High-speed conveying system for spraying insulating material on square-shell battery cell

Abstract

The invention provides a high-speed conveying system for spraying an insulating material on a square-shell battery cell, and the system comprises a conveying line which comprises a feeding connection position, a plurality of process sections and a discharging connection position which are linearly arranged and is used for driving the square-shell battery cell placed on a battery cell jig to be conveyed among different process positions; the shielding device is arranged on the process section of the conveying line and comprises two shielding plates, and a guide groove is reserved in the top of the middle of each shielding plate so that part of the battery cell jig bearing the square shell battery cell can stretch out of the guide groove; the two shielding plates are provided with protruding plates extending upwards at the guide groove positions and used for being matched with inner grooves of the battery cell jigs, and isolation of the conveying line from the spraying area / curing area in the process section is achieved. In the high-speed conveying process, it is ensured that the conveying line is effectively isolated from the spraying area / curing area of the square-shell battery cell, damage to the conveying line caused by sputtering materials in the UV spraying process and paint falling in the curing process is avoided, the service life of the conveying line can be prolonged, and the maintenance cost is reduced.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of spraying equipment in the battery industry, and in particular to a high-speed conveying system for spraying insulating material on a square shell battery cell. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the rapid development of new energy vehicles and energy storage systems, power batteries as the core components have attracted widespread attention. The safety, performance and durability of power batteries directly affect the stability and service life of the entire system. Under these requirements, square shell battery cells, as an important battery structure, are widely used due to their good sealing and mechanical strength. However, in the production process of square shell battery cells, how to effectively improve their electrical insulation performance and prevent short circuits and other safety hazards during use has become one of the key technologies in research and production.

[0003] The current insulation treatment of power battery square shell cells mainly relies on PET blue film coating technology, which has many defects, such as insufficient adhesion, poor puncture resistance and easy breakdown. The PSA adhesive performance of PET film is very limited, basically at the level of 0.5-2 MPa; on the other hand, the PET film substrate is a low surface energy material, which makes the adhesive strength of the structural adhesive on it only reach the medium-low level of 2.0-3.5 MPa. Therefore, when the battery pack is subjected to external impact, the structural adhesive may be interfacially damaged and fall off from the blue film; or the PSA adhesive of the blue film may be cohesively damaged, causing the blue film to fall off and peel off from the cell shell. The low mechanical strength of the blue film (tensile strength 4-5 MPa) makes it easy to be punctured by sharp objects during transportation or assembly, causing short circuit risk and difficulty in meeting the insulation requirements of the 800V high voltage platform. The increase in working voltage and energy density greatly increases the probability of electric arc or insulation breakdown between cells. For example, the traditional PET film can only support a maximum breakdown voltage of 2500V, while the 800V voltage platform requires a breakdown voltage of 3000-4000V. In addition, with the upgrading of safety standards for power storage batteries for electric vehicles, it is clearly required that the thermal diffusion does not catch fire, and the insulation resistance of the battery pack and system is ≥100 Ω / V. In summary, the PET film solution cannot further meet the technical requirements.

[0004] UV insulation coating technology becomes a replacement direction due to strong adhesion (up to 15-19 MPa), high temperature resistance and full automation potential, but still faces the compatibility problem of high-speed spraying and conveying line. If UV spraying is matched with high-speed production line, the traditional conveying line lacks isolation design, which leads to paint mist pollution of guide rail and transmission components, accelerates wear and tear and shortens equipment life. If the conveying line roller of a certain vehicle enterprise is bonded by paint mist, it needs to be cleaned for 1-2 hours per day, which greatly affects production efficiency. If a traditional fixed isolation cover is used, it needs to be opened and closed, which seriously drags down productivity. In high-speed continuous conveying, the inertia of the battery cell may cause attitude deviation, resulting in insufficient edge coverage during spraying and increasing the risk of insulation failure.

[0005] Therefore, it is a technical problem to be solved to provide a high-speed conveying system for spraying insulation material on square shell battery cells. SUMMARY

[0006] In view of this, the embodiments of the present application provide a high-speed conveying system for spraying insulation material on square shell battery cells to eliminate or improve one or more defects in the prior art.

[0007] A high-speed conveying system for spraying insulation material on square shell battery cells, the system comprising: a conveying line including a linear arrangement of a feeding connection position, a plurality of process sections and a discharging connection position, for driving the square shell battery cells placed on the battery cell fixture to realize conveying between different process positions; a shielding device provided in the process section of the conveying line, including two shielding plates symmetrically arranged about the center line of the length direction of the conveying line, a guide groove is left in the middle top of the two shielding plates for the part of the battery cell fixture carrying the square shell battery cells to extend in the shielding device; the two shielding plates have a protruding plate arranged upward at the guide groove position, for cooperating with the inner groove of the battery cell fixture to realize the isolation of the conveying line in the process section and the spraying area / solidification area.

[0008] In some embodiments, the shielding device includes a spraying position shielding assembly and a solidification position shielding assembly arranged in sequence; the spraying position shielding assembly includes two rows of brushes arranged in the shielding plate, and the spacing of the two rows of brushes is configured to be smaller than the thickness of the support of the battery cell fixture.

[0009] In some embodiments, the shielding device further includes a positive pressure assembly, the positive pressure assembly includes two porous air pipes arranged along the length direction of the conveying line, the two porous air pipes are symmetric about the center line of the conveying line, and the openings of the porous air pipes are directed to the guide groove, so that the guide groove position maintains positive pressure relative to the spraying area / solidification area.

[0010] In some embodiments, the shielding plate includes a vertical plate and an inclined plate arranged from bottom to top, and the bottom of the vertical plate is lower than the upper conveying surface of the conveying line carrying the battery cell fixture.

[0011] In some embodiments, the shielding device further includes end plates disposed on both sides of the two shielding plates along the length direction of the conveyor line, the end plates being arranged on the outer side of the two shielding plates, the end plates having openings that avoid the openings of the battery cell fixture for forming inner grooves; the shielding device further includes a plurality of reinforcing plates arranged along the width direction of the conveyor line, the reinforcing plates having at least one long shaft passing through them and arranged parallel to the two shielding plates.

[0012] Keep each shielding panel mounting block in the same position to avoid unevenness that could cause the shielding panel to deform.

[0013] In some embodiments, the shielding device further includes a guide strip fixedly mounted on the top of the reinforcing plate and a plurality of limiting wheels rotatably mounted on the guide strip; in the width direction of the conveyor line, the distance between two of the limiting wheels is equal to the thickness of the support member of the battery cell fixture.

[0014] In some embodiments, the conveyor line includes a drive motor, a drive sprocket assembly, a driven sprocket assembly, several plate chain assemblies, a support plate, and chain guides. The drive motor is connected to the drive sprocket assembly and is located at one end of the unloading connection point of the conveyor line. The driven sprocket assembly is located at one end of the loading connection point of the conveyor line. The plate chain assembly includes a chain plate and chain links arranged on both sides of the chain plate's extension direction, a connecting shaft, and a bushing. Each chain link includes two side plates and a bushing arranged between the two side plates. The bushing passes through the connecting shaft, and the connecting shaft is fixedly connected to the chain plate so that a hinge connection is formed between the chain plate and the chain link. The chain plate forms a convex-concave fit with adjacent chain plates. The chain plate is made of stainless steel, and its surface has friction texture. The support plate is located below the plate chain assembly. Two chain guides are provided, respectively fixing the support plate on both sides of the conveyor line's width direction to support the bushings of the plate chain assemblies on both sides.

[0015] In some embodiments, the high-speed conveying system further includes at least one battery cell fixture, which includes a fixture base, a support member, and a clamp arranged from bottom to top; wherein the upper top surface of the clamp has a support surface for supporting the square-shell battery cell and a limiting structure, the support member has a T-shaped structure, and the inner groove is formed between the top two side plate portions and the middle column portion for matching the protrusions of the two shielding plates to form a sealing structure.

[0016] In some embodiments, the system further includes a cleaning device disposed on one side of the unloading docking position of the conveyor line. The cleaning device includes: a fixed bracket, a floating bracket, a guide shaft, a linear bearing, a wiping component, and an adjusting screw. The fixed bracket is installed below the return section of the conveyor line. The floating bracket is installed above the fixed bracket via multiple guide shafts and a linear bearing. The wiping component is detachably installed on the top of the floating bracket. The adjusting screw is fixedly connected to the bottom of the floating bracket, passes through the middle of the fixed bracket, and is threadedly connected to the fixed bracket. The adjusting screw has an operating part at its lower end extending from the fixed bracket, used to adjust the position of the floating bracket and the wiping component by rotation, so that the wiping component presses upward against the conveyor line and cleans it as the conveyor line moves.

[0017] In some embodiments, the system further includes a connection device disposed at the loading and unloading connection positions of the conveyor line. The connection device includes a plurality of horizontally arranged transmission rollers and a plurality of vertically arranged limiting rollers on both sides of the width direction of the conveyor line. The distance between the limiting rollers on both sides is configured to be equal to the width of the base of the cell fixture, so that the cell fixture and the square-shell cell are centered. The length of the conveyor line is configured to be not less than 23m, and its transmission speed is configured to be not less than 30m / min.

[0018] The shielding device in this embodiment of the invention ensures effective isolation between the conveyor line and the spraying / curing area of ​​the prismatic battery cell during high-speed transport, preventing damage to the conveyor line caused by material splashing during UV spraying and paint dripping during curing. The shielding plate also isolates the localized high temperatures generated by the UV curing light source, reducing thermal deformation and high stress on the conveyor line components. This high-speed conveying system significantly extends the service life of the conveyor line, reduces maintenance costs, and improves the stability and reliability of the production line.

[0019] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and will also become apparent in part to those skilled in the art upon studying the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and other advantages of the invention can be realized and obtained by means of the structures specifically pointed out in the description and drawings.

[0020] Those skilled in the art will understand that the objectives and advantages achievable with the present invention are not limited to those specifically described above, and that the above and other objectives achievable with the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and form part of this application, are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The components in the drawings are not drawn to scale but are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. For ease of illustration and description of certain parts of the invention, corresponding portions in the drawings may be enlarged, i.e., may appear larger relative to other components in an exemplary device actually manufactured according to the invention.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a high-speed conveying system for spraying insulating material onto square-shell battery cells according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a partial structural diagram of the conveyor line, battery cell fixture, and shielding device in one embodiment of the present invention, wherein the battery cell fixture has just entered the shielding device.

[0024] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the embodiment shown.

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the battery cell fixture and the square-shell battery cell in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 5 for Figure 3 A magnified view of the central circular area to show the structure of the plate chain assembly.

[0027] Figure 6 for Figure 1 The high-speed conveying system in the illustrated embodiment is shown as a half-section diagram of the centerline along the length of the conveying line.

[0028] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A magnified view of the central circular area to show the structure of the cleaning device.

[0029] Figure 8 for Figure 1 A magnified view of the circular area to show the structure of the connection device.

[0030] Figure label: 1. Conveyor line; 11. Loading connection point; 12. Process section; 13. Unloading connection point; 101. Drive motor; 102. Drive sprocket assembly; 103. Driven sprocket assembly; 104. Plate chain assembly; 105. Support plate; 106. Chain guide rail; 104-1. Side plate; 104-2. Connecting shaft; 104-3. Bushing; 104-4. Chain plate; 107. T-slot slide rail; 108. Tensioning sprocket assembly; 2. Shielding device; 21. Shielding plate; 22. Guide groove; 23. Brush; 24. Perforated air pipe; 25. End plate; 26. Reinforcing plate; 27. Long shaft; 28. Guide strip; 29. ​​Limiting wheel; 211. Protruding plate; 212. Inclined plate; 213. Vertical plate; 3. Cell fixture; 31. Fixture base; 32. Support component; 33. Clamp; 321. Inner groove; 322. Ballast plate; 323. Column; 34. Square-shell cell; 4. Cleaning device; 41. Fixed bracket; 42. Floating bracket; 43. Guide shaft; 44. Linear bearing; 45. Wiping component; 46. Adjustment screw component; 5. Connecting device; 51. Transmission roller; 52. Limiting roller. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the embodiments and accompanying drawings. Here, the illustrative embodiments and descriptions of this invention are used to explain the invention, but are not intended to limit the invention.

[0032] It should also be noted that, in order to avoid obscuring the invention with unnecessary details, only the structures and / or processing steps closely related to the solution according to the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, while other details that are not closely related to the invention are omitted.

[0033] It should be emphasized that the term "including / comprises" as used herein refers to the presence of a feature, element, step, or component, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, steps, or components.

[0034] It should also be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the term "connection" in this article can refer not only to a direct connection, but also to an indirect connection involving an intermediary.

[0035] In the following description, embodiments of the invention will be illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals represent the same or similar parts, or the same or similar steps.

[0036] This invention innovatively provides a high-speed conveying system for spraying insulating materials onto prismatic battery cells. This system enables high-speed conveying of prismatic battery cells within the insulating material spraying system, improves the stability of the prismatic battery cells during the conveying process, and reduces the impact of different process stages such as paint spraying and curing on the conveying line, thereby improving production efficiency and spraying quality.

[0037] like Figures 1-4 As shown, a high-speed conveying system for spraying insulating material onto square-shell battery cells is provided. The system includes a conveyor line 1 and a shielding device 2, etc.

[0038] Furthermore, the conveyor line 1 includes linearly arranged loading docking stations 11, several process sections 12, and unloading docking stations 13, used to transport the prismatic battery cells 34 placed on the battery cell fixture 3 between different process stations. In the high-speed spray painting production process, the efficiency of the conveyor line 1 directly affects the efficiency of the entire spray painting operation. By adopting an efficient conveyor line 1 design, production capacity can be increased and the production cycle shortened. By adopting an assembly line-style process design, such as integrating multiple paint spraying and curing processes for the prismatic battery cells 34 into a single high-speed conveyor system, production efficiency is greatly improved.

[0039] Furthermore, the shielding device 2 is installed in the process section 12 of the conveyor line 1, which can effectively isolate the contact between the spraying area and the conveyor line 1. The shielding device 2 may include two shielding plates 21 symmetrically arranged about the centerline of the length direction of the conveyor line 1. The top of the middle of the two shielding plates 21 has a guide groove 22 to allow the part of the cell fixture 3 carrying the square-shell battery cell 34 to extend out of the shielding device 2. The two shielding plates 21 have upwardly extending convex plates 211 at the guide groove 22, which are used to cooperate with the inner groove 321 of the cell fixture 3 to achieve the isolation of the conveyor line 1 from the spraying / curing area in the process section 12. The guide groove 22 is designed so that the cell fixture 3 carrying the square-shell battery cell 34 can smoothly extend out of the shielding device 2, thereby maintaining the effective isolation between the conveyor line 1 and the spraying / curing area.

[0040] Compared to existing technologies where conveyor line 1 is exposed to the spraying area without isolation, resulting in paint mist deposition that causes jamming of transmission components (guide rails, sprockets and chains, pulleys and conveyor belts, etc.), significantly shortened lifespan, and electrical component failure, the shielding device 2 in this embodiment of the invention ensures effective isolation between conveyor line 1 and the spraying / curing area of ​​the prismatic battery cell during high-speed conveying. This prevents damage to conveyor line 1 caused by splashed materials during UV spraying and paint dripping during curing. The shielding plate 21 also isolates the localized high temperatures generated by the UV curing light source, reducing thermal deformation and high stress on the transmission components of conveyor line 1. This high-speed conveying system can significantly extend the service life of conveyor line 1, reduce maintenance costs, and improve the stability and reliability of the production line.

[0041] This invention exposes the entire prismatic battery cell 34 above the shielding device 2, allowing the coating process to cover all four sides of the cell and the bottom surface where its electrodes are located without any blind spots. This means that all coating processes can be completed with a single conveyor line 1. This full-coverage design ensures that every part receives a uniform coating, improving the coating quality and uniformity on the cell surface and meeting high coating standards. The shielding device 2 also prevents potential contamination of other equipment or parts of the battery cell during the coating process, thus ensuring the cleanliness of the production process and the high quality of the product.

[0042] In some embodiments, especially in high-temperature environments, the material selection and structural design of the conveyor line 1 and the shielding device 2 must be able to withstand the high-temperature conditions of UV curing. For example, the conveyor line 1 is made of stainless steel, and the shielding plate 21 of the shielding device 2 is made of stainless steel or aluminum alloy to avoid material aging and damage.

[0043] In some embodiments, the masking device 2 includes a spraying position masking assembly and a curing position masking assembly arranged sequentially. The sequential arrangement here can be a series arrangement arranged on the same process segment 12. For example... Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the spraying position masking assembly includes two rows of brushes 23 disposed within the masking plate 21, and the spacing between the two rows of brushes 23 is configured to be less than the thickness of the support member 32 of the battery cell fixture.

[0044] In the above embodiment, two rows of brushes 23 are disposed inside the shielding plate 21. The arrangement of these brushes 23 is coordinated with the movement trajectory of the cell fixture 3, effectively isolating the spraying area from the conveyor line 1 area. The brushes 23 not only prevent material splashing during spraying but also provide appropriate contact as the cell fixture 3 passes through, further reducing material leakage in the spraying area. The spacing configuration of the brushes 23 ensures that the brushes 23 can make close contact with the support member 32 of the cell fixture 3, thereby effectively preventing UV material from splashing into other areas of the cell fixture 3 during spraying. This ensures that the brushes 23 can make close contact with the support member 32 of the cell fixture 3, thereby effectively preventing UV material from splashing into the shielding device 2 during spraying.

[0045] The two rows of brushes 23 can achieve physical dynamic sealing of paint mist. Furthermore, the combined spiral sealing structure formed by the protruding plate 211 of the shielding plate 21 and the support member 32 of the battery cell fixture 3 can achieve double-layer sealing to minimize the amount of paint mist entering the shielding device 2.

[0046] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the shielding device 2 also includes a positive pressure component, which comprises two porous air pipes 24. These porous air pipes 24 are arranged along the length of the conveyor line 1, symmetrical about the centerline of the conveyor line 1. The openings of the porous air pipes 24 face the guide groove 22, ensuring that the guide groove 22 maintains positive pressure relative to the spraying / curing zone. This design establishes a gaseous barrier between the spraying / curing zone and the guide groove 22 of the conveyor line 1, preventing paint mist and volatiles from intruding into the guide groove 22 and protecting transmission components (such as guide rails and chain conveyors) and electrical components (such as encoders and sensors). Maintaining a positive pressure difference (e.g., ΔP ≥ 5 Pa) between the guide groove 22 area and the spraying zone through directional airflow ensures that unidirectional diffusion of contaminants is suppressed. The symmetrical distribution of the two porous air pipes 24 along the centerline of the conveyor line 1 eliminates pressure unevenness caused by unilateral airflow, ensuring pressure uniformity along the entire length of the guide groove 22. The opening direction is precisely aligned with the guide groove 22 gap to form a covering air curtain, minimizing the clean air flow requirement.

[0047] In some embodiments, the curing position shielding assembly may only have a physical shielding of the shielding plate 21, without designing the brush 23 and the positive pressure assembly. This can reduce hardware costs, reduce resistance to the cell fixture 3 and reduce the impact of airflow on the curing process, and also facilitate heat dissipation of the internal conveyor line 1 of the curing position shielding assembly.

[0048] This patent aims to solve the problem of drastically reduced equipment lifespan caused by the lack of effective isolation in the high-speed conveyor line 1 during UV insulation spraying of prismatic battery cells 34. It also optimizes paint mist control, thermal management, and dynamic sealing design, filling a gap in existing technology. By integrating a modular isolation device with intelligent positive pressure airflow control, it achieves a dual improvement in both efficient spraying and equipment durability.

[0049] Optionally, such as Figure 1 As shown, the first process section 12a of the conveyor line 1 can perform a primer layer spraying process. The first process section 12a can be equipped with a spraying position masking component and a curing position masking component. The electrostatic spray paint thickness in the area where the spraying position masking component is located can be 10-15μm. The pre-curing process in the area where the curing position masking component is located can use 80% energy to prevent paint sagging. The second process section 12b can perform a topcoat layer spraying process. This process is precision atomization spraying, and the electrostatic spray paint thickness can be 20-30μm, with the total thickness controlled at 30-50μm. The second process section 12b can also be equipped with spraying position masking components and curing position masking components. The third process section 12c is mainly used for pre-curing. The ED-UV irradiation lamp can use 80% power to quickly cure the surface layer and prevent sagging. The fourth process section 12d is mainly used for deep curing, ensuring that the mercury lamp (full spectrum) supplements deep cross-linking for 10-15 seconds to ensure complete curing.

[0050] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 andFigure 3 As shown, the shielding plate 21 includes a vertical plate 213 and an inclined plate 212 arranged from bottom to top. The bottom of the vertical plate 213 is lower than the upper conveying surface of the battery cell fixture 3 carried by the conveyor line 1. In this design, the shielding plate 21 can completely cover the conveying structure of the battery cell fixture 3, i.e., the upper chain, to prevent paint from entering the shielding device 2. The bottom being lower than the upper surface of the conveyor line 1 forms a physical barrier, preventing paint mist and debris from intruding into the shielding area from below the conveyor line 1. The inclined plate 212 can form an angle of 30°-60° with the vertical plate 213, extending from bottom to top to the upper part of the shielding area, which helps to reduce paint mist adhesion or guide and recycle the paint mist (the paint mist slides down the inclined surface to the recycling trough at the bottom of the shielding plate 21). Optionally, polishing the outer surface of the shielding plate 21 or setting an oleophobic coating (such as fluorosilicone resin) can further reduce paint mist adhesion.

[0051] The inclined plate 212 design of the shielding plate 21 also optimizes the airflow field, significantly reducing the wind resistance when the cell fixture 3 passes through compared to a vertical plate. The inclined plate 212 design of the shielding plate 21 also guides the air curtain of the porous air pipe 24 to the upper slot area, ensuring airtightness. The cavity between the inclined plate 212 and the vertical plate 213 forms a natural convection channel, further reducing the impact of high temperatures during the curing process.

[0052] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the shielding device 2 further includes end plates 25 disposed on both sides of the two shielding plates 21 along the length of the conveyor line 1. The end plates 25 are arranged on the outer sides of the two shielding plates 21, and each end plate 25 has an opening that avoids the baffle portion 322 of the battery cell fixture 3 for forming an inner groove 321. In this design, the end plates 25 are arranged on the outer sides of the shielding plates 21, providing an additional physical barrier that helps to effectively isolate areas that do not need to be painted and reduce paint mist diffusion. In addition, the design of the end plates 25 includes the opening baffle portion 322 that avoids the battery cell fixture 3, ensuring that the battery cell fixture 3 can pass through normally without hindering the function of the shielding device 2 and avoiding interference.

[0053] The shielding device 2 also includes several reinforcing plates 26 arranged along the width of the conveyor line 1. The reinforcing plates 26 provide additional support, helping to maintain the overall rigidity of the shielding plates 21 and preventing deformation or displacement due to vibration or external forces during transport. At least one long shaft 27, optionally two, is threaded through the reinforcing plate 26 and is parallel to the two shielding plates 21. The long shaft 27 ensures that each shielding plate 21 mounting block remains in the same position, preventing deformation due to height differences. This design effectively prevents deformation of the shielding plates 21 due to positional deviations or external pressure, ensuring the accuracy and stability of the shielding plates 21. This is crucial for long-term, high-intensity production line operations, ensuring continuous accuracy during the spraying process.

[0054] In the above embodiments, through the reasonable combination of end plate 25, reinforcing plate 26 and long shaft 27, the shielding device 2 not only prevents structural deformation, but also enhances its adaptability to external impacts and high-intensity working environments, thereby improving the overall durability and service life of the device.

[0055] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the shielding device 2 also includes a guide strip 28 fixedly installed on the top of the reinforcing plate 26 and multiple limiting wheels 29 rotatably installed on the guide strip 28; in the width direction of the conveyor line 1, the distance between two limiting wheels 29 is equal to the thickness of the support member 32 of the cell fixture 3. Optionally, the guide strip 28 can be fixed to the top of the reinforcing plate 26 by screws and has a surface hardening treatment; the ends of the guide strips 28 at the junctions between different sections can be designed with a chamfered transition structure; the limiting wheels 29 can be polyurethane-coated wheels or ceramic bearing wheels with elastic limiting. The limiting wheels 29 are squeezed by the fixture support member 32 and can generate radial elastic deformation, providing adaptive clamping force. The guide strip 28 guides the fixture to travel along a preset path, so that its lateral offset is <0.1mm, increasing the product coating yield.

[0056] Compared to existing conveying systems that lack a guiding structure for the cell fixture 3, which may experience slight slippage, resulting in insufficient edge coverage during spraying and increased risk of insulation failure, this invention significantly reduces the spraying defect rate caused by fixture misalignment (e.g., from 1.5% to 0.2%) through the coordinated design of the reinforcing plate 26, guide strip 28, and limiting wheel 29, thereby greatly saving on paint costs.

[0057] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the conveyor line 1 includes a drive motor 101, a drive sprocket assembly 102, a driven sprocket assembly 103, several plate chain assemblies 104, a support plate 105, and a chain guide rail 106, etc.

[0058] The drive motor 101 is connected to the active sprocket assembly 102 and is located at one end of the unloading connection position 13 of the conveyor line 1. The driven sprocket assembly 103 is located at one end of the loading connection position 11 of the conveyor line 1. The drive motor 101 can be a servo motor, equipped with a reducer and frequency converter. Furthermore, an encoder can be installed on the shaft of either the active or driven sprocket to collect the rotational speed in real time to obtain the transmission speed of the conveyor line 1, avoiding batch quality problems caused by excessive chain looseness due to deformation, etc. Both the active sprocket assembly 102 and the driven sprocket can adopt a double-row tooth structure and have their surfaces high-frequency quenched. Figure 6 As shown, a tension sprocket assembly 108 can be further provided on the driven chain side and installed at the feeding end to ensure a constant chain preload. The tension sprocket assembly 108 is installed in a vertically adjustable groove, and the chain preload is adjusted by adjusting the position of the tension sprocket assembly 108.

[0059] Furthermore, the chain assembly 104 includes a chain plate 104-4, chain links arranged on both sides of the chain plate 104-4 in its extending direction, a connecting shaft 104-2, and a bushing 104-3. Each chain link includes two side plates 104-1 and a bushing 104-3 arranged between the two side plates 104-1. The bushing 104-3 passes through the connecting shaft 104-2, and the connecting shaft 104-2 is fixedly connected to the chain plate 104-4, forming a hinged connection between the chain plate 104-4 and the chain link. The chain plate 104-4 is connected to the chain link via the connecting shaft 104-2 and the bushing 104-3. The bushing 104-3 passes through the connecting shaft 104-2, and the connecting shaft 104-2 is fixedly connected to the chain plate 104-4. This hinged connection allows the chain plate 104-4 to move flexibly with the chain link, while ensuring that the chain plate 104-4 has a certain degree of flexibility during transport. Optionally, bushing 104-3 can be made of copper-based bushing with an oil content of 15%-20%. Combined with graphite self-lubrication, the coefficient of friction is stable at 0.08-0.12, and no external grease is required.

[0060] Furthermore, the chain plate 104-4 forms a convex-concave fit with the adjacent chain plate 104-4; the chain plate 104-4 has convex-concave tenons on both sides to ensure the flatness of the splice. Furthermore, the chain plate 104-4 is made of stainless steel, and its surface has friction textures; optionally, to further increase friction, the surface of the chain plate 104-4 is laser-engraved with diamond-shaped friction textures, with a depth of 0.2-0.5mm, which can increase the coefficient of friction by 40%.

[0061] Furthermore, the support plate 105 is disposed below the chain assembly 104, and two chain guide rails 106 are provided, respectively fixedly mounted on both sides of the support plate 105 in the width direction of the conveyor line 1, to support the bushings 104-3 of the chain assembly 104 on both sides. The guide rails support the bushings 104-3 of the chain assembly 104 on both sides, ensuring the stable operation of the chain plate 104-4 during the conveying process. This design provides additional support and reduces the possible offset or tilting of the chain plate 104-4 assembly during operation. Further, as... Figure 3 As shown, the support structure for the lower chain can be a one-piece or split T-slot slide rail 107 structure.

[0062] The conveyor line 1 in this embodiment of the invention solves the technical bottleneck of traditional conveying systems under high load, high speed and corrosion-resistant scenarios through the modular design of chain plate 104-4-chain link, self-lubricating hinge and high wear-resistant guide rail. It is especially suitable for the stringent UV spraying process requirements of the power battery industry. Its core value lies in the deep integration of mechanical reliability, process adaptability and maintenance economy, providing underlying support for the automation upgrade of battery cell manufacturing.

[0063] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, the high-speed conveying system also includes at least one battery cell fixture 3. The battery cell fixture 3 includes a fixture base 31, a support member 32, and a clamp 33 arranged from bottom to top. The clamp 33 has a support surface for supporting the square-shell battery cell 34 and a limiting structure on its upper top surface. The support member 32 has a T-shaped structure, with an inner groove 321 formed between the side rails 322 on both sides of its top and the central column 323, used to match the protruding plates 211 of the two shielding plates 21 to form a sealing structure. Optionally, the fixture base 31 can be made of stainless steel, high-strength aluminum alloy, carbon fiber composite material, plastic base, etc. The side rails 322 of the support member 32 extend symmetrically on both sides, forming the inner groove 321 with the column 323; the inner groove 321 and the protruding plates 211 of the shielding plates 21 form a labyrinth seal with a paint mist blocking efficiency ≥95%. Furthermore, the shapes of the inner groove 321 and the shielding plate 21 and the protrusion 211 can be designed as vertical, inclined, or curved surfaces. The upper clamp 33 can be made of insulating material or covered with a conductive silicone pad to prevent short circuits and fires to the charged battery cells.

[0064] In some embodiments, the system further includes a cleaning device 4 disposed on one side of the unloading connection position 13 of the conveyor line 1. The cleaning device 4 includes: a fixed bracket 41, a floating bracket 42, a guide shaft 43, a linear bearing 44, a wiping component 45, and an adjusting screw component 46, etc.

[0065] The fixed bracket 41 is installed below the return section of the conveyor line 1, and the floating bracket 42 is installed above the fixed bracket 41 via multiple guide shafts 43 and linear bearings 44, allowing it to float along the guide shafts 43 and ensuring that the cleaning device 4 can be flexibly adjusted. The guide shafts 43 and linear bearings 44 work together to ensure that the floating bracket 42 can move smoothly during the cleaning process, reducing friction and wear.

[0066] Furthermore, the wiping element 45 is detachably mounted on the top of the floating bracket 42. The wiping element 45 may be made of polyurethane elastomer or sponge, and its top is provided with multiple arc-shaped protrusions to increase the contact area with the plate chain. Optionally, the upper surface of the wiping element 45 may be flocked or have carbon fiber bristles to enhance the wiping and cleaning effect.

[0067] Furthermore, the adjusting screw 46 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the floating bracket 42, passes through the middle of the fixed bracket 41, and is threadedly connected to the fixed bracket 41. The adjusting screw has an operating part at its lower end extending from the fixed bracket 41, used to adjust the position of the floating bracket 42 and the wiping member 45 by rotation, so that the wiping member 45 presses upward against the conveyor line 1 and cleans it as the conveyor line 1 moves. By rotating the adjusting screw, the position of the floating bracket 42 and the wiping member 45 can be adjusted so that the wiping member 45 can press tightly against the conveyor line 1 to achieve efficient cleaning.

[0068] In the above embodiments, the cleaning device 4 overcomes the challenges of pressure control, dynamic adaptation, and maintenance efficiency in the return cleaning of the conveyor line 1 through floating pressure regulation, modular quick replacement, and high-precision guiding collaborative design, and is especially suitable for high-pollution, high-cycle battery manufacturing scenarios.

[0069] In some embodiments, such as Figure 8As shown, the system also includes a connection device 5 disposed at the loading connection position 11 and the unloading connection position 13 of the conveyor line 1. The connection device 5 includes several horizontally arranged transmission rollers 51 and several vertically arranged limiting rollers 52 on both sides of the width direction of the conveyor line 1. The spacing between the limiting rollers 52 on both sides is configured to be equal to the width of the base of the battery cell fixture 3, so that the battery cell fixture 3 and the square-shell battery cell 34 are centered. The function of the transmission rollers 51 is to ensure that the material moves smoothly to the loading connection position 11 or the unloading connection position 13; the limiting rollers 52 are vertically arranged on both sides of the conveyor line 1 to control the lateral position of the material during the conveying process. The spacing of the limiting rollers 52 is precisely set to match the width of the base of the battery cell fixture 3, so that the material is always kept in the center of the conveyor line 1. By precisely designing the spacing of the limiting rollers 52, the battery cell fixture 3 and the square-shell battery cell 34 are always kept in a centered state, preventing lateral deviation. This ensures the stability of the material in the conveyor line 1, avoiding jamming or uneven transmission due to misalignment. In this embodiment, the connecting device 5 ensures the stability and accurate positioning of the battery cell fixture 3 or the prismatic battery cell 34 on the conveyor line 1 by precisely setting the spacing of the limiting rollers 52 and the cooperation of the transmission rollers 51, thereby improving the efficiency and reliability of the entire system.

[0070] In some embodiments, the length of the conveyor line 1 is configured to be no less than 23m, and its transmission speed is configured to be no less than 30m / min. The length of the conveyor line 1 is designed to accommodate multiple process sections 12 (such as feeding → spraying → curing → inspection → unloading), with ≥8 stations per line, meeting the layout requirements of highly integrated production lines. The high transmission speed is beneficial for greatly improving the adaptability of the cycle time and increasing production capacity.

[0071] This invention, through the integrated structure of a shielding device 2, a high-speed conveyor line 1, a cleaning device 4, and a connecting device 5, is adaptable to the UV insulating material spraying and curing process. The high-speed conveyor line 1 efficiently transports the square-shell battery cell 34 from the spraying area to the curing area, ensuring that the cell can quickly move to the next stage after spraying. High-speed movement improves the overall efficiency of the production line and reduces waiting and processing time. The configured transmission speed and length guarantee the needs of mass production, allowing materials to pass through the entire system quickly and stably, adapting to the requirements of continuous production and efficient operation. The main function of the shielding device 2 is to protect specific areas of the square-shell battery cell 34, preventing uncoated parts from being affected during spraying. Especially for areas of the square-shell battery cell 34 that do not require insulating material coating, the shielding device 2 ensures that the spraying agent only acts on the predetermined area where the cell is located. The cleaning device 4 ensures that the conveyor line 1 remains clean, reducing maintenance costs and downtime, and also helps maintain the operational stability of the conveyor line 1, improving spraying quality. The connecting device 5 ensures the stable docking and movement of the square-shell battery cell 34 on the conveyor line 1, preventing positional deviation or jamming during the conveying process. By precisely controlling the position of the battery cell, the connecting device 5 enables the battery cell to be accurately positioned during spraying, avoiding uneven spraying or mis-spraying.

[0072] In this invention, features described and / or illustrated for one embodiment may be used in the same or similar manner in one or more other embodiments, and / or combined with or in place of features of other embodiments.

[0073] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, various modifications and variations of the embodiments of the present invention are possible. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A high speed conveying system for spraying an insulating material on a prismatic cell, characterized in that, The system comprises: a conveying line comprising a linearly arranged loading connection position, a plurality of process sections and a discharging connection position, for driving the square cell on the cell fixture to realize the conveying between different process positions; a shielding device arranged in the process section of the conveying line, comprising two shielding plates symmetrically arranged about the center line of the length direction of the conveying line, a guide groove is left in the middle top of the two shielding plates for the part of the cell fixture carrying the square cell to extend in the shielding device; the two shielding plates have upwardly extending protruding plates arranged at the guide groove part for matching the inner groove of the cell fixture to realize the isolation of the conveying line in the process section and the spraying area / solidification area.

2. The high speed conveying system for spraying an insulating material on a prismatic cell according to claim 1, wherein, The shielding device comprises a spraying position shielding assembly and a solidification position shielding assembly arranged in sequence; The spraying position shielding assembly comprises two rows of brushes arranged in the shielding plates, the spacing of the two rows of brushes is configured to be smaller than the thickness of the support of the cell fixture.

3. The high speed conveying system for spraying an insulating material on prismatic cells according to claim 1, wherein, The shielding device further comprises a positive pressure assembly, the positive pressure assembly comprises two porous air pipes arranged along the length direction of the conveying line, the two porous air pipes are symmetric about the center line of the conveying line, the openings of the porous air pipes are directed to the guide groove to maintain positive pressure at the guide groove part relative to the spraying area / solidification area.

4. The high speed conveying system for spraying an insulating material on prismatic cells according to claim 1, wherein, The shielding plate comprises a vertical plate and an inclined plate arranged from bottom to top, the bottom of the vertical plate is lower than the upper conveying surface of the conveying line carrying the cell fixture.

5. The high speed conveying system for spraying an insulating material on prismatic cells of claim 1, wherein, The shielding device further comprises end plates arranged on both sides of the two shielding plates along the length direction of the conveying line, the end plates are arranged outside the two shielding plates, the end plates have openings avoiding the fence part of the cell fixture for forming the inner groove; The shielding device further comprises a plurality of reinforcing plates arranged along the width direction of the conveying line, at least one long shaft parallel to the two shielding plates is arranged in the reinforcing plate.

6. The high speed conveying system for spraying an insulating material on a prismatic cell according to claim 5, wherein The shielding device further comprises a guide strip fixedly installed on the top of the reinforcing plate and a plurality of limiting wheels rotatably installed on the guide strip; In the width direction of the conveying line, the spacing of the two limiting wheels is equal to the thickness of the support of the cell fixture.

7. The high speed conveying system for spraying an insulating material on prismatic cells of claim 1, wherein, The conveying line comprises a driving motor, a driving sprocket set, a driven sprocket set, a plurality of plate chain assemblies, a support plate and a chain guide rail; The driving motor is connected with the driving sprocket set and arranged at one end of the discharging connection position of the conveying line, the driven sprocket set is arranged at one end of the loading connection position of the conveying line; The plate chain assembly comprises a chain plate, a link arranged on both sides of the extension direction of the chain plate, a connecting shaft and a shaft sleeve, the link comprises two side plates and a shaft sleeve arranged between the two side plates, the shaft sleeve is arranged on the connecting shaft, the connecting shaft is fixedly connected with the chain plate to form a hinged connection between the chain plate and the link; the chain plate and the adjacent chain plate form a concave-convex matching; the chain plate is made of stainless steel and has friction lines on the surface; The support plate is arranged below the plate chain assembly, the chain guide rail is provided with two chain guide rails respectively fixedly installed on both sides of the support plate in the width direction of the conveying line to support the shaft sleeves of the plate chain assemblies on both sides.

8. The high speed conveying system for spraying an insulating material on prismatic cells of claim 1, wherein, The high-speed conveying system further comprises at least one battery cell jig, which comprises a jig base, a support and a clamp arranged from bottom to top; wherein the upper top surface of the clamp has a support surface for supporting the square cell and a limiting structure, and the support is in a T-shaped structure, and the inner recess is formed between the top two side fence parts and the middle column part, for matching the convex plate of the two shielding plates to form a sealing structure.

9. The high speed conveying system for spraying an insulating material on prismatic cells of claim 1, wherein, The system further comprises a cleaning device arranged on one side of the unloading connection position of the conveying line, which comprises a fixed support, a floating support, a guide shaft, a linear bearing, a wiping member and a position adjusting screw member; wherein the fixed support is installed below the return section of the conveying line, the floating support is installed above the fixed support through a plurality of guide shafts and linear bearings, the wiping member is detachably installed on the top of the floating support, the position adjusting screw member is fixedly connected with the bottom of the floating support, penetrates through the middle part of the fixed support and is threadedly connected with the fixed support, and the position adjusting screw member has an operating part at the lower end of the fixed support, which is used to adjust the position of the floating support and the wiping member in a rotating manner, so that the wiping member is pressed against the conveying line upward and cleans the conveying line when the conveying line moves.

10. The high speed conveying system for spraying an insulating material on prismatic cells of claim 1, wherein, The system further comprises a connection device arranged at the feeding connection position and the unloading connection position of the conveying line, which comprises a plurality of horizontally arranged transmission roller shafts and a plurality of vertically arranged limiting roller shafts on both sides in the width direction of the conveying line, and the spacing of the limiting roller shafts on both sides is configured to be equal to the width of the base of the battery cell jig, so that the position of the battery cell jig and the square cell is centered. The length of the conveying line is configured to be not less than 23 m, and the transmission speed is configured to be not less than 30 m / min.

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