed Implementation

[0017] 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. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0018] Please see Figures 1-10 In this embodiment of the invention, a conveying system for electrode rolls includes several buffer zones 3 disposed between a roller press 1 and a slitting machine 2, and a first cantilever AGV4, a carrying AGV5, and a second cantilever AGV6 used in conjunction with the buffer zones 3. The first cantilever AGV4 is used to transfer several electrode rolls on the roller press 1 to the buffer zone 3 disposed adjacent to the roller press 1; the carrying AGV5 is used to transfer trays 7 on each buffer zone 3, and the trays 7 are used to carry electrode rolls; the second cantilever AGV6 is used to transfer multiple electrode rolls on the buffer zone 3 adjacent to the slitting machine 2 one by one to the slitting machine 2 for loading.

[0019] Specifically, there are three buffer zones 3: buffer zone A 31, buffer zone B 32, and buffer zone C 33. Buffer zone A 31 is adjacent to the roller press 1, buffer zone C 33 is adjacent to the coil cutter 2, and buffer zone B 32 is located between buffer zones A 31 and buffer zone C 33. The first cantilever AGV 4 can transfer several polar rolls from the roller press 1 to the tray 7 in buffer zone A 31 at one time. After the polar rolls on the tray 7 are assembled, the carrying AGV 5 transfers the full tray 7 in buffer zone A 31 to buffer zone B 32, and transfers the tray 7 in buffer zone B 32 that is not loaded with polar rolls back to buffer zone A 31, for the next batch to be transferred by the first cantilever AGV 4. The placement of the coils allows for the exchange of empty and full loads between buffer zones 31 (Area A) and 32 (Area B). Simultaneously, the remaining backpack AGVs 5 can transfer the full pallets 7 from buffer zone 32 (Area B) to buffer zone 33 (Area C) for loading into the coil cutter 2. The deployment of backpack AGVs significantly reduces the number of cantilever AGVs required. Furthermore, backpack AGVs require less space than cantilever AGVs, saving workshop space. Additionally, the procurement cost of backpack AGVs is much lower than that of cantilever AGVs. When docking with buffer zone 3, cantilever AGVs require a wider main channel: traditional cantilever AGV docking methods typically require an additional 2 meters of docking space in the main channel, occupying a significant amount of workshop area. Figure 3 As shown; however, the AGV5 carrying the vehicle does not require additional space for vehicle operation during docking, such as Figure 2 As shown, this further improves space utilization efficiency.

[0020] Please see Figures 3-4 In one embodiment, preferably, the buffer area 3 is composed of multiple buffer frames. The buffer frame includes two sets of support frames 301 arranged opposite each other. The two support frames 301 are connected by a support rod 302. Both support frames 301 are equipped with photoelectric sensors 303 to monitor whether there are polar rolls in the tray 7 located on the buffer area 3. The support frames 301 are also equipped with tri-color lights 304.

[0021] Specifically, the distance between the two support frames 301 is greater than the width of the carrying AGV5, facilitating the carrying AGV5 to enter and transport or deliver the tray 7. The support rods 302 are used to fix the two support frames 301. The support rods 302 on the buffer area 31 of zone A are located on the opposite side of the first cantilever AGV4 docking, so as not to affect the first cantilever AGV4 from assembling several electrode rolls on the tray 7. At the same time, the side without support rods 302 is used by the carrying AGV5 to transport the tray 7 in and out of the buffer area 3. While ensuring the stability of the support frame 301, it will not affect the carrying AGV5 from transporting the electrode rolls. The support rods 302 on the buffer area 33 of zone C are located on the opposite side of the second cantilever AGV6 docking. In addition, photoelectric sensors 303 are provided on the two support frames 301 to monitor the electrode rolls. When the light is blocked, it indicates that there are electrode rolls buffered at the position corresponding to the photoelectric sensor 303. At the same time, the placement status of the electrode rolls on the tray 7 is judged by observing the different colors of the tri-color lights 304.

[0022] Please see Figure 5 In one embodiment, preferably, the tray 7 includes a base 701 and a plurality of placement racks 702 disposed on the base 701. The base 701 is mounted on the upper surface of two support frames 301, and the placement racks 702 are for placing the electrode rolls.

[0023] Specifically, the width of the base 701 is greater than the distance between the two support frames 301, so that the two support frames 301 can support the two sides of the bottom of the base 701 respectively. The base 701 has several screw holes, and the placement frame 702 is threadedly connected to the base 701 by bolts. By removing the bolts, the number and spacing of the placement frames 702 on the base 701 can be freely changed to better accommodate different numbers and sizes of electrode rolls. In addition, the top of each placement frame 702 has a downwardly recessed arc-shaped area, in which a rubber pad is laid to better support the middle of the electrode roll.

[0024] Please see Figures 8-10 In one embodiment, preferably, the second cantilever AGV6 includes a moving part 601 and a cantilever shaft 602 disposed on the moving part 601. The end of the cantilever shaft 602 away from the moving part 601 is provided with a receiving cavity 603. An electric cylinder 604 and a guide rod 605 are respectively installed on opposite end faces inside the receiving cavity 603. A push rod 606 driven by the electric cylinder 604 is movably sleeved on the outer peripheral surface of the guide rod 605. The cantilever shaft 602 is located at the end of the receiving cavity 603, and two tensioning blocks 607 are symmetrically arranged along its axial center via a rotating shaft. Both tensioning blocks 607 are connected to friction blocks 609 via springs 608.

[0025] Specifically, the end of the cantilever shaft 602 has symmetrically arranged through holes, both of which are connected to the receiving cavity 603 to reserve space for the angle adjustment of the tensioning block 607. There is no gap between adjacent pole rolls on the tray 7. The cantilever shaft 602 is moved together by the moving part 601. When the end of the cantilever shaft 602 enters the inside of the pole roll to pick up the material, the end of the cantilever shaft 602 does not exceed the other end face of the pole roll. The electric cylinder 604 is opened to extend the push rod 606. The extension direction of the push rod 606 is restricted by the guide rod 605. When the push rod 606 moves, it squeezes the tensioning block 607 to rotate around the shaft, thereby changing the angle and making the friction block 609 on the tensioning block 607 in close contact with the inner wall of the pole roll to prevent the pole roll from shaking on the cantilever shaft 602 and falling off during the movement. Then the pole roll is removed from the tray 7 and sent to the coil cutter 2 for feeding.

[0026] A conveying method, applied to a conveying system, includes the following steps: S1. Roller press 1 issues the feeding task to the first cantilever AGV4. The first cantilever AGV4 places several pole rolls on the empty tray of buffer area 31 in area A at once. Specifically, after the roller press 1 finishes processing the electrode rolls, the first cantilever AGV4 receives the unloading task, runs to the roller press 1, and transports several electrode rolls to the empty tray in the buffer area 31 of area A at one time. The number of electrode rolls is not limited. In this embodiment, the number of electrode rolls issued by the roller press 1 each time is five.

[0027] S2. After receiving the occupancy information of buffer zone 31 in area A, the carrying AGV5 will transfer the full pallet on buffer zone 31 in area A to the empty storage space in buffer zone 32 in area B, and at the same time transport the empty pallet on buffer zone 32 in area B to the empty storage space in buffer zone 31 in area A. Specifically, when the photoelectric sensor 303 on buffer area 31 of area A detects that all the placement racks 702 on the buffer rack are filled with pole rolls, it issues an occupancy information. At this time, the carrying AGV5 enters buffer area 31 of area A from other areas, carries the full pallets on buffer area 31 of area A to the empty storage space in buffer area 32 of area B, and at the same time transports the empty pallets on buffer area 32 of area B to the empty storage space in buffer area 31 of area A, thereby completing the exchange of empty and full areas in buffer area 31 of area A and buffer area 32 of area B. There are multiple sets of photoelectric sensors 303, and each set of photoelectric sensors 303 corresponds to one placement rack 702.

[0028] S3. According to the material supply requirements of the coil cutter 2, the AGV5 carrying the coil cutter 2 delivers the full pallet of the buffer area 32 in area B to the empty storage space in the buffer area 33 in area C to prepare for the material supply of the coil cutter 2. S4. The coil cutter 2 issues a feeding task to the second cantilever AGV6. The second cantilever AGV6 takes a single coil from the buffer area 33 in area C and completes the feeding. After all the materials in multiple coils are consumed, the carrying AGV5 transfers the empty pallet on the buffer area 33 in area C to the empty storage space in the buffer area 32 in area B, and takes the full pallet in the buffer area 32 in area B for subsequent replenishment of materials by the coil cutter 2. Specifically, when the second cantilever AGV6 receives the feeding task from the coil cutter 2, it runs to the buffer area 33 in zone C, takes the single-roll polar coil from the pallet 7, and sends it to the coil cutter 2 for feeding. This process is repeated until all the polar coils on the pallet 7 have been transported. At this time, the carrying AGV5 transfers the empty pallet on the buffer area 33 in zone C to the empty storage space in the buffer area 32 in zone B, and at the same time takes the full pallets on other buffer racks in the buffer area 32 in zone B and transports them to the buffer area 33 in zone C.

[0029] There are multiple backpack AGV5s, which can be used to transport pallets 7 between buffer zones 31 (Area A), 32 (Area B), and 33 (Area C). The backpack AGVs follow the first-in, first-out (FIFO) principle during operation. Buffer zones 31 (Area A), 32 (Area B), and 33 (Area C) each consist of multiple buffer racks. Based on the occupancy of pallets on each buffer rack, backpack AGVs can be scheduled in real time to transport pallets 7 between different buffer racks within the area. An empty rack indicates that no pallet 7 is placed on it, an empty pallet indicates that no polar rolls are on it, and a full pallet indicates that the polar rolls on it are fully loaded.

[0030] Although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0031] Therefore, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of this application; that is, all equivalent modifications made in accordance with the scope of the claims of this application shall be within the protection scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A conveying system for polar rolls, characterized in that, It includes several buffer zones set between the roller press and the slitting machine, as well as a first cantilever AGV, a backpack AGV, and a second cantilever AGV used in conjunction with the buffer zones. The first cantilever AGV is used to transfer several pole rolls on the roller press to the buffer zone set up adjacent to the roller press. The backpack AGV is used to transfer the pallets on each buffer zone, and the pallets are used to carry pole rolls. The second cantilever AGV is used to transfer multiple pole rolls one by one from the buffer zone adjacent to the slitting machine to the slitting machine for loading.

2. The conveying system for polar rolls according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of buffer zones is three, namely buffer zone A, buffer zone B and buffer zone C. Buffer zone A is adjacent to the roller press, buffer zone C is adjacent to the slitting machine, and buffer zone B is located between buffer zones A and buffer zone C.

3. The conveying system for polar rolls according to claim 2, characterized in that, The buffer area is composed of multiple buffer frames. Each buffer frame includes two sets of support frames arranged opposite each other. The two support frames are connected by a support rod, and each support frame is equipped with a photoelectric sensor to monitor whether there is a polar roll in the tray located on the buffer area. The support frame is also equipped with a tri-color light.

4. The conveying system for polar rolls according to claim 3, characterized in that, The distance between the two support frames is greater than the width of the AGV.

5. The conveying system for polar rolls according to claim 3, characterized in that, The tray includes a base and several placement racks disposed on the base. The base is mounted on the upper surface of two support frames, and the placement racks are for placing electrode rolls.

6. The conveying system for polar rolls according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second cantilever AGV includes a moving part and a cantilever shaft disposed on the moving part.

7. The conveying system for polar rolls according to claim 6, characterized in that, The end of the cantilever shaft away from the moving part is provided with a receiving cavity. An electric cylinder and a guide rod are respectively installed on opposite end faces inside the receiving cavity. A push rod driven by the electric cylinder is movably sleeved on the outer circumferential surface of the guide rod. The cantilever shaft is located at the end of the receiving cavity, and two tensioning blocks are symmetrically arranged along its axial center via a rotating shaft. Both tensioning blocks are connected to a friction block by a spring.

8. A conveying method, applied to the conveying system of claim 7, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. The roller press sends the unloading task to the first cantilever AGV, and the first cantilever AGV places several pole rolls on the empty tray in the buffer area of ​​area A at once; S2. After receiving the occupancy information of buffer zone A, the carrying AGV will transfer the full pallet on buffer zone A to the empty storage space in buffer zone B, and at the same time transport the empty pallet on buffer zone B to the empty storage space in buffer zone A. S3. According to the material supply requirements of the coil cutter, the AGV carries the full pallet on the buffer area of ​​area B to the empty storage space of the buffer area of ​​area C to prepare for the material supply of the coil cutter. S4. The slitting machine issues a feeding task to the second cantilever AGV. The second cantilever AGV takes a single roll from the buffer area in zone C and completes the feeding. After all the multiple rolls of material have been consumed, the carrying AGV transfers the empty pallet on the buffer area in zone C to the empty storage space in the buffer area in zone B, and takes the full pallet from the buffer area in zone B for subsequent replenishment of the slitting machine.

9. The conveying method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The AGVs carrying the loads all operate on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) principle.

10. The conveying method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The number of the backpack AGVs is multiple, and all of the backpack AGVs can be used to transport pallets between buffer areas A, B and C.

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