Visual detection mechanism for shell appearance

Abstract

The utility model discloses a shell appearance visual inspection mechanism, which comprises a transmission device, a gripping device I, a visual inspection device and a gripping device II, and is characterized in that the transmission device comprises a transmission line, and the transmission line is provided with a positioning structure for positioning a battery shell; the first grabbing device and the second grabbing device each comprise a flexible mechanical arm with a grabbing end, the first grabbing device grabs the battery shells on the conveying line and moves the battery shells to the visual detection device, the visual detection device conducts appearance detection on the battery shells, then the first grabbing device is in butt joint with the second grabbing device, and the second grabbing device is in butt joint with the second grabbing device. The first grabbing device transfers the detected battery shell to the second grabbing device, and the second grabbing device grabs the battery shell and places the battery shell on the transmission line. According to the utility model, not only is the production efficiency improved, but also a large amount of labor cost is saved, and the detection accuracy is ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of lithium batteries, in particular to a visual inspection mechanism for the appearance of a shell. Background Art

[0002] During the production process of lithium batteries, defects or flaws on each component will affect the overall safety of the battery. Especially for the aluminum shell of lithium batteries, it is a very necessary task to detect its appearance defects. It is necessary to detect the surface defects of the lithium battery shell, including the mouth, interior, side, bottom, etc. At present, the appearance inspection on the market is completed manually. Due to the improvement of production efficiency, the number of products inspected by employees per day increases. In order to complete the daily tasks, the inspection speed must be increased. Therefore, more inspection personnel are needed for product inspection, and professional and experienced personnel need to be trained. However, due to long-term work every day, employees will miss inspections and make misjudgments during the inspection process due to fatigue and repetitive work, resulting in product scrapping and the outflow of defective products. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an inspection mechanism that can automatically detect the appearance. Content of the Utility Model

[0003] The purpose of the utility model is to design a visual inspection mechanism for the appearance of a shell to solve the above-mentioned technical deficiencies.

[0004] The visual inspection mechanism for the appearance of the shell designed by the utility model includes a transmission device, a first grasping device, a visual inspection device and a second grasping device. The transmission device includes a transmission line, and a positioning structure for positioning the battery shell is arranged on the transmission line. Both the first grasping device and the second grasping device include a flexible manipulator with a grasping end. The first grasping device grasps the battery shell on the transmission line and moves it to the visual inspection device. The visual inspection device performs an appearance inspection on the battery shell. Then, the first grasping device is docked with the second grasping device. The first grasping device transfers the inspected battery shell to the second grasping device, and the second grasping device grasps the battery shell and places it on the transmission line.

[0005] Preferably, the first grasping device and the second grasping device are respectively located on both sides of the visual inspection device.

[0006] Further optimized, the visual inspection device includes a light source and an imaging lens system.

[0007] Preferably, the positioning structure includes positioning blocks. Two positioning blocks are fixed on the surface of the transmission line as a group. One end of the battery shell is open, and the battery shell is sleeved on the two positioning blocks with the opening facing downwards. The two positioning blocks are respectively close to the opposite inner walls of the battery shell to position the battery shell.

[0008] For further optimization, the flexible manipulator includes a base and a rotating part connected to the base. The grasping end is connected to the rotating part. The rotating part is provided with an output shaft. The grasping end includes a cross beam connected to the rotating part. A rotating shaft is provided on the cross beam. One end of the rotating shaft is connected to the output shaft, and the other end is connected with a suction cup structure.

[0009] For further optimization, a plurality of rotating shafts are sequentially distributed along the length direction of the cross beam. A driven pulley is provided on each rotating shaft. A driving pulley is provided on the output shaft of the rotating part. The driving pulley and the driven pulley are connected by a belt to form a belt drive. A suction cup structure is provided on each rotating shaft.

[0010] For further optimization, the suction cup structure includes a fixing part connected to the rotating shaft. Two suction cups symmetrically arranged with the rotating shaft as the center are provided on the fixing part. An air vent pipe is provided on each rotating shaft. One end of the air vent pipe communicates with the suction cup, and the other end is connected to an external vacuum pumping device through a joint.

[0011] Preferably, the transmission line includes a first transmission belt and a second transmission belt. The first transmission belt is located between the first grasping device and the visual inspection device. The second transmission belt is located between the second grasping device and the visual inspection device.

[0012] The technical effect of the present utility model is that the battery shell is positioned by the positioning structure on the first transmission belt and conveyed forward along with the first transmission belt. The first grasping device grabs the battery shell on the first transmission belt to the visual inspection device for appearance inspection. Since there are multiple grasping ends on the first grasping device, multiple battery shells can be grabbed synchronously and the appearance inspection can be carried out simultaneously. The first grasping device can rotate the battery shell synchronously to realize automatic batch appearance inspection. The second grasping device grabs the battery shell that has been inspected by the first grasping device and transfers it to the second transmission belt for blanking, realizing automatic blanking. No damage will be caused to the battery shell during the inspection and blanking process. Therefore, the present utility model not only improves the production efficiency, but also saves a large amount of labor costs, and at the same time ensures the accuracy of the inspection. Description of the Drawings

[0013] Figure 1 is the top view of the overall structure of the present utility model;

[0014] Figure 2 is the structure diagram of the flexible manipulator in the present utility model.

[0015] In the figure: 1. Visual inspection device; 2. Battery shell; 3. First grasping device; 31. Base; 32. Rotating part; 33. Output shaft; 4. Second grasping device; 5. Grasping end; 51. Cross beam; 52. Rotating shaft; 53. Driven pulley; 54. Driving pulley; 55. Fixing part; 56. Suction cup; 57. Joint; 6. First transmission belt; 7. Second transmission belt. Detailed implementation manner

[0016] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

[0017] In this embodiment, as Figure 1 and 2 shown, it includes a transmission device, a first grasping device 3, a visual detection device 1, and a second grasping device 4. The transmission device includes a transmission line, and a positioning structure for positioning the battery housing 2 is provided on the transmission line. One end of the battery housing 2 is open, and the battery housing 2 is placed on the transmission line with the opening facing downwards and is positioned by the positioning structure, so that the battery housing 2 can move forward with the transmission line. The first grasping device 3 and the second grasping device 4 are respectively located on both sides of the visual detection device 1. The first grasping device 3 is used to grasp and move the battery housing 2 on the transmission line to the visual detection device 1. The visual detection device 1 takes an appearance photo and performs detection on the battery housing 2 on the first grasping device 3. After the appearance detection is completed, the first grasping device 3 raises the battery housing 2 above the visual detection device 1, and the second grasping device 4 grasps the battery housing 2, so that the first grasping device 3 and the second grasping device 4 complete docking. The second grasping device 4 grasps the battery housing 2 and moves it to the conveyor belt, thus completing the appearance detection of the battery appearance.

[0018] Both the first grasping device 3 and the second grasping device 4 include a flexible manipulator having a grasping end 5. The flexible manipulator is a robot capable of multi-axial movement, with high degrees of freedom and strong rigidity. The main structure of the flexible manipulator includes a base 31 and a rotating part 32 connected to the base 31. The rotating part 32 can perform multi-axial movement around the base 31, including rotation and lifting actions. The specific internal structure and working principle of the base 31 and the rotating part 32 are conventional technologies and will not be elaborated here. The grasping end 5 is connected to the rotating part 32, and the grasping end 5 rotates with the rotating part 32. The rotating part 32 has an output shaft 33. The grasping end 5 includes a cross beam 51 connected to the rotating end. A rotating shaft 52 is provided on the cross beam 51. The rotating shaft 52 is rotatably connected to the cross beam 51. One end of the rotating shaft 52 is connected to the output shaft 33, and the other end is connected with a suction cup structure, so that the suction cup structure can rotate along the rotating shaft 52, and the suction cup structure directly sucks and grabs on an outer wall of the battery housing 2.

[0019] The suction cup structure includes a fixing part 55 connected to the rotating shaft 52. The fixing part 55 rotates with the rotating shaft 52. There are two suction cups 56 symmetrically arranged around the rotating shaft 52 on the fixing part 55. An air vent pipe is provided on each rotating shaft 52 and extends into the interior of the fixing part 55. One end of the air vent pipe communicates with the suction cup 56, and the other end is connected to an external vacuum pumping device through a joint 57. The external vacuum pumping device evacuates the suction cup 56 through the air vent pipe, and the suction cup 56 generates negative pressure to suck the battery case 2. The fixing part 55 rotates to drive the two suction cups 56 to rotate simultaneously, so that the sucked battery case 2 can rotate 360 degrees around the rotating shaft 52, enabling the vision detection device 1 to detect all outer wall surfaces of the battery appearance.

[0020] The vision detection device 1 includes a light source and an imaging lens system. In this embodiment, the vision detection device 1 further includes an occlusion box body. The light source and the imaging lens system are fixed on the inner wall of the occlusion box body. The front end of the occlusion box body is open. When the grasping device 3 moves the battery case 2 from the opening of the occlusion box body into the interior of the occlusion box body, the light source and the imaging lens system take pictures of the battery case 2 to obtain image information. At the same time, the battery case 2 rotates with the fixing part 55 for multi-angle shooting.

[0021] The light source and the imaging lens system are conventional technical means. The present invention further includes a control center, which integrally controls the coordinated work of the transmission device, the grasping device 3, the vision detection device 1 and the grasping device 4. The control center, the light source and the imaging lens system are all conventional technical means, and their specific structures and working principles will not be elaborated here.

[0022] The positioning structure includes positioning blocks. The positioning blocks are square structures and are fixed on the surface of the transmission line and advance with the transmission line. In this embodiment, two positioning blocks are in a group. Since the battery case 2 is a square shell structure with one end open, the battery case 2 is sleeved on a group of positioning blocks with the opening facing downwards, that is, on two positioning blocks. The two positioning blocks respectively approach or abut against a group of opposite inner walls of the battery case 2 to position the battery case 2, so that the battery case 2 can advance stably. At the same time, corresponding to the grasping device 3, multiple grasping devices are distributed along the transmission line in sequence. Multiple groups of positioning blocks are arranged corresponding to the grasping device 3, so that multiple grasping devices 3 can grasp the battery case 2 simultaneously. At this time, the number of the vision detection device 1 and the grasping device 4 is also multiple and is arranged corresponding to the grasping device 3.

[0023] A plurality of rotating shafts 52 are sequentially distributed along the length direction of the cross beam 51. A driven pulley 53 is provided on each rotating shaft 52. A driving pulley 54 is provided on the output shaft 33 of the rotating part 32. The driving pulley 54 and the driven pulley 53 are connected by a belt to form a belt drive. The output shaft 33 on the rotating part 32 serves as the main drive, drives the driven pulley 53 to rotate through the belt drive, and then drives the rotating shaft 52 to rotate, so as to realize the synchronous rotation of all the rotating shafts 52. A suction cup structure is provided on each rotating shaft 52, so as to realize the simultaneous rotation of a plurality of suction cup structures, and finally realize the simultaneous suction of the corresponding battery housing 2 by a plurality of suction cup structures and synchronous rotation.

[0024] In addition, the transmission line includes a first transmission belt 6 and a second transmission belt 7. The first transmission belt 6 is located between the first grasping device 3 and the visual inspection device 1. The second transmission belt 7 is located between the second grasping device 4 and the visual inspection device 1. The first transmission belt 6 and the second transmission belt 7 are arranged in parallel. A positioning structure is provided on the first transmission belt 6, and there is no positioning structure on the second transmission belt 7. The second grasping device 4 grasps the battery housing 2 that has been inspected and places it on the second transmission belt 7 for blanking.

[0025] A kicking mechanism is further provided at the end of the second transmission belt 7. The battery housing 2 that has been inspected gives information feedback through the control center, instructing the manipulator of the kicking mechanism to grasp the battery housing 2 with unqualified appearance from the second transmission belt 7 and place it on the unqualified product transmission line.

[0026] In addition, in order to improve the blanking automation, a repairable unqualified product transmission line can be additionally provided at the end of the second transmission belt 7. The manipulator can separately grasp the unqualified but repairable battery housing 2 and place it on this transmission line, so as to realize the automatic classification and blanking of the battery housing 2 in three appearance states of qualified, unqualified, and unqualified but repairable.

[0027] The utility model is not limited to the above best implementation manner. Any person can obtain other various forms of products under the inspiration of the utility model. However, no matter what changes are made in its shape or structure, as long as it has the same or similar technical solutions as the present application, it falls within the protection scope of the utility model.

Claims

1. Visual inspection mechanism for the appearance of the housing, characterized in that, It includes a transmission device, a first grasping device (3), a visual inspection device (1) and a second grasping device (4). The transmission device includes a transmission line, and a positioning structure for positioning the battery housing (2) is provided on the transmission line. Both the first grasping device (3) and the second grasping device (4) include a flexible manipulator having a grasping end (5). The first grasping device (3) grasps the battery housing (2) on the transmission line and moves it to the visual inspection device (1). The visual inspection device (1) performs an appearance inspection on the battery housing (2). Then, the first grasping device (3) docks with the second grasping device (4). The first grasping device (3) transfers the inspected battery housing (2) to the second grasping device (4), and the second grasping device (4) grasps the battery housing (2) and places it on the transmission line.

2. The outer shell appearance visual inspection mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first grasping device (3) and the second grasping device (4) are respectively located on both sides of the visual inspection device (1).

3. The outer shell appearance visual inspection mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that, The visual inspection device (1) includes a light source and an imaging lens system.

4. The outer shell appearance visual inspection mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The positioning structure includes positioning blocks. Two positioning blocks are fixed to the surface of the transmission line as a group. One end of the battery housing (2) is open, and the battery housing (2) is sleeved on the two positioning blocks with the opening facing down. The two positioning blocks are respectively close to the opposite inner walls of the battery housing (2) to position the battery housing (2).

5. The outer shell appearance visual inspection mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that, The flexible manipulator includes a base (31) and a rotating part (32) connected to the base (31). The grasping end (5) is connected to the rotating part (32). An output shaft (33) is provided on the rotating part (32). The grasping end (5) includes a cross beam (51) connected to the rotating part (32). A rotating shaft (52) is provided on the cross beam (51). One end of the rotating shaft (52) is connected to the output shaft (33), and the other end is connected to a suction cup structure.

6. The visual inspection mechanism for the appearance of the housing according to claim 5, wherein A plurality of rotating shafts (52) are sequentially distributed along the length direction of the cross beam (51). A driven pulley (53) is provided on each rotating shaft (52). A driving pulley (54) is provided on the output shaft (33) of the rotating part (32). The driving pulley (54) and the driven pulley (53) are connected by a belt to form a belt drive. A suction cup structure is provided on each rotating shaft (52).

7. The outer shell appearance visual inspection mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that, The suction cup structure includes a fixing part (55) connected to the rotating shaft (52). Two suction cups (56) symmetrically arranged with the rotating shaft (52) as the center are provided on the fixing part (55). An air vent pipe is provided on each rotating shaft (52). One end of the air vent pipe communicates with the suction cup (56), and the other end is connected to an external vacuum device through a joint (57).

8. The outer shell appearance visual inspection mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission line includes a first transmission belt (6) and a second transmission belt (7). The first transmission belt (6) is located between the first grasping device (3) and the visual inspection device (1), and the second transmission belt (7) is located between the second grasping device (4) and the visual inspection device (1).

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