Annular welding device

Abstract

The utility model provides an annular welding device, which is provided with a cylindrical electrode, an annular welding rod, an annular welding rod and an annular welding rod, the rod-shaped electrode is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the outer diameter of the rod-shaped electrode is smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical electrode; and an electrode gripping mechanism capable of gripping the cylindrical electrode and the rod-shaped electrode so as to hold the rod-shaped electrode in a state in which the rod-shaped electrode is inserted into the cylindrical electrode and is concentric with the cylindrical electrode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of battery manufacturing, specifically to a ring welding device and a ring welding method used when welding a terminal of a cylindrical battery to a battery shell, and more particularly to a ring welding device and a ring welding method used when welding a cap-shaped terminal to a battery shell. Background Art

[0002] Cylindrical batteries are a widely used type of battery. During their production, the terminals need to be welded to the battery casing. Traditionally, this has been done by spot welding two cylindrical electrode rods placed side by side. The specific welding process is as follows: first, a cap-shaped terminal is placed on the battery casing. The two cylindrical electrode rods are clamped by the electrode chuck of a spot welding machine, so that the two cylindrical electrode rods are placed side by side and their bottom surfaces on the same side abut against the terminals. Then, in this state, the two electrode rods are energized, and current flows between the two electrode rods, forming a weld spot on the terminal, thus welding the terminal to the battery casing.

[0003] In the previous welding method, there are the following problems: only two welding points can be formed at a time, and multiple welding is required for a more secure welding; for terminals with non-flat shapes such as cap-shaped terminals, since the welding part is at the brim of the cap-shaped terminal, the welding area is small, and it is difficult to accurately position the cylindrical electrode rod; there is a possibility that the cap-shaped terminal will be displaced due to the electrode rod touching the raised part of the cap-shaped terminal, that is, the top part of the cap; if welding is performed without the electrode rod accurately abutting the brim of the cap-shaped terminal, welding will be impossible or the welding quality will be poor. Utility Model Content

[0004] The present invention is made in view of the above-mentioned problems. One object of the present invention is to provide a ring welding device and a ring welding method that can form multiple ring-shaped weld points at a time to firmly weld the terminal to the battery casing. Another object of the present invention is to provide a ring welding device and a ring welding method that can conveniently, accurately and firmly weld the cap-shaped terminal to the battery casing.

[0005] The first embodiment of the present invention provides a ring welding device comprising: a tubular electrode, which is formed into a hollow cylindrical shape; a rod-shaped electrode, which is formed into a cylindrical shape, wherein the outer diameter of the rod-shaped electrode is smaller than the inner diameter of the tubular electrode, and a stepped hole is formed on the bottom surface of the rod-shaped electrode; and an electrode holding mechanism, which is capable of holding the tubular electrode and the rod-shaped electrode so that the rod electrode remains inserted into the tubular electrode and concentric with the tubular electrode.

[0006] According to the first embodiment of the annular welding device of the present invention, a combination of a cylindrical electrode and a rod-shaped electrode is used, so that a plurality of welding spots distributed in an annular shape can be formed at one time, thereby firmly welding the terminal to the battery case.

[0007] A second aspect of the annular welding device of the present invention is the annular welding device of the first aspect, wherein a stepped hole is formed on the bottom surface of the rod-shaped electrode.

[0008] According to the second embodiment of the annular welding device of the present invention, by forming a stepped hole on the bottom surface of the rod-shaped electrode, welding can be performed with the cap-shaped terminal of the cylindrical battery engaged in the stepped hole, and the cap-shaped terminal can be welded to the battery case conveniently, accurately and firmly.

[0009] The third type of annular welding device of the present invention is, in the second type of annular welding device, the electrode holding mechanism includes two robotic arms for holding the cylindrical electrode and the rod-shaped electrode respectively, and the two robotic arms can move the cylindrical electrode and the inner ring battery rod in the up and down directions, and can insert the rod-shaped electrode into the interior of the cylindrical electrode and arrange it concentrically with the cylindrical electrode.

[0010] According to the annular welding device of the third aspect of the present invention, the electrode holding mechanism can be formed with a simple and reliable structure.

[0011] A fourth aspect of the annular welding device of the present invention is the annular welding device of the second aspect, wherein the rod-shaped electrode and the cylindrical electrode are integrally connected via an insulating material.

[0012] According to the fourth embodiment of the annular welding device of the present invention, since the rod-shaped electrode and the cylindrical electrode are connected as one body by an insulating material, it is only necessary to hold the cylindrical electrode and the rod-shaped electrode connected as one body by the electrode holding mechanism, which can simplify the structure of the electrode holding mechanism and eliminate the need to move the cylindrical electrode and the rod electrode separately, thereby reducing the number of welding steps.

[0013] A fifth aspect of the present invention is the annular welding device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein an insulating layer is coated on the outside of the rod-shaped electrode.

[0014] According to the annular welding device of the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent erroneous contact between the cylindrical electrode and the rod-shaped electrode.

[0015] A sixth aspect of the present invention is the annular welding device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein a reduced diameter portion is formed at a lower portion of the cylindrical electrode.

[0016] According to the annular welding device of the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent erroneous contact between the cylindrical electrode and the rod-shaped electrode.

[0017] A seventh aspect of the annular welding device of the present invention is the annular welding device of any one of the first to third aspects, wherein a plurality of protrusions are distributed on the lower surface of the rod-shaped electrode around the central axis of the rod-shaped electrode.

[0018] According to the ring welding device of the seventh aspect of the present invention, a plurality of protrusions are formed on the lower surface of the rod-shaped electrode around the central axis of the rod-shaped electrode, thereby making it possible to easily form weld spots.

[0019] A first aspect of the annular welding method of the present invention is a welding method for performing welding using an annular welding device described in any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the cylindrical electrode and the rod electrode are energized while the rod electrode is kept inserted into the cylindrical electrode and concentric with the cylindrical electrode.

[0020] According to the annular welding method of the first aspect of the present invention, due to the use of a combination of a cylindrical electrode and a rod-shaped electrode, a plurality of welding spots distributed in an annular shape can be formed at one time, thereby firmly welding the terminal to the battery case.

[0021] The second embodiment of the annular welding method of the present invention is a welding method using the annular welding device described in the second embodiment, wherein the top portion of the cap-shaped terminal is engaged in the stepped hole, the edge of the stepped hole is brought into contact with the brim portion of the cap-shaped terminal, the rod-shaped electrode is inserted into the tubular electrode, the cap-shaped terminal is brought into contact with the battery case, and current is applied to the tubular electrode and the rod-shaped electrode.

[0022] According to the ring welding method of the second aspect of the present invention, welding is performed with the cap-shaped terminal of the cylindrical battery engaged in the stepped hole, so that the cap-shaped terminal can be welded to the battery case conveniently, accurately and firmly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the structure of a cap-shaped terminal of a cylindrical battery that is a welding target of the ring welding device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 It is a perspective view showing the structure of a circular welding device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 3 This is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of a circular welding device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 4This is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which an electrode rod is in contact with a cap-shaped terminal of a cylindrical battery when welding a cylindrical battery using a ring-shaped welding device according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Below, the present invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] The present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the present disclosure can be presented in a variety of different ways and is not limited to the embodiments described below. In fact, the embodiments described below are intended to make the disclosure of the present disclosure more complete and fully illustrate the scope of protection of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. It should also be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein can be combined in various ways to provide more additional embodiments. It should be understood that the terms used in the specification are only used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. All terms used in the specification (including technical terms and scientific terms) have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art unless otherwise defined. For the sake of brevity and / or clarity, well-known functions or structures may not be described in detail.

[0029] In all the drawings, the same reference numerals represent the same elements. In addition, the drawings are diagrams schematically showing the structure of the annular welding device involved in the present disclosure, and the annular welding device involved in the present disclosure is not limited to the structure shown in the drawings. The terms in the specification are only used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in the specification have the meanings generally understood by those skilled in the art. For the sake of simplicity and clarity, well-known functions or structures may not be described in detail. In the description of the present utility model, the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer" and the like indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly set when the utility model product is used. They are only for the convenience of describing the utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operate in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present utility model.

[0030] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the structure of a cylindrical battery as a welding target of a circular welding device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 The cap-shaped terminal 1 of the cylindrical battery shown is welded to the upper surface of the cylindrical battery case. Figure 1 As shown, the cap-shaped terminal 1 includes a cap top portion 2 and a brim portion 3. During welding, the cap-shaped terminal 1 is placed above the battery case, welding spots are formed in a ring shape on the brim portion 3, and the brim portion 3 is welded to the battery case, thereby fixing the cap-shaped terminal 1 to the battery case.

[0031] Figure 2 It is a perspective view showing the structure of a circular welding device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of a circular welding device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 This is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which an electrode rod is in contact with a cap-shaped terminal of a cylindrical battery when welding a cylindrical battery using a ring-shaped welding device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, a ring welding device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cylindrical electrode 4, a rod-shaped electrode 5, and an electrode holding mechanism 6. The cylindrical electrode 4 is formed into a hollow cylindrical shape, and the inner diameter of the cylinder is larger than the outer diameter of the brim portion 3 of the cap-shaped terminal 1 and smaller than the diameter of the upper surface of the battery case of the cylindrical battery. In this embodiment, a step portion is formed at the lower portion of the cylindrical electrode 4. The outer diameter of the cylinder below the step portion is smaller than the outer diameter of the cylinder above the step portion and smaller than the diameter of the upper surface of the battery case. The large diameter portion above the step portion facilitates holding by the electrode holding mechanism 6. However, the step portion may be omitted and the outer diameter of the cylindrical electrode 4 may be fixed. In the case where the outer diameter of the cylindrical electrode 4 is fixed, the outer diameter of the cylindrical electrode 4 is smaller than the diameter of the upper surface of the battery case.

[0033] like Figure 2 、 Figure 3 as well as Figure 4 As shown, the rod-shaped electrode 5 is cylindrical and has a stepped hole 51 formed on its bottom surface. The outer diameter of the rod-shaped electrode 5 is smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical electrode 4 and smaller than the outer diameter of the brim portion 3 of the cap-shaped terminal 1. The stepped hole 51 is capable of engaging the crown portion 2 of the cap-shaped terminal 1. The rod-shaped electrode 5 can be inserted into the interior of the cylindrical electrode 4. When the rod-shaped electrode 5 is inserted into the cylindrical electrode 4, the crown portion 2 of the cap-shaped terminal 1 is received in the stepped hole 51, and the edge of the stepped hole 51 abuts the brim portion 3 of the cap-shaped terminal 1. To prevent accidental contact between the rod-shaped electrode 5 and the cylindrical electrode 4 when inserted, an insulating layer 7 is preferably formed around the outer periphery of the rod-shaped electrode 5. Furthermore, the lower surface of the rod-shaped electrode 5 preferably has a plurality of bumps distributed around its central axis. The presence of these bumps facilitates solder joint formation.

[0034] In this embodiment, the electrode holding mechanism 6 includes a robotic arm 61 for clamping the cylindrical electrode 4 and a robotic arm 62 for clamping the rod-shaped electrode 5. The two robotic arms 61 and 62 can respectively clamp the cylindrical electrode 4 and the rod-shaped electrode 5 and can move the two electrode rods 4 and 5 in the up and down directions. In addition, the robotic arm 62 can insert the rod-shaped electrode 5 into the interior of the cylindrical electrode 4.

[0035] Next, refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 , a circular welding method using the circular welding device of this embodiment is described.

[0036] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, during ring welding, robotic arm 61 grips cylindrical electrode 4 and moves it downward from above the cylindrical battery, bringing it into contact with the upper surface of the cylindrical battery's battery case. Then, robotic arm 62 inserts rod-shaped electrode 5, with cap-shaped terminal 1 engaged in stepped hole 51, from the upper opening of cylindrical electrode 4 into the interior of cylindrical electrode 4 until cap-shaped terminal 1 contacts the upper surface of the cylindrical battery's battery case. In this state, current is applied to cylindrical electrode 4 and rod-shaped electrode 5. Current flows between cylindrical electrode 4 and rod-shaped electrode 5 via brim portion 3 of cap-shaped terminal 1. Heat generated by the current welds brim portion 3 to the upper surface of the cylindrical battery's battery case. After welding is completed, the robot arm 62 is lifted upward to pull the rod-shaped electrode 5 out of the cylindrical electrode 4. Then, the robot arm 61 is lifted upward to separate the cylindrical electrode 4 from the upper surface of the battery shell of the cylindrical battery until the lower surface of the cylindrical electrode 4 is higher than the upper surface of the cap-shaped terminal 1, so that the welded cylindrical battery can be removed.

[0037] An embodiment of the circular welding device and the circular welding method of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0038] For example, in the annular welding device of the above embodiment, the cylindrical electrode 4 and the rod-shaped electrode 5 are formed separately, and the cylindrical electrode 4 and the rod-shaped electrode 5 are respectively held by the robotic arm 61 and the robotic arm 62. However, the cylindrical electrode 4 and the rod-shaped electrode 5 can also be connected as one through an insulating material. In this case, it is sufficient to hold the cylindrical electrode 4 and the rod-shaped electrode 5 connected as one by one robotic arm, which can simplify the structure of the electrode holding mechanism 6, and there is no need to move the cylindrical electrode 4 and the rod-shaped electrode 5 separately, thereby reducing the number of welding steps.

[0039] In addition, in the annular welding method of the above embodiment, the robot arms 61 and 62 of the electrode holding mechanism 6 move the cylindrical electrode 4 and the rod-shaped electrode 5 to cover the cap-shaped terminal 1 of the cylindrical battery. However, the robot arms 61 and 62 of the electrode holding mechanism 6 may also keep the cylindrical electrode 4 and the rod-shaped electrode 5 stationary and move the cylindrical battery from bottom to top.

[0040] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various omissions, changes, and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the present invention includes modifications and variations within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. In particular, it should be understood that any combination of any two or more of the above-described embodiments and their variations, in part or in whole, is within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A ring welding device, characterized in that: have: a cylindrical electrode, wherein the cylindrical electrode is formed into a hollow cylindrical shape; a rod-shaped electrode, the rod-shaped electrode being formed into a cylindrical shape, the outer diameter of the rod-shaped electrode being smaller than the inner diameter of the tubular electrode; as well as An electrode holding mechanism is configured to hold the cylindrical electrode and the rod-shaped electrode so as to keep the rod-shaped electrode inserted into the cylindrical electrode and concentric with the cylindrical electrode.

2. The annular welding device according to claim 1, characterized in that A stepped hole is formed on the bottom surface of the rod-shaped electrode.

3. The annular welding device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The electrode holding mechanism includes two robotic arms for holding the cylindrical electrode and the rod-shaped electrode respectively. The two robotic arms can move the cylindrical electrode and the rod-shaped electrode in the vertical direction, and can insert the rod-shaped electrode into the interior of the cylindrical electrode and arrange it concentrically with the cylindrical electrode.

4. The annular welding device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The rod-shaped electrode and the cylindrical electrode are connected into one body through an insulating material.

5. The annular welding device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The outer sides of the rod-shaped electrodes are covered with an insulating layer.

6. The annular welding device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A reduced diameter portion is formed at a lower portion of the tubular electrode.

7. The annular welding device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A plurality of protrusions are distributed on the lower surface of the rod-shaped electrode around the central axis of the rod-shaped electrode.

Images