Clamping jaw assembly and clamping device

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of battery processing, in particular to a clamping jaw assembly and a clamping device for a battery cell, and the clamping jaw assembly comprises a mounting seat; the first clamping jaw is rotationally arranged on the mounting seat through a rotating shaft, and a first pressing surface and a second pressing surface which form a certain included angle are formed on the first clamping jaw; the second clamping jaw is arranged below the first clamping jaw; and by rotating the first clamping jaw, the first pressing face and the second pressing face of the first clamping jaw and the second clamping jaw define a cavity allowing the side end of the workpiece to be embedded, the first pressing face can abut against the top of the workpiece, and the second pressing face can abut against the side face of the workpiece. According to the clamping jaw assembly, the clamping effect on the workpiece can be improved, and the workpiece is not prone to being damaged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of battery processing technology, and more specifically, to a gripper assembly and gripping device for battery cells. Background Technology

[0002] Battery safety, as a core element in battery performance evaluation, is directly related to consumer trust and market acceptance. Once a battery has safety hazards, it will have serious consequences.

[0003] The safety performance of a battery largely depends on quality control and process details during its production. Among the many factors that can affect battery safety, the black spots or blemishes appearing at the rounded corners of the cell are particularly concerning. These seemingly minor flaws actually pose a significant threat to the battery's capacity, performance, and even overall safety. The presence of black spots or blemishes often indicates microscopic structural defects or impurities within the battery. These defects can lead to safety hazards such as localized overheating and short circuits during charging and discharging, and in severe cases, even battery explosions or fires. To effectively reduce and eliminate the problem of black spots or blemishes at the rounded corners of the cell, the battery industry has been continuously exploring and improving production processes. Among these processes, the hot-pressing process, as a key step in battery manufacturing, is often a major cause of black spots or blemishes if handled improperly.

[0004] For example, if the battery cell is not fully compacted during hot pressing, the loose parts are prone to forming black spots. During hot pressing unloading, improper design or use of the grippers may scratch or abrade the surface of the battery cell, leaving potential safety hazards. In addition, old grippers that have been used for a long time are more likely to impact the battery cell during unloading due to wear and deformation, which will damage the originally compacted battery cell structure and cause black spot problems. Utility Model Content

[0005] The main purpose of this utility model is to propose a gripper assembly and gripping device that reduces or even eliminates damage to thermoformed battery cells by improving the style of the unloading gripper and the material picking method.

[0006] To address the aforementioned technical problems, a gripper assembly is proposed, comprising:

[0007] Mounting base;

[0008] The first gripper is rotatably mounted on the mounting base via a rotating shaft, and has a first clamping surface and a second clamping surface with a certain angle formed thereon.

[0009] And a second gripper, located below the first gripper;

[0010] In this process, by rotating the first clamping jaw, the first clamping surface, the second clamping surface, and the second clamping jaw are arranged to form a cavity in which the side end of the workpiece can be inserted, and the first clamping surface can press against the top of the workpiece, and the second clamping surface can press against the side of the workpiece.

[0011] Furthermore, the above technical solution also includes:

[0012] The drive unit acts on the first gripper, enabling the first gripper to rotate.

[0013] In any of the above technical solutions, the driving unit is a motor, which is connected to the rotating shaft on the first gripper.

[0014] In any of the above technical solutions, the driving part is a torsion spring and is disposed on the rotating shaft of the first gripper, providing the first gripper with an elastic force that enables it to rotate and reset.

[0015] In any of the above technical solutions, the driving part is a magnetic attraction structure, which provides a magnetic attraction force that enables the first gripper to rotate and reset.

[0016] In any of the above technical solutions, further, an adhesive layer is provided in the areas where the first pressing surface and the second pressing surface contact the workpiece.

[0017] In any of the above technical solutions, the mounting base further includes:

[0018] Side panels;

[0019] And the top plate, which is installed on the side plate;

[0020] The first gripper is mounted on the top plate via a rotating shaft; the second gripper is a plate-like structure horizontally mounted at the bottom of the side plate.

[0021] In any of the above technical solutions, the first gripper has a V-shaped structure and is divided into a first clamping plate and a second clamping plate, and the angle between the first clamping plate and the second clamping plate is an obtuse angle.

[0022] The rotating shaft is located at the connection between the first clamping plate and the second clamping plate, the first pressing surface is located on the first clamping plate, and the second pressing surface is located on the second clamping plate.

[0023] On the other hand, a clamping device is also proposed, comprising:

[0024] Two sets of symmetrically arranged booms, which can move closer to or further apart from each other;

[0025] And the gripper assembly of any of the above technical solutions mounted on the two booms;

[0026] Each boom is equipped with one or more gripper assemblies, and the gripper assemblies on the two booms are arranged opposite each other or staggered.

[0027] In any of the above technical solutions, further comprising:

[0028] A power unit is used to drive the two sets of booms to move synchronously, so that they move closer to or further apart from each other.

[0029] Beneficial effects: Compared with the prior art, the gripper assembly mainly consists of a first gripper and a second gripper. The second gripper is used to lift the bottom of the workpiece, and the first gripper can rotate. By rotating, the first pressing surface and the second pressing surface on it can press against the top and side of the workpiece respectively, thereby achieving the purpose of clamping one end of the workpiece. This clamping method can not only improve the clamping effect on the workpiece, but also avoid damaging the workpiece. Attached Figure Description

[0030] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0031] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the clamping device of this utility model;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the clamping device of this utility model when clamping a workpiece;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a side view of the clamping device of this utility model;

[0034] Figure 4 This is a side view of the clamping device of this utility model when clamping a workpiece.

[0035] The annotations in the attached figures are explained as follows:

[0036] 10. Workpiece; 1. Mounting base; 11. Rotating shaft; 12. Side plate; 13. Top plate; 2. First gripper; 21. First pressing surface; 22. Second pressing surface; 23. Adhesive layer; 201. First clamping plate; 202. Second clamping plate; 3. Second gripper; 4. Boom. Detailed Implementation

[0037] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments according to this application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments of this application. It should be understood that this application is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this utility model without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0038] It should be noted that, as shown in this application and claims, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the words "a," "an," "an," and / or "the" do not specifically refer to the singular and may also include the plural. Generally speaking, the terms "comprising" and "including" only indicate the inclusion of explicitly identified steps and elements, and these steps and elements do not constitute an exclusive list; the method or apparatus may also include other steps or elements.

[0039] If the embodiments of this utility model involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0040] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixing" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0041] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this utility model involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the meaning of "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions; for example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.

[0042] In this application, "workpiece" refers to the battery cell being processed, including battery cells formed by winding process, battery cells formed by stacking process, etc. The comparison of the embodiments in this application is not limited.

[0043] Example 1:

[0044] like Figures 1-4 As shown, in this embodiment, a gripper assembly includes: a mounting base 1; a first gripper 2, which is rotatably mounted on the mounting base 1 via a rotating shaft 11, and has a first pressing surface 21 and a second pressing surface 22 forming at a certain angle; and a second gripper 3, which is located below the first gripper 2.

[0045] By rotating the first clamping jaw 2, the first pressing surface 21, the second pressing surface 22, and the second clamping jaw 3 of the first clamping jaw 2 are arranged to form a cavity in which the side end of the workpiece 10 can be inserted, and the first pressing surface 21 can press against the top of the workpiece 10, and the second pressing surface 22 can press against the side of the workpiece 10.

[0046] Traditional grippers have a relatively small contact area with the workpiece, resulting in greater force on the clamped area and making the workpiece more susceptible to damage. To address this, this embodiment proposes a novel gripper assembly that not only improves the clamping effect on the workpiece but also reduces the risk of damage.

[0047] Specifically, it consists of a first gripper 2 and a second gripper 3. The second gripper 3 is used to lift the bottom of the workpiece. The first gripper 2 can rotate. By rotating, the first pressing surface 21 and the second pressing surface 22 on it can press against the top and side of the workpiece respectively, thereby achieving the purpose of clamping one end of the workpiece.

[0048] The workpiece is clamped by moving the mounting base 1 closer to the workpiece, and then the side end of the workpiece gradually abuts against the second pressing surface 22 of the first clamping jaw 2. As the mounting base 1 continues to move, the side end of the workpiece applies a pushing force to the second pressing surface 22, causing the first clamping jaw 2 to rotate, thereby causing the first pressing surface 21 to move closer to the top of the workpiece and gradually press against the top of the workpiece. At the same time, the bottom of the workpiece gradually moves to the second clamping jaw 3. Then, the mounting base 1 is moved upward, and the end of the workpiece is clamped by the first clamping jaw 2 and the second clamping jaw 3 together.

[0049] It should be noted that in order to clamp the entire workpiece, multiple gripper assemblies can be used, and this can be achieved through the cooperation of the multiple gripper assemblies.

[0050] Example 2:

[0051] This embodiment is a further improvement based on Embodiment 1.

[0052] like Figures 1-4As shown, in this embodiment, it further includes a driving unit (not shown in the figure), which acts on the first gripper 2 to enable the first gripper 2 to rotate.

[0053] When the first clamping surface 21 and the second clamping surface 22 on the first gripper 2 respectively press against the workpiece, the first gripper 2 is pushed by the workpiece, causing it to rotate to a certain angle. After the first gripper 2 releases the workpiece, the operator needs to manually reset it to facilitate the next workpiece gripping. This method is inconvenient, so a drive unit is provided to drive the first gripper 2 to rotate, so that it can automatically reset after being released from the workpiece.

[0054] Specifically, the drive unit can be a motor, which is connected to the rotating shaft 11 on the first gripper 2. When the first gripper 2 is disengaged from the workpiece, the first gripper 2 is rotated by controlling the motor to reset it.

[0055] Example 3:

[0056] This embodiment is a further improvement based on Embodiment 2.

[0057] In this embodiment, the difference from Embodiment 2 is that the driving part is a torsion spring, which is disposed on the rotating shaft 11 on the first gripper 2, providing the first gripper 2 with an elastic force that enables it to rotate and reset.

[0058] While motor control can achieve the reset of the first gripper 2, it increases the cost. Therefore, this embodiment uses a torsion spring as the drive unit.

[0059] Specifically, a torsion spring is sleeved on the rotating shaft 11 of the first gripper 2. Under normal conditions, the spring force applied by the torsion spring to the first gripper 2 causes the second pressing surface 22 on the first gripper 2 to move away from the side of the mounting base 1. When the mounting base 1 is driven to move towards the workpiece, the workpiece gradually abuts against the second pressing surface 22 and pushes the second pressing surface 22 to move towards the side of the mounting base 1. At this time, the second pressing surface 22 has a reaction force on the workpiece under the action of the torsion spring, so that the second pressing surface 22 abuts against the side of the workpiece. After the mounting base 1 moves away from the workpiece, the torsion spring pushes the second pressing surface 22 to move and gradually moves to the reset position.

[0060] Example 4:

[0061] This embodiment is a further improvement based on Embodiment 2.

[0062] In this embodiment, the difference from Embodiment 2 is that the driving part is a magnetic attraction structure, which provides the first gripper 2 with a magnetic attraction force that enables it to rotate and reset.

[0063] The magnetic attraction structure mainly consists of two magnets, which are respectively mounted on the mounting base 1 and the first gripper 2. There is a repulsive force between the two magnets, which enables the first gripper 2 to rotate and the second pressing surface 22 to move away from the side of the mounting base 1.

[0064] Example 5:

[0065] This embodiment is a further improvement based on any of the above embodiments.

[0066] like Figures 1-4 As shown, in this embodiment, the areas of the first pressing surface 21 and the second pressing surface 22 that are in contact with the workpiece are provided with an adhesive layer 23.

[0067] By covering the first pressing surface 21 and the second pressing surface 22 with a soft silicone adhesive layer 23, the first pressing surface 21 and the second pressing surface 22 are pressure-adhesive (automatically detach when there is no pressure and automatically stick when there is pressure). Under the action of the adhesive layer 23, the first gripper 2 has good anti-slip properties, thereby reducing the possibility of the workpiece falling off when the gripper assembly moves.

[0068] Since the workpiece needs to move on the second gripper 3, the second gripper 3 needs to have high hardness, wear resistance, and high temperature resistance. Therefore, PEEK (polyetheretherketone) or metal surface coating material can be used to make the second gripper 3.

[0069] Example 6:

[0070] This embodiment is a further improvement based on any of the above embodiments.

[0071] like Figures 1-4 As shown, in this embodiment, the mounting base 1 includes: a side plate 12; and a top plate 13, disposed on the side plate 12;

[0072] The first gripper 2 is mounted on the top plate 13 via a rotating shaft 11; the second gripper 3 is a plate-shaped structure horizontally mounted at the bottom of the side plate 12.

[0073] To improve the versatility of the gripper assembly, the side plate 12 is designed to be replaceable. Specifically, the side plate 12 and the top plate 13 are connected by bolts. By replacing the side plate 12 with one of different heights, the first clamping surface 21 on the first gripper 2 can fully contact the top of the workpiece when it rotates.

[0074] In this embodiment, the first gripper 2 has a V-shaped structure and is divided into a first clamping plate 201 and a second clamping plate 202. The included angle between the first clamping plate 201 and the second clamping plate 202 is an obtuse angle.

[0075] The rotating shaft 11 is located at the connection between the first clamping plate 201 and the second clamping plate 202, the first pressing surface 21 is located on the first clamping plate 201, and the second pressing surface 22 is located on the second clamping plate 202.

[0076] Example 7:

[0077] like Figures 1-4 As shown, this embodiment proposes a gripping device, including: two sets of symmetrically arranged arms 4, which can move closer to or further away from each other; a gripper assembly of any of the above embodiments disposed on the two arms 4; and a power assembly (not shown in the figure) for driving the two sets of arms 4 to move synchronously, so that they move closer to or further away from each other;

[0078] Each boom 4 is provided with one or more gripper assemblies, and the gripper assemblies on the two booms 4 are arranged opposite each other or staggered.

[0079] The power unit drives the two booms 4 to move closer to each other, thereby allowing the gripper assemblies on both sides to clamp the workpiece; when it is necessary to release the workpiece, the power unit is controlled to move the two booms 4 away from each other.

[0080] The various embodiments of this disclosure have been described above. These descriptions are exemplary and not exhaustive, nor are they limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is chosen to best explain the principles, practical application, or improvement of the technology in the market, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A gripper assembly, characterized in that, include: Mounting base (1); The first gripper (2) is rotatably mounted on the mounting base (1) via a rotating shaft (11), and a first pressing surface (21) and a second pressing surface (22) with a certain angle are formed thereon; And a second gripper (3) is disposed below the first gripper (2); By rotating the first clamping jaw (2), the first pressing surface (21), the second pressing surface (22), and the second clamping jaw (3) of the first clamping jaw (2) are arranged to form a cavity in which the side end of the workpiece can be inserted, and the first pressing surface (21) can press against the top of the workpiece, and the second pressing surface (22) can press against the side of the workpiece.

2. The gripper assembly as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The driving unit acts on the first gripper (2) to enable the first gripper (2) to rotate.

3. The gripper assembly as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The driving unit is a motor, which is connected to the rotating shaft (11) on the first gripper (2).

4. The gripper assembly as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The driving part is a torsion spring and is disposed on the rotating shaft (11) on the first gripper (2), providing the first gripper (2) with an elastic force that enables it to rotate and reset.

5. The gripper assembly as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The driving part is a magnetic structure, which provides the first gripper (2) with a magnetic force that enables it to rotate and reset.

6. The gripper assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, An adhesive layer (23) is provided in the areas where the first pressing surface (21) and the second pressing surface (22) contact the workpiece.

7. The gripper assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting base (1) includes: Side panel (12); And a top plate (13), which is disposed on the side plate (12); The first gripper (2) is mounted on the top plate (13) via the rotating shaft (11); the second gripper (3) is a plate-shaped structure horizontally mounted on the bottom of the side plate (12).

8. The gripper assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The first gripper (2) has a V-shaped structure and is divided into a first clamping plate (201) and a second clamping plate (202). The angle between the first clamping plate (201) and the second clamping plate (202) is an obtuse angle. The rotating shaft (11) is located at the connection between the first clamping plate (201) and the second clamping plate (202), the first pressing surface (21) is located on the first clamping plate (201), and the second pressing surface (22) is located on the second clamping plate (202).

9. A clamping device, characterized in that, include: Two sets of symmetrically arranged booms (4), the two booms (4) can move closer to or further away from each other; and the gripper assembly as described in any one of claims 1-8 disposed on the two booms (4); Each boom (4) is provided with one or more gripper assemblies, and the gripper assemblies on the two booms (4) are arranged opposite to each other or staggered.

10. The clamping device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that, Also includes: A power unit is used to drive the two sets of booms (4) to move synchronously, so that they move closer to each other or further apart.

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