Clamp, multi-cell clamp and detection device

Abstract

The invention provides a clamp which comprises a base plate, a first area and a second area which are in rotational symmetry, the first area comprises a first bearing part and a first positioning part, the second area comprises a second bearing part and a second positioning part, the first bearing part and the second bearing part are in rotational symmetry, and the first positioning part and the second positioning part are in rotational symmetry; the first limiting piece is mounted on the first bearing part; the second limiting piece is mounted on the second bearing part, and the first limiting piece and the second limiting piece are used for limiting the opposite angles of the battery cells arranged on the substrate; wherein the first positioning portion comprises a first protrusion extending in the first direction, the second positioning portion comprises a second protrusion extending in the second direction, and the first direction is opposite to the second direction. The invention also provides a multi-cell clamp and a detection device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the fields of fixtures, battery cell testing, radiation imaging, or other technical fields, specifically to battery cell testing scenarios, and more specifically to a fixture, a multi-cell fixture, and a testing device. Background Technology

[0002] As the demand for batteries continues to expand, the market's requirements for battery quality are becoming increasingly stringent. Taking lithium batteries as an example, the consistency requirements for lithium batteries, especially power batteries, are becoming increasingly stringent. The battery cell is a crucial component of a battery. Before being assembled into a battery, the cell needs to be inspected. For example, X-rays can be used to check for electrode misalignment and impurities within the cell, while CT (Computed Tomography) technology can be used to scan the corners of the cell to detect the positive and negative electrodes.

[0003] Typically, the battery cell is clamped and placed at the center of the CT beam rotation for scanning. After scanning, the battery cell is removed, reloaded, and scanned again. This scanning method is relatively inefficient and cannot meet the requirements for online full inspection of battery cells. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above problems, this application provides a fixture, a multi-cell fixture, and a testing device.

[0005] According to a first aspect of this application, a clamp is provided, comprising: a substrate including a rotationally symmetrical first region and a second region, the first region including a first support portion and a first positioning portion, the second region including a second support portion and a second positioning portion, the first support portion and the second support portion being rotationally symmetrical, the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion being rotationally symmetrical; a first limiting member mounted on the first support portion; and a second limiting member mounted on the second support portion, wherein the first limiting member and the second limiting member are used to limit the diagonal of a battery cell placed on the substrate; wherein the first positioning portion includes a first protrusion extending in a first direction, and the second positioning portion includes a second protrusion extending in a second direction, the first direction being opposite to the second direction.

[0006] According to an embodiment of this application, the first support portion includes: a first corner support portion, configured to support a first corner portion of the battery cell that is not restricted by a first limiting member and a second limiting member; wherein, the first corner support portion has a contour shape that is substantially consistent with the first corner portion, and the orthographic projection of the first corner portion is located within the orthographic projection range of the first corner support portion.

[0007] According to an embodiment of this application, the second support portion includes: a second corner support portion, configured to support a second corner portion of the battery cell that is not restricted by the first limiting member and the second limiting member, the second corner portion forming a diagonal with the first corner portion; wherein, the second corner support portion has a contour shape that is substantially consistent with the second corner portion, and the orthographic projection of the second corner portion is located within the orthographic projection range of the second corner support portion.

[0008] According to an embodiment of this application, a first limiting member defines a first limiting portion that matches the contour shape of the corner portion of the battery cell it limits.

[0009] According to an embodiment of this application, the second limiting member defines a second limiting portion that matches the contour shape of the corner portion of the battery cell it limits.

[0010] According to an embodiment of this application, the rotation centerline between the first region and the second region is located at the connecting line between the two, and the diagonal line between the diagonals of the cell that are not restricted by the first and second limiting members substantially coincides with the connecting line.

[0011] According to embodiments of this application, the first protrusion and the second protrusion are respectively spaced at a preset distance from the connecting wire and do not interfere with each other with the battery cell. The preset distance is determined based on the radiation range of the X-ray source. A second aspect of this application provides a multi-cell clamp, comprising: a plurality of clamping portions for placing a plurality of battery cells, wherein each clamping portion is configured according to the clamping profile of any of the above claims; wherein, for two adjacent clamping portions, one clamping portion is connected to a first protrusion or a second protrusion of the other clamping portion.

[0012] A third aspect of this application provides a testing apparatus, comprising: a conveyor line configured to convey a plurality of battery cells placed on a plurality of clamps, the clamps being clamps as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein, for two adjacent clamps, one clamp abuts against a first protrusion or a second protrusion of the other clamp; at least one tomographic scanning device located at at least one interval position on the conveyor line, each tomographic scanning device configured to perform radiographic imaging on a corner of a battery cell located at the interval position to obtain a radiographic image for testing the battery cell, wherein the corner of the battery cell located at the interval position is suspended.

[0013] According to an embodiment of this application, the testing device further includes: a feeding device configured to place the battery cell to be tested into a corresponding fixture on the conveyor line; and / or, a discharging device configured to remove the battery cell that has undergone radiographic imaging by the tomographic scanning device from the corresponding fixture on the conveyor line.

[0014] According to an embodiment of this application, a positioning structure is provided on the conveyor line, and the positioning structure is configured to position multiple clamps within the radiation range of the radiation detection beam of the tomographic scanning device.

[0015] According to an embodiment of this application, the positioning structure includes: a guide member disposed on at least one side of the conveyor line along the conveying direction; and a plurality of positioning members spaced apart from the guide member, wherein each positioning member is retractable along the conveying direction and is configured to abut against a corresponding fixture when the conveyor line conveys a plurality of fixtures.

[0016] Based on one or more of the above embodiments, the fixture provided in this application can pass through the CT detection beam radiation range at high speed without affecting radiation imaging, significantly improving detection efficiency. First, the rotationally symmetrical substrate structure allows the fixture to be used bidirectionally and conforms to the structural design for placing the battery cell, facilitating radiation imaging of the cell corners. Second, the diagonal limiting design enables effective fixation of the battery cell with minimal constraints, reducing the risk of battery cell damage. Third, the first and second protrusions extend in opposite directions, facilitating mutual contact with adjacent fixtures on the transport line for positioning, improving the stability of the battery cell during transport, effectively preventing the cell corners from deviating from the beam radiation range, and improving the quality and detection accuracy of CT scan images. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The above-mentioned contents, other objects, features and advantages of this application will become clearer from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1 This schematic diagram illustrates the structure of a detection device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0019] Figure 2 This illustration schematically depicts an application scenario of a CT scanning apparatus according to an embodiment of this application;

[0020] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the fixture according to an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0021] Figure 4 This illustration schematically depicts an embodiment according to the present application. Figure 3 The diagram shows the structure of the fixture used to hold the battery cells.

[0022] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a battery cell and a limiting block according to an embodiment of this application is shown;

[0023] Figure 6 Schematic illustration Figure 3 Enlarged view of region A in the middle;

[0024] Figure 7 Schematic illustration Figure 3 Enlarged view of region B in the middle;

[0025] Figure 8 The schematic diagram illustrates the structure of a multi-cell clamp according to an embodiment of this application.

[0026] The reference numerals used in the above figures are as follows:

[0027] 100. Detection device; 110. Conveyor line; 120. Fixture; 130. Battery cell; 140_1. First tomographic scanning device; 140_2. Second tomographic scanning device; 150. Feeding device; 160. Unloading device;

[0028] 210. Tomography scanning device; 211. X-ray source; 212. Detector; 213. Rotating frame; 230. Control unit; 240. First motion mechanism; 250. Second motion mechanism; 260. Positioning structure; 261. Guide component; 262. Positioning component;

[0029] 300, clamp; 310, substrate; 311, first region; 3111, first support portion; 3111_1, first corner support portion; 3112, first positioning portion; 340, first protrusion; 312, second region; 3121, second support portion; 3121_1, second corner support portion; 3122, second positioning portion; 350, second protrusion; 320, first limiting member; 330, second limiting member;

[0030] 410. Battery cell; 411. First corner portion; 412. Second corner portion; 413. First end portion; 414. Second end portion;

[0031] 800. Multi-cell clamp; 810_1. First clamping part; 810_2. Second clamping part; 810_3. Third clamping part; 810_4. Fourth clamping part; 810_5. Fifth clamping part; 811. First protrusion; 812. Second protrusion.

[0032] It should be noted that, for clarity, the dimensions of the overall / partial structure or the overall / partial region in the drawings used to describe the embodiments of this disclosure may be enlarged or reduced, i.e., these drawings are not drawn to actual scale. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that these descriptions are exemplary only and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of this application for ease of explanation. However, it will be apparent that one or more embodiments may be implemented without these specific details. Furthermore, descriptions of well-known structures and technologies are omitted in the following description to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the concepts of this application.

[0034] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of this application. The terms “comprising,” “including,” etc., as used herein indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, or components.

[0035] All terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art, unless otherwise defined. It should be noted that the terms used herein are to be interpreted in a manner consistent with the context of this specification, and not in an idealized or overly rigid way.

[0036] When using expressions such as "at least one of A, B and C", they should generally be interpreted in accordance with the meaning that is commonly understood by those skilled in the art (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B and C" should include, but is not limited to, a system having A alone, a system having B alone, a system having C alone, a system having A and B, a system having A and C, a system having B and C, and / or a system having A, B and C, etc.).

[0037] For continuous CT beam scanning, special requirements are placed on the delivery line and the battery cell clamps to obtain better images. For example, the delivery belt should not contain metal wires, and it should not be located within the radiation imaging range to prevent interference from the belt in the radiation image. In addition, it is also necessary to prevent the clamps from shifting relative to the belt during delivery, which could cause the corners of the battery cells to deviate from the beam radiation range, such as from the center of the beam radiation range.

[0038] The embodiments of this application provide a fixture, a multi-cell fixture, and a detection device, which can rapidly detect the beam radiation range of CT scans without affecting radiation imaging, significantly improving detection efficiency. First, the rotationally symmetrical substrate structure allows the fixture to be used bidirectionally and conforms to the structural design for placing the cells, facilitating radiation imaging of the cell corners. Second, the diagonal limiting design effectively fixes the cells with minimal constraints, reducing the risk of cell damage. Third, the first and second protrusions extend in opposite directions, facilitating mutual contact with adjacent fixtures on the transport line for positioning, improving the stability of the cells during transport, effectively preventing the cell corners from deviating from the beam radiation range, and improving the quality and detection accuracy of CT scan images.

[0039] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a detection device according to an embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 2 A partial view schematically illustrating a battery cell placed in the scanning area of ​​a CT scanning device according to an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0040] like Figure 1As shown, the detection device 100 according to this embodiment may include a conveyor line 110, a fixture 120, a battery cell 130, a first tomographic scanning device 140_1, a second tomographic scanning device 140_2, a loading device 150, and a unloading device 160. The conveyor line 110 is configured to convey a plurality of battery cells 130 placed on a plurality of fixtures 120, wherein, for two adjacent fixtures 120, one fixture 120 abuts against a first protrusion or a second protrusion of the other fixture 120; at least one tomographic scanning device is located at at least one interval position on the conveyor line 110, and each tomographic scanning device is configured to perform radiographic imaging on the corner of the battery cell 130 located at the interval position to obtain a radiographic image for detecting the battery cell 130, wherein the corner of the battery cell 130 located at the interval position is in a suspended state.

[0041] The conveyor line 110 can be a belt conveyor, including a drive roller, a driven roller and a conveyor belt, with the conveyor belt fitted on the drive roller and the driven roller.

[0042] like Figure 2 As shown, the tomography scanning device 210 is one embodiment of the first tomography scanning device or the second tomography scanning device in the detection device. Figure 2 The scheme shown can be applied to Figure 1 The detection device shown in this embodiment may include a tomographic scanning device 210, a support mechanism (not shown), multiple clamps 120 supporting multiple battery cells 130, a control unit 230, a first motion mechanism 240, and a second motion mechanism 250 spaced apart from the first motion mechanism 240. The control unit 230 is communicatively connected to the tomographic scanning device 210 and is used to perform detection based on the radiation image obtained by the tomographic scanning device 210 scanning the clamps supporting the battery cells 130.

[0043] Exemplarily, the tomography scanning device 210 includes an X-ray source 211 and a detector 212, which are mounted on a rotating frame 213 supported by a support mechanism. The rotation of the rotating frame 213 causes the X-ray source 211 and detector 212 to rotate about the central axis of the rotating frame 213. X-rays emitted by the X-ray source 211 pass through the corner of the battery cell 130. The detector 212 receives the X-rays passing through the part to be inspected in the battery cell 130 and converts them into electrical signals. After processing, the electrical signals generate a scanned image. Based on the scanned image, it is determined whether there is a defect at the corner of the battery cell 130. It is understood that the tomography scanning device 210 may also include other units capable of performing radiation imaging functions. A first motion mechanism 240 is used to transport the battery cell 130 to a second motion mechanism 250 via a gap between them; wherein the tomography scanning device 210 is configured to scan the corner of the battery cell located at the gap.

[0044] The control unit 230 can communicate with the computed tomography device 210 via a network, which can include various connection types, such as wired, wireless communication links, or fiber optic cables. The control unit 230 can include tablet computers, laptops, and desktop computers. The control unit 230 can also include servers providing various services, such as a standalone physical server, a server cluster or distributed system composed of multiple physical servers, or a cloud server providing basic cloud computing services such as cloud services, cloud computing, network services, and middleware services.

[0045] In some embodiments, the testing apparatus further includes: a loading device 150 configured to place the battery cell 130 to be tested into a corresponding fixture on a conveyor line; and / or a unloading device 160 configured to remove the battery cell 130, which has been radiographically imaged by the tomographic scanning device 210, from the corresponding fixture on the conveyor line.

[0046] The loading device 150 or unloading device 160 can be a robotic arm, including a fixed frame, a robotic arm, and a gripping component. The robotic arm is slidably mounted on the fixed frame in the vertical direction. A gripping component that can open and clamp is mounted on the top of the robotic arm for gripping the battery cell 130. For example, a motor is mounted on the top of the fixed frame, with the drive end of the motor pointing vertically downwards. A lead screw is mounted vertically on the drive end of the motor. A lifting seat is integrally connected to the side wall of the robotic arm, and the lifting seat is threaded around the lead screw. When the height of the robotic arm needs to be adjusted, the motor drives the lead screw to rotate while the lifting seat slides vertically, thereby driving the robotic arm to slide vertically. The gripping component can be connected to the robotic arm via spherical casters. By controlling the rotation angle of the spherical casters, the gripping target of the gripping component is controlled.

[0047] In some embodiments, a positioning structure 260 is provided on the conveyor line, the positioning structure 260 being configured to position a plurality of fixtures within the radiation range of the radiation detection beam of the tomographic scanning device 210.

[0048] In some embodiments, the positioning structure 260 includes a guide 261 and a plurality of positioning elements 262 spaced apart from the guide 261. The guide 261 is disposed on at least one side of the conveyor line 110 along the conveying direction of the conveyor line 110 (e.g., the conveying direction from the first conveyor mechanism 240 to the second conveyor mechanism 250). Figure 2 The conveyor has two sides; each positioning element 262 is retractable along the conveying direction and is configured to abut against the corresponding clamp 120 when the multiple clamps 120 are conveyed by the conveyor line 110.

[0049] For example, positioning element 262 may include a spring, a telescopic rod, or a telescopic positioning pin, extending and retracting perpendicular to the conveying direction. Upon contact, it can restrict the position of clamp 120, thereby achieving a positioning function for multiple clamps connected end-to-end. Figure 2 As shown, guide members 261, such as guide strips, are respectively provided on both sides of the first conveying mechanism 240 and the second conveying mechanism 250. Multiple positioning members 262 are arranged on each guide strip along the conveying direction. Positioning members 262 abut against both sides of each clamp 120, thereby creating a limiting effect.

[0050] For example, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The conveyor line is designed as a ring-shaped conveyor, with tomographic scanning devices inserted in series. Depending on the required detection efficiency, multiple tomographic scanning devices can be inserted simultaneously. Within the CT beam radiation range, the conveyor line is interrupted to create intervals, reducing the influence of the conveyor line on CT imaging. Multiple fixtures can move end-to-end on the conveyor line. A positioning mechanism is designed on the conveyor line to accurately position the fixtures within the CT beam radiation range. The loading device places the battery cell 130 into the fixture. The battery cell 130 moves with the conveyor belt until its corner is at an interval (the interval between adjacent conveyor belt segments). After one corner of the battery cell 130 is inspected using the corresponding tomographic scanning device 210 (during the inspection process, the conveyor belt may stop or continue moving, depending on the tomographic scanning requirements), the battery cell 130 moves with the conveyor belt, and the diagonal corner moves to another interval position for inspection using another tomographic scanning device 210, effectively improving detection efficiency. Finally, the unloading device removes the battery cell 130 from the fixture. Multiple clamps continuously circulate on the conveyor line, thus carrying the tested battery cell to complete the CT inspection.

[0051] According to embodiments of this application, by designing a special cell clamp, the CT detection beam radiation range can be passed through at high speed without affecting CT imaging, significantly improving detection efficiency. The clamp accurately limits the cell's posture and provides pre-positioning on the transport line, improving the consistency of cell detection. The cell clamps are connected end-to-end and circulate on the transport line, ensuring the detection sequence and improving the reliability of image binding.

[0052] The fixtures mentioned above will be further explained below.

[0053] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the fixture 300 according to an embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 4 This illustration schematically depicts an embodiment according to the present application. Figure 3 The diagram shows the structure of the fixture 300 for placing the battery cell 410. Solid lines in the diagram represent the outline of the fixture 300, while dashed lines, arrows, and parentheses are used for labeling.

[0054] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 The fixture 300 is one embodiment of the fixture 120, which may include a substrate 310, a first limiting member 320, and a second limiting member 330. The substrate 310 includes a rotationally symmetrical first region 311 and a second region 312. The first region 311 includes a first support portion 3111 and a first positioning portion 3112. The second region 312 includes a second support portion 3121 and a second positioning portion 3122. The first support portion 3111 and the second support portion 3121 are rotationally symmetrical, and the first positioning portion 3112 and the second positioning portion 3122 are rotationally symmetrical. A first limiting member 320 is mounted on the first support portion 3111. A second limiting member 330 is mounted on the second support portion 3121. The first limiting member 320 and the second limiting member 330 are used to limit the diagonal of the battery cell 410 placed on the substrate 310. The first positioning portion 3112 includes a first protrusion 340 extending in a first direction, and the second positioning portion 3122 includes a second protrusion 350 extending in a second direction. The first direction (e.g., ...) Figure 3 (left side of clamp 300) and the second direction (such as) Figure 3 (The opposite of the right side of the 300 clamp).

[0055] For example, substrate 310 may include a flat structure made of a low-density material (such as plastic, carbon fiber sheet, etc.). Rotational symmetry refers to the geometry of the first region 311 or the second region 312 about an axis of rotation (e.g., ...). Figure 3 After rotating a certain angle (e.g., 180 degrees), the connecting line in the middle roughly coincides with the geometry of another region. The first region 311 and the second region 312 comprise two functional regions on the substrate 310 divided according to the axis of rotational symmetry. For example... Figure 3 The substrate 310 is divided into two regions, upper right and lower left, from the center, respectively for carrying different areas of the battery cell 410. The first region 311 and the second region 312 are arranged adjacent to each other and are oriented with respect to the central axis of the substrate 310 (e.g., ...). Figure 3 The connecting line in the middle is the dividing line.

[0056] It should be noted that terms such as "generally," "roughly," or "basically" used in this application to describe the degree of consistency or overlap refer to a similarity exceeding a specific threshold, such as 90% (this is merely an example). For instance, by comparing the positions and distribution of key feature points (such as corner points and edge points) of the two contours, if the feature points match, the shapes are considered substantially similar. Alternatively, by detecting the edges of both and comparing their contours, if the edge contours match within a certain error range, they are considered substantially similar. It should be understood that other methods can also be used to determine whether the shapes are substantially similar, and these are not limited here.

[0057] The first support portion 3111 and the second support portion 3121 are respectively defined as the portions of the first region 311 and the second region 312 excluding the first protrusion 340 and the second protrusion 350. The first positioning portion 3112 and the second positioning portion 3122 are respectively defined as the regions of the first region 311 and the second region 312 that include the first protrusion 340 and the second protrusion 350. The first positioning portion 3112 and the second positioning portion 3122, excluding the first protrusion 340 and the second protrusion 350, can be as follows: Figure 3 The perforated design is intended to save material, reduce the imaging effect of the fixture 300 in the radiographic image, and minimize interference. The first protrusion 340 and the second protrusion 350 can be strip-shaped protrusions extending from the edges of the first support portion 3111 and the second support portion 3121, respectively, and their orthographic projections can be rectangular, trapezoidal, or other shapes. Each protrusion can be integrally formed with the substrate 310 or can be fixed as an independent component by welding or bolting.

[0058] The first limiting member 320 and the second limiting member 330 are respectively installed on the first bearing portion 3111 and the second bearing portion 3121, and each is an adjustable or fixed component used to limit the position of the battery cell 410. For example, an L-shaped limiting block made of carbon fiber material can be fixed to the corresponding bearing portion by any of the following methods: bolt, adhesive, tenon, snap, or magnetic attraction.

[0059] For example, each limiting member can be designed with an adjustable height to accommodate battery cells 410 of different thicknesses; it can also be covered with an elastic material (such as rubber) to avoid damaging the surface of the battery cell 410. The first limiting member 320 and the second limiting member 330 limit the diagonal position of the battery cell 410 so that the battery cell 410 will not be displaced or tilted during the detection process.

[0060] The height-adjustable structure includes an adjusting base, an adjusting screw, a limiting body, and a locking nut. The adjusting base is a rectangular plastic block with a mounting hole at the bottom that mates with the supporting part and an internal threaded hole in the middle. The adjusting screw has external threads on its surface that match the internal threads of the adjusting base. The limiting body has an L-shaped structure with a mounting hole at the bottom that mates with the adjusting screw, and is fixed by a set screw or pin. After adjusting to the desired height, the position is fixed by tightening the locking nut. The height-adjustable structure may also include a telescopic rod-type limiting component, which achieves height adjustment through the relative sliding of the inner and outer sleeves. With an appropriate locking mechanism, it can be fixed at the desired height position, thus accommodating battery cells 410 of different thicknesses. It is understood that the height-adjustable structure in this application is not limited to this, and no specific limitation is made here.

[0061] Continue to refer to Figure 3The main outline of fixture 300 is a closed polygon composed of multiple straight line segments, with most of the corners being right angles or beveled angles. The overall shape resembles an irregular geometric shape with multiple "protrusions" and "recesses". The beveled design of multiple corners (such as the top and bottom corners) helps to avoid interference and reduce interference to radiation imaging.

[0062] According to the embodiments of this application, the beam radiation range can be detected at high speed through CT without affecting radiation imaging, significantly improving detection efficiency. First, the rotationally symmetrical substrate 310 structure allows the fixture 300 to be used bidirectionally and conforms to the structural design for placing the battery cell 410, facilitating radiation imaging of the battery cell corners. Second, the diagonal limiting design can effectively fix the battery cell 410 with minimal constraints, reducing the risk of damage to the battery cell 410. Third, the first protrusion 340 and the second protrusion 350 extend from opposite directions, which facilitates mutual contact with adjacent fixtures 300 on the transport line to achieve positioning, improving the stability of the battery cell 410 during transport, effectively preventing the battery cell corners from deviating from the beam radiation range, and improving the quality and detection accuracy of CT scan images.

[0063] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The first support portion 3111 includes: a first corner support portion 3111_1, configured to support the first corner portion 411 of the battery cell 410 that is not restricted by the first limiting member 320 and the second limiting member 330; wherein, the first corner support portion 3111_1 has a contour shape that is generally consistent with the first corner portion 411, and the orthographic projection of the first corner portion 411 is located within the orthographic projection range of the first corner support portion 3111_1.

[0064] The first corner support portion 3111_1 includes the area in the first support portion 3111 that supports the first corner portion 411 of the battery cell 410, and has a shape adapted to the corner portion of the battery cell. (Refer to...) Figure 3 The first corner support 3111_1 can be defined as the line connecting the edge extending in the second direction of the first support portion 3111 and the edge turning point. The first corner portion 411 can be defined as the area in the cell 410 that is substantially the same as the outline shape of the first corner support 3111_1 and is supported by the first corner support 3111_1. The orthographic projection range refers to the projection area of ​​an object on a vertical projection plane. For example, when viewed from directly above (perpendicular to the plane of the substrate 310), the projection of the first corner portion 411 of the cell 410 is completely contained within the projection area of ​​the first corner support 3111_1, which means that although the outline shape is substantially the same, the size of the first corner support 3111_1 is larger than the size of the first corner portion 411.

[0065] For example, the first support portion 3111 may include a support base and a first corner bracket 3111_1, wherein the first corner bracket 3111_1 may be designed as an integral structure with the support base. Alternatively, the first corner bracket 3111_1 may be designed as a detachable structure relative to the support base, which is convenient for replacement according to the different shapes of the battery cell corners, so that the battery cell 410 of different specifications can be adapted by adjusting the contour shape of the first corner bracket 3111_1.

[0066] According to the embodiments of this application, the battery cell 410 is generally relatively soft and prone to deformation. The first corner support 3111_1 provides reliable support for the first corner 411, ensuring complete support of the first corner 411 and further enhancing the support effect. This avoids the risk of deformation or collision of the battery cell 410 due to partial suspension. Furthermore, it saves material on the fixture 300 and reduces interference from radiation imaging on the detection of the battery cell 410.

[0067] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The second support portion 3121 includes: a second corner support portion 3121_1, configured to support a second corner portion 412 of the battery cell 410 that is not restricted by the second limiting member 330 and the second limiting member 330; wherein, the second corner support portion 3121_1 has a contour shape that is substantially the same as the second corner portion 412, and the orthographic projection of the second corner portion 412 is located within the orthographic projection range of the second corner support portion 3121_1.

[0068] The second corner support 3121_1 includes the region in the second support portion 3121 that supports the second corner 412 of the battery cell 410, and has a shape adapted to the corner of the battery cell. (Refer to...) Figure 3 The second corner support 3121_1 can be defined as the line connecting the edge extending in the second direction of the second support portion 3121 and the edge turning point. The second corner portion 412 can be defined as the area in the cell 410 that is substantially the same as the outline shape of the second corner support 3121_1 and is supported by the second corner support 3121_1. For example, when viewed from directly above (perpendicular to the plane of the substrate 310), the projection of the second corner portion 412 of the cell 410 is completely contained within the projection area of ​​the second corner support 3121_1, which means that although the outline shapes are substantially the same, the size of the second corner support 3121_1 is larger than the size of the second corner portion 412.

[0069] For example, the second support portion 3121 may include a support base and a second corner bracket 3121_1, the second corner bracket 3121_1 being designed as an integral structure with the support base. Alternatively, the second corner bracket 3121_1 may be designed as a detachable structure relative to the support base, facilitating replacement according to different shapes of battery cell corners, thereby adapting to different specifications of battery cells 410 by adjusting the contour shape of the second corner bracket 3121_1.

[0070] According to an embodiment of this application, the second corner support 3121_1 provides reliable support for the second corner 412, ensuring complete support of the second corner 412 and further enhancing the support effect. This avoids the risk of deformation or collision of the battery cell 410 due to partial suspension. Furthermore, it saves material on the fixture 300 and reduces interference from radiation imaging on the detection of the battery cell 410.

[0071] In some embodiments, the first limiting member 320 defines a first limiting portion that conforms to the contour shape of the corner portion of the battery cell it limits. For example, the inner surface shape of the first limiting portion matches the outer surface shape of the corner portion of the battery cell, allowing for a tight contact. (See also...) Figure 4 The first limiting part includes a right-angle limiting groove that is in close contact with the corner of the battery cell. By limiting the diagonal, the movement and rotation of the battery cell 410 in a specific direction are restricted.

[0072] According to an embodiment of this application, the first limiting portion matches the contour shape of the corner portion of the battery cell it limits, improving the positioning accuracy of the battery cell 410 and ensuring that the battery cell 410 maintains the correct spatial position and orientation during CT scanning. Furthermore, the shape-matching design increases the contact area, resulting in a more uniform distribution of contact stress and effectively preventing deformation or damage to the surface of the battery cell 410 due to excessive local pressure.

[0073] In some embodiments, the second limiting member 330 defines a second limiting portion that conforms to the contour shape of the corner portion of the battery cell it limits. For example, the inner surface shape of the second limiting portion matches the outer surface shape of the corner portion of the battery cell, allowing for a tight contact. (See also...) Figure 4 The second limiting part includes a right-angle limiting groove that is in close contact with the corner of the battery cell. By limiting the diagonal movement of the battery cell 410 in a specific direction, the movement and rotation of the battery cell 410 are restricted.

[0074] According to an embodiment of this application, the second limiting portion matches the contour shape of the corner portion of the battery cell it limits, improving the positioning accuracy of the battery cell 410 and ensuring that the battery cell 410 maintains the correct spatial position and orientation during CT scanning. Furthermore, the shape-matching design increases the contact area, making the contact stress distribution more uniform and effectively preventing deformation or damage to the surface of the battery cell 410 due to excessive local pressure.

[0075] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the battery cell 410 and the limiting member according to an embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 6 Schematic illustration Figure 3 A magnified view of region A in the middle. Figure 7 Schematic illustration Figure 3 A magnified view of region B in the middle.

[0076] Reference Figures 3-6 The battery cell 410 includes a body, a first end portion 413, and a second end portion 414. A first stepped portion (located within a first corner region) is formed at the connection between the body and the first end portion 413. A first side of this first stepped portion contacts and is positioned by a first defining member, and a second side is located above a first corner support portion 3111_1. The first contour line of the first defining member contacts a horizontal segment on the first side, which connects to the contour line of the first end portion 413. The second contour line of the first corner support portion 3111_1 is contoured to the horizontal segment on the second side, which also connects to the contour line of the first end portion 413. The first and second contour lines extend towards each other, and their extension lines are separated by a first distance d1.

[0077] According to the embodiments of this application, Figure 6 The extension line in the middle basically coincides with the boundary line between the body of the cell 410 and the first end 413. Due to the first distance d1, the first corner support 3111_1 has a certain amount of redundancy to fully support the first corner 411 of the cell 410, which further enhances the support effect and avoids the risk of deformation or collision of the cell 410 due to local suspension.

[0078] Reference Figures 3-7 A second stepped portion (located within the second corner region) is formed at the connection between the main body and the second end portion 414. The first side of this second stepped portion contacts and is positioned by the second defining member, while the second side is located above the second corner support portion 3121_1. The third contour line of the second defining member contacts the horizontal segment of the second side, which connects to the contour line of the second end portion 414. The second contour line of the second corner support portion 3121_1 is contoured to the horizontal segment of the second side, which also connects to the contour line of the second end portion 414. The third and fourth contour lines extend towards each other, with their extension lines separated by a second distance d2.

[0079] According to the embodiments of this application, Figure 7 The extension line in the middle basically coincides with the boundary line between the body of the cell 410 and the second end 414. Due to the second distance d2, the second corner support 3121_1 has a certain amount of redundancy to fully support the second corner 412 of the cell 410, which further enhances the support effect and avoids the risk of deformation or collision of the cell 410 due to local suspension.

[0080] In some embodiments, the rotation centerline between the first region 311 and the second region 312 is located at the connecting line between the two, and the diagonal between the diagonals of the cell 410 not restricted by the first limiting member 320 and the second limiting member 330 generally coincides with the connecting line.

[0081] The rotation centerline is the axis of rotation about which the first region 311 and the second region 312 rotate. The unrestricted diagonals of the battery cell 410 include the diagonal vertices not restricted by the first limiting member 320 and the second limiting member 330 when the battery cell 410 is fixed by the clamp 300; specifically, they can be defined as the diagonal vertices of the battery cell 410 body. Approximately coincident means that the two straight lines are basically aligned in spatial position, but a certain range of error is allowed.

[0082] According to the embodiments of this application, the spatial relationship between the diagonal and the rotation centerline makes the position of the battery cell 410 in the fixture 300 more precise, reduces the positioning error, and enables the corner of the battery cell to accurately appear within the CT beam radiation range, thereby improving the clarity and consistency of the CT scan image.

[0083] In some embodiments, the first protrusion 340 and the second protrusion 350 are respectively spaced at a predetermined distance from the connecting line and do not interfere with each other with the battery cell 410. The predetermined distance is determined based on the radiation range of the radiation source 211. By determining the radiation distribution map based on the radiation dose measured at different locations by the radiation dosimeter, the radiation range can be determined, and its boundary line can be determined based on the radiation dose rate.

[0084] For example, the first protrusion 340 is located at the edge of the connecting line and the first bearing portion 3111 (e.g. Figure 3 The middle position between the extension lines of the upper edge of the first protrusion 340 and the connecting line (for example only), at this time the first protrusion 340 and the connecting line are located along the middle position of the extension lines of the upper edge of the first protrusion 340. Figure 3 The vertical direction shown has a preset distance. The second protrusion 350 is located at the edge of the connecting line and the second bearing portion 3121 (e.g., Figure 3 The second protrusion 350 is located at the midpoint between the extension lines of the lower edge of the protrusion and the connecting line. Figure 3 The vertical direction shown has a preset distance. The non-interference function includes preventing the first protrusion 340, the second protrusion 350 and the battery cell 410 from contacting or colliding in spatial position.

[0085] For example, the first protrusion 340 or the second protrusion 350 can be designed with an adjustable distance from the connecting line. For instance, a groove with a T-shaped cross-section is provided on the left edge of the first support portion 3111, and the tail of the first protrusion 340 is shaped to fit into the T-shaped groove and is embedded therein, allowing it to move closer to or further away from the connecting line along the groove. Similarly, a groove with a T-shaped cross-section is provided on the right edge of the second support portion 3121, and the tail of the second protrusion 350 is shaped to fit into the T-shaped groove and is embedded therein, allowing it to move closer to or further away from the connecting line along the groove.

[0086] According to the embodiments of this application, a reasonable preset distance ensures that the first protrusion 340 and the second protrusion 350 are outside the radiation range of the X-ray source 211, thus avoiding their appearance in the radiation image and reducing interference with the detection of the battery cell 410.

[0087] Figure 8 The schematic diagram illustrates the structure of a multi-cell clamp according to an embodiment of this application.

[0088] like Figure 8 As shown, the multi-cell clamp 800 includes multiple clamping parts (such as a first clamping part 810_1, a second clamping part 810_2, a third clamping part 810_3, a fourth clamping part 810_4, and a fifth clamping part 810_5) for holding multiple cells. Each clamping part is configured according to the clamping profile described in any of the above descriptions. For any two adjacent clamping parts, one clamping part is connected to a first protrusion 811 or a second protrusion 812 of the other clamping part (e.g., by welding, bonding, snap-fit ​​connection, tenon joint, etc.). It is understood that the number of clamping parts is greater than or equal to two.

[0089] For example, Figure 8 The cell size shown is smaller than Figure 4 The cell dimensions are shown. The multi-cell fixture 800 can support multiple cells. The fixture section can serve as a basic unit within the multi-cell fixture 800, with each unit capable of independently holding one cell. Contouring configuration refers to fixtures with approximately the same contour shape, although their dimensions may differ; for example, each fixture section may be smaller than any of the fixtures described above. Each fixture section can be made of a low-radiation-absorption-coefficient material (such as carbon fiber composites or acrylic) to reduce interference with CT scans.

[0090] According to embodiments of this application, for smaller battery cells, multi-cell clamps can be used to maintain the structural strength of the clamps and prevent relative movement between the clamps and the conveyor line during transport.

[0091] Those skilled in the art will understand that the features described in the various embodiments of this application can be combined and / or combined in various ways, even if such combinations or combinations are not explicitly described in this application. In particular, the features described in the various embodiments of this application can be combined and / or combined in various ways without departing from the spirit and teachings of this application. All such combinations and / or combinations fall within the scope of this application.

Claims

1. A clamp, comprising: The substrate includes a first region and a second region that are rotationally symmetrical. The first region includes a first support portion and a first positioning portion, and the second region includes a second support portion and a second positioning portion. The first support portion and the second support portion are rotationally symmetrical, and the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion are rotationally symmetrical. The first limiting member is installed on the first bearing part; A second limiting member is installed on the second supporting part, wherein the first limiting member and the second limiting member are used to limit the diagonal of the battery cell placed on the substrate; The first positioning part includes a first protrusion extending in a first direction, and the second positioning part includes a second protrusion extending in a second direction, wherein the first direction is opposite to the second direction.

2. The clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first bearing portion includes: The first corner support is configured to support the first corner of the battery cell that is not restricted by the first limiting member and the second limiting member; The first corner support has a contour shape that is substantially the same as the first corner, and the orthographic projection of the first corner is located within the orthographic projection range of the first corner support.

3. The clamp according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second bearing part includes: The second corner support is configured to support the second corner of the battery cell that is not restricted by the first limiting member and the second limiting member, and the second corner is diagonally opposite to the first corner. The second corner support has a contour shape that is generally consistent with the second corner, and the orthographic projection of the second corner is located within the orthographic projection range of the second corner support.

4. The clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first limiting member defines a first limiting portion that matches the contour shape of the corner portion of the battery cell it limits.

5. The clamp according to claim 4, characterized in that, The second limiting member defines a second limiting portion that matches the contour shape of the corner portion of the battery cell it limits.

6. The clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 5, characterized in that, The rotation centerline between the first region and the second region is located on the connecting line between the two, and the diagonal between the diagonals of the cell not restricted by the first limiting member and the second limiting member roughly coincides with the connecting line.

7. The clamp according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first protrusion and the second protrusion are respectively at a preset distance from the connecting line and do not interfere with each other with the battery cell. The preset distance is determined according to the radiation range of the radiation source.

8. A multi-cell clamp, comprising: Multiple clamping sections for placing multiple battery cells, wherein each clamping section is configured to conform to the clamping shape according to any one of claims 1 to 7; Among them, for two adjacent clamping parts, one clamping part is connected to the first protrusion or the second protrusion of the other clamping part.

9. A detection device, comprising: A conveyor line configured to convey multiple battery cells placed on multiple clamps, said clamps being any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, for two adjacent clamps, one clamp abuts against a first protrusion or a second protrusion of the other clamp; At least one tomographic scanning device is located at at least one interval position on the conveyor line, each tomographic scanning device being configured to perform radiation imaging on a corner of the battery cell located at the interval position to obtain a radiation image for detecting the battery cell, wherein the corner of the battery cell located at the interval position is suspended.

10. The detection device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The detection device further includes: The feeding device is configured to place the battery cell to be tested into the corresponding fixture on the conveyor line; and / or, The unloading device is configured to remove the battery cells, which have undergone radiographic imaging by a tomographic scanning device, from the corresponding fixture on the conveyor line.

11. The detection device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The conveyor line is equipped with a positioning structure, which is configured to position the plurality of clamps within the radiation range of the radiation detection beam of the tomographic scanning device.

12. The detection device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The positioning structure includes: A guide member is disposed on at least one side of the conveyor line along the conveying direction of the conveyor line; A plurality of positioning elements are spaced apart on the guide member, wherein each positioning element is retractable along the conveying direction, and the positioning element is configured to abut against a corresponding clamp when the plurality of clamps are conveyed on the conveyor line.

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