Battery cell heating equipment

Abstract

The utility model relates to battery cell heating equipment which comprises a rack, a heating device, a feeding device and a discharging device, the heating device comprises a plurality of heating trays, a first horizontal guide rail and a shifting fork assembly, and the shifting fork assembly is used for moving the heating trays to a battery cell feeding position and a battery cell discharging position; the feeding device is used for grabbing the battery cells at the feeding position and placing the battery cells on the heating tray, and the discharging device is used for grabbing the battery cells from the heating tray and transferring the battery cells out. After the battery cell is placed on the heating tray, contact type heating is carried out, and the heat transfer efficiency is high; the heating trays are pulled in and out through the shifting fork assemblies so that feeding and discharging can be conveniently conducted through the feeding device and the discharging device, in the feeding and discharging process of the heating trays, all the heating trays are still in the heating state, when the heating time of the battery cells in the heating trays is up, the battery cells can be taken out immediately, then new battery cells are put in, and a rolling cycle is formed; the feeding and discharging time is very short, so that the utilization rate of the heating device is improved and the productivity is increased.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of battery cell manufacturing, and in particular to a battery cell heating device. Background Art

[0002] During the battery manufacturing process, bare cells need to be pre-heated before hot pressing. The traditional heating method is to place the cells on a multi-layer heating rack first, then push the cells into the heating equipment as a whole, and take them out after baking for a period of time. This solution has low loading and unloading efficiency and low degree of automation, which affects production capacity. Utility Model Content

[0003] In order to solve the technical problems in the prior art of low loading and unloading efficiency, low degree of automation and impact on production capacity of battery cell heating equipment, the present application provides a battery cell heating equipment.

[0004] The technical solution provided in the present application is as follows: a battery cell heating device, comprising a frame, a heating device, a loading device and a unloading device, the heating device comprising multiple heating trays, a first horizontal guide rail and a fork assembly, the heating tray is slidably arranged on the frame through the first horizontal guide rail, and multiple heating trays are stacked up and down, the fork assembly is arranged on the frame, and is used to move the heating tray to the battery cell loading position and the battery cell unloading position, the loading device and the unloading device are respectively located on both sides of the heating device, the loading device is used to grab the battery cells at the loading position and place the battery cells on the heating tray, and the unloading device is used to grab the battery cells from the heating tray and move the battery cells out.

[0005] By adopting the above technical scheme: the heating device of the battery cell heating equipment of the present application includes multiple heating trays. After the battery cells are placed on the heating trays, contact heating can be performed with high heat transfer efficiency. The heating trays can be pulled in and out by means of a fork assembly to facilitate loading and unloading operations of the loading and unloading devices. During the loading and unloading process of the heating trays, all the heating trays are still in a heating state. When the heating time of the battery cells in the heating trays is up, they can be taken out immediately and new battery cells can be put in, forming a rolling cycle. The loading and unloading time is very short, thereby improving the utilization rate of the heating device and increasing production capacity.

[0006] Preferably, the fork assembly includes a first YZ movable platform, a shift rod and a plurality of shift forks, and a shift fork is provided on the side of each heating tray. The first YZ movable platform is used to drive the shift rod to move up and down and horizontally, and the shift rod drives the corresponding heating tray to move horizontally by cooperating with the shift forks on different heating trays.

[0007] Preferably, the shifting rod is arranged on the first YZ movable platform through a second horizontal guide rail, and the first YZ movable platform is also provided with a first cylinder, and the first cylinder is used to push out and retract the shifting rod.

[0008] Preferably, a roller is provided at the front end of the shift rod, and the roller is in rolling cooperation with the inner wall of the shift fork.

[0009] Preferably, the loading device includes a loading and picking robot, a loading battery cell transfer mechanism and a plate swing robot. The loading and picking robot is used to grab multiple battery cells to be heated and transfer the battery cells to the loading battery cell transfer mechanism. The loading battery cell transfer mechanism is used to move the battery cells horizontally to directly below the plate swing robot. The plate swing robot is used to grab the battery cells in the loading battery cell transfer mechanism and lift the battery cells vertically to place them on the heating tray of the battery cell heating device.

[0010] Preferably, the material loading and picking robot includes a second YZ mobile platform, a first mounting frame, a plurality of first mechanical clamps and a clamp distance adjustment structure, the second YZ mobile platform is used to drive the first mounting frame to move, and the plurality of first mechanical clamps are slidably arranged on the first mounting frame; the clamp distance adjustment structure includes a distance adjustment cylinder and a distance adjustment assembly, the distance adjustment assembly is used to connect adjacent first mechanical clamps, the distance adjustment cylinder is arranged on the first mounting frame, and is used to drive the outermost first mechanical clamps to move, and the outermost first mechanical clamps drag the adjacent first mechanical clamps to move in turn through the distance adjustment assembly to achieve the distance change between the first mechanical clamps.

[0011] Preferably, the plate swing robot includes a Z-axis lifting platform, a second mounting frame and a plurality of second mechanical grippers, wherein the Z-axis lifting platform is used to drive the second mounting frame to rise and fall, and the plurality of second mechanical grippers are arranged on the second mounting frame for grabbing and releasing the battery cells.

[0012] Preferably, the number of the material loading and retrieving robots is two groups, which are arranged horizontally in parallel.

[0013] Preferably, the unloading device includes an unloading and picking robot and an unloading battery cell transfer mechanism, wherein the unloading and picking robot is used to grab the battery cells on the heating tray in the battery cell heating equipment and transfer the battery cells to the unloading battery cell transfer mechanism, and the unloading battery cell transfer mechanism is used to move the battery cells horizontally from the inside to the outside.

[0014] Preferably, the loading cell transfer mechanism and the unloading cell transfer mechanism both include a Y-axis moving table and a cell fixing fixture, the Y-axis moving table is used to drive the cell fixing fixture to move horizontally, and the cell fixing fixture is used to receive and fix the cell; the unloading and picking robot and the plate swing robot have the same structure.

[0015] In summary, the present application includes at least one of the following beneficial technical effects:

[0016] 1. The heating device of the battery cell heating device of the present application includes a plurality of heating trays. After the battery cells are placed on the heating trays, contact heating can be performed, and the heat transfer efficiency is high;

[0017] 2. The heating tray can be pulled in and out by the fork assembly to facilitate the loading and unloading operations of the loading and unloading devices, forming a rolling cycle. The loading and unloading time is very short, thereby improving the utilization rate of the heating device and increasing production capacity;

[0018] 3. The material loading and retrieving robot, material unloading and retrieving robot, material loading and retrieving cell transfer mechanism, material unloading cell transfer mechanism and plate placement robot of the present application have shorter strokes, smaller sizes and are easier to arrange; moreover, the structure is simple, the moving trajectory is also simple, and the requirements for avoiding surrounding parts are greatly reduced, so they can be arranged very close to the heating tray, thereby reducing the size and footprint of the entire heating equipment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of the battery core heating device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0020] Figure 2 is a three-dimensional diagram of the battery core heating device according to the embodiment of the present application from another angle;

[0021] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the battery core heating device described in the embodiment of the present application;

[0022] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the battery core heating device according to an embodiment of the present application from another angle;

[0023] Figure 5 is a three-dimensional diagram of the heating device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0024] Figure 6 is a diagram of the matching relationship between the heating tray and the first horizontal guide rail described in the embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 7 is a diagram showing the coordination relationship between the first YZ mobile platform and the lever in the embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0027] Fig. 9 is a three-dimensional diagram of the feeding device described in the embodiment of the present application;

[0028] Fig.10 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the material loading and retrieving manipulator described in the embodiment of the present application;

[0029] Fig.11 is a diagram showing the coordination relationship between the first mounting frame, the first mechanical gripper and the gripper distance adjustment structure in the embodiment of the present application;

[0030] Fig.12is a three-dimensional diagram of the first mechanical gripper of the embodiment of the present application;

[0031] Fig.13 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the feeding cell transfer mechanism described in the embodiment of the present application;

[0032] Fig.14 is a three-dimensional diagram of the plate-stirring robot described in the embodiment of the present application;

[0033] Fig.15 It is a stereoscopic diagram of the unloading device described in the embodiment of the present application.

[0034] Description of reference numerals: 1, frame; 2, heating device; 21, heating tray; 22, first horizontal guide rail; 23, fork assembly; 231, first YZ mobile platform; 232, lever; 233, fork; 234, second horizontal guide rail; 235, first cylinder; 236, roller; 3, loading device; 31, loading and unloading manipulator; 311, second YZ mobile platform; 312, first mounting frame; 313, first Mechanical gripper; 314, gripper distance adjustment structure; 3141, distance adjustment cylinder; 3142, distance adjustment assembly; 32, loading cell transfer mechanism; 321, Y-axis moving table; 322, cell fixing fixture; 33, plate swing manipulator; 331, Z-axis lifting table; 332, second mounting frame; 333, second mechanical gripper; 4, unloading device; 41, unloading and picking manipulator; 42, unloading cell transfer mechanism; 100, cell. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The following is combined with Figure 1-15 This application is described in further detail.

[0036] Reference Figures 1 to 4 The embodiment of the present application discloses a battery cell heating device, including a frame 1, a heating device 2, a loading device 3 and a unloading device 4, the heating device 2 includes multiple heating trays 21, a first horizontal guide rail 22 and a fork assembly 23, the heating tray 21 is slidably arranged on the frame 1 through the first horizontal guide rail 22, and the multiple heating trays 21 are stacked up and down, the fork assembly 23 is arranged on the frame 1, and is used to move the heating tray 21 to the battery cell loading position and the battery cell unloading position, the loading device 3 and the unloading device 4 are respectively located on both sides of the heating device 2, the loading device 3 is used to grab the battery cell 100 at the loading position and place the battery cell 100 on the heating tray 21, and the unloading device 4 is used to grab the battery cell 100 from the heating tray 21 and move the battery cell 100 out.

[0037] Reference Figure 7 and Figure 8The fork assembly 23 includes a first YZ mobile platform 231, a lever 232 and a plurality of forks 233. A fork 233 is provided on the side of each heating tray 21. The first YZ mobile platform 231 is used to drive the lever 232 to move up and down and horizontally. The lever 232 drives the corresponding heating tray 21 to move horizontally by cooperating with the forks 233 on different heating trays 21. The lever 232 is arranged on the first YZ mobile platform 231 through a second horizontal guide rail 234. The first YZ mobile platform 231 is also provided with a first cylinder 235. The first cylinder 235 is used to push out and retract the lever 232. When pushed out, the heating tray 21 can be moved, and when retracted, the heating tray 21 cannot be moved. The front end of the lever 232 is provided with a roller 236. The roller 236 rolls with the inner wall of the fork 233 to reduce the friction between the lever 232 and the fork 233.

[0038] If the present embodiment adopts a five-axis robot to grasp the battery cells 100 and realize loading and unloading, due to the large capacity of the heating tray 21 and the large placement area, a long-axis five-axis robot is required so that the operating area can cover the entire heating tray 21. The long-axis five-axis robot is expensive, the number of battery cells 100 grasped at a single time is limited, the use cost is high, the size is large, the floor space is large, and the requirement for avoiding surrounding parts during operation is high, which is not convenient to use.

[0039] Reference Fig. 9 The loading device 3 includes a loading and fetching robot 31, a loading battery cell transfer mechanism 32 and a plate swing robot 33. The loading and fetching robot 31 is used to grab multiple battery cells 100 to be heated and transfer the battery cells 100 to the loading battery cell transfer mechanism 32. The loading battery cell transfer mechanism 32 is used to move the battery cells 100 horizontally to directly below the plate swing robot 33. The plate swing robot 33 is used to grab the battery cells 100 in the loading battery cell transfer mechanism 32 and lift the battery cells 100 vertically to place them on the heating tray 21 of the battery cell heating device.

[0040] Reference Figures 10 to 12The loading and picking robot 31 includes a second YZ mobile platform 311, a first mounting frame 312, a plurality of first mechanical clamps 313 and a clamp distance adjustment structure 314. The second YZ mobile platform 311 is used to drive the first mounting frame 312 to move. The plurality of first mechanical clamps 313 are all slidably arranged on the first mounting frame 312; the clamp distance adjustment structure 314 includes a distance adjustment cylinder 3141 and a distance adjustment component 3142. The distance adjustment component 3142 is used to connect adjacent first mechanical clamps 313. The distance adjustment cylinder 3141 is arranged on the first mounting frame 312 and is used to drive the outermost first mechanical clamps 313 to move. The outermost first mechanical clamps 313 drag the adjacent first mechanical clamps 313 to move in turn through the distance adjustment component 3142 to achieve the distance change between the first mechanical clamps 313. The distance adjustment component 3142 enables the plurality of first mechanical grippers 313 to move in conjunction, and only one distance adjustment cylinder 3141 is required to complete the adjustment of all the first mechanical grippers 313 .

[0041] Reference Fig.14 The plate-swinging manipulator 33 includes a Z-axis lifting platform 331, a second mounting frame 332 and a plurality of second mechanical grippers 333. The Z-axis lifting platform 331 is used to drive the second mounting frame 332 to lift and lower. The plurality of second mechanical grippers 333 are arranged on the second mounting frame 332 to grab and release the battery cells 100. The Z-axis lifting platform 331 has only a lifting function and does not have a horizontal movement function. The plate-swinging manipulator 33 does not need to be provided with a variable pitch mechanism. The fork assembly 23 can not only selectively push out the heating tray 21, but also control the distance of pushing out. When the horizontal position of the plate-swinging manipulator 33 does not change, the battery cells 100 can be placed at different positions of the heating tray 21 by relying on the lifting and lowering action of the plate-swinging manipulator 33.

[0042] Reference Fig.13 The loading cell transfer mechanism 32 includes a Y-axis moving platform 321 and a cell fixing fixture 322. The Y-axis moving platform 321 is used to drive the cell fixing fixture 322 to move horizontally, and the cell fixing fixture 322 is used to receive and fix the cell 100. The cell fixing fixture 322 includes a bottom plate and elastic metal sheets on both sides, which are used to support the cell 100 and position the cell 100 around. It also has a centering effect and plays a secondary positioning role for the cell 100.

[0043] In this embodiment, the number of the loading and retrieving manipulators 31 is two groups, which are arranged horizontally in parallel, which multiplies the loading efficiency and meets the needs of large-scale production. Each group of loading and retrieving manipulators 31 includes four first mechanical grippers 313, which can grab four battery cells 100 at a time. The two groups of loading and retrieving manipulators 31 are generally staggered front and back to grab battery cells 100 conveyed by different material belts, and can also grab different types of battery cells 100, such as common AB battery cells. In general, the battery cells 100 conveyed by the material belt are relatively large in spacing, and the spacing needs to be reduced before being placed in the heating tray 21. This can increase the capacity of the heating tray 21 and improve production.

[0044] Reference Fig.15 The unloading device 4 includes an unloading and picking manipulator 41 and an unloading cell transfer mechanism 42. The unloading and picking manipulator 41 is used to grab the cell 100 on the heating tray 21 in the cell heating device and transfer the cell 100 to the unloading cell transfer mechanism 42. The unloading cell transfer mechanism 42 is used to horizontally move the cell 100 from the inside to the outside. The unloading cell transfer mechanism 42 has the same structure as the loading cell transfer mechanism 32; the unloading and picking manipulator 41 has the same structure as the plate-stirring manipulator 33, and the description is not repeated here.

[0045] The loading and retrieving robot 31, the unloading and retrieving robot 41, the loading cell transfer mechanism 32, the unloading cell transfer mechanism 42 and the plate swinging robot 33 of the present application all have a short stroke, a small size, and are easier to arrange; and the loading cell transfer mechanism 32, the unloading cell transfer mechanism 42 and the plate swinging robot 33 are all single-axis moving mechanisms with a simple structure and a simple moving trajectory, which greatly reduces the requirements for avoiding surrounding parts and can be arranged very close to the heating tray 21, thereby reducing the size and footprint of the entire heating equipment.

[0046] The working process of the battery cell heating equipment of the present application is as follows: the loading process is as follows: the first YZ mobile platform 231 drives the first mechanical gripper 313 to descend, reaches the battery cell position on the material belt, grabs a group of battery cells, and moves them to the loading battery cell transfer mechanism 32; the loading battery cell transfer mechanism 32 moves the battery cell 100 from the outside to the inside, and is located directly below the plate swinging manipulator 33; the Z-axis lifting platform 331 of the plate swinging manipulator 33 drives the second mechanical gripper 333 to descend, grabs the battery cell 100 and lifts it. The fork assembly 23 pushes one of the heating trays 21 toward the loading position of the battery cell 100 by a suitable distance, and the Z-axis lifting platform 331 drives the second mechanical gripper 333 to descend, so that the battery cell 100 falls onto the heating tray 21; then the fork assembly 23 pulls the heating tray 21 back to the initial position. Repeat the above actions, and after the current heating tray 21 is filled, another heating tray 21 is laid to achieve continuous loading. The heating tray 21 continuously heats the battery cell 100, and after the set time is reached, unloading begins. The unloading process is as follows: the fork assembly 23 pushes one of the heating trays 21 toward the battery cell unloading position by a suitable distance, the unloading and picking robot 41 grabs the battery cell 100 on the heating tray 21, and then the fork assembly 23 pulls the heating tray 21 back to the initial position; the unloading and picking robot 41 places the battery cell 100 on the unloading battery cell transfer mechanism 42, and the unloading battery cell transfer mechanism 42 moves the battery cell 100 horizontally from the inside to the outside, waiting for the robot of the next process to take away the heated battery cell 100, and then repeat the above actions to achieve continuous unloading.

[0047] The implementation principle of the present application is as follows: the heating device 2 of the battery cell heating equipment of the present application includes multiple heating trays 21. After the battery cell 100 is placed on the heating tray 21, contact heating can be performed with high heat transfer efficiency. The heating tray 21 can be pulled in and out by means of a fork assembly 23 to facilitate the loading and unloading operations of the loading device 3 and the unloading device 4. During the loading and unloading process of the heating tray 21, all the heating trays 21 are still in a heating state. When the heating time of the battery cell 100 in the heating tray 21 is up, it can be taken out immediately and a new battery cell 100 can be put in to form a rolling cycle. The loading and unloading time is very short, thereby improving the utilization rate of the heating device 2 and increasing production capacity.

[0048] The above are all preferred embodiments of the present application, and the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Therefore, any equivalent changes made according to the structure, shape, and principle of the present application should be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A battery core heating device, characterized in that: The invention comprises a frame (1), a heating device (2), a loading device (3) and a unloading device (4); the heating device (2) comprises a plurality of heating trays (21), a first horizontal guide rail (22) and a shift fork assembly (23); the heating trays (21) are slidably arranged on the frame (1) via the first horizontal guide rail (22); the plurality of heating trays (21) are stacked up and down; the shift fork assembly (23) is arranged on the frame (1) and is used to move the heating trays (21) to a cell loading position and a cell unloading position; the loading device (3) and the unloading device (4) are respectively located on both sides of the heating device (2); the loading device (3) is used to grab the cell at the loading position and place the cell on the heating tray (21); the unloading device (4) is used to grab the cell from the heating tray (21) and transfer the cell out.

2. The electric core heating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shift fork assembly (23) comprises a first YZ movable platform (231), a shift rod (232) and a plurality of shift forks (233); a shift fork (233) is provided on the side of each heating tray (21); the first YZ movable platform (231) is used to drive the shift rod (232) to move up and down and horizontally; the shift rod (232) drives the corresponding heating tray (21) to move horizontally by cooperating with the shift forks (233) on different heating trays (21).

3. The electric core heating device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The shifting rod (232) is arranged on the first YZ movable platform (231) via a second horizontal guide rail (234); the first YZ movable platform (231) is also provided with a first cylinder (235); the first cylinder (235) is used to push out and retract the shifting rod (232).

4. The electric core heating device according to claim 3, characterized in that: A roller (236) is provided at the front end of the shifting rod (232), and the roller (236) is in rolling cooperation with the inner wall of the shifting fork (233).

5. The electric core heating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The loading device (3) comprises a loading and fetching robot (31), a loading battery cell transfer mechanism (32) and a plate swinging robot (33); the loading and fetching robot (31) is used to grab a plurality of battery cells to be heated and transfer the battery cells to the loading battery cell transfer mechanism (32); the loading battery cell transfer mechanism (32) is used to move the battery cells horizontally to directly below the plate swinging robot (33); the plate swinging robot (33) is used to grab the battery cells in the loading battery cell transfer mechanism (32) and lift the battery cells vertically to place them on the heating tray (21) of the battery cell heating device.

6. The electric core heating device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The material loading and retrieving robot (31) comprises a second YZ movable platform (311), a first mounting frame (312), a plurality of first mechanical clamps (313) and a clamp distance adjustment structure (314), wherein the second YZ movable platform (311) is used to drive the first mounting frame (312) to move, and the plurality of first mechanical clamps (313) are all slidably arranged on the first mounting frame (312); the clamp distance adjustment structure (314) comprises a distance adjustment cylinder (3141) and a distance adjustment component (3142), wherein the distance adjustment component (3142) is used to connect adjacent first mechanical clamps (313), and the distance adjustment cylinder (3141) is arranged on the first mounting frame (312) and is used to drive the outermost first mechanical clamps (313) to move, and the outermost first mechanical clamps (313) drag the adjacent first mechanical clamps (313) to move in sequence through the distance adjustment component (3142) to achieve the distance change between the first mechanical clamps (313).

7. The electric core heating device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The plate swinging manipulator (33) comprises a Z-axis lifting platform (331), a second mounting frame (332) and a plurality of second mechanical grippers (333); the Z-axis lifting platform (331) is used to drive the second mounting frame (332) to rise and fall; the plurality of second mechanical grippers (333) are arranged on the second mounting frame (332) and are used to grasp and release the battery cells.

8. The electric core heating device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The number of the material loading and retrieving manipulators (31) is two groups, which are arranged horizontally in parallel.

9. The electric core heating device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The unloading device (4) comprises an unloading and picking up manipulator (41) and an unloading and picking up battery cell transfer mechanism (42); the unloading and picking up manipulator (41) is used to grab the battery cells on the heating tray (21) in the battery cell heating device and transfer the battery cells to the unloading and picking up battery cell transfer mechanism (42); the unloading and picking up battery cell transfer mechanism (42) is used to horizontally move the battery cells from the inside to the outside.

10. The electric core heating device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The loading cell transfer mechanism (32) and the unloading cell transfer mechanism (42) both comprise a Y-axis moving platform (321) and a cell fixing fixture (322); the Y-axis moving platform (321) is used to drive the cell fixing fixture (322) to move horizontally; the cell fixing fixture (322) is used to receive and fix the cell; the unloading and picking manipulator (41) and the plate swinging manipulator (33) have the same structure.

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