Automatic battery cell stacking device

Abstract

The utility model discloses an automatic battery cell stacking device which comprises a bearing platform used for bearing a plurality of columns of battery cell units; the clamping and aligning mechanism is used for carrying out single-side clamping and aligning operation on the current column battery cell unit in the horizontal first direction after the manipulator places each column battery cell unit on the bearing platform; the pressurizing and shaping mechanism is used for performing single-side pressurizing and shaping operation on all columns of battery cell units in a second horizontal direction after the single-side clamping and aligning operation on all columns of battery cell units in the first horizontal direction is completed; and the downward pressing mechanism is used for performing downward pressing alignment operation on all the columns of battery cell units after all the columns of battery cell units complete single-side pressurization shaping operation in the second horizontal direction. According to the technical scheme, the technical problems that according to an existing battery cell stacking mode, alignment of the four edges of the battery cells is difficult to achieve, the consistency of the positions of the battery cells cannot be guaranteed, deviation is easily caused in the follow-up machining process, and the production yield of products is affected can be effectively solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of battery production, and in particular to an automatic battery cell stacking device. Background Art

[0002] At present, in the production process of battery packs, it is necessary to first stack the battery cells in pairs into block battery cells, then stack several block battery cells into column battery cells, and finally, stack and package multiple column battery cells to form a battery module, and finally arrange and connect multiple battery modules in a predetermined manner to form a battery pack. Among them, in the process of stacking and packaging multiple column battery cells to form a battery module, the existing battery cell stacking method mainly adopts a robot to grab the block battery cells and place them on the stacking station in turn for stacking operation. In this way, since errors are prone to occur during the battery cell placement process, the existing battery cell stacking method is difficult to achieve the alignment of the four sides of the battery cell, and the consistency of the battery cell position cannot be guaranteed, which is easy to cause deviation in the subsequent processing process, affecting the production yield of the product. Utility Model Content

[0003] An embodiment of the present application provides an automatic battery cell stacking device, which aims to improve the existing battery cell stacking method, which has the technical problem of difficulty in aligning the four sides of the battery cell and inability to ensure the consistency of the battery cell position, which can easily lead to deviation in subsequent processing and affect the production yield of the product.

[0004] To this end, an embodiment of the present application provides an automatic battery cell stacking device, including a carrying platform, a clamping and alignment mechanism, a pressurizing and shaping mechanism, and a pressing mechanism, wherein:

[0005] The carrying platform is used to carry a plurality of rows of battery cell units;

[0006] The clamping and alignment mechanism is used to perform a unilateral clamping and alignment operation on the current column of battery cell units in a first horizontal direction after the manipulator places each column of battery cell units on the carrying platform;

[0007] The pressurizing and shaping mechanism is used to perform a unilateral pressurizing and shaping operation on all the column of battery cells on the carrying platform in a horizontal second direction after all the column of battery cells on the carrying platform have completed a unilateral clamping and alignment operation in a horizontal first direction, wherein the horizontal second direction is perpendicular to the horizontal first direction;

[0008] The pressing mechanism is used to press down and align all the rows of battery cell units on the carrying platform after all the rows of battery cell units on the carrying platform have completed the single-side pressurization and shaping operation in the second horizontal direction.

[0009] Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the clamping alignment mechanism includes a first long clamp plate having a reference abutment surface, a second long clamp plate and a clamping power module, the first long clamp plate and the second long clamp plate are respectively arranged on both sides of the supporting platform in the horizontal first direction, and both are extended along the horizontal second direction, the clamping power module is drivingly connected to the second long clamp plate to drive the second long clamp plate to move away from or closer to the first long clamp plate.

[0010] Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the clamping power module includes a clamping plate push plate and a screw power assembly that drives the clamping plate push plate to move back and forth along the horizontal first direction, and the side of the clamping plate push plate away from the screw power assembly is fastened to the second long clamping plate.

[0011] Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the clamping and alignment mechanism further includes a telescopic power module, and the telescopic power module is drivingly connected to the first long clamping plate to drive the first long clamping plate to perform telescopic movement in the horizontal first direction.

[0012] Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the telescopic power module includes a transmission plate assembly and a first cylinder that drives the transmission plate assembly to move back and forth along the horizontal first direction, and the side of the transmission plate assembly away from the first cylinder is fastened to the first long clamping plate.

[0013] Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the clamping and alignment mechanism further includes a latch locking module, and the latch locking module is used to lock the transmission plate assembly after the first cylinder drives the transmission plate assembly to extend along the horizontal first direction.

[0014] Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the pressurized shaping mechanism includes a first clamping plate module having a pressurized abutment surface, a second clamping plate module and a pressurized power module, the first clamping plate module and the second clamping plate module are respectively arranged on both sides of the supporting platform in the second horizontal direction, and the pressurized power module is drivingly connected to the second clamping plate module to drive the second clamping plate module to move away from or closer to the first clamping plate module.

[0015] Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the first clamping plate module includes a plurality of fixed first clamping blocks, all of which are arranged in intervals along the horizontal first direction, so that the side surfaces of all of the first clamping blocks facing the bearing platform form the reference abutment surface; and / or,

[0016] The pressurizing power module includes a clamp block fixing seat and a second cylinder driving the clamp block fixing seat to move back and forth along the second horizontal direction. The second clamping plate module includes a plurality of second clamp blocks, and all of the second clamp blocks are arranged on the clamp block fixing seat at intervals along the first horizontal direction.

[0017] Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the pressing mechanism includes a pressing plate having a pressing abutment surface and a third cylinder driving the pressing plate to perform a pressing movement.

[0018] Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, a moving mechanism is further included, and the moving mechanism is transmission-connected to the pressing mechanism to drive the pressing mechanism to move back and forth along the horizontal second direction.

[0019] The automatic stacking device of battery cells provided by the technical solution of the present application is arranged by the above-mentioned structure. In the process of stacking a plurality of column battery cell units to form a battery module, each column battery cell unit will be placed on the carrying platform in turn by a manipulator. After each column battery cell unit is placed on the carrying platform, the current column battery cell unit will be first subjected to a unilateral clamping and alignment operation in the horizontal first direction by a clamping and alignment mechanism to ensure that both sides of each column battery cell unit are aligned in the horizontal first direction. When all column battery cell units on the carrying platform have completed the unilateral clamping and alignment operation in the horizontal first direction (that is, all column battery cell units are stacked in the horizontal second direction), all column battery cell units will be subjected to a unilateral pressurizing and shaping operation in the horizontal second direction by a pressurizing and shaping mechanism to ensure that all column battery cell units maintain a tight fit in the horizontal second direction. Finally, all column battery cell units will be subjected to a downward pressurizing and alignment operation by a downward pressurizing mechanism to ensure that both sides of each column battery cell unit are aligned in the vertical direction. In this way, when stacking the battery cells into a battery module, it can ensure that the four sides of each column of battery cells are aligned, that is, the positions of each column of battery cells are consistent. It can be seen that this technical solution can effectively improve the existing battery cell stacking method, which is difficult to achieve the alignment of the four sides of the battery cells and cannot ensure the consistency of the battery cell positions, which easily leads to deviations in the subsequent processing process and affects the production yield of the product. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of an automatic battery cell stacking device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0022] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of the automatic battery cell stacking device from another angle is shown.

[0023] Description of Figure Numbers:

[0024] 1. Automatic battery cell stacking device; 100. Carrying platform; 200. Clamping and alignment mechanism; 210. First long clamping plate; 220. Second long clamping plate; 230. Clamping power module; 300. Pressurizing and shaping mechanism; 210. First clamping plate module; 220. Second clamping plate module; 230. Pressurizing power module; 400. Pressing mechanism; 410. Lower pressing plate; 420. Third cylinder; 500. Moving mechanism; 600. Frame.

[0025] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0027] It should be noted that all directional indications in the embodiments of the present application (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) are only used to explain the relative position relationship, movement status, etc. between the components under a certain specific posture (as shown in the accompanying drawings). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0028] In addition, the descriptions of "first", "second", etc. in this application are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In addition, the technical solutions between the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but they must be based on the ability of ordinary technicians in this field to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by this application.

[0029] In one embodiment, Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the embodiment of the present application provides an automatic stacking device 1 for battery cells, which may specifically include a carrying platform 100, a clamping and alignment mechanism 200, a pressurizing and shaping mechanism 300, and a pressing mechanism 400, wherein the carrying platform 100 is mainly used to carry a plurality of column battery cell units. The clamping and alignment mechanism 200 is mainly used to perform a unilateral clamping and alignment operation on the current column battery cell unit in the first horizontal direction after the manipulator places each column battery cell unit on the carrying platform 100. The pressurizing and shaping mechanism 300 is mainly used to perform a unilateral pressurizing and shaping operation on all column battery cell units on the carrying platform 100 in the second horizontal direction after all column battery cell units on the carrying platform 100 have completed the unilateral clamping and alignment operation in the first horizontal direction, and the second horizontal direction is perpendicular to the first horizontal direction. The pressing mechanism 400 is mainly used to perform a pressing and alignment operation on all column battery cell units on the carrying platform 100 after all column battery cell units on the carrying platform 100 have completed the unilateral pressurizing and shaping operation in the second horizontal direction.

[0030] It can be understood that the automatic cell stacking device 1 of the embodiment of the present application can be specifically used in the cell stacking operation of stacking multiple column cell units into a cell module. The column cell unit here refers to a cell structure formed by stacking multiple block cell units together along the thickness direction at the previous station, and the block cell unit here refers to a cell structure formed by stacking two blocks of cells together along the thickness direction at the previous station. The above-mentioned carrying platform 100 can specifically place a tray on its upper surface to carry multiple column cell units through the tray. The above-mentioned unilateral clamping alignment operation and unilateral pressurizing alignment operation refer to the corresponding clamping alignment or pressurizing shaping operation by abutting one side of the column cell unit with a reference abutting surface fixed at a preset position, while squeezing the other side of the column cell unit that is relatively set by a clamping block. The above-mentioned horizontal second direction specifically refers to the stacking direction of all column cell units.

[0031] In this way, the automatic cell stacking device 1 provided in the embodiment of the present application, through the above-mentioned structural setting, in the process of stacking multiple column cell units to form a battery module, each column cell unit will be placed on the carrier platform 100 in turn by a manipulator, and after each column cell unit is placed on the carrier platform 100, the current column cell unit will be first clamped and aligned on one side in the horizontal first direction by the clamping alignment mechanism 200 to ensure that each column cell unit is aligned on both sides in the horizontal first direction. When all column cell units on the carrier platform 100 have completed the unilateral clamping and alignment operation in the horizontal first direction (that is, all column cell units are stacked in the horizontal second direction), the pressure shaping mechanism 300 is used to perform a unilateral pressure shaping operation on all column cell units in the horizontal second direction to ensure that all column cell units remain in a tightly fitting state in the horizontal second direction. Finally, the downward pressure mechanism 400 is used to perform a downward pressure alignment operation on all column cell units to ensure that each column cell unit is aligned on both sides in the up and down directions. In this way, when the battery cells are stacked into a battery module, the four sides of each column of battery cells can be aligned, that is, the positions of each column of battery cells can be kept consistent.

[0032] In some examples, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the clamping alignment mechanism 200 includes a first long clamp plate 210 with a reference abutting surface, a second long clamp plate 220, and a clamping power module 230. The first long clamp plate 210 and the second long clamp plate 220 are respectively arranged on both sides of the carrying platform 100 in the horizontal first direction, and are both extended along the horizontal second direction. The clamping power module 230 is drivingly connected with the second long clamp plate 220 to drive the second long clamp plate 220 to move away from or close to the first long clamp plate 210. In this way, through the above-mentioned structural setting, the reference abutting surface can be used as a reference for aligning both sides of all column battery cells in the horizontal first direction. When the clamping power module 230 drives the second long clamp plate 220 to move close to the first long clamp plate 210, it can cooperate with the first long clamp plate 210 to complete the unilateral clamping alignment operation of the current column battery cell in the horizontal first direction. Furthermore, the clamping power module 230 includes a clamping plate push plate and a screw power assembly driving the clamping plate push plate to move back and forth along the first horizontal direction, and the side of the clamping plate push plate away from the screw power assembly is fastened to the second long clamping plate 220. Thus, through the above-mentioned structural arrangement, when the screw power assembly drives the clamping plate push plate to move back and forth along the first horizontal direction, the second long clamping plate 220 can be driven to move away from or close to the first long clamping plate 210.

[0033] It can be understood that the screw power assembly mentioned in this example can be specifically composed of a servo motor, a belt drive assembly or a chain drive assembly, a screw and a screw nut and other structures, so that the screw can be driven by the servo motor and the belt drive assembly or the chain drive assembly to drive the screw to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise, and then the screw nut drives the splint push plate to move back and forth along the horizontal first direction.

[0034] In some examples, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the clamping and alignment mechanism 200 also includes a telescopic power module, which is connected to the first long clamping plate 210 to drive the first long clamping plate 210 to perform telescopic movement in the horizontal first direction. In this way, the above-mentioned structure can be set so that the first long clamping plate 210 can be driven by the telescopic power module to return to the initial position when not in use, and then avoid the operation, and when in use, it can be driven by the telescopic power module to extend from the initial position to the specified position to perform the unilateral clamping and alignment operation in the horizontal first direction. Further, the telescopic power module includes a transmission plate assembly and a first cylinder that drives the transmission plate assembly to move back and forth along the horizontal first direction, and the side of the transmission plate assembly away from the first cylinder is fastened to the first long clamping plate 210. In this way, through the above-mentioned structure, when the first cylinder drives the transmission plate assembly to move back and forth along the horizontal first direction, it can better drive the first long clamping plate 210 to perform telescopic movement in the horizontal first direction. Furthermore, the clamping and aligning mechanism 200 further includes a latch locking module, which is used to lock the transmission plate assembly after the first cylinder drives the transmission plate assembly to extend in the horizontal first direction. Thus, through the above-mentioned structural arrangement, when the first long clamping plate 210 extends from the initial position to the specified position, the latch locking module locks the transmission plate assembly, so that the first long clamping plate 210 can be stably fixed at the specified position, so as to better perform the above-mentioned unilateral clamping and aligning operation in the horizontal first direction.

[0035] It can be understood that the automatic battery cell stacking device 1 of the embodiment of the present application also includes a frame 600 that supports and installs all mechanisms (including a carrying platform 100, a clamping and alignment mechanism 200, a pressurizing and shaping mechanism, a pressing mechanism 400, and a moving mechanism 500, etc.). The latch locking module in this example can specifically lock the transmission plate assembly on the frame through structures such as latches, so that the transmission plate assembly can no longer move back and forth in the horizontal first direction relative to the frame 600.

[0036] In some examples, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the pressurizing shaping mechanism 300 includes a first clamping plate module 210 with a pressurizing abutting surface, a second clamping plate module 220 and a pressurizing power module 230. The first clamping plate module 210 and the second clamping plate module 220 are respectively arranged on both sides of the carrying platform 100 in the horizontal second direction. The pressurizing power module 230 is connected to the second clamping plate module 220 to drive the second clamping plate module 220 to move away from or close to the first clamping plate module 210. In this way, through the above-mentioned structural setting, when the pressurizing power module 230 drives the second clamping plate module 220 to move close to the first clamping plate module 210, it can cooperate with the first clamping plate module 210 to complete the unilateral pressurizing shaping operation in the horizontal second direction for all the column battery cells. Further, the first clamping plate module 210 includes a plurality of fixedly arranged first clamping blocks, all of which are arranged at intervals along the horizontal first direction, so that the pressurizing abutting surface is formed on the side surface of all the first clamping blocks facing the carrying platform 100. In this way, through the structural layout of multiple first clamps, it is ensured that the first clamp module 210 cooperates more firmly with the second clamp module 220 to perform a unilateral pressurization and shaping operation in the horizontal second direction on all columns of battery cell units. Furthermore, the pressurization power module 230 includes a clamp block fixing seat and a second cylinder that drives the clamp block fixing seat to move back and forth along the horizontal second direction, and the second clamp module 220 includes multiple second clamps, and all the second clamps are arranged on the clamp block fixing seat at intervals along the horizontal first direction. In this way, through the above-mentioned structural setting, when the second cylinder drives the clamp block fixing seat to move back and forth along the horizontal second direction, it can drive the multiple second clamps to move away from or close to the multiple first clamps of the first clamp module 210, thereby more firmly cooperating with the first clamp module 210 to perform a unilateral pressurization and shaping operation in the horizontal second direction on all columns of battery cell units.

[0037] In some examples, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the pressing mechanism 400 includes a pressing plate 410 having a pressing contact surface and a third cylinder 420 driving the pressing plate 410 to perform a pressing movement. Thus, through the above-mentioned structural arrangement, when the third cylinder 420 drives the pressing plate 410 to perform a pressing movement, the pressing plate 410 can be pressed against the upper surface of each column of battery cell units to ensure that both sides of each column of battery cell units are aligned in the up and down directions. Further, the battery cell automatic stacking device 1 also includes a moving mechanism 500, which is transmission-connected to the pressing mechanism 400 to drive the pressing mechanism 400 to move back and forth along the horizontal second direction. Thus, through the above-mentioned structural arrangement, the pressing mechanism 400 can be driven by the moving mechanism 500 to move back and forth above each column of battery cell units to perform a corresponding pressing shaping operation on each column of battery cell units. At the same time, it can also be withdrawn from the top of the carrying platform 100 when not in use to perform an avoidance operation.

[0038] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present application, and does not limit the patent scope of the present application. All equivalent structural changes made by using the contents of the present application specification and drawings under the inventive concept of the present application, or directly / indirectly applied in other related technical fields are included in the patent protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A battery cell automatic stacking device, characterized in that: It includes a bearing platform, a clamping and alignment mechanism, a pressurizing and shaping mechanism and a pressing mechanism, wherein: The carrying platform is used to carry a plurality of rows of battery cell units; The clamping and alignment mechanism is used to perform a unilateral clamping and alignment operation on the current column of battery cell units in a first horizontal direction after the manipulator places each column of battery cell units on the carrying platform; The pressurizing and shaping mechanism is used to perform a unilateral pressurizing and shaping operation on all the column of battery cells on the carrying platform in a horizontal second direction after all the column of battery cells on the carrying platform have completed a unilateral clamping and alignment operation in a horizontal first direction, wherein the horizontal second direction is perpendicular to the horizontal first direction; The pressing mechanism is used to press down and align all the rows of battery cell units on the carrying platform after all the rows of battery cell units on the carrying platform have completed the single-side pressurization and shaping operation in the second horizontal direction.

2. The automatic battery cell stacking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The clamping alignment mechanism includes a first long clamp plate having a reference abutment surface, a second long clamp plate and a clamping power module. The first long clamp plate and the second long clamp plate are respectively arranged on both sides of the supporting platform in the horizontal first direction, and both extend along the horizontal second direction. The clamping power module is drivingly connected to the second long clamp plate to drive the second long clamp plate to move away from or close to the first long clamp plate.

3. The automatic battery stacking device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The clamping power module includes a clamping plate push plate and a screw power assembly that drives the clamping plate push plate to move back and forth along the horizontal first direction. The side of the clamping plate push plate away from the screw power assembly is tightly connected to the second long clamping plate.

4. The automatic battery cell stacking device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The clamping and alignment mechanism further includes a telescopic power module, which is drivingly connected to the first long clamping plate to drive the first long clamping plate to perform telescopic movement in the first horizontal direction.

5. The automatic battery cell stacking device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The telescopic power module includes a transmission plate assembly and a first cylinder that drives the transmission plate assembly to move back and forth along the first horizontal direction. The side of the transmission plate assembly away from the first cylinder is fastened to the first long clamping plate.

6. The automatic battery cell stacking device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The clamping and alignment mechanism also includes a latch locking module, which is used to lock the transmission plate assembly after the first cylinder drives the transmission plate assembly to extend along the first horizontal direction.

7. The automatic battery cell stacking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressurized shaping mechanism includes a first clamping plate module with a pressurized abutment surface, a second clamping plate module and a pressurized power module. The first clamping plate module and the second clamping plate module are respectively arranged on both sides of the supporting platform in the second horizontal direction. The pressurized power module is drivingly connected to the second clamping plate module to drive the second clamping plate module to move away from or close to the first clamping plate module.

8. The automatic battery cell stacking device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The first clamping plate module comprises a plurality of first clamping blocks which are fixedly arranged, and all the first clamping blocks are arranged in intervals along the first horizontal direction, so that the surfaces of one side of all the first clamping blocks facing the bearing platform form the pressurized abutting surface; and / or, The pressurizing power module includes a clamp block fixing seat and a second cylinder driving the clamp block fixing seat to move back and forth along the second horizontal direction. The second clamping plate module includes a plurality of second clamp blocks, and all of the second clamp blocks are arranged on the clamp block fixing seat at intervals along the first horizontal direction.

9. The automatic battery cell stacking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressing mechanism includes a pressing plate having a pressing contact surface and a third cylinder driving the pressing plate to perform a pressing movement.

10. The automatic battery cell stacking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a moving mechanism, which is transmission-connected with the pressing mechanism to drive the pressing mechanism to move back and forth along the second horizontal direction.

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