Vacuum sealing mechanism for cylindrical lithium battery

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of lithium battery production equipment, and discloses a vacuum sealing mechanism for cylindrical lithium batteries, which comprises a bearing base, a track and a material blocking piece are arranged on the bearing base, the track supports a plurality of cylindrical lithium batteries, and the material blocking piece selectively opens or closes the track; a bearing part is arranged on both sides of the track and can move along a first direction, and each two corresponding bearing parts correspond to one cylindrical lithium battery; a clamping part which can expand or contract along a second direction is arranged on each bearing part, and two corresponding clamping parts jointly clamp the corresponding cylindrical lithium battery. A pitch changing mechanism drives the bearing part to move, so that the plurality of cylindrical lithium batteries are switched between a first pitch state and a second pitch state; a sealing cover is sealingly matched with the bearing base to form a vacuum cavity; a sealing unit is arranged in the sealing cover and arranged according to the interval in the second pitch state, and is used for sealing the plurality of cylindrical lithium batteries in the vacuum cavity; the mechanism realizes rapid vacuum sealing in a small sealed space, shortens the vacuumizing time, and improves the sealing efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of lithium battery production technology, and in particular to a vacuum sealing mechanism for cylindrical lithium batteries. Background Technology

[0002] After the cylindrical lithium battery cells are installed, filled with electrolyte, and capped, the opening of the battery casing usually needs to be sealed to ensure the battery's sealing performance. Existing automated production lines typically have conveyor tracks or pallets for transporting cylindrical lithium batteries. The cylindrical lithium batteries are conveyed sequentially into the sealing station and positioned by clamping components on both sides. Then, the sealing mold located above the cylindrical lithium battery performs cap pressing, edge rolling, or roll sealing.

[0003] To reduce residual gas inside the battery and in the sealing area, and to improve the sealing performance and voltage withstand capability after sealing, some cylindrical lithium batteries need to be sealed in a vacuum environment. Existing vacuum sealing equipment typically uses a vacuum chamber as a sealed space, housing the cylindrical lithium batteries and the sealing mechanism within it. During operation, the operator loads the cylindrical lithium batteries to be sealed into the vacuum chamber. After the chamber is closed and the set vacuum level is reached, the sealing mechanism performs the sealing. This method can achieve vacuum sealing, but it usually requires manual loading and unloading, making it difficult to integrate with continuous or step-by-step automated production lines.

[0004] To apply the vacuum sealing process to automated production lines, a vacuum chamber can be installed around the sealing station on the conveyor line. Cylindrical lithium batteries are then conveyed into the vacuum chamber, where they are vacuumed and sealed. However, when the conveyor track, carrying tray, and sealing mechanism are all located inside the vacuum chamber, the chamber needs a large internal volume. This not only increases the space occupied by the equipment but also requires vacuuming and breaking the vacuum in a large space during each production cycle, resulting in a longer evacuation time and impacting the sealing efficiency of the cylindrical lithium batteries. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, this application proposes a cylindrical lithium battery vacuum sealing mechanism to solve the technical problems of existing vacuum sealing equipment being difficult to effectively connect with automated production lines, and having long vacuuming time and low sealing efficiency.

[0006] The technical solution of this application is implemented as follows: This application provides a vacuum sealing mechanism for cylindrical lithium batteries, comprising: A support base is provided with a track extending along a first direction for conveying cylindrical lithium batteries. The track is configured to support a plurality of cylindrical lithium batteries arranged along the first direction. A stop is provided at the downstream end of the track for selectively opening or closing the track. Multiple support members are disposed on both sides of the track along the second direction and are movable relative to the support base along the first direction, the second direction intersecting the first direction; the support members on both sides of the track are paired, and each pair of support members corresponds to a cylindrical lithium battery; Multiple clamping members, each of the carrier members is provided with a clamping member that can extend and retract along the second direction, and two clamping members located on both sides of the track and corresponding to each other are configured to jointly clamp the corresponding cylindrical lithium battery; A pitch mechanism, connected to a plurality of the carrier members, is used to drive the plurality of carrier members to move along the first direction so that a plurality of cylindrical lithium batteries held by the clamping members switch between a first pitch state and a second pitch state. The sealing cover is capable of being raised and lowered relative to the support base, and can be sealed and engaged with the support base when it is lowered into position to form a vacuum chamber for accommodating multiple cylindrical lithium batteries; Multiple sealing units are located inside the sealing cover and are arranged according to the spacing of multiple cylindrical lithium batteries in the second pitch state. Each sealing unit corresponds to multiple cylindrical lithium batteries in the second pitch state and is used to seal multiple cylindrical lithium batteries in the vacuum chamber.

[0007] Based on the above technical solution, preferably, an upstream transmission line is provided on the upstream side of the support base, and a downstream transmission line is provided on the downstream side of the support base; a feeding section is vertically connected to the end of the upstream transmission line, and the feeding section is connected to the track; a pushing mechanism is provided on the feeding section, which is used to push the cylindrical lithium batteries transported to the feeding section along the upstream transmission line into the track, and to push the sealed cylindrical lithium batteries into the downstream transmission line after the material stop opens the track.

[0008] Based on the above technical solution, preferably, the pitch-changing mechanism includes a pitch-changing drive and an equidistant linkage component. The equidistant linkage component is connected to multiple carriers respectively. The pitch-changing drive is used to drive the equidistant linkage component to retract or expand, so that the multiple carriers switch between the first pitch state and the second pitch state while maintaining an equal distance.

[0009] Based on the above technical solution, preferably, each of the carrier members is provided with a telescopic drive member connected to the corresponding clamping member. The telescopic drive member is used to drive the clamping member to move along the second direction between a release position, a pre-clamping position, and a clamping position. When the clamping member is in the release position, it separates from the corresponding cylindrical lithium battery. When the clamping member is in the pre-clamping position, it contacts the corresponding cylindrical lithium battery with a first clamping force and allows the cylindrical lithium battery to move along the first direction with the carrier member. When the clamping member is in the clamping position, it positions and clamps the corresponding cylindrical lithium battery with a second clamping force greater than the first clamping force.

[0010] Based on the above technical solution, preferably, the sealing cover is provided with driving components on two opposing inner sides in the second direction, which are in transmission cooperation with a plurality of clamping members on the corresponding sides. The driving components extend continuously along the first direction; the clamping members are in sliding cooperation with the corresponding driving components along the first direction, and the driving components can drive the corresponding clamping members to extend along the second direction when the sealing cover is lowered, so that the clamping members maintain transmission cooperation with the driving components during the movement of the bearing members along the first direction.

[0011] Based on the above technical solution, preferably, the clamping member includes a connecting rod and a jaw. The connecting rod is slidably inserted into the corresponding bearing member along the second direction. The end of the connecting rod facing the track is connected to the jaw. The end of the connecting rod away from the track is provided with a first wedge-shaped mating part for sliding mating with the driving component. A reset member is provided between the connecting rod and the bearing member. The reset member is used to drive the connecting rod to reset the jaw in a direction away from the track.

[0012] Based on the above technical solution, preferably, the driving assembly includes a wedge-shaped driving element, a guide rod, and an elastic element; The guide rod is arranged along the lifting direction of the sealing cover, and its upper end is fixed to the inner top surface of the sealing cover; the wedge-shaped drive member is slidably sleeved on the guide rod, and its lower end extends downward out of the sealing cover; the lower end of the guide rod is provided with a limiting part for limiting the downward movement stroke of the wedge-shaped drive member. The elastic element is sleeved on the guide rod and abuts against the inner top surface of the sealing cover and the wedge-shaped drive element to apply a downward elastic force to the wedge-shaped drive element; The wedge-shaped drive member is provided with a second wedge-shaped engagement portion extending along the first direction and engaging with a plurality of first wedge-shaped engagement portions in a transmission manner, so as to drive the connecting rod to move toward the track along the second direction when the sealing cover is lowered.

[0013] Based on the above technical solution, preferably, a sliding fit structure is provided between the first wedge-shaped fitting part and the second wedge-shaped fitting part. The sliding fit structure is used to maintain the transmission fit between the first wedge-shaped fitting part and the second wedge-shaped fitting part, and to allow the two to slide relative to each other along the first direction.

[0014] Based on the above technical solution, preferably, it further includes a lifting mechanism for driving the sealing cover to rise and fall relative to the supporting base; the sealing unit includes a sealing drive component, a mounting plate and multiple sealing molds, the mounting plate is disposed inside the sealing cover, and the multiple sealing molds are fixed to the bottom surface of the mounting plate according to the spacing of the multiple cylindrical lithium batteries in the second pitch state; the sealing drive component is disposed outside the sealing cover, and the output end of the sealing drive component passes through the sealing cover in a sealed manner and is connected to the mounting plate to drive the multiple sealing molds to rise and fall synchronously.

[0015] Based on the above technical solution, preferably, the sealing mold includes a pressing mold and a pressing rod. The pressing rod is telescopically disposed inside the pressing mold along the lifting direction of the pressing mold, and the lower end of the pressing rod extends downward out of the pressing mold to press against the cap at the top of the cylindrical lithium battery casing.

[0016] This application has the following advantages over the prior art: (1) The cylindrical lithium battery vacuum sealing mechanism proposed in this application achieves the close arrangement and aggregation of multiple cylindrical lithium batteries through the track and baffle on the support base. The cylindrical lithium batteries are stably clamped by the support members and clamping members arranged in pairs on both sides of the track. The support members are driven to move along the first direction through the pitch mechanism, so that the cylindrical lithium batteries switch between the first pitch state and the second pitch state. The sealing cover and the support base are sealed together to form a local vacuum cavity that only accommodates multiple cylindrical lithium batteries. Multiple sealing units located in the sealing cover and arranged according to the spacing of the cylindrical lithium batteries in the second pitch state are used to simultaneously seal multiple cylindrical lithium batteries in the vacuum cavity. This mechanism achieves rapid vacuum sealing of multiple cylindrical lithium batteries in a small sealed space. It does not require the entire conveying mechanism and sealing mechanism to be placed in a large vacuum box, which effectively shortens the vacuuming time, improves the sealing efficiency, and can be effectively connected with automated production lines.

[0017] (2) In this embodiment of the application, the upstream transmission line, the feeding section, the pushing mechanism, the downstream transmission line, and the track on the support base together constitute a complete cylindrical lithium battery conveying path. The cylindrical lithium battery enters the track from the upstream transmission line via the feeding section, and after being gathered, clamped, pitched, and vacuum-sealed on the track, it is pushed to the downstream transmission line by the pushing mechanism through the track outlet. This conveying path has a compact layout and smooth connection, which allows the vacuum sealing mechanism to be seamlessly integrated into the automated production line, realizing the continuous automated production of cylindrical lithium batteries.

[0018] (3) When the sealing cover descends, through the transmission cooperation between the drive assembly and the clamping parts, all clamping parts are simultaneously driven to extend along the second direction. Furthermore, the clamping parts maintain the transmission cooperation with the drive assembly throughout their movement along the first direction with the carrier, thus achieving mechanical linkage between the clamping part drive and the descending movement of the sealing cover. This solution eliminates the need for independent telescopic drive components for each clamping part and eliminates the need for numerous air or electrical sealing connection points on the carrier base. The extension amount of each clamping part can be uniformly controlled solely by the descending stroke of the sealing cover, ensuring a uniform clamping force applied by each clamping part. This simplifies the equipment structure and control system, and improves the reliability and consistency of the equipment.

[0019] (4) By setting the sliding fit structure, the first wedge-shaped mating part and the second wedge-shaped mating part can slide smoothly relative to each other in the first direction while maintaining the transmission fit. The sliding fit structure reduces the frictional resistance between the two, reduces the wear rate, and improves the transmission efficiency and service life. At the same time, the sliding fit structure ensures that the first wedge-shaped mating part and the second wedge-shaped mating part always maintain contact and will not disengage from the transmission fit due to relative sliding, thereby ensuring that the clamping part is always controlled by the driving force of the drive assembly during the pitch change process.

[0020] (5) By setting a retractable pressing rod in the sealing mold, a pressure is applied to the cap at the top of the cylindrical lithium battery casing during the vacuuming process, which effectively prevents the cap from being sucked out or floating in the negative pressure environment. It is also passively retracted into the lowering mold when the lowering mold continues to descend to avoid interference. At the same time, the lowering mold completes the edge rolling and sealing of the casing, ensuring the reliability of the vacuuming and sealing process and improving the sealing quality. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the cylindrical lithium battery vacuum sealing mechanism disclosed in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the cylindrical lithium battery vacuum sealing mechanism disclosed in the embodiment of this application in the first pitch state; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the cylindrical lithium battery vacuum sealing mechanism disclosed in the embodiments of this application in the second pitch state; Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the carrier and clamping member disclosed in the embodiments of this application in the first pitch state; Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the carrier and clamping member disclosed in the embodiments of this application in the second pitch state; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the pitch mechanism and the load-bearing component disclosed in the embodiments of this application; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the sealing unit and driving component within the sealing cover as disclosed in the embodiments of this application; Figure 8 This is a top view of the sealing cover and the support base after being sealed together, as disclosed in the embodiments of this application; Figure 9 for Figure 8 Planar sectional view at point AA; Figure 10 for Figure 8 Plan view at point BB; Figure label: 1. Support base; 11. Track; S. Cylindrical lithium battery; 12. Material stop; 2. Support component; 3. Clamping component; 4. Pitch-changing mechanism; 5. Sealing cover; 6. Sealing unit; 7. Upstream transmission line; 8. Downstream transmission line; 71. Feeding section; 72. Pushing mechanism; 41. Pitch-changing drive component; 42. Equidistant linkage assembly; 9. Drive assembly; 31. Connecting rod; 32. Gripper; 33. Reset component; 311. First wedge-shaped mating part; 91. Wedge-shaped drive component; 92. Guide rod; 921. Limiting part; 93. Elastic component; 911. Second wedge-shaped mating part; 90. Sliding mating structure; 10. Lifting mechanism; 61. Sealing drive component; 62. Mounting plate; 63. Sealing mold; 631. Pressing mold; 632. Pressing rod; S1. Housing; S2. Cap; D1. First direction; D2. Second direction. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the technical solutions of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0024] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0025] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", and "outer" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of this application.

[0026] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0027] The embodiments of this application are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain this application, and should not be construed as limiting this application.

[0028] The following disclosure provides numerous different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of this application. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples. Such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed. In addition, various specific examples of processes and materials are provided in this application; however, those skilled in the art will recognize the applicability of other processes and / or the use of other materials.

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown, combined with Figure 2-10 This application discloses a cylindrical lithium battery vacuum sealing mechanism, including a support base 1, multiple support members 2, multiple clamping members 3, a variable pitch mechanism 4, a sealing cover 5, and multiple sealing units 6.

[0030] The support base 1 is provided with a track 11 extending along a first direction D1, which is used to transport cylindrical lithium batteries S. The track 11 is configured to support multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S arranged along the first direction D1, enabling the cylindrical lithium batteries S to move along the first direction D1 on the track 11 and maintain a stable arrangement. A stop 12 is provided at the downstream end of the track 11, which can selectively open or close the track 11. When the stop 12 closes the track 11, multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S can be arranged closely in sequence on the track 11 and blocked at the stop 12, thereby realizing the aggregation and positioning of multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S, preparing for subsequent pitch adjustment and sealing processes.

[0031] Multiple support members 2 are disposed on both sides of the track 11 along the second direction D2, which intersects with the first direction D1. The support members 2 can move relative to the support base 1 along the first direction D1, allowing them to slide along the length of the track 11. The support members 2 on both sides of the track 11 are paired, with each pair of support members 2 corresponding to a cylindrical lithium battery S. This paired support member structure ensures that each cylindrical lithium battery S has a corresponding support member 2 on both sides of the track 11, providing a stable mechanical basis for subsequent clamping and pitch adjustment.

[0032] Each carrier 2 is equipped with a clamping member 3 that can extend and retract along the second direction D2. The clamping member 3 can extend or retract in the second direction D2, thereby clamping or releasing the cylindrical lithium battery S. Two clamping members 3 located on both sides of the track 11 and corresponding to each other are configured to jointly clamp the corresponding cylindrical lithium battery S. When the two clamping members 3 extend simultaneously, they move towards each other from both sides of the track 11, clamping the cylindrical lithium battery S in the middle, thereby positioning and fixing the cylindrical lithium battery S. This double-sided clamping method can ensure that the cylindrical lithium battery S maintains a stable posture during subsequent pitch changes, preventing the battery from tipping over or shifting. At the same time, during the sealing operation, the stable clamping ensures the positional reliability and stability of the cylindrical battery.

[0033] The pitch-changing mechanism 4 is connected to multiple carrier members 2 and is used to drive the multiple carrier members 2 to move along the first direction D1. When the pitch-changing mechanism 4 is working, the carrier members 2 drive the clamping members 3 on them and the cylindrical lithium batteries S clamped by the clamping members 3 to move together along the first direction D1. Driven by the pitch-changing mechanism 4, the multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S can switch between a first pitch state and a second pitch state. The first pitch state corresponds to the state in which the cylindrical lithium batteries S are closely arranged on the track 11, and the second pitch state corresponds to the state in which the cylindrical lithium batteries S are arranged according to a set spacing. The pitch-changing mechanism 4 allows the arrangement spacing of the cylindrical lithium batteries S to be adjusted according to the needs of the sealing process, thereby matching the spacing of the subsequent sealing unit 6.

[0034] The sealing cover 5 can be raised and lowered relative to the support base 1. When the sealing cover 5 is lowered into position, it seals with the support base 1 to form a vacuum chamber that accommodates multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S. When the sealing cover 5 is raised, the vacuum chamber opens, allowing the cylindrical lithium batteries S to enter and exit. The sealing fit between the sealing cover 5 and the support base 1 ensures that the vacuum chamber is formed only in the area where the sealing cover 5 contacts the support base 1, eliminating the need to seal the entire conveying and sealing mechanism. This significantly reduces the vacuuming space, shortens the vacuuming and breaking time, and improves sealing efficiency.

[0035] In some embodiments, the sealing cover 5 is provided with an air extraction hole, which is connected to a vacuum pumping device. After the sealing cover 5 and the support base 1 are sealed together, a sealed chamber is formed. The vacuum pumping device is used to evacuate the sealed chamber, thereby forming a vacuum chamber. During the vacuuming operation, the gas inside the cylindrical battery can be discharged. This prevents the presence of gas inside the cylindrical battery after sealing, thus improving the safety and reliability of the cylindrical battery.

[0036] Multiple sealing units 6 are located within the sealing cover 5 and are arranged according to the spacing of the multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S in the second pitch state. Each sealing unit 6 corresponds to one of the multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S in the second pitch state and is used to seal the multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S within the vacuum chamber. Since the spacing of the sealing units 6 is consistent with the spacing of the cylindrical lithium batteries S in the second pitch state, after the cylindrical lithium batteries S complete the pitch change, each sealing unit 6 is precisely aligned with one cylindrical lithium battery S, thereby achieving synchronous sealing of multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S. The sealing units 6 operate within the vacuum chamber, ensuring that the sealing process is carried out in a vacuum environment, effectively reducing residual gas inside the battery and in the sealing area, and improving sealing quality and battery performance.

[0037] The vacuum sealing mechanism for cylindrical lithium batteries S proposed in this application achieves the close arrangement and aggregation of multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S through the track 11 and the baffle 12 on the support base 1. The cylindrical lithium batteries S are stably clamped by the paired support members 2 and clamping members 3 arranged on both sides of the track 11. The support members 2 are driven to move along the first direction D1 by the pitch mechanism 4, switching the cylindrical lithium batteries S between a first pitch state and a second pitch state. A sealing cover 5 and the support base 1 form a local vacuum cavity that accommodates only multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S. Multiple sealing units 6, located within the sealing cover 5 and arranged according to the spacing of the cylindrical lithium batteries S in the second pitch state, synchronously seal the multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S within the vacuum cavity. This mechanism achieves rapid vacuum sealing of multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S in a small enclosed space, eliminating the need to place the entire conveying and sealing mechanism inside a large vacuum chamber, effectively shortening the vacuuming time, improving sealing efficiency, and enabling effective integration with automated production lines.

[0038] In some embodiments, an upstream transmission line 7 is provided on the upstream side of the support base 1, and a downstream transmission line 8 is provided on the downstream side of the support base 1. A feeding section 71 is vertically connected to the end of the upstream transmission line 7, and the feeding section 71 is connected to the track 11. A pushing mechanism 72 is provided on the feeding section 71, which pushes the cylindrical lithium battery S, which is conveyed along the upstream transmission line 7 to the feeding section 71, into the track 11. When the cylindrical lithium battery S moves along the upstream transmission line 7 to the feeding section 71, the pushing mechanism 72 actuates, pushing the cylindrical lithium battery S from the feeding section 71 into the track 11, so that the cylindrical lithium battery S enters the track 11 of the support base 1. This process realizes the automatic transfer of the cylindrical lithium battery S from the upstream transmission line 7 to the sealing station without manual intervention, ensuring the continuity and automation of the conveying process.

[0039] The pushing mechanism 72 is also used to push multiple sealed cylindrical lithium batteries S to the downstream transmission line 8 after the stopper 12 opens the track 11. When the sealing cover 5 rises and the vacuum chamber is released, the stopper 12 opens the exit of the track 11, and the pushing mechanism 72 pushes the multiple sealed cylindrical lithium batteries S from the track 11 to the downstream transmission line 8 in one go, allowing the sealed batteries to enter the next process. The pushing mechanism 72 performs both loading and unloading functions, simplifying the equipment structure, reducing the number of driving components, and improving the integration and working efficiency of the equipment.

[0040] Under the above technical solution, the upstream transmission line 7, the feeding section 71, the pushing mechanism 72, the downstream transmission line 8, and the track 11 on the support base 1 together constitute a complete conveying path for the cylindrical lithium battery S. The cylindrical lithium battery S enters the track 11 from the upstream transmission line 7 via the feeding section 71. After being gathered, clamped, having its pitch changed, and vacuum sealed on the track 11, it is then pushed by the pushing mechanism 72 through the exit of the track 11 to the downstream transmission line 8. This conveying path has a compact layout and smooth connection, allowing the vacuum sealing mechanism to be seamlessly integrated into the automated production line, realizing the continuous automated production of the cylindrical lithium battery S.

[0041] In some embodiments, the pitch-changing mechanism 4 includes a pitch-changing drive 41 and an equidistant linkage assembly 42. The equidistant linkage assembly 42 is connected to multiple carrier members 2, and the pitch-changing drive 41 is used to drive the equidistant linkage assembly 42 to retract or expand. When the equidistant linkage assembly 42 retracts, the multiple carrier members 2 move closer to each other, so that the multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S held by the clamping member 3 are in a first pitch state, i.e., a tightly arranged state; when the equidistant linkage assembly 42 expands, the multiple carrier members 2 move further apart, so that the multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S switch to a second pitch state, i.e., an equally spaced state. Since the equidistant linkage assembly 42 itself has the characteristic of proportional expansion and contraction, the multiple carrier members 2 always maintain an equal spacing during the retraction or expansion process, thereby ensuring that the cylindrical lithium batteries S are evenly distributed after the pitch change, and accurately correspond to the spacing of the subsequent sealing unit 6.

[0042] As some specific implementations, the equidistant linkage component 42 can adopt a scissor-type linkage structure. The scissor-type linkage structure consists of multiple sets of cross links, with the midpoints of each set of links hinged to each other, and both ends connected to adjacent carrier members 2. When the variable-pitch drive component 41 pushes the upstream carrier member 2 to move, the scissor-type linkage structure drives the remaining carrier members 2 to move synchronously at an equidistant distance, so that the distance between all carrier members 2 increases or decreases uniformly. The carrier member 2 near the downstream end plate of the track 11 can be fixed as a reference, and the remaining carrier members 2 move relative to this reference carrier member 2 with the scissor-type linkage structure. The variable-pitch drive component 41 can be a cylinder, with the telescopic end of the cylinder connected to the carrier member 2 away from the end plate. By controlling the telescopic stroke of the cylinder, the expansion range of the carrier member 2 can be precisely controlled, thereby determining the size of the second pitch. A stroke limiter can also be set on the upstream side of the track 11. When the carrier member 2 moves to the predetermined position, it contacts the stroke limiter to ensure the accuracy of the final pitch and avoid overload of the cylinder movement.

[0043] In this embodiment, the entire pitch-changing linkage assembly can be disposed on the bottom surface of the support member 2. A tunnel extending along the first direction D1 is provided on the bottom surface of the support member 2, and the pitch-changing linkage assembly is installed within the tunnel. This arrangement integrates the pitch-changing linkage assembly inside the support member 2, without occupying external space, which is beneficial for the miniaturization and compactness of the equipment. Simultaneously, the tunnel reduces the contact area between the bottom surface of the support member 2 and the support base 1, effectively reducing frictional resistance and enabling the support member 2 to move quickly and smoothly, improving pitch-changing speed and responsiveness.

[0044] In some embodiments, each carrier 2 is provided with a telescopic drive, which is connected to a corresponding clamping member 3. The telescopic drive can output linear motion along the second direction D2, thereby directly driving the clamping member 3 to move in the second direction D2. The provision of the telescopic drive ensures that each clamping member 3 has an independent drive source, enabling individual control of its position in the second direction D2, and providing a direct power source for switching between the clamping member 3 in the release position, pre-clamping position, and clamping position.

[0045] The telescopic drive component drives the clamping component 3 to move along the second direction D2, giving the clamping component 3 three working states: a release position, a pre-clamping position, and a clamping position. When the clamping component 3 is in the release position, it is fully retracted and separated from the corresponding cylindrical lithium battery S. At this time, the cylindrical lithium battery S can move freely on the track 11 or be pushed by the pushing mechanism 72, facilitating the entry and exit of the battery. When the clamping component 3 is in the pre-clamping position, it extends and contacts the corresponding cylindrical lithium battery S with a first clamping force. At this time, a light contact pressure is maintained between the clamping component 3 and the cylindrical lithium battery S. This contact force is sufficient to prevent the cylindrical lithium battery S from tipping over or shifting along the second direction D2 during subsequent pitch changes, but it also allows the cylindrical lithium battery S to move along the first direction D1 with the carrier component 2. That is, when the pitch change mechanism 4 drives the carrier component 2 to move along the first direction D1, the cylindrical lithium battery S can move synchronously with the carrier component 2 under the light contact constraint of the clamping component 3, without excessive movement resistance or battery jamming due to excessive clamping force.

[0046] When the clamping member 3 is in the clamping position, it extends further to position and clamp the corresponding cylindrical lithium battery S with a second clamping force greater than the first clamping force. At this time, the clamping member 3 applies sufficient clamping force to the cylindrical lithium battery S from both sides of the track 11, firmly positioning the cylindrical lithium battery S in the predetermined position, preventing any displacement or shaking of the cylindrical lithium battery S during the subsequent sealing process, and ensuring that the sealing unit 6 can accurately perform the sealing operation on the cylindrical lithium battery S.

[0047] In the above embodiments, each clamping member 3 is driven by a separate telescopic drive. When the number of cylindrical lithium batteries S that the device needs to process is large, the number of telescopic drive members increases accordingly. This increases the cost. Furthermore, each telescopic drive member needs to be connected to the control source via an air path or electrical circuit, leading to an increase in the number of air paths or electrical circuits. These air paths or electrical circuits need to pass through the support base 1 to connect to the telescopic drive members; therefore, multiple sealed connection points need to be set on the support base 1. The more sealed connection points there are, the more complex the arrangement of the air paths or electrical circuits becomes, and the higher the risk of seal failure. After long-term use, problems such as leakage or poor contact are likely to occur, affecting the stability and reliability of the device.

[0048] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application provides the following solutions.

[0049] In this embodiment, the sealing cover 5 has driving components 9 on its two inner sides opposite each other in the second direction D2, which are in transmission cooperation with a plurality of clamping members 3 on the corresponding sides. The driving components 9 extend continuously along the first direction D1. The continuous extension of the driving components 9 along the first direction D1 allows the driving components 9 to simultaneously form transmission cooperation with a plurality of clamping members 3 on the corresponding sides. This eliminates the need to set a separate telescopic driving component for each clamping member 3, and also eliminates the need to set a large number of air or electrical sealing connection points on the support base 1, greatly simplifying the equipment structure and reducing the risk of seal failure.

[0050] The clamping member 3 and the corresponding driving component 9 slide in engagement along the first direction D1. When the variable pitch mechanism 4 drives the carrier member 2 to move along the first direction D1, the clamping member 3 moves together with the carrier member 2. At the same time, the clamping member 3 and the driving component 9 can slide relative to each other along the first direction D1, so that the clamping member 3 always maintains contact and transmission engagement with the driving component 9 during the movement. This sliding engagement structure 90 ensures that the clamping member 3 is always constrained and controlled by the driving component 9 during the movement of the carrier member 2 along the first direction D1, and will not leave the driving range of the driving component 9 due to the movement of the carrier member 2.

[0051] The drive assembly 9 can drive the corresponding clamping member 3 to extend along the second direction D2 when the sealing cover 5 descends. During the descent of the sealing cover 5, the drive assembly 9 descends together with the sealing cover 5, and through the transmission cooperation with the clamping member 3, converts the descent motion of the sealing cover 5 into the extension motion of the clamping member 3 along the second direction D2. The stroke of the sealing cover 5 descent determines the extension amount of the clamping member 3. When the sealing cover 5 descends to different heights, the clamping member 3 is in different extension positions, thereby realizing the switching of the clamping member 3 between the pre-clamping position and the clamping position.

[0052] With the above structure, when the sealing cover 5 descends, the drive assembly 9 and the clamping members 3 work together to simultaneously drive all the clamping members 3 to extend along the second direction D2. Furthermore, the clamping members 3 maintain their drive assembly 9 throughout their movement along the first direction D1 with the carrier member 2, achieving mechanical linkage between the driving of the clamping members 3 and the descending movement of the sealing cover 5. This solution eliminates the need for independent telescopic drive components for each clamping member 3 and avoids the need for numerous air or electrical sealing connection points on the carrier base 1. The extension amount of each clamping member 3 can be uniformly controlled solely by the descending stroke of the sealing cover 5, ensuring a consistent clamping force applied by each clamping member 3. This simplifies the equipment structure and control system, and improves the reliability and consistency of the equipment.

[0053] In some embodiments, the clamping member 3 includes a connecting rod 31 and a gripper 32. The connecting rod 31 is slidably inserted into the corresponding support member 2 along the second direction D2. The connecting rod 31 can slide freely within the support member 2 along the second direction D2. The support member 2 provides guidance and support for the sliding of the connecting rod 31, ensuring the accurate movement direction of the connecting rod 31. One end of the connecting rod 31 facing the track 11 is connected to the gripper 32, which is used to directly contact and clamp the cylindrical lithium battery S. The end of the connecting rod 31 facing away from the track 11 is provided with a first wedge-shaped engagement portion 311, which is used to slide and engage with the drive assembly 9. When the drive assembly 9 contacts the first wedge-shaped engagement portion 311, the drive assembly 9 applies a thrust along the second direction D2 to the connecting rod 31 through the first wedge-shaped engagement portion 311, causing the connecting rod 31 to drive the gripper 32 to move along the second direction D2 toward the track 11, thereby realizing the clamping of the cylindrical lithium battery S by the gripper 32.

[0054] A reset member 33 is provided between the connecting rod 31 and the carrier member 2. The reset member 33 is used to drive the connecting rod 31 to move the gripper 32 in a direction away from the track 11. When the thrust applied by the drive assembly 9 to the first wedge-shaped mating part 311 is removed, the reset member 33 uses its elastic restoring force to push the connecting rod 31 to move in a direction away from the track 11, causing the gripper 32 to return to the release position and separate from the cylindrical lithium battery S. The reset member 33 ensures that the clamping member 3 can automatically reset when no external force is applied, preparing for the next clamping action.

[0055] The sliding engagement between the first wedge-shaped fitting portion 311 and the drive assembly 9 allows the clamping member 3 to slide relative to the drive assembly 9 along the first direction D1 as it moves with the carrier member 2. Simultaneously, the drive assembly 9 continuously applies a driving force along the second direction D2 to the connecting rod 31 through the first wedge-shaped fitting portion 311. This engagement ensures that the clamping member 3 maintains its transmission engagement with the drive assembly 9 throughout the pitch change process, preventing interruption of the driving force transmission due to the movement of the carrier member 2.

[0056] In some embodiments, the drive assembly 9 includes a wedge-shaped drive member 91, a guide rod 92, and an elastic member 93. The guide rod 92 is arranged along the lifting direction of the sealing cover 5, and its upper end is fixed to the inner top surface of the sealing cover 5, so that the guide rod 92 rises and falls together with the sealing cover 5. The wedge-shaped drive member 91 is slidably sleeved on the guide rod 92, and the wedge-shaped drive member 91 can slide up and down relative to the sealing cover 5 along the guide rod 92. The lower end of the wedge-shaped drive member 91 extends downward out of the sealing cover 5, so that the wedge-shaped drive member 91 can contact other components before the sealing cover 5 when it descends. The lower end of the guide rod 92 is provided with a limiting part 921, which is used to limit the downward movement of the wedge-shaped drive member 91 and prevent the wedge-shaped drive member 91 from dislodging from the lower end of the guide rod 92.

[0057] An elastic element 93 is sleeved on the guide rod 92 and rests between the inner top surface of the sealing cover 5 and the wedge-shaped drive element 91. The elastic element 93 applies a downward elastic force to the wedge-shaped drive element 91, causing the wedge-shaped drive element 91 to tend to move downward along the guide rod 92. When the sealing cover 5 is not lowered, the wedge-shaped drive element 91 moves downward to the lowest position limited by the limiting part 921 under the action of the elastic element 93, at which time the lower end of the wedge-shaped drive element 91 extends out of the sealing cover 5 to the maximum length.

[0058] The wedge-shaped drive member 91 is provided with a second wedge-shaped mating portion 911 extending along the first direction D1, which engages with a plurality of first wedge-shaped mating portions 311. The second wedge-shaped mating portion 911 extends continuously along the first direction D1 and can simultaneously contact and transmit driving force to the plurality of first wedge-shaped mating portions 311 on the corresponding side. When the sealing cover 5 descends, the wedge-shaped drive member 91 descends together with the sealing cover 5. The second wedge-shaped mating portion 911 first contacts the first wedge-shaped mating portions 311 and applies a thrust along the second direction D2 to the connecting rod 31 through the first wedge-shaped mating portions 311, driving the connecting rod 31 to move along the second direction D2 toward the track 11, thereby causing the gripper 32 to extend and clamp the cylindrical lithium battery S.

[0059] As the sealing cover 5 continues to descend, the wedge-shaped drive member 91 is subjected to the reaction force of the first wedge-shaped mating part 311, moving upward relative to the sealing cover 5 and compressing the elastic member 93. At this time, the contact position between the second wedge-shaped mating part 911 and the first wedge-shaped mating part 311 changes, but the transmission engagement is always maintained. After being compressed, the elastic member 93 stores elastic potential energy, exerting a greater downward force on the wedge-shaped drive member 91, keeping the second wedge-shaped mating part 911 in close contact with the first wedge-shaped mating part 311, ensuring continuous transmission of driving force. When the sealing cover 5 descends to its final position and seals with the support base 1, the wedge-shaped drive member 91 moves upward relative to the sealing cover 5 to a certain position, and the second wedge-shaped mating part 911 drives the connecting rod 31 to move to the clamping position, so that the gripper 32 positions and clamps the cylindrical lithium battery S with a larger clamping force.

[0060] When the sealing cover 5 rises, the elastic element 93 releases its elastic potential energy, pushing the wedge-shaped drive element 91 to move downwards along the guide rod 92 to reset. The second wedge-shaped mating part 911 gradually disengages from the drive of the first wedge-shaped mating part 311. Under the action of the reset element 33, the connecting rod 31 drives the gripper 32 to reset in a direction away from the track 11, and the gripper 32 releases the cylindrical lithium battery S. The limiting part 921 restricts the wedge-shaped drive element 91 from continuing to move downwards when it resets, ensuring that the wedge-shaped drive element 91 remains in the predetermined position.

[0061] Through the above structure, the descent motion of the sealing cover 5 is transformed into a progressive extension motion of the clamping member 3 along the second direction D2 by the cooperation of the guide rod 92, the wedge-shaped drive member 91, and the elastic member 93. When the sealing cover 5 descends, the wedge-shaped drive member 91, driven by the elastic member 93, contacts the first wedge-shaped mating part 311 before the sealing cover 5, and pushes the clamping jaw 32 to the pre-clamping position with a small driving force to lightly hold the cylindrical lithium battery S. When the sealing cover 5 continues to descend, the wedge-shaped drive member 91 moves upward relative to the sealing cover 5 and compresses the elastic member 93, pushing the clamping jaw 32 further to the clamping position with a gradually increasing driving force to firmly position and clamp the cylindrical lithium battery S. This structure automatically realizes the staged control of the clamping member 3 from pre-clamping to clamping by using the single descent motion of the sealing cover 5, through the deformation of the elastic member 93 and the stroke conversion of the wedge-shaped mating part, without the need for additional drive components and complex timing control systems. Meanwhile, the elastic element 93 can absorb the stroke variation caused by the outer diameter tolerance of the cylindrical lithium battery S, ensuring that the clamping force applied to the battery by each clamping element 3 remains uniform and consistent, avoiding uneven clamping force or over-clamping problems caused by battery size deviations. This drive assembly 9 has a compact structure and reliable operation, effectively simplifying the equipment structure and improving the consistency and stability of clamping.

[0062] In some embodiments, a sliding fit structure 90 is provided between the first wedge-shaped fitting portion 311 and the second wedge-shaped fitting portion 911. The sliding fit structure 90 is used to maintain the first wedge-shaped fitting portion 311 and the second wedge-shaped fitting portion 911 in a transmission fit, and to allow the two to slide relative to each other along the first direction D1.

[0063] The wedge-shaped drive member 91 contacts the first wedge-shaped mating part 311 through the second wedge-shaped mating part 911, converting the downward movement of the sealing cover 5 into the movement of the connecting rod 31 along the second direction D2. When the pitch-changing mechanism 4 drives the carrier 2 to move along the first direction D1, the connecting rod 31 and the first wedge-shaped mating part 311 move together with the carrier 2 along the first direction D1, while the second wedge-shaped mating part 911 is fixed on the wedge-shaped drive member 91 and does not move with the carrier 2. Therefore, during the pitch-changing process, relative sliding will occur between the first wedge-shaped mating part 311 and the second wedge-shaped mating part 911 along the first direction D1. If there is direct sliding friction contact between the two, wear is likely to occur after long-term use, leading to a decrease in transmission accuracy and even jamming, affecting the normal operation of the clamping member 3.

[0064] The sliding fit structure 90 allows the first wedge-shaped fitting portion 311 and the second wedge-shaped fitting portion 911 to slide smoothly relative to each other along the first direction D1 while maintaining a transmission fit. The sliding fit structure 90 reduces the frictional resistance between them, lowers the wear rate, and improves transmission efficiency and lifespan. Simultaneously, the sliding fit structure 90 ensures that the first wedge-shaped fitting portion 311 and the second wedge-shaped fitting portion 911 always remain in contact and will not disengage due to relative sliding, thus guaranteeing that the clamping member 3 is always controlled by the driving force of the drive assembly 9 during the pitch change process.

[0065] In some embodiments, the sliding fit structure 90 can take the form of balls, rollers, or low-friction sliding plates. Balls or rollers are disposed between the first wedge-shaped fit portion 311 and the second wedge-shaped fit portion 911, converting sliding friction into rolling friction and significantly reducing frictional resistance. Low-friction sliding plates can be made of materials with low coefficients of friction such as polytetrafluoroethylene or nylon, and are attached to the contact surface of the first wedge-shaped fit portion 311 or the second wedge-shaped fit portion 911, also effectively reducing frictional resistance. Regardless of the form used, the core function of the sliding fit structure 90 is to maintain the transmission fit between the first wedge-shaped fit portion 311 and the second wedge-shaped fit portion 911, and to allow them to slide smoothly relative to each other along the first direction D1.

[0066] With the above-mentioned structure, the sliding fit structure 90 enables the sealing cover 5 to descend and drive the clamping member 3 to extend, while also taking into account the need for the clamping member 3 to move with the bearing member 2 during the pitch change process. This ensures that the clamping member 3 maintains a transmission fit with the drive assembly 9 throughout the pitch change process, thereby decoupling the clamping drive from the pitch change motion and further improving the operational reliability and transmission accuracy of the equipment.

[0067] In some embodiments, the lifting mechanism 10 is used to drive the sealing cover 5 to rise and fall relative to the support base 1, so that the sealing cover 5 can form a vacuum cavity by sealing and engaging with the support base 1 when it is lowered into place, and rises to open the vacuum cavity after sealing is completed, so as to facilitate the entry and exit of the cylindrical lithium battery S.

[0068] As one embodiment, the lifting mechanism 10 includes a lifting frame and a lifting cylinder, which drives the sealing cover 5 to move up and down.

[0069] The sealing unit 6 includes a sealing drive component 61, a mounting plate 62, and multiple sealing molds 63. The mounting plate 62 is disposed within the sealing cover 5, and the multiple sealing molds 63 are fixed to the bottom surface of the mounting plate 62 according to the spacing of the multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S in the second pitch state. Since the spacing of the sealing molds 63 is consistent with the spacing of the cylindrical lithium batteries S in the second pitch state, when the cylindrical lithium batteries S complete the pitch change, each sealing mold 63 is precisely aligned with one cylindrical lithium battery S, thereby achieving synchronous sealing of multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S. The sealing molds 63 are fixed to the bottom surface of the mounting plate 62, which provides a unified installation reference for the sealing molds 63, ensuring the relative positional accuracy between the sealing molds 63.

[0070] The sealing drive component 61 is located outside the sealing cover 5. The output end of the sealing drive component 61 passes through the sealing cover 5 in a sealed manner and is connected to the mounting plate 62. The location of the sealing drive component 61 outside the sealing cover 5 avoids the drive component itself occupying internal space in the vacuum chamber and also avoids potential heat dissipation and lubrication problems that might arise when the drive component operates in a vacuum environment. The sealed structure ensures that no gas leakage occurs at the point where the output end passes through the sealing cover 5, maintaining the airtightness of the vacuum chamber. The sealing drive component 61 drives the mounting plate 62 to rise and fall via its output end. The mounting plate 62 then drives multiple sealing molds 63 to rise and fall synchronously, thereby simultaneously performing sealing operations on multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S in the second pitch state.

[0071] In some embodiments, the sealing drive 61 can be a cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder.

[0072] With the above structure, the sealing drive 61 is located outside the sealing cover 5. Its output end passes through the sealing cover 5 and drives the mounting plate 62 and multiple sealing molds 63 to rise and fall synchronously. Under the premise of ensuring the sealing of the vacuum chamber, the synchronous driving of multiple sealing molds 63 is realized, ensuring that each cylindrical lithium battery S is sealed at the same time, thus improving the consistency of sealing efficiency.

[0073] In some embodiments, the sealing mold 63 includes a pressing mold 631 and a pressing rod 632. The pressing rod 632 is telescopically disposed inside the pressing mold 631 along the lifting direction of the pressing mold 631, and the lower end of the pressing rod 632 extends downward out of the pressing mold 631 to press against the cap S2 at the top of the cylindrical lithium battery S housing S1.

[0074] The pressing mold 631 is used to seal the opening of the cylindrical lithium battery S-shell S1. By moving the pressing mold 631 downwards, the opening end of the shell S1 is rolled inwards and pressed against the insulating seal of the top cover, completing the edge sealing of the shell S1. The pressing rod 632 is disposed inside the pressing mold 631, and the two are arranged coaxially. The pressing rod 632 can extend and retract relative to the pressing mold 631. The lower end of the pressing rod 632 extends downwards out of the pressing mold 631. When the sealing mold 63 descends as a whole, the pressing rod 632 contacts the cap S2 at the top of the cylindrical lithium battery S-shell S1 before the pressing mold 631, applying downward pressure to the cap S2.

[0075] During the vacuuming process, the air pressure inside the vacuum chamber decreases, and the gas inside the cylindrical lithium battery casing S1 is expelled outwards. At this time, the cap S2 is affected by the pressure difference between the inside and outside, and tends to be sucked out or float upwards. The pressing rod 632 extends and presses against the cap S2 at the beginning of the vacuuming process, and holds the cap S2 in the predetermined position by continuous downward pressure, preventing the cap S2 from floating upwards or detaching from the opening of the casing S1 due to the pressure difference. The pressing force of the pressing rod 632 is maintained synchronously with the vacuuming process until the vacuum chamber reaches the set vacuum level.

[0076] After reaching the set vacuum level, the pressing mold 631 continues to descend. During the descent of the pressing mold 631, the lower end of the pressing rod 632 remains in contact with the cap S2. As the pressing mold 631 moves downward relative to the pressing rod 632, the pressing rod 632 gradually retracts into the pressing mold 631. The pressing mold 631 continues to descend to the predetermined position, performing edge sealing on the opening of the cylindrical lithium battery S-shell S1, completing the sealing operation of the edge of the shell S1. After sealing, the pressing mold 631 rises and resets, and the pressing rod 632 extends back out of the lower end of the pressing mold 631 under the action of gravity or the reset mechanism.

[0077] The pressing rod 632 is retractably mounted within the pressing mold 631, allowing relative movement between the pressing rod 632 and the pressing mold 631. During vacuuming, the pressing rod 632 extends to press against the cap S2, preventing the cap S2 from being sucked out. During sealing, the pressing mold 631 continues to descend, and the pressing rod 632 passively retracts into the pressing mold 631, making room for the sealing action of the pressing mold 631. Simultaneously, the pressing mold 631 completes the edge-rolling sealing of the housing S1. This structure allows the pressing rod 632's capping function and the pressing mold 631's sealing function to be completed in the same descending sequence, eliminating the need for a separate retraction drive mechanism for the pressing rod 632 and simplifying the equipment structure.

[0078] It should be noted that the holding force exerted by the pressing rod 632 on the cap S2 during the vacuuming process is relatively small. This holding force is only needed to overcome the suction force on the cap S2 under negative pressure, without applying excessive pressure. When the pressing rod 632 presses against the cap S2, the spring or other elastic element inside the pressing rod 632 is compressed, generating a certain elastic force. The magnitude of this elastic force is designed to be sufficient to hold the cap S2 in the predetermined position, preventing the cap S2 from being sucked out, while also preventing damage or deformation to the cap S2.

[0079] As the pressing mold 631 continues to descend, the pressing rod 632 gradually retracts relative to the pressing mold 631. During the retraction process, the spring inside the pressing rod 632 is further compressed, increasing the elastic force. However, due to the small initial holding force of the pressing rod 632 and the low spring stiffness, even with further compression, the increase in elastic force remains limited and will not exceed the safe range that the cap S2 can withstand. Therefore, during the retraction of the pressing rod 632 back to the pressing mold 631, the pressure exerted by the pressing rod 632 on the cap S2 remains at a safe level, preventing any damage or crushing to the cap S2.

[0080] In summary, by setting a retractable pressing rod 632 in the sealing mold 63, a pressure is applied to the cap S2 at the top of the cylindrical lithium battery S-shell S1 during the vacuuming process, which effectively prevents the cap S2 from being sucked out or floating in the negative pressure environment. It also passively retracts into the lowering mold 631 as the lowering mold continues to descend to avoid interference. At the same time, the lowering mold 631 completes the edge rolling and sealing of the shell S1, ensuring the reliability of the vacuuming and sealing process and improving the sealing quality.

[0081] The working principle of the vacuum sealing mechanism for cylindrical lithium batteries is disclosed below. The upstream transmission line 7 transports the cylindrical lithium battery S to the feeding section 71, and the pushing mechanism 72 pushes the cylindrical lithium battery S one by one into the track 11 of the support base 1. The baffle 12 closes the downstream end of the track 11 so that multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S are arranged closely in sequence along the first direction D1.

[0082] As the sealing cover 5 begins to descend, the drive assembly 9 inside the sealing cover 5 engages with the first wedge-shaped engagement part 311 and the second wedge-shaped engagement part 911 through transmission, driving the clamping member 3 to extend along the second direction D2 to the pre-clamping position, contacting each cylindrical lithium battery S with a small first clamping force, and gently holding the battery.

[0083] The sealing cover 5 pauses at the pre-clamping position for a certain period of time. The pitch-changing mechanism 4 drives multiple carriers 2 to move along the first direction D1. Each carrier 2 drives the corresponding clamping member 3 and the cylindrical lithium battery S to move together, so that the multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S switch from the tightly arranged first pitch state to the equally spaced second pitch state. During the pitch-changing process, the clamping member 3 always maintains the pre-clamping constraint on the cylindrical lithium battery S to prevent the battery from tipping over.

[0084] After the pitch change is completed, the sealing cover 5 continues to descend. Through the further transmission and engagement of the first wedge-shaped mating part 311 and the second wedge-shaped mating part 911, the clamping member 3 is driven to extend further along the second direction D2 to the clamping position, so as to position and clamp the cylindrical lithium battery S with a second clamping force greater than the first clamping force.

[0085] The sealing cover 5 continues to descend until it seals with the support base 1, forming a vacuum chamber to accommodate multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S. The vacuum pumping assembly evacuates the vacuum chamber, reducing the gas pressure inside the vacuum chamber and the cylindrical lithium batteries S. At the same time, the pressing rod 632 in the sealing unit 6 extends and presses against the cap S2 at the top of the cylindrical lithium battery casing S1 to prevent the cap S2 from being sucked out under negative pressure.

[0086] After the set vacuum level is reached, the sealing drive 61 drives the mounting plate 62 to descend. The mounting plate 62 drives multiple sealing molds 63 to descend synchronously. The pressing mold 631 in the sealing mold 63 performs edge sealing on the opening of the cylindrical lithium battery casing S1. During the descent of the pressing mold 631, the pressing rod 632 is passively retracted into the pressing mold 631.

[0087] After sealing is completed, sealing drive 61 drives sealing mold 63 to rise and reset, and pitch mechanism 4 drives multiple carriers 2 to move in the opposite direction along the first direction D1, so that multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S are gathered from the second pitch state and restored to the first pitch state. Carriers 2 are reset to the initial position. During the gathering of carriers 2, sealing cover 5 rises slightly to reduce the transmission resistance between the first wedge mating part 311 and the second wedge mating part 911. Then sealing cover 5 rises to open the vacuum chamber, clamping part 3 retracts to the release position, material stop 12 opens the exit of track 11, and pushing mechanism 72 pushes the sealed multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S to the downstream transmission line 8 to complete one working cycle.

[0088] The sealing mechanism forms a local vacuum chamber that accommodates only multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S through a sealing cover 5 and a support base 1. This eliminates the need for vacuuming the entire conveying and sealing mechanism, significantly reducing vacuuming time and improving sealing efficiency. The variable pitch mechanism 4 enables the cylindrical lithium batteries S to switch from a close arrangement to an evenly spaced arrangement, allowing multiple sealing units 6 to seal multiple cylindrical lithium batteries S simultaneously. The pauses and segmented drives during the descent of the sealing cover 5 enable the clamping member 3 to pre-clamp before the pitch change and reinforce the clamping after the pitch change, ensuring the stability of the battery during the pitch change and the positioning accuracy of the battery during the sealing process.

[0089] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A vacuum sealing mechanism for a cylindrical lithium battery, characterized in that, include: A support base is provided with a track extending along a first direction for conveying cylindrical lithium batteries. The track is configured to support a plurality of cylindrical lithium batteries arranged along the first direction. A stop is provided at the downstream end of the track for selectively opening or closing the track. Multiple support members are disposed on both sides of the track along the second direction and are movable relative to the support base along the first direction, the second direction intersecting the first direction; the support members on both sides of the track are paired, and each pair of support members corresponds to a cylindrical lithium battery; Multiple clamping members, each of the carrier members is provided with a clamping member that can extend and retract along the second direction, and two clamping members located on both sides of the track and corresponding to each other are configured to jointly clamp the corresponding cylindrical lithium battery; A pitch mechanism, connected to a plurality of the carrier members, is used to drive the plurality of carrier members to move along the first direction so that a plurality of cylindrical lithium batteries held by the clamping members switch between a first pitch state and a second pitch state. The sealing cover is capable of being raised and lowered relative to the support base, and can be sealed and engaged with the support base when it is lowered into position to form a vacuum chamber for accommodating multiple cylindrical lithium batteries; Multiple sealing units are located inside the sealing cover and are arranged according to the spacing of multiple cylindrical lithium batteries in the second pitch state. Each sealing unit corresponds to multiple cylindrical lithium batteries in the second pitch state and is used to seal multiple cylindrical lithium batteries in the vacuum chamber.

2. The cylindrical lithium battery vacuum sealing mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that: An upstream transmission line is provided on the upstream side of the support base, and a downstream transmission line is provided on the downstream side of the support base; a feeding section is vertically connected to the end of the upstream transmission line, and the feeding section is connected to the track; a pushing mechanism is provided on the feeding section, which is used to push the cylindrical lithium batteries conveyed to the feeding section along the upstream transmission line into the track, and to push the sealed cylindrical lithium batteries into the downstream transmission line after the material stop opens the track.

3. The cylindrical lithium battery vacuum sealing mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The pitch-changing mechanism includes a pitch-changing drive and an equidistant linkage component. The equidistant linkage component is connected to multiple carriers respectively. The pitch-changing drive is used to drive the equidistant linkage component to retract or expand, so that the multiple carriers maintain an equal distance between the first pitch state and the second pitch state.

4. The cylindrical lithium battery vacuum sealing mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Each of the carrier members is provided with a telescopic drive member connected to the corresponding clamping member. The telescopic drive member is used to drive the clamping member to move along the second direction between a release position, a pre-clamping position, and a clamping position. When the clamping member is in the release position, it is separated from the corresponding cylindrical lithium battery. When the clamping member is in the pre-clamping position, it contacts the corresponding cylindrical lithium battery with a first clamping force and allows the cylindrical lithium battery to move along the first direction with the carrier member. When the clamping member is in the clamping position, it positions and clamps the corresponding cylindrical lithium battery with a second clamping force greater than the first clamping force.

5. The cylindrical lithium battery vacuum sealing mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing cover has driving components on its two inner sides opposite to each other in the second direction, which are in driving engagement with a plurality of clamping members on the corresponding sides. The driving components extend continuously along the first direction. The clamping members are in sliding engagement with the corresponding driving components along the first direction, and the driving components can drive the corresponding clamping members to extend along the second direction when the sealing cover is lowered, so that the clamping members maintain driving engagement with the driving components as they move along the first direction with the carrier.

6. The cylindrical lithium battery vacuum sealing mechanism as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The clamping member includes a connecting rod and a jaw. The connecting rod is slidably inserted into the corresponding bearing member along the second direction. The end of the connecting rod facing the track is connected to the jaw. The end of the connecting rod away from the track is provided with a first wedge-shaped engagement portion for sliding engagement with the drive assembly. A reset member is provided between the connecting rod and the bearing member. The reset member is used to drive the connecting rod to reset the jaw in a direction away from the track.

7. The cylindrical lithium battery vacuum sealing mechanism as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The drive assembly includes a wedge-shaped drive element, a guide rod, and an elastic element; The guide rod is arranged along the lifting direction of the sealing cover, and its upper end is fixed to the inner top surface of the sealing cover; the wedge-shaped drive member is slidably sleeved on the guide rod, and its lower end extends downward out of the sealing cover; the lower end of the guide rod is provided with a limiting part for limiting the downward movement stroke of the wedge-shaped drive member. The elastic element is sleeved on the guide rod and abuts against the inner top surface of the sealing cover and the wedge-shaped drive element to apply a downward elastic force to the wedge-shaped drive element; The wedge-shaped drive member is provided with a second wedge-shaped engagement portion extending along the first direction and engaging with a plurality of first wedge-shaped engagement portions in a transmission manner, so as to drive the connecting rod to move toward the track along the second direction when the sealing cover is lowered.

8. The cylindrical lithium battery vacuum sealing mechanism as described in claim 7, characterized in that: A sliding fit structure is provided between the first wedge-shaped fitting part and the second wedge-shaped fitting part. The sliding fit structure is used to maintain the first wedge-shaped fitting part and the second wedge-shaped fitting part in a transmission fit, and to allow the two to slide relative to each other along the first direction.

9. The cylindrical lithium battery vacuum sealing mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a lifting mechanism for driving the sealing cover to rise and fall relative to the support base; the sealing unit includes a sealing drive component, a mounting plate and multiple sealing molds, the mounting plate is disposed inside the sealing cover, and the multiple sealing molds are fixed to the bottom surface of the mounting plate according to the spacing of the multiple cylindrical lithium batteries in the second pitch state; the sealing drive component is disposed outside the sealing cover, and the output end of the sealing drive component passes through the sealing cover in a sealed manner and is connected to the mounting plate to drive the multiple sealing molds to rise and fall synchronously.

10. The cylindrical lithium battery vacuum sealing mechanism as described in claim 9, characterized in that: The sealing mold includes a pressing mold and a pressing rod. The pressing rod is telescopically disposed inside the pressing mold along the lifting direction of the pressing mold, and the lower end of the pressing rod extends downward out of the pressing mold to press against the cap at the top of the cylindrical lithium battery casing.

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