Battery piece curing equipment

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model discloses battery piece curing equipment. The battery piece curing equipment comprises a first conveying line and a heating mechanism arranged above the first conveying line, the heating mechanism comprises a shell, the lower portion of the shell is open, and the shell and the first conveying line are arranged in a spaced mode to form a processing channel allowing battery pieces to pass through; the heating assembly is arranged in the shell and is configured to heat and cure the grid line on the surface of the battery piece passing through the processing channel; the first air exhaust parts are at least distributed on the two opposite sides of the shell and are configured to exhaust air from a gap between the shell and the first conveying line; the first conveying line is configured to convey a battery piece with a to-be-cured grid line to pass through the processing channel, so that the wet grid line on the surface of the battery piece is heated and cured in the processing channel. According to the embodiment of the invention, the high-temperature gas is prevented from gathering in the treatment channel to influence the cooling effect of the subsequent battery piece in the treatment channel, and the waste gas is prevented from being in contact with residual dirty substances on the surface of the battery piece to influence the quality of the battery piece.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery cell production equipment technology, specifically to a battery cell curing device. Background Technology

[0002] In the photovoltaic field, the grid lines on the surface of solar cells in photovoltaic modules are typically formed from aluminum- or silver-containing pastes. After the grid lines are formed through processes such as screen printing, they need to be cured. Traditionally, the industry has used continuous furnace equipment with openable or closable upper and lower furnace bodies to cure the grid lines formed from silver- or aluminum-containing pastes. These continuous furnace equipment also have waste removal mechanisms at one or both ends.

[0003] However, this traditional curing equipment has many drawbacks. On the one hand, it adopts a closed-loop furnace body with an integrated top and bottom, which has a complex structure, increases the difficulty of equipment maintenance, wastes time, and has a high production cost. On the other hand, during the heating process, the exhaust gas generated needs to move a long distance in the continuous furnace body before it is discharged. When the exhaust gas comes into contact with the surface of the solar cells, it will leave dirt and grime, which will lead to poor quality of the solar cells and ultimately affect the power generation efficiency of the photovoltaic modules. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application aims to address at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, this application provides a solar cell curing device that solves the problems of complex structure and difficulty in effectively discharging the generated gases in existing curing devices.

[0005] The objective of this application can be achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0006] This application provides a solar cell curing device, which includes a first conveyor line and a heating mechanism disposed above the first conveyor line;

[0007] The heating mechanism includes:

[0008] The housing has an opening at the bottom, and the housing is spaced apart from the first conveyor line to form a processing channel that allows the battery cells to pass through;

[0009] The heating element, located inside the housing, is configured to heat and cure the grid lines on the surface of the cell that has passed through the processing channel;

[0010] Several first suction units are distributed at least on opposite sides of the housing and configured to extract gas from the gap between the housing and the first conveyor line;

[0011] The first conveyor line is configured to convey solar cells with grid lines to be cured through a processing channel to achieve heat curing of the wet grid lines on the surface of the solar cells within the processing channel.

[0012] This application only sets up a heating mechanism above the first conveyor line, which greatly simplifies the structure of the curing equipment compared to the traditional integrated sealed furnace body. This directly reduces the difficulty of equipment maintenance and the manpower and material costs required for maintenance. At the same time, the gap between the first conveyor line and the outer shell and the design of the first exhaust component allow the high-temperature gas in the processing channel to quickly and timely escape under the action of the first exhaust component, improving the flowability of the high-temperature gas in the processing channel, preventing the high-temperature gas from accumulating in the processing channel, preventing it from affecting the cooling effect of the subsequent solar cells in the processing channel, and preventing the exhaust gas from contacting residual dirt on the surface of the solar cells, thus affecting the quality of the solar cells. In addition, the first exhaust component can extract the gas containing exhaust gas, preventing it from polluting the external environment.

[0013] Optionally, the heating assembly includes heating elements and blowing elements. Multiple heating elements are arranged side by side, and each blowing element corresponds to a heating element. Each blowing element is located next to the corresponding heating element and is configured to blow air onto the heating element to cool it down. The heating element is an infrared lamp.

[0014] By ensuring that the number of air blowers and heating elements are consistent and correspond one-to-one, and by placing the air blowers next to the corresponding heating elements and blowing air onto them to cool them down, it is possible to prevent the heating elements from being damaged due to excessive temperature during operation, ensure the stable operation of the heating elements, and thus ensure the heating effect on the battery cells and improve the curing quality.

[0015] Optionally, the heating mechanism further includes a first light-transmitting plate and a second air-extraction component. The first light-transmitting plate is disposed inside the housing and forms a receiving chamber with the upper part of the housing. The heating component is disposed inside the receiving chamber, and the second air-extraction component is configured to extract gas from the receiving chamber.

[0016] The heat dissipation capacity of the equipment is further enhanced by the accommodating chamber formed by the first light-transmitting plate and the upper part of the outer shell, as well as the setting of the second air extraction component. This allows for better control of the temperature of the heating component's working environment, which is beneficial to improving the service life of the heating component and the heating and curing effect on the battery cells.

[0017] Optionally, the heating mechanism also includes a perforated plate, which is disposed above the first light-transmitting plate and divides the receiving chamber into a first space and a second space. The first space is located above the second space, and the two spaces are connected by the perforations on the perforated plate.

[0018] The heating component is located in the second space, and the second air extraction component is located on the top of the outer shell and communicates with the first space. The second air extraction component extracts gas from the second space through the first space.

[0019] The receiving chamber is divided into a first space and a second space by a perforated plate, and the first space and the second space are connected by the perforations on the perforated plate. The heating component is set in the second space, and the second air extraction component is connected to the first space and extracts the gas in the second space, so that the gas flow in the receiving chamber is more orderly, which can effectively discharge the hot air blown out by the blower, remove the excess heat generated by the heating component and the potentially harmful gases, ensure that the gas in the second space is constantly renewed, maintain a good heating environment, and improve the working efficiency and stability of the heating component.

[0020] Optionally, the heating mechanism also includes a second light-transmitting plate, which is located below the first light-transmitting plate, forming a third space between them. The processing channel is located below the third space. The second light-transmitting plate has multiple air vents that connect the third space and the processing channel.

[0021] An air injection port is provided on the outer casing, located on the side wall of the outer casing between the first and second light-transmitting plates. The workshop air source equipment can inject a first gas into the third space through the air injection port. The first gas is configured to prevent the battery cells from oxidizing during the heating process.

[0022] By setting a second light-transmitting plate to form a third space with the first light-transmitting plate, and injecting a first gas through a gas injection port, the first gas can flow evenly into the processing channel through the gas outlet on the second light-transmitting plate, preventing the solar cells from oxidizing during the heating process. This solves the problem of easy oxidation of the solar cell grid lines in traditional equipment, improves the curing quality of the solar cells, and thus improves the power generation efficiency of the photovoltaic module.

[0023] Optionally, the processing channel includes a heating section and a cooling section arranged sequentially along the conveying direction of the first conveyor line;

[0024] The heating assembly includes a first type of heating element corresponding to the heating section and a second type of heating element corresponding to the cooling section; the heating power of the first type of heating element is greater than the heating power of the second type of heating element.

[0025] The first type of heating element is configured to heat and solidify the grid lines on the surface of the battery cell, and the heating power of the first type of heating element increases or remains constant along the conveying direction of the first conveyor line.

[0026] The second type of heating element is configured to cool the grid lines on the surface of the passing battery cell to a preset temperature, and the heating power of the second type of heating element decreases along the conveying direction of the first conveyor line.

[0027] By dividing the processing channel into a heating section and a cooling section, and setting a first type of heating element in the heating section, the wet grid lines on the surface of the battery cell can be effectively cured; while setting a second type of heating element in the cooling section can cool the cured grid lines on the surface of the battery cell to a preset temperature in the processing channel, so as to prevent the grid lines from oxidizing after contacting the outside air when they exceed a certain temperature.

[0028] Optionally, the gas injection port includes a first gas injection port corresponding to the heating section and a second gas injection port corresponding to the cooling section;

[0029] The temperature of the first gas injected through the first gas injection port is greater than the temperature of the first gas injected through the second gas injection port;

[0030] The first gas injected through the second gas inlet is configured to cool the grid lines on the surface of the battery cell.

[0031] The gas injection port is divided into a first gas injection port and a second gas injection port. The first gas at different temperatures is used to protect the heated section of the battery cell and cool the cooled section of the battery cell, respectively. This further optimizes the battery cell processing process and improves the curing quality and battery cell performance.

[0032] Optionally, the first conveyor line includes a conveyor belt, an adsorption element, and a drive component;

[0033] The drive unit is connected to the conveyor belt to drive the conveyor belt to transport the battery cells;

[0034] The conveyor belt has multiple first through holes;

[0035] The adsorption element is located below the upper belt body of the conveyor belt. The adsorption element is used to support the upper belt body of the conveyor belt. The adsorption element has a gas flow channel inside. The adsorption element has multiple second through holes communicating with the gas flow channel on one side corresponding to the upper belt body of the conveyor belt. The adsorption element has an exhaust hole communicating with the gas flow channel on one of its other sides.

[0036] When air is drawn out through the vent, an adsorption force is generated through the first through hole, causing the battery cells to adhere to the conveyor belt.

[0037] The conveyor belt, adsorption components, and drive components of the first conveyor line work together to generate an adsorption force when air is drawn from the air extraction hole, causing the battery cells to adhere to the conveyor belt. This ensures the stability of the battery cells during the conveying process and ensures that the battery cells can accurately pass through the processing channel for heating and curing, thereby improving the reliability of production.

[0038] Optionally, the adsorption element is provided with a heating wire assembly, which is used to heat the adsorption element to indirectly heat the grid lines on the battery cell.

[0039] By incorporating a heating wire assembly inside the adsorption element, which heats the adsorption element to indirectly heat the grid lines on the solar cell, the heating effect on the solar cell grid lines is further enhanced, thus improving the curing quality.

[0040] Optionally, the heating mechanism also includes a lifting assembly, with the housing mounted on the drive end of the lifting assembly.

[0041] The lifting assembly of the heating mechanism can adjust the height of the outer shell, making it convenient to adjust the distance between the heating mechanism and the first conveyor line according to different production needs, thereby improving the applicability of the equipment. Attached Figure Description

[0042] The present application will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0043] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the cell curing device in one embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the air injection port and the lifting assembly in one embodiment of this application;

[0045] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the internal structure of the outer casing in one embodiment of this application;

[0046] Figure 4 This is a front view of the internal structure of the housing in one embodiment of this application.

[0047] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0048] 100. First conveyor line; 101. Conveyor belt; 102. Adsorption component; 103. Drive component; 200. Heating mechanism; 201. Housing; 202. Heating assembly; 203. Heating element; 204. Blowing component; 205. First suction component; 206. First light-transmitting plate; 207. Second suction component; 208. Mesh plate; 209. First space; 210. Second space; 211. Second light-transmitting plate; 212. Third space; 300. Air inlet; 301. First air inlet; 302. Second air inlet; 400. Lifting assembly; 401. Lifting cylinder; 402. Slide rail; 500. Second conveyor line; 600. Material box; 700. Handling mechanism. Detailed Implementation

[0049] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0050] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, this application provides a battery cell curing apparatus, which includes a first conveyor line 100 and a heating mechanism 200 disposed above the first conveyor line 100.

[0051] The heating mechanism 200 includes a housing 201, a heating component 202, and several first air extraction components 205.

[0052] The outer casing 201 is made of a high-strength material, which gives it excellent rigidity, ensuring that it maintains a stable structural shape during equipment operation and providing reliable protection and support for the internal components. At the same time, this material has excellent high-temperature resistance, effectively withstanding the high temperatures generated by the heating element 202 during operation, preventing deformation or damage due to heat, and ensuring the heating mechanism 200 operates continuously and stably in high-temperature environments.

[0053] The outer casing 201 and the first conveyor line 100 are arranged at intervals, forming a processing channel for the battery cells to pass through. A rectangular opening is provided at the bottom of the outer casing 201, with the length direction of the opening aligned with the conveying direction of the first conveyor line 100, allowing the interior of the outer casing 201 to communicate with the processing channel. It is worth noting that the size of this interval is adaptively adjusted according to the thickness of the battery cells to be processed, ensuring that the battery cells conveyed by the first conveyor line 100 can smoothly pass through the processing channel between the outer casing 201 and the first conveyor line 100.

[0054] The heating assembly 202 is securely mounted inside the housing 201 and is used to heat and cure the wet grid lines on the surface of the battery cells passing through the processing channel. Several first suction components 205 are distributed at least on opposite sides of the housing 201 and are used to extract gas from the gap between the housing 201 and the first conveyor line 100.

[0055] The first conveyor line 100 is responsible for conveying the solar cells with grid lines to be cured through the processing channel, so that the wet grid lines on the surface of the solar cells can be heated and cured in the processing channel.

[0056] This structural design simplifies the overall architecture of the curing equipment, reduces its complexity, makes maintenance more convenient, and lowers maintenance costs. Furthermore, the first extraction component 205 can promptly extract high-temperature gas and waste gas from the processing channel, accelerating gas flow and preventing the accumulation of high-temperature gas from adversely affecting the subsequent cooling of the solar cells. Simultaneously, it prevents waste gas from contacting residual dirt on the surface of the solar cells, thus avoiding impact on cell quality. In addition, the first extraction component 205 can also extract gas containing waste gas, preventing it from polluting the external environment.

[0057] In one possible implementation, to achieve a more efficient gas extraction effect, first extraction components 205 are provided around the perimeter of the housing 201. Each first extraction component 205 consists of an extraction pipe and an extraction source (not shown). These extraction pipes are respectively installed on different sides of the housing 201, and the air inlet of the extraction pipe extends along the length of the corresponding side of the housing 201. This design can effectively expand the gas extraction range.

[0058] The extraction source is connected to the corresponding extraction pipe, and the gas in the treatment channel is extracted from the gap between the outer casing 201 and the first conveyor line 100 through the extraction pipe. There are several options for the configuration of the extraction source: the extraction pipes of each first extraction component 205 can share the same extraction source, some of the extraction pipes of the first extraction components 205 can share a single extraction source, or each extraction pipe of the first extraction component 205 can be equipped with its own extraction source. The extraction source can be a fan or an air pump, depending on the actual operating requirements of the equipment, the properties of the gas in the treatment channel, and the required extraction efficiency.

[0059] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, in one possible implementation, the heating assembly 202 is composed of a heating element 203 and a blower 204. The heating element is an infrared lamp, with multiple infrared lamps evenly arranged along the conveying direction of the first conveyor line 100. This arrangement ensures that the grid lines on the surface of the solar cell are heated evenly during conveying, thereby guaranteeing heating uniformity and improving the curing quality of the solar cell grid lines. A blower 204 is installed beside each infrared lamp; specifically, the blower 204 is a metal pipe, which is fixedly mounted inside the housing 201 by a bracket. The blower pipe has several evenly spaced air outlets facing the heating element 203. During equipment operation, the blower in the workshop blows air towards the infrared lamp tube through the air outlet on the air duct, carrying away the excess heat generated by the infrared lamp tube during operation. This effectively prevents the infrared lamp tube from being damaged due to excessive temperature, ensuring that the heating element 203 can work stably. This greatly improves the service life of the heating element 203, reduces equipment maintenance costs, and ensures the continuous and stable operation of the battery cell curing equipment.

[0060] Please see Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, in one possible embodiment, the heating mechanism 200 includes a first light-transmitting plate 206 and a second air extraction component 207. The first light-transmitting plate 206 is made of high-temperature resistant quartz glass, which has excellent light transmission performance and can effectively ensure that the heat emitted by the infrared lamp is efficiently transferred to the battery cell. The first light-transmitting plate 206 is tightly connected to the inner wall of the outer casing 201 by means of a sealing strip, and together with the upper part of the outer casing 201, they form a sealed receiving chamber. This can prevent air in the chamber from leaking into the processing channel and avoid interference to the wet grid lines of the battery cell during the heating and curing process. For example, grid lines made of copper paste are easily oxidized by oxygen in the air.

[0061] The heating component 202 is installed in the receiving chamber. When the infrared lamp in the heating component 202 is working, the infrared light emitted can pass through the first light-transmitting plate 206 to heat and cure the wet grid lines on the battery cells in the processing channel.

[0062] The second extraction component 207 can be a fan or an air pump. The installation position of the second extraction component 207 should be higher than that of the heating component 202. Figure 4 Feasibly, the second exhaust component 207 is installed on the top of the outer casing 201 and connected to the receiving chamber via a pipe. During equipment operation, the second exhaust component 207 can promptly discharge the gas generated in the receiving chamber by the blower 204, indirectly removing excess heat generated by the heating component 202, thereby enhancing the heat dissipation capacity of the heating component 202 and ensuring that the heating component 202 is always in a suitable working temperature environment, thus improving the overall performance of the equipment and the heating curing effect.

[0063] Please see Figure 4 As shown, in one possible implementation, the heating mechanism 200 further includes a perforated plate 208. The perforated plate 208 is made of an opaque metal material, possessing high strength and excellent heat resistance, and can maintain stable performance in the high-temperature environment of equipment operation.

[0064] The perforated plate 208 is horizontally mounted above the first light-transmitting plate 206, dividing the receiving chamber into a first space 209 and a second space 210. The heating assembly 202 is placed in the second space 210. Specifically, the heating assembly 202 can be securely mounted on the lower surface of the perforated plate 208. This design not only facilitates the installation and maintenance of the heating assembly 202 but also optimizes the internal structural layout of the equipment.

[0065] The second extraction component 207 is installed on the top of the outer casing 201 and is connected to the first space 209. Its working principle is to extract gas from the second space 210 through the first space 209. The key to achieving this function lies in the evenly distributed mesh on the perforated plate 208. These meshes guide the orderly flow of gas, enabling the second extraction component 207 to efficiently and evenly extract gas from the second space 210.

[0066] Please see Figures 2 to 4 As shown, in one possible embodiment, the heating mechanism 200 further includes a second light-transmitting plate 211, which is also made of high-temperature resistant quartz glass and is located below the first light-transmitting plate 206. A third space 212 is formed between the second light-transmitting plate 211 and the first light-transmitting plate 206. The processing channel is located below the third space 212. A plurality of air vents are evenly provided on the second light-transmitting plate 211, which connect the third space 212 and the processing channel and ensure that the gas entering the processing channel from the third space 212 is uniform and stable.

[0067] A gas injection port 300 is provided on the outer casing 201, located on the side wall of the outer casing 201 between the first light-transmitting plate 206 and the second light-transmitting plate 211. The gas injection port 300 is connected to the workshop gas source equipment through a pipe, and the workshop gas source equipment injects a first gas through the gas injection port 300. The first gas is an inert gas and / or a reducing gas or a mixture of the two, such as one or more of nitrogen, helium, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide. The first gas flows evenly into the processing channel through the gas outlet on the second light-transmitting plate 211, forming a protective gas curtain during the heating process of the solar cells, driving out oxygen in the air, effectively preventing oxidation of the solar cells during heating, solving the problem of easy oxidation of the solar cell grid lines in traditional equipment, improving the curing quality of the solar cells, and thus improving the power generation efficiency of the photovoltaic module.

[0068] In one possible implementation, the processing channel includes a heating section and a cooling section arranged sequentially along the conveying direction of the first conveyor line 100. The heating section is used to heat and solidify the grid lines of the solar cells, while the cooling section is responsible for cooling the heated grid lines of the solar cells to a suitable temperature. The specific lengths of the heating and cooling sections can be flexibly set according to the type of solar cells, production process requirements, and overall operating efficiency of the equipment, and their specific values ​​are not limited here.

[0069] The heating section is equipped with a first type of heating element, which consists of multiple sets of infrared lamps and a first gas at a first temperature. The power of each set of infrared lamps can be individually adjusted by a controller. Within the heating section, according to process requirements, the heating power of the first type of heating element increases or remains constant along the conveying direction of the first conveyor line 100. By gradually increasing or maintaining a stable temperature, it can be ensured that the grid lines on the surface of the battery cell are fully heated and cured when passing through the heating section, thereby guaranteeing the curing quality of the grid lines.

[0070] The cooling section incorporates a second type of heating element, which can be configured in various ways. For example, the second type of heating element may also consist of multiple sets of infrared lamps and a first gas at a second temperature. However, it's important to note that in this case, when the multiple sets of infrared lamps and the first gas at the second temperature work together on the solar cell, the resulting heating temperature is lower than the set heating temperature of the first type of heating element. As the solar cell passes through the cooling section, the second type of heating element utilizes this relatively lower temperature environment to cool the grid lines on the surface of the solar cell to a preset temperature. This prevents the copper-containing grid lines from oxidizing with oxygen in the air after being transported out of the processing channel, thus avoiding impact on the solar cell's performance. It's crucial to understand that the preset heating temperature (or heating power) of the second type of heating element is lower than that of the first type of heating element. This means the solar cell is subjected to lower-temperature irradiation heating, thereby reducing the grid line temperature, rather than directly applying cooling to the solar cell and grid lines.

[0071] For example, the second type of heating element consists only of a first gas with a third temperature. In the cooling section, the grid lines on the surface of the battery cell are cooled by the first gas with the third temperature alone, so that they reach the preset temperature. This can also effectively prevent the copper grid lines from oxidizing when they come into contact with air later.

[0072] Please see Figure 3 As shown, the gas injection port 300 includes a first gas injection port 301 corresponding to the heating section and a second gas injection port 302 corresponding to the cooling section. The number of first gas injection ports 301 and / or second gas injection ports 302 can be set to one or more. The first gas injection port 301 and the second gas injection port 302 are respectively connected to the workshop gas source equipment through independent pipes, and each pipe is equipped with a temperature controller. The temperature of the first gas injected through the first gas injection port 301 is higher than the temperature of the first gas injected through the second gas injection port 302. In the heating section, the higher-temperature first gas not only prevents cell oxidation but also assists the heating process and improves heating efficiency. The first gas injected through the second gas injection port 302 is configured to cool the grid lines on the surface of the cell. In the cooling section, the lower-temperature first gas accelerates the cooling process of the cell while continuing to provide protection against grid line oxidation.

[0073] Please see Figure 1 As shown, in one possible implementation, the first conveyor line 100 includes a conveyor belt 101, an adsorption element 102, and a drive element 103.

[0074] The conveyor belt 101 is made of Teflon, which is characterized by high temperature resistance, high hardness, and wear resistance. Multiple first through holes are evenly distributed on the conveyor belt 101, the diameter and distribution of which are designed to meet the requirements of adsorption force and conveying stability. The adsorption element 102 is located below the upper belt body of the conveyor belt 101, made of metal, such as aluminum alloy, and has internal gas channels. Multiple second through holes communicating with the gas channels are evenly distributed on one side of the adsorption element 102 corresponding to the upper belt body of the conveyor belt 101; the size and position of the second through holes correspond to the first through holes. An extraction hole communicating with the gas channels is provided on one of the other sides of the adsorption element 102, and this extraction hole is connected to a vacuum pump via a pipe. The drive unit 103 is a variable frequency motor, connected to the rollers of the conveyor belt 101 via belt drive, allowing precise adjustment of the conveyor belt 101's running speed according to production needs.

[0075] By cooperating with the conveyor belt 101, the adsorption component 102, and the drive component 103, when the air extraction hole is used to extract air, an adsorption force is generated through the first through hole to make the battery cell stick to the conveyor belt 101, ensuring the stability of the battery cell during the transportation process and ensuring that the battery cell can accurately pass through the processing channel for heating and curing, thereby improving the reliability of production.

[0076] Furthermore, the adsorption component 102 is internally equipped with a heating wire assembly (not shown). The heating wire assembly can be made of nickel-chromium alloy heating wire, which has good high-temperature resistance and oxidation resistance. The two ends of the heating wire are connected to a power supply and a temperature controller via wires. The temperature controller can precisely adjust the heating temperature of the heating wire according to the heating requirements of the battery cell, achieving precise heating of the adsorption component 102, and indirectly heating the grid lines on the battery cell. This increases the heating methods and pathways, helping to further improve the heating effect on the battery cell grid lines, allowing for more complete curing of the grid lines and improving the curing quality.

[0077] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in one possible implementation, the heating mechanism 200 further includes a lifting assembly 400, with the housing 201 mounted on the drive end of the lifting assembly 400.

[0078] Specifically, the lifting assembly 400 consists of a lifting cylinder 401, a slide rail 402, and a controller. The lifting cylinder 401, as the core power component, has its cylinder body fixed to the main structure of the equipment via a robust connector, while its piston rod is connected to the outer casing 201 of the heating mechanism 200. When the lifting cylinder 401 operates, the piston rod extends or retracts according to control commands, thereby driving the outer casing 201 to achieve lifting and lowering movements.

[0079] The slide rails 402 are installed on both sides of the back of the housing 201 and fit tightly with the slider on the housing 201. The slide rails 402 provide precise guidance for the lifting and lowering of the housing 201, ensuring that the housing 201 remains stable during the lifting and lowering process and avoiding swaying, deviation and other situations, so as to make the position adjustment of the heating mechanism 200 more accurate and reliable.

[0080] The controller is the control center of the lifting assembly 400, and it is connected to the lifting cylinder 401 via wires. Operators can input commands on the equipment's control panel. After receiving the commands, the controller will precisely control the movement of the lifting cylinder 401, such as controlling the cylinder's lifting speed and stop position, thereby achieving flexible adjustment of the height of the heating mechanism 200 to meet the production process requirements of battery cells of different thicknesses, as well as the operational needs during equipment maintenance.

[0081] Please see Figure 1 As shown, in one possible embodiment, the cell curing equipment further includes a second conveyor line 500, which extends from the screen printing machine to the first conveyor line 100. The second conveyor line 500 is tightly connected to the beginning of the first conveyor line 100, enabling it to transport the cell screen-printed by the screen printing machine to the first conveyor line 100. The structure of the second conveyor line 500 is similar to that of the first conveyor line 100, also employing a conveyor belt 101 drive mechanism and powered by a motor to ensure that the cell can smoothly transition from the second conveyor line 500 to the first conveyor line 100.

[0082] Please see Figure 1 As shown, in one possible implementation, the cell curing equipment also includes a material box 600, a slide rail assembly (not shown), and a conveying mechanism 700 that work in conjunction with the second conveyor line 500. The important function of this configuration is that when the upstream or downstream equipment of the second conveyor line 500 is under maintenance, the other equipment can use the material box 600 to buffer the cells, thereby avoiding interruption of the entire production process.

[0083] Specifically, the battery box 600 is mainly used to store battery cells. It is typically made of high-strength plastic or aluminum alloy, materials that offer excellent wear resistance and corrosion resistance, effectively extending the lifespan of the battery box 600. The battery box 600 is placed on the drive end of a linear slide rail assembly mounted on a mounting platform. This slide rail assembly can achieve automated, precise movement via a motor-driven lead screw; alternatively, manual operation can be used when necessary to move the slider back and forth along the slide rail, ensuring precise horizontal positioning of the battery box 600.

[0084] The conveying mechanism 700, a key component for grasping and transporting battery cells, mainly consists of a linear module, suction cups, and a lifting device. The linear module is mounted on a bracket above the material box 600, and its direction of movement is perpendicular to the conveying direction of the second conveyor line 500, enabling high-precision reciprocating motion in the horizontal direction. The suction cup is mounted below the slider of the linear module and is a vacuum suction cup connected to a vacuum pump via an air pipe. When the vacuum pump is activated, a negative pressure is created inside the suction cup, thereby adsorbing the battery cells. The lifting device is mounted on a mounting platform below the material box 600 and typically uses an electric lifting cylinder, with the top of its piston rod contacting the bottom of the material box 600. When transporting battery cells, the lifting device first extends its drive end, lifting a group of battery cells in the material box 600 upwards, allowing the uppermost battery cells in the material box 600 to be smoothly grasped by the suction cup. Subsequently, the linear module controls the suction cup to move laterally, transporting the battery cells to the second conveyor line 500; conversely, the transport mechanism 700 can also pick up the battery cells on the second conveyor line 500 and put them into the material box 600, realizing bidirectional transport operation of the battery cells.

[0085] The foregoing has provided a detailed description of one embodiment of this application, but the description is merely a preferred embodiment and should not be construed as limiting the scope of this application. All equivalent variations and modifications made within the scope of this application should still fall within the patent coverage of this application.

[0086] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in this application do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Descriptions in this application regarding directions such as "left," "right," "left side," "right side," "upper part," "lower part," "top," and "bottom" are defined based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, not to indicate or imply that the described structure must be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting this application. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0087] In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

Claims

1. A cell curing apparatus, characterized by, The battery cell curing equipment includes a first conveyor line and a heating mechanism disposed above the first conveyor line; The heating mechanism includes: The housing has an opening at the bottom, and the housing is spaced apart from the first conveyor line to form a processing channel that allows the battery cells to pass through; A heating component, disposed inside the housing, is configured to heat and cure the grid lines on the surface of the battery cell passing through the processing channel; A plurality of first suction components are distributed at least on opposite sides of the housing and configured to extract gas from the gap between the housing and the first conveyor line; The first conveyor line is configured to convey the battery cells with grid lines to be cured through the processing channel to achieve heat curing of the wet grid lines on the surface of the battery cells within the processing channel.

2. The cell curing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by, The heating assembly includes a heating element and a blower element. Multiple heating elements are arranged side by side, and each blower element corresponds to one of the heating elements. Each blower element is located next to the corresponding heating element. The blower element is configured to blow air onto the heating element to cool it down. The heating element is an infrared lamp tube.

3. The cell curing apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The heating mechanism further includes a first light-transmitting plate and a second air-extraction component. The first light-transmitting plate is disposed inside the outer shell and forms a receiving chamber with the upper part of the outer shell. The heating component is disposed inside the receiving chamber, and the second air-extraction component is configured to draw gas from the receiving chamber.

4. The cell curing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized by The heating mechanism further includes a perforated plate, which is disposed above the first light-transmitting plate and divides the receiving chamber into a first space and a second space. The first space is located above the second space, and the two spaces are connected through the perforations on the perforated plate. The heating component is located in the second space, and the second air extraction component is disposed on the top of the outer shell and communicates with the first space. The second air extraction component extracts gas from the second space through the first space.

5. The cell curing apparatus of claim 3, wherein The heating mechanism also includes a second light-transmitting plate, which is located below the first light-transmitting plate, forming a third space between them. The processing channel is located below the third space. The second light-transmitting plate is provided with a plurality of air vents, which connect the third space and the processing channel. The outer casing is provided with an air injection port, which is located on the side wall of the outer casing between the first light-transmitting plate and the second light-transmitting plate. The workshop air source equipment can inject a first gas into the third space through the air injection port. The first gas is configured to prevent the battery cells from oxidizing during the heating process.

6. The battery cell curing equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that, The processing channel includes a heating section and a cooling section arranged sequentially along the conveying direction of the first conveyor line; The heating assembly includes a first type of heating element corresponding to the heating section and a second type of heating element corresponding to the cooling section; the heating power of the first type of heating element is greater than the heating power of the second type of heating element. The first type of heating element is configured to heat and cure the grid lines on the surface of the battery cell, and the heating power of the first type of heating element increases or remains constant along the conveying direction of the first conveying line. The second type of heating element is configured to cool the grid lines on the surface of the passing battery cell to a preset temperature, and the heating power of the second type of heating element decreases along the conveying direction of the first conveyor line.

7. The battery cell curing equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that, The gas injection port includes a first gas injection port corresponding to the heating section and a second gas injection port corresponding to the cooling section; The temperature of the first gas injected through the first gas injection port is greater than the temperature of the first gas injected through the second gas injection port; The first gas injected through the second gas injection port is configured to cool the grid lines on the surface of the battery cell.

8. The cell curing apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The first conveyor line includes a conveyor belt, an adsorption component, and a drive component; The driving component is connected to the conveyor belt to drive the conveyor belt to transport the battery cells; The conveyor belt is provided with multiple first through holes; The adsorption element is located below the upper belt body of the conveyor belt. The adsorption element is at least used to support the upper belt body of the conveyor belt. The adsorption element has a gas flow channel inside. The adsorption element has a plurality of second through holes communicating with the gas flow channel on one side corresponding to the upper belt body of the conveyor belt. The adsorption element has an exhaust hole communicating with the gas flow channel on one of its other sides. When the air extraction hole draws air, an adsorption force is generated through the first through hole, causing the battery cells to adhere to the conveyor belt.

9. The cell curing apparatus of claim 8, wherein, The adsorption element is provided with a heating wire assembly inside, which is used to heat the adsorption element to indirectly heat the grid lines on the battery cell.

10. The cell curing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by, The heating mechanism also includes a lifting assembly, and the housing is mounted on the drive end of the lifting assembly.

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