Fool-proof plastic mold assembly
By designing a foolproof plastic mold assembly, and utilizing a combination of limiting posts and limiting grooves, the problem of easily reversing the installation of plastic for the positive and negative electrodes was solved, thereby improving production efficiency and reducing costs.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202422561047.7
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-23
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-07
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-10-23
AI Technical Summary
During the production of battery terminals, the plastic inserts under the positive and negative electrodes are easily installed in reverse, which can cause the injection hole to be blocked, resulting in low production efficiency and increased costs.
The design incorporates foolproof plastic mold components, including positive and negative electrode mold components. The design of limiting posts and limiting grooves ensures the correct assembly of the plastic parts under the positive and negative electrodes, preventing misassembly. Limiting posts of different diameters are used to prevent misinsertion, and guide protrusions are provided for easy inspection.
It effectively prevents the plastic parts from being reversed at the positive and negative electrodes, improves production efficiency, reduces production costs, and ensures battery quality.
Smart Images
Figure CN223527198U_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The utility model relates to injection mold technical field especially relates to a kind of foolproof plastic mold assemblies. BACKGROUND
[0002] The pole of battery is generally arranged on top cover assembly, the side of cover plate towards battery interior has lower plastic to ensure insulation. The pole can be fixed with cover plate by various ways, one of which is to sequentially pass the pole through the through hole of lower plastic and cover plate, the end of the pole for connecting tab abuts the side of lower plastic towards tab, the other end of the pole is fixed by upper plastic of injection molding. When lower plastic is divided into positive lower plastic and negative lower plastic, as the structure of the two is very similar, it is easy to install reversely, so as to block the liquid injection hole on cover plate. If it is found that lower plastic is installed reversely after upper plastic injection molding, it is necessary to destroy upper plastic to take down lower plastic for exchange, which not only consumes time but also easily damages top cover assembly to cause intermediate product to be scrapped, so as to affect production efficiency and increase production cost. SUMMARY
[0003] The utility model aims at providing a kind of foolproof plastic mold assemblies, which can ensure production efficiency and reduce production cost.
[0004] To achieve this purpose, the utility model adopts the following technical solutions:
[0005] A kind of foolproof plastic mold assemblies is provided, comprising:
[0006] Positive mold assembly, comprising positive mold and first positive limiting post, the positive mold has oppositely arranged first face and second face, the first face is provided with first limiting slot, and top cover assembly can be placed in the first limiting slot, the bottom of the first limiting slot is provided with second limiting slot, the positive lower plastic of the top cover assembly is located in the second limiting slot, the bottom of the second limiting slot is provided with first through hole, and one end of the first positive limiting post passes through the first through hole from the second face and is located in the positive limiting hole of the positive lower plastic;
[0007] Negative mold assembly, comprising negative mold and first negative limiting post, the negative mold has oppositely arranged third face and fourth face, the third face is provided with third limiting slot, and top cover assembly can be placed in the third limiting slot, the bottom of the third limiting slot is provided with fourth limiting slot, the negative lower plastic of the top cover assembly is located in the fourth limiting slot, the bottom of the fourth limiting slot is provided with second through hole, and one end of the first negative limiting post passes through the second through hole from the fourth face and is located in the negative limiting hole of the negative lower plastic, the cross section of the end of the first positive limiting post inserted into the positive limiting hole is larger than the inner diameter of the negative limiting hole.
[0008] Optionally, the first surface is provided with N first limiting grooves arranged in a straight line, and N is a positive integer greater than 1.
[0009] And / or, the third surface is provided with M third limiting grooves arranged in a straight line, and M is a positive integer greater than 1.
[0010] Optionally, the arrangement direction of the N first limiting grooves is parallel to the width direction of each first limiting groove.
[0011] And / or, the arrangement direction of the M third limiting grooves is parallel to the width direction of each third limiting groove.
[0012] Optionally, the groove bottom of the second limiting groove is provided with two first through holes, the first positive electrode limiting column is provided with two, the positive electrode lower plastic is provided with two positive electrode limiting holes, one end of one first positive electrode limiting column passes through one first through hole and is located in one positive electrode limiting hole, and one end of the other first positive electrode limiting column passes through the other first through hole and is located in the other positive electrode limiting hole.
[0013] The groove bottom of the fourth limiting groove is provided with two second through holes, the first negative electrode limiting column is provided with two, the negative electrode lower plastic is provided with two negative electrode limiting holes, one end of one first negative electrode limiting column passes through one second through hole and is located in one negative electrode limiting hole, and one end of the other first negative electrode limiting column passes through the other second through hole and is located in the other negative electrode limiting hole.
[0014] Optionally, the cross-sectional diameters of the two first positive electrode limiting columns are a1 and a2 respectively, the inner diameters of the two positive electrode limiting holes are b1 and b2 respectively, and b1>a1>b2>a2 is satisfied.
[0015] And / or, the cross-sectional diameters of the two first negative electrode limiting columns are c1 and c2 respectively, the inner diameters of the two negative electrode limiting holes are d1 and d2 respectively, and d1>c1>d2>c2 is satisfied.
[0016] Optionally, the two positive electrode limiting holes are located at the end of the positive electrode lower plastic away from the negative electrode lower plastic.
[0017] And / or, the two negative electrode limiting holes are located at the end of the negative electrode lower plastic away from the positive electrode lower plastic.
[0018] Optionally, the connecting line of the two positive electrode limiting holes does not coincide with the center line of the positive electrode lower plastic.
[0019] And / or, the line connecting the two negative limiting holes does not coincide with the center line of the negative lower plastic.
[0020] Optionally, the positive mold assembly further comprises a second positive limiting post, which is used to be inserted at the liquid injection hole of the top cover assembly.
[0021] And / or, the negative mold assembly further comprises a second negative limiting post, which is used to be inserted at the liquid injection hole.
[0022] Optionally, the first face has a plurality of first limiting protrusions, which are distributed around the first limiting groove.
[0023] Optionally, the third face has a plurality of second limiting protrusions, which are distributed around the third limiting groove.
[0024] The beneficial effects of the utility model are:
[0025] The utility model provides a kind of foolproof plastic mold assembly, including positive mold assembly and negative mold assembly.Wherein, positive mold assembly includes positive mold and first positive limiting post, and positive mold has oppositely arranged first face and second face, and first face is equipped with first limiting groove, and top cover assembly can be placed in first limiting groove, and the groove bottom of first limiting groove is equipped with second limiting groove, and the negative lower plastic of top cover assembly is located in second limiting groove, and the groove bottom of second limiting groove is equipped with first through-hole, and one end of first positive limiting post passes first through-hole from second face and is located in the positive limiting hole of negative lower plastic.Positive mold assembly includes negative mold and first negative limiting post, and negative mold has oppositely arranged third face and fourth face, and third face is equipped with third limiting groove, and top cover assembly can be placed in third limiting groove, and the groove bottom of third limiting groove is equipped with fourth limiting groove, and the negative lower plastic of top cover assembly is located in fourth limiting groove, and the groove bottom of fourth limiting groove is equipped with second through-hole, and one end of first negative limiting post passes second through-hole from fourth face and is located in the negative limiting hole of negative lower plastic.The diameter of the cross section of the end of first positive limiting post inserted into positive limiting hole is greater than the inner diameter of negative limiting hole, i.e. first positive limiting post cannot be inserted into negative limiting hole, i.e. negative lower plastic can be prevented from being assembled to top cover assembly as positive lower plastic, play the role of foolproof, save subsequent detection and correction steps, not only help to guarantee battery quality, can also improve production efficiency, reduce production cost. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0026] Figure 1 It is the first view angle assembly schematic drawing of the positive mold assembly and top cover assembly provided by the utility model embodiment;
[0027] Figure 2is a partial exploded view of the positive electrode mold assembly and the top cover assembly provided by the embodiment of the utility model,
[0028] Figure 3 is the second perspective view of the assembly schematic view of the positive electrode mold assembly and the top cover assembly provided by the embodiment of the utility model,
[0029] Figure 4 is the third perspective view of the assembly schematic view of the negative electrode mold assembly and the top cover assembly provided by the embodiment of the utility model,
[0030] Figure 5 is a partial exploded view of the negative electrode mold assembly and the top cover assembly provided by the embodiment of the utility model.
[0031] In the drawings,
[0032] 1, positive electrode mold assembly;11, positive electrode mold;111, first limit slot;112, second limit slot;113, first through hole;114, first limit convex;12, first positive limit column;
[0033] 2, negative electrode mold assembly;21, negative electrode mold;211, second through hole;212, second limit convex;22, first negative limit column;
[0034] 800, top cover assembly;801, positive electrode lower plastic;8011, positive limit hole;802, negative electrode lower plastic;803, cover plate;8031, liquid injection hole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] The technical scheme of the utility model will be further described below in combination with the drawings and embodiments.It can be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the utility model, and not to limit the utility model.In addition, it should be noted that, in order to facilitate the description, only the parts related to the utility model are shown in the drawings, not all.
[0036] In the description of the utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "mounting", "connection" and "connection" should be understood broadly, for example, it can be fixed connection, and can be detachable connection;It can be mechanical connection, or electrical connection;It can be directly connected, or indirectly connected through intermediate medium, or the communication between two elements.For ordinary skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the utility model can be understood according to the specific circumstances.
[0037] In the utility model, unless another definite provision and limitation, first feature is "on" or "under" second feature, can include that first and second features are in direct contact, also can include that first and second features are not in direct contact but contact through other feature between them.Moreover, first feature "on", "above" and "on" second feature include that first feature is directly above and obliquely above second feature, or only indicate that first feature horizontal height is higher than second feature.First feature "under", "below" and "under" second feature include that first feature is directly below and obliquely below second feature, or only indicate that first feature horizontal height is less than second feature.
[0038] As shown in the figure, the foolproof plastic mold assembly of the embodiment comprises a positive electrode mold assembly 1 and a negative electrode mold assembly 2. Figures 1-5
[0039] The positive electrode mold assembly 1 comprises a positive electrode mold 11 and a first positive electrode limiting column 12, the positive electrode mold 11 has oppositely arranged first and second faces, the first face is provided with a first limiting groove 111, and the top cover assembly 800 can be placed in the first limiting groove 111.The groove bottom of the first limiting groove 111 is provided with a second limiting groove 112, and the positive electrode lower plastic 801 of the top cover assembly 800 is located in the second limiting groove 112. The groove bottom of the second limiting groove 112 is through provided with a first through hole 113, one end of the first positive electrode limiting column 12 passes through the first through hole 113 from the second face and is located in the positive electrode limiting hole 8011 of the positive electrode lower plastic 801. Optionally, the size of the first through hole 113 is consistent with that of the positive electrode limiting hole 8011.
[0040] The negative electrode mold assembly 2 comprises a negative electrode mold 21 and a first negative electrode limiting column 22, the negative electrode mold 21 has oppositely arranged third and fourth faces, the third face is provided with a third limiting groove, and the top cover assembly 800 can be placed in the third limiting groove. The groove bottom of the third limiting groove is provided with a fourth limiting groove, and the negative electrode lower plastic 802 of the top cover assembly 800 is located in the fourth limiting groove. The groove bottom of the fourth limiting groove is through provided with a second through hole 211, one end of the first negative electrode limiting column 22 passes through the second through hole 211 from the fourth face and is located in the negative electrode limiting hole of the negative electrode lower plastic 802. Optionally, the size of the second through hole 211 is consistent with that of the negative electrode limiting hole.
[0041] The diameter of the cross section of the end part of the first positive electrode limiting column 12 inserted into the positive electrode limiting hole 8011 is greater than the inner diameter of the negative electrode limiting hole, that is, the first positive electrode limiting column 12 cannot be inserted into the negative electrode limiting hole, that is, the negative electrode lower plastic 802 can be prevented from being assembled onto the top cover assembly 800 as the positive electrode lower plastic 801, which plays a role of preventing mistakes, saves subsequent detection and correction steps, not only helps to ensure the quality of the battery, but also improves the production efficiency and reduces the production cost.
[0042] In order to facilitate the staff to check and improve the processing efficiency, the first surface is optionally provided with N first limiting grooves 111, the N first limiting grooves 111 are arranged in a straight line, and N is a positive integer greater than 1. Processing N top cover assemblies 800 on the positive electrode at a time can improve the processing efficiency, and the straight-line arrangement can facilitate the staff to check and prevent the setting of multiple rows from causing missed checking.
[0043] The third surface is optionally provided with M third limiting grooves, the M third limiting grooves are arranged in a straight line, and M is a positive integer greater than 1. Processing M top cover assemblies 800 on the negative electrode at a time can also improve the processing efficiency, and the straight-line arrangement can facilitate the staff to check and prevent the setting of multiple rows from causing missed checking.
[0044] In the embodiment, the values of M and N are both 4, and of course in other embodiments, the value of M can be 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 or a larger positive integer, and the value of N can be 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 or a larger positive integer, which can be adjusted according to the size of the top cover assembly 800 and the parameters of other plastic molded components.
[0045] Optionally, the arrangement direction of the N first limiting grooves 111 is parallel to the width direction of each first limiting groove 111, which can reduce the arrangement length and further facilitate the staff to check each top cover assembly 800. Similarly, the arrangement direction of the M third limiting grooves is optionally parallel to the width direction of each third limiting groove, which can also reduce the arrangement length and further facilitate the staff to check each top cover assembly 800.
[0046] Optionally, the positive limiting hole 8011 of the positive lower plastic 801 and the negative limiting hole of the negative lower plastic 802 are mirror image arranged, that is, when the positive lower plastic 801 is placed as the negative lower plastic 802, the positive limiting hole 8011 of the positive lower plastic 801 does not correspond to the second through hole 211 of the negative mold 21, and the first negative limiting column 22 cannot be normally inserted into the positive limiting hole 8011, so that the assembly error can be found and corrected in time. Similarly, when the negative lower plastic 802 is placed as the positive lower plastic 801, the negative limiting hole of the negative lower plastic 802 does not correspond to the first through hole 113 of the positive mold 11, and the first positive limiting column 12 cannot be normally inserted into the negative limiting hole, so that the assembly error can be found and corrected in time. Of course, the assembly error can also be found and corrected in time due to the inconsistent sizes of the positive limiting hole 8011 and the negative limiting hole.
[0047] Optionally, the groove bottom of the second limiting groove 112 is through-opened with two first through holes 113, the first positive electrode limiting column 12 is provided with two, the positive electrode lower plastic 801 is opened with two positive electrode limiting holes 8011, one end of one first positive electrode limiting column 12 passes through one first through hole 113 and is located in one positive electrode limiting hole 8011, and one end of the other first positive electrode limiting column 12 passes through the other first through hole 113 and is located in the other positive electrode limiting hole 8011.
[0048] Optionally, the cross-sectional diameters of the two first positive electrode limiting columns 12 are a1 and a2 respectively, the inner diameters of the two positive electrode limiting holes 8011 are b1 and b2 respectively, and b1>a1>b2>a2 is satisfied. That is, the first positive electrode limiting column 12 with a larger diameter cannot be inserted into the positive electrode limiting hole 8011 with a smaller inner diameter.
[0049] Optionally, the two positive electrode limiting holes 8011 are located at the end of the positive electrode lower plastic 801 away from the negative electrode lower plastic 802, which can prevent the problem that the positive electrode lower plastic 801 is still located at the second limiting groove 112 but is placed in the reverse direction along its length. In the above reverse installation situation, the end of the positive electrode lower plastic 801 originally away from the negative electrode lower plastic 802 is placed close to the negative electrode lower plastic 802, and the end originally close to the negative electrode lower plastic 802 is placed away from the negative electrode lower plastic 802, that is, the positive electrode lower plastic 801 is rotated 180° around the direction perpendicular to the plane of the plate. If the line connecting the two positive electrode limiting holes 8011 passes through the center of the positive electrode lower plastic 801, and the sizes of the two are consistent, the above-mentioned reverse installation problem cannot be found by inserting the two first positive electrode limiting columns 12.
[0050] Optionally, the line connecting the two positive electrode limiting holes 8011 does not coincide with the center line of the positive electrode lower plastic 801, which can prevent the problem that the positive electrode lower plastic 801 is still located at the second limiting groove 112 but the front and back faces are reversed.
[0051] Similarly, the groove bottom of the fourth limiting groove is through-opened with two second through holes 211, the first negative electrode limiting column 22 is provided with two, and the negative electrode lower plastic 802 is opened with two negative electrode limiting holes. One end of one first negative electrode limiting column 22 passes through one second through hole 211 and is located in one negative electrode limiting hole, and one end of the other first negative electrode limiting column 22 passes through the other second through hole 211 and is located in the other negative electrode limiting hole.
[0052] Optionally, the cross-sectional diameters of the two first negative electrode limiting columns 22 are c1 and c2 respectively, the inner diameters of the two negative electrode limiting holes are d1 and d2 respectively, and d1>c1>d2>c2 is satisfied. That is, the first negative electrode limiting column 22 with a larger diameter cannot be inserted into the negative electrode limiting hole with a smaller inner diameter.
[0053] Optionally, both negative limit holes are located at the end of the negative lower plastic 802 away from the positive lower plastic 801, which can prevent the problem of the negative lower plastic 802 being placed in reverse along its length direction while still being located at the fourth limit groove. In the above reverse placement situation, the end of the negative lower plastic 802 originally away from the positive lower plastic 801 is placed close to the positive lower plastic 801, and the end originally close to the positive lower plastic 801 is placed away from the positive lower plastic 801, i.e. the negative lower plastic 802 is rotated 180° around the direction perpendicular to its plane. If the line connecting the two negative limit holes passes through the center of the negative lower plastic 802, and the two holes have the same size, the above reverse placement problem cannot be found by inserting the two first negative limit posts 22.
[0054] Optionally, the line connecting the two negative limit holes does not coincide with the center line of the negative lower plastic 802, which can prevent the problem of the negative lower plastic 802 being placed in reverse in the positive and negative directions while still being located at the fourth limit groove.
[0055] Optionally, the positive mold assembly 1 further comprises a second positive limit post for insertion at the liquid injection hole 8031 of the top cover assembly 800, to prevent the cover plate 803 of the top cover assembly 800 from being placed in reverse along its length direction at the positive mold 11.
[0056] Optionally, the negative mold assembly 2 further comprises a second negative limit post for insertion at the liquid injection hole 8031, to prevent the cover plate 803 of the top cover assembly 800 from being placed in reverse along its length direction at the negative mold 21.
[0057] Optionally, the first face has a plurality of first limit protrusions 114, which are spaced apart around the first limit groove 111. Optionally, in this embodiment, the cover plate 803 of the top cover assembly 800 is rectangular, and the first limit groove 111 is provided with a first limit protrusion 114 at each corner, which has a guiding effect when placing the top cover assembly 800.
[0058] Optionally, the third face has a plurality of second limit protrusions 212, which are spaced apart around the third limit groove. Optionally, the third limit groove is provided with a second limit protrusion 212 at each corner, which has a guiding effect when placing the top cover assembly 800.
[0059] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present application are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present application, and are not intended to limit the implementation modes of the present application. For those skilled in the art, other different forms of changes or variations can be made on the basis of the above description. Here, it is not necessary and also impossible to exhaust all the implementation modes. Any modification, equivalent replacement and improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application claims.
Claims
1. A fool-proof plastic mold assembly, characterized by, The application relates to a positive electrode mold assembly (1) and a negative electrode mold assembly (2). The positive electrode mold assembly (1) comprises a positive electrode mold (11) and a first positive electrode limiting column (12), the positive electrode mold (11) has oppositely arranged first and second faces, the first face is provided with a first limiting groove (111), a top cover assembly (800) can be placed in the first limiting groove (111), the groove bottom of the first limiting groove (111) is provided with a second limiting groove (112), a positive electrode lower plastic (801) of the top cover assembly (800) is located in the second limiting groove (112), the groove bottom of the second limiting groove (112) is provided with a first through hole (113), one end of the first positive electrode limiting column (12) passes through the first through hole (113) from the second face and is located in a positive electrode limiting hole (8011) of the positive electrode lower plastic (801). The negative electrode mold assembly (2) comprises a negative electrode mold (21) and a first negative electrode limiting column (22), the negative electrode mold (21) has oppositely arranged third and fourth faces, the third face is provided with a third limiting groove, the top cover assembly (800) can be placed in the third limiting groove, the groove bottom of the third limiting groove is provided with a fourth limiting groove, a negative electrode lower plastic (802) of the top cover assembly (800) is located in the fourth limiting groove, the groove bottom of the fourth limiting groove is provided with a second through hole (211), one end of the first negative electrode limiting column (22) passes through the second through hole (211) from the fourth face and is located in a negative electrode limiting hole of the negative electrode lower plastic (802), the diameter of the cross section of the end of the first positive electrode limiting column (12) inserted into the positive electrode limiting hole (8011) is greater than the inner diameter of the negative electrode limiting hole.
2. The fool-proof plastic mold assembly of claim 1, wherein, The first face is provided with N first limiting grooves (111), the N first limiting grooves (111) are arranged in a straight line in sequence, and N is a positive integer greater than 1. And / or, the third face is provided with M third limiting grooves, the M third limiting grooves are arranged in a straight line in sequence, and M is a positive integer greater than 1.
3. The fool-proof plastic mold assembly of claim 2, wherein, The arrangement direction of the N first limiting grooves (111) is parallel to the width direction of each first limiting groove (111). And / or, the arrangement direction of the M third limiting grooves is parallel to the width direction of each third limiting groove.
4. The fool-proof plastic mold assembly according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein, The groove bottom of the second limiting groove (112) is provided with two first through holes (113), the first positive electrode limiting column (12) is provided with two, the positive electrode lower plastic (801) is provided with two positive electrode limiting holes (8011), one end of one first positive electrode limiting column (12) passes through one first through hole (113) and is located in one positive electrode limiting hole (8011), and one end of the other first positive electrode limiting column (12) passes through the other first through hole (113) and is located in the other positive electrode limiting hole (8011). The groove bottom of the fourth limiting groove is provided with two second through holes (211), the first negative pole limiting column (22) is provided with two, the negative pole lower plastic (802) is provided with two negative pole limiting holes, one end of one first negative pole limiting column (22) passes through one second through hole (211) and is located in one negative pole limiting hole, and one end of the other first negative pole limiting column (22) passes through the other second through hole (211) and is located in the other negative pole limiting hole.
5. The fool-proof plastic mold assembly of claim 4, wherein, The cross-sectional diameters of the two first positive pole limiting columns (12) are a1 and a2 respectively, the inner diameters of the two positive pole limiting holes (8011) are b1 and b2 respectively, and b1>a1>b2>a2 is satisfied. And / or, the cross-sectional diameters of the two first negative pole limiting columns (22) are c1 and c2 respectively, the inner diameters of the two negative pole limiting holes are d1 and d2 respectively, and d1>c1>d2>c2 is satisfied.
6. The fool-proof plastic mold assembly of claim 4, wherein, The two positive pole limiting holes (8011) are located at one end of the positive pole lower plastic (801) away from the negative pole lower plastic (802). And / or, the two negative pole limiting holes are located at one end of the negative pole lower plastic (802) away from the positive pole lower plastic (801).
7. The fool-proof plastic mold assembly of claim 4, wherein, The connecting line of the two positive pole limiting holes (8011) does not coincide with the center line of the positive pole lower plastic (801). And / or, the connecting line of the two negative pole limiting holes does not coincide with the center line of the negative pole lower plastic (802).
8. The fool-proof plastic mold assembly according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein, The positive pole mold assembly (1) further comprises a second positive pole limiting column for being inserted at the liquid injection hole (8031) of the top cover assembly (800). And / or, the negative pole mold assembly (2) further comprises a second negative pole limiting column for being inserted at the liquid injection hole (8031).
9. The fool-proof plastic mold assembly according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein, The first surface has a plurality of first limiting protrusions (114), and the plurality of first limiting protrusions (114) are distributed around the first limiting groove (111) at intervals.
10. The fool-proof plastic mold assembly according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein, The third surface has a plurality of second limiting protrusions (212), and the plurality of second limiting protrusions (212) are distributed around the third limiting groove at intervals.