Clamp and welding apparatus

Abstract

The application discloses a clamp and a welding device. The clamp comprises a first clamping assembly, a second clamping assembly and a guide assembly. The first clamping assembly comprises a first clamping part and a second clamping part arranged oppositely. The second clamping assembly comprises a third clamping part and a fourth clamping part arranged oppositely. A clamping station is formed between the clamping parts. The guide assembly is arranged at a material feeding side of the clamping station and is used for guiding the material to the clamping station.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of battery manufacturing technology, specifically relating to a fixture and welding equipment. Background Technology

[0002] In the battery production process, the welding and feeding process of the square blade battery of lithium battery involves feeding the battery material into the laser welding fixture through a translation module, accurately positioning the battery, and then the laser head performing continuous full welding around the lithium battery weld.

[0003] In the existing technology, when the feeding module feeds the battery from the robotic arm into the welding fixture, the battery has a positioning error during the positioning process. Since blade batteries are generally long, they are prone to slight displacement when being fed to the fixture, which may cause the battery and the fixture to collide during the feeding process, resulting in the battery being scrapped. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application aims to provide a fixture and welding equipment that addresses at least one of the problems in the prior art.

[0005] According to a first aspect of this application, a clamp is provided, comprising:

[0006] A first clamping assembly, comprising a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion disposed opposite to each other;

[0007] The second clamping assembly includes a third clamping portion and a fourth clamping portion disposed opposite to each other;

[0008] A guide assembly is provided, and a clamping station is formed between each clamping part. The guide assembly is disposed on the material receiving side of the clamping station to guide the material to the clamping station.

[0009] Optionally, the first clamping part and the second clamping part are arranged opposite to each other along a first direction, and the third clamping part and the fourth clamping part are arranged opposite to each other along a second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction intersect.

[0010] Optionally, the fixture further includes a turntable with a through hole, and the first clamping component and the second clamping component are respectively disposed on the turntable, with each clamping part forming the clamping station at the through hole.

[0011] Optionally, the fixture further includes a rotary drive connected to the turntable, which drives the turntable to rotate the first clamping assembly and the second clamping assembly about the axis of the turntable.

[0012] Optionally, the first clamping assembly further includes a first driving member, which is connected to the first clamping part and / or the second clamping part, for driving the first clamping part and the second clamping part to move closer or further apart from each other;

[0013] The second clamping assembly further includes a second driving member, which is connected to the third clamping part and / or the fourth clamping part, for driving the third clamping part and the fourth clamping part to move closer to or further away from each other.

[0014] Optionally, the guiding assembly includes a guide wheel, and at least one of the first clamping part, the second clamping part, the third clamping part, and the fourth clamping part is provided with the guide wheel on the material receiving side of the clamping station.

[0015] Optionally, the first clamping part, the second clamping part, the third clamping part, and the fourth clamping part are respectively configured as a first clamping block, a second clamping block, a third clamping block, and a fourth clamping block;

[0016] At least one of the first clamping block, the second clamping block, the third clamping block, and the fourth clamping block is provided with a mounting part protruding toward the material receiving side, and at least one of the mounting parts is movably fitted with the guide wheel.

[0017] Optionally, the clamping width of the first clamping part and the second clamping part is greater than the clamping width of the third clamping part and the fourth clamping part;

[0018] The first clamping part and the second clamping part are respectively provided with two guide wheels at intervals on their receiving sides, and the third clamping part and the fourth clamping part are respectively provided with one guide wheel on their receiving sides.

[0019] Optionally, the first clamping part and the second clamping part are arranged opposite each other in the vertical direction, the first clamping part is located on the upper side of the second clamping part, and the material receiving side of the second clamping part is provided with a rounded bevel.

[0020] Optionally, the third clamping part and the fourth clamping part are arranged opposite each other in the horizontal direction, and the third clamping part is provided with a guide wheel on the material receiving side, and the fourth clamping part can move closer to or further away from the third clamping part in the horizontal direction.

[0021] According to a second aspect of this application, a welding apparatus is provided, comprising:

[0022] The welding head, the feeding mechanism, and the fixture described in the first aspect;

[0023] The feeding mechanism is located on the material receiving side of the clamping station and is used to feed material to the clamping station. The welding head is used to weld the material at the clamping station.

[0024] In the embodiments of this application, by providing guide components on the material receiving side of each clamping part, the material receiving mechanism can guide the material to the clamping station before it is delivered to the clamping station. This reduces the risk of collision with the fixture due to the positioning deviation of the material, reduces the scrap rate of the battery, and improves the yield of battery production.

[0025] Additional aspects and advantages of this application will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of this application will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0027] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram (including battery) of a clamp provided in this application;

[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another type of fixture provided in this application.

[0029] Figure label:

[0030] 1. Turntable; 11. Through hole; 2. First clamping part; 3. Second clamping part; 31. Rounded bevel; 4. Third clamping part; 5. Fourth clamping part; 6. Mounting part; 7. Guide wheel; 8. Battery. Detailed Implementation

[0031] Embodiments of this application will now be described in detail. Examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this application, and should not be construed as limiting this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments in this application are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0032] The terms "first" and "second" in the specification and claims of this application may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more. Furthermore, "and / or" in the specification and claims indicates at least one of the connected objects, and the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0033] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0034] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, 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 mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0035] The following is combined with Figures 1-2 This application describes a fixture and welding apparatus according to embodiments thereof.

[0036] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, according to some embodiments of this application, a clamp is provided for battery 8 production, including: a first clamping assembly, a second clamping assembly, and a guiding assembly; the first clamping assembly includes a first clamping part 2 and a second clamping part 3 disposed opposite to each other; the second clamping assembly includes a third clamping part 4 and a fourth clamping part 5 disposed opposite to each other; a clamping station is formed between the clamping parts, and the guiding assembly is disposed on the material receiving side of the clamping station for guiding the material to the clamping station.

[0037] Specifically, in this embodiment, the first clamping part 2 and the second clamping part 3 are arranged opposite to each other, and the third clamping part 4 and the fourth clamping part 5 are arranged opposite to each other. A clamping station for clamping materials (hereinafter, taking battery 8 as an example) is formed between the four clamping parts. This application provides a guide component on the incoming side of the clamping station, so that when battery 8 is sent to the clamping station, it can be guided into the clamping station by the action of the guide component, and then clamped by each clamping part. The guide component is provided so that when there is a positional deviation between battery 8 and the clamping station, the guide component can guide battery 8 into the clamping station, avoiding the risk of collision between battery 8 and other parts in the fixture, and improving the production yield of battery 8.

[0038] Furthermore, in practical applications, if the offset of battery 8 is too large, when it is directly conveyed to the clamping station and forcibly positioned by the first and second clamping components, battery 8 will undergo a slight deflection, causing scratches on the surface of battery 8 by the clamps. This ultimately has a significant impact on the positioning of the end face of battery 8, which is detrimental to ensuring welding quality. In this embodiment, the guide component is set on the incoming side of the clamping station, which allows battery 8 to be roughly corrected before entering the clamping station, avoiding excessive offset of battery 8, reducing the risk of scratches or abrasions on the surface of battery 8, and further ensuring the welding quality of battery 8. Here, the incoming side of the clamping station usually refers to the direction in which the feeding mechanism conveys battery 8 to the clamping station, as shown in the reference. Figure 1 or Figure 2 The X direction in the equation.

[0039] In practical applications, the guide component can be set as a separate guide element, such as the guide wheel 7, or it can be set as a structural feature on each clamping part, such as the guide fillet. The guide component can be a single component or include multiple components; this application does not limit this. In addition, the first clamping part 2 and the second clamping part 3, as well as the third clamping part 4 and the fourth clamping part 5, can be brought closer or moved away from each other by a driving component such as a cylinder, thereby achieving the purpose of clamping or releasing the battery 8.

[0040] Optionally, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the first clamping part 2 and the second clamping part 3 are along the first direction (reference). Figure 1 The third clamping part 4 and the fourth clamping part 5 are arranged relative to each other in the second direction (refer to the Z direction), and are arranged along the second direction (refer to the Z direction). Figure 1 The Y-direction in the diagram is set relative to the first direction, which intersects with the second direction.

[0041] Specifically, in this embodiment, the orientation of the first clamping part 2 and the second clamping part 3 relative to each other is different from the orientation of the third clamping part 4 and the fourth clamping part 5. The first clamping assembly and the second clamping assembly can clamp the battery 8 in at least two different directions, improving the reliability and stability of the clamping of the battery 8. In practical applications, when the clamped battery 8 is a blade battery 8, the first direction and the second direction can be mutually perpendicular, facilitating clamping of each clamping part onto each surface of the blade battery 8.

[0042] Optionally, the fixture also includes a turntable 1, on which a through hole 11 is provided. The first clamping component and the second clamping component are respectively disposed on the turntable 1, and each clamping part forms a clamping station at the through hole 11.

[0043] Specifically, in this embodiment, the fixture is typically used in the battery 8 welding process. The first clamping component and the second clamping component are respectively mounted on the turntable 1, so that when the turntable 1 rotates, it drives the first and second clamping components to rotate, thereby allowing the battery 8, clamped between the first and second clamping components, to rotate accordingly, thus achieving a continuous full-circumference welding process for the battery 8. The first clamping part 2 and the second clamping part 3 are arranged opposite each other, and the third clamping part 4 and the fourth clamping part 5 are arranged opposite each other. The four clamping parts form a clamping station for holding materials at the through hole 11, making the spatial layout of the fixture more rational.

[0044] Optionally, the fixture also includes a rotary drive unit connected to the turntable 1, which drives the turntable 1 to rotate the first clamping assembly and the second clamping assembly around the axis of the turntable 1.

[0045] Specifically, in this embodiment, the rotary drive can drive the turntable 1 to rotate, causing the first and second clamping components mounted on the turntable 1 to rotate as well, thereby rotating the battery 8 clamped at the clamping station and achieving continuous full welding around the battery 8. The rotary drive can be a servo motor or other drive components, and is not limited here. The turntable 1 can be a circular disk, a square disk, or other shapes, depending on the specific equipment to which the fixture is assembled.

[0046] Optionally, the first clamping assembly further includes a first driving member, which is connected to the first clamping part 2 and / or the second clamping part 3, for driving the first clamping part 2 and the second clamping part 3 to move closer or further away from each other; the second clamping assembly further includes a second driving member, which is connected to the third clamping part 4 and / or the fourth clamping part 5, for driving the third clamping part 4 and the fourth clamping part 5 to move closer or further away from each other.

[0047] Specifically, in practical applications, the approaching or moving away of the first clamping part 2 and the second clamping part 3 can be achieved by the first driving member only driving the first clamping part 2 to approach or move away from the second clamping part 3, or by the first driving member only driving the second clamping part 3 to approach or move away from the first clamping part 2, thus achieving the purpose of clamping the battery 8. Alternatively, the first driving member can simultaneously drive the first clamping part 2 and the second clamping part 3 to approach or move away from each other. Furthermore, the connection and driving method of the second driving member with the third clamping part 4 and the fourth clamping part 5 are the same. It can be that the third clamping part 4 or the fourth clamping part 5 is driven to move individually, or that the third clamping part 4 and the fourth clamping part 5 are driven to move relative to each other or in opposite directions simultaneously; no limitation is imposed here.

[0048] When the first driving member is simultaneously connected to the first clamping part 2 and the second clamping part 3, and the second driving member is simultaneously connected to the third clamping part 4 and the fourth clamping part 5, the reliability of clamping the battery 8 can be improved. The first and second driving members can be electric cylinders, pneumatic cylinders, or motors, etc., and there are no restrictions on their use.

[0049] Optionally, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the guide assembly includes a guide wheel 7, and at least one of the first clamping part 2, the second clamping part 3, the third clamping part 4 and the fourth clamping part 5 is provided with the guide wheel 7 on the material receiving side of the clamping station.

[0050] Specifically, in practical applications, the guiding component is set as one or more guide wheels 7. At least one of the clamping parts is equipped with a guide wheel 7 on the incoming side, so that when the incoming battery 8 moves to the front line of the clamping station and touches the guide wheel 7, the guide wheel 7 rotates accordingly, guiding the battery 8 into the correct direction. This ensures that the battery 8 is almost smoothly transitioned to the clamping station inside the fixture, reducing the risk of scratches or damage to the surface of the battery 8. It also ensures that the battery 8 will not be displaced too much when it is repositioned, avoiding the problem of top cover scratches caused by excessive offset of the battery 8 when it continues to move along the feeding direction. This can greatly improve the welding yield and reduce scrap caused by feeding.

[0051] In the above structure, the guide wheel 7 can be a non-metallic wheel, such as a guide wheel 7 made of nylon material, which can further reduce the risk of damage to the battery 8. The number and placement of the guide wheels 7 can be customized according to the specific structure of the battery 8 or each clamping component. For example, one guide wheel 7 can be provided on the receiving side of each of the first clamping part 2, the second clamping part 3, the third clamping part 4, and the fourth clamping part 5 to improve the guiding effect. Alternatively, one guide wheel 7 can be provided only on the receiving side of the first clamping part 2 and the third clamping part 4 to improve the guiding effect while reducing equipment costs. This application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0052] Optionally, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the first clamping part 2, the second clamping part 3, the third clamping part 4 and the fourth clamping part 5 are respectively configured as a first clamping block, a second clamping block, a third clamping block and a fourth clamping block; wherein, at least one of the first clamping block, the second clamping block, the third clamping block and the fourth clamping block is provided with a mounting part 6 protruding towards the material receiving side, and at least one mounting part 6 is movably fitted with a guide wheel 7.

[0053] Specifically, in practical applications, each clamping part is configured as a clamping block, and the clamping block equipped with guide wheels 7 has a mounting part 6 protruding towards the incoming material side, making the installation of guide wheels 7 more flexible and convenient. The guide wheels 7 can be rotatably mounted on the mounting part 6 via a rotating shaft. The axial direction of the rotating shaft is designed to match the clamping direction of each clamping block, and is not limited here.

[0054] Optionally, such as Figure 1 As shown, the clamping width of the first clamping part 2 and the second clamping part 3 is greater than the clamping width of the third clamping part 4 and the fourth clamping part 5; wherein, the material receiving side of the first clamping part 2 and the second clamping part 3 is provided with two guide wheels 7 at intervals, and the material receiving side of the third clamping part 4 and the fourth clamping part 5 is provided with one guide wheel 7.

[0055] Specifically, in practical applications, when the clamp is applied to the blade battery 8, since the cross-section of the blade battery 8 is usually rectangular, the clamping dimensions of the clamping portion clamping the blade battery 8 in the width direction (refer to...) Figure 1 The dimension of the first clamping part 2 along the Y direction can be designed to be different from the clamping dimension of the clamping part clamping the blade battery 8 in the height direction (see reference). Figure 1 The fourth clamping part 5 is longer along the Z direction, so that the battery 8 can be clamped at the clamping station.

[0056] At this time, two guide wheels 7 are respectively provided on the receiving side of the first clamping part 2 and the second clamping part 3, which have a wider dimension, so that the width direction of the battery 8 (refer to) Figure 1 (in the Y direction) and the height direction of battery 8 (reference) Figure 1 Each region in the Z direction can avoid collision with the clamp, further improving the safety and reliability of the clamp for holding the battery 8.

[0057] Optionally, such as Figure 2 As shown, the first clamping part 2 and the second clamping part 3 are arranged opposite each other in the vertical direction. The first clamping part 2 is located on the upper side of the second clamping part 3, and the material receiving side of the second clamping part 3 is provided with an arc-shaped chamfer 31.

[0058] Specifically, in practical applications, the Blade Battery 8 is typically configured according to... Figure 1 The battery 8 is fed in a certain state, and the first clamping part 2 and the second clamping part 3 are arranged opposite each other in the vertical direction, so that the upper and lower surfaces of the battery 8 can be clamped by the first clamping part 2 and the second clamping part 3 respectively.

[0059] In the above structure, the battery 8 is prone to collide with the lower side of the clamping station due to gravity when it is fed. In order to simplify the structure of the guide assembly or reduce the number of parts of the guide assembly, an arc-shaped guide angle 31 can be set on the feeding side of the second clamping part 3 located on the lower side of the clamping station to achieve the guiding effect on the battery 8, which simplifies the structure of the fixture and reduces the setup cost.

[0060] In the above structure, the material receiving side of the first clamping part 2, the third clamping part 4 and the fourth clamping part 5 can each be provided with a guide wheel 7, or only one or two clamping parts can be provided with guide wheels 7 on the material receiving side. The specific configuration is determined according to actual needs and is not limited here.

[0061] Optionally, such as Figure 2 As shown, the third clamping part 4 and the fourth clamping part 5 are arranged opposite each other in the horizontal direction. A guide wheel 7 is provided on the material receiving side of the third clamping part 4, and the fourth clamping part 5 can move closer to or further away from the third clamping part 4 in the horizontal direction.

[0062] Specifically, in practical applications, the blade battery 8 follows... Figure 1 When feeding the battery 8, the third clamping part 4 and the fourth clamping part 5 are arranged opposite each other in the horizontal direction, so that the left and right surfaces of the battery 8 can be clamped by the third clamping part 4 and the fourth clamping part 5 respectively.

[0063] In the above structure, a guide wheel 7 can be provided on the receiving side of the third clamping part 4, and the fourth clamping part 5 can guide the battery 8 by moving closer to or further away from the fourth clamping part 5. That is, the fourth clamping part 5 is designed to be independently movable. When the battery 8 is fed to the receiving side of the clamping station, the fourth clamping part 5 is located on the side away from the third clamping part 4. After the guide wheel 7 of the third clamping part 4 guides the battery 8 to the clamping station, the fourth clamping part 5 moves to the side closer to the third clamping part 4 to clamp the battery 8. This arrangement can ensure that when the battery 8 is fed to the clamping station, its left and right sides do not collide with the third clamping part 4 or the fourth clamping part 5, ensuring the safety and reliability of clamping, while reducing the number of guide wheels 7 and reducing equipment costs.

[0064] According to a second aspect of this application, a welding apparatus is provided, comprising: a welding head, a feeding mechanism, and a clamp of the first aspect; the feeding mechanism is disposed on the material receiving side of the clamping station and is used to feed material to the clamping station, and the welding head is used to weld the material at the clamping station.

[0065] Specifically, in this embodiment, the welding equipment uses the fixture provided in the first aspect. Based on the fixture provided in this application, the battery 8 can be prevented from being discarded due to collision, thereby improving the production yield of the battery 8 in the welding process and enhancing the stability of the equipment.

[0066] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0067] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of this application, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A clamp, characterized in that, include: A first clamping assembly, comprising a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion disposed opposite to each other; The second clamping assembly includes a third clamping portion and a fourth clamping portion disposed opposite to each other; A guide assembly is provided, and a clamping station is formed between each clamping part. The guide assembly is disposed on the material receiving side of the clamping station to guide the material to the clamping station.

2. The clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first clamping part and the second clamping part are arranged opposite each other along a first direction, and the third clamping part and the fourth clamping part are arranged opposite each other along a second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction intersect.

3. The clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a turntable with through holes, and the first clamping component and the second clamping component are respectively disposed on the turntable, with each clamping part forming the clamping station at the through hole.

4. The clamp according to claim 3, characterized in that, It also includes a rotary drive component connected to the turntable, which drives the turntable to rotate the first clamping assembly and the second clamping assembly around the axis of the turntable.

5. The clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first clamping assembly further includes a first driving member, which is connected to the first clamping part and / or the second clamping part, for driving the first clamping part and the second clamping part to move closer or further apart from each other; The second clamping assembly further includes a second driving member, which is connected to the third clamping part and / or the fourth clamping part, for driving the third clamping part and the fourth clamping part to move closer to or further away from each other.

6. The clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The guiding assembly includes a guide wheel, and at least one of the first clamping part, the second clamping part, the third clamping part, and the fourth clamping part is provided with the guide wheel on the material receiving side of the clamping station.

7. The clamp according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first clamping part, the second clamping part, the third clamping part, and the fourth clamping part are respectively configured as a first clamping block, a second clamping block, a third clamping block, and a fourth clamping block; At least one of the first clamping block, the second clamping block, the third clamping block, and the fourth clamping block is provided with a mounting part protruding toward the material receiving side, and at least one of the mounting parts is movably fitted with the guide wheel.

8. The clamp according to claim 6, characterized in that, The clamping width of the first clamping part and the second clamping part is greater than the clamping width of the third clamping part and the fourth clamping part; The first clamping part and the second clamping part are respectively provided with two guide wheels at intervals on their receiving sides, and the third clamping part and the fourth clamping part are respectively provided with one guide wheel on their receiving sides.

9. The clamp according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first clamping part and the second clamping part are arranged opposite each other in the vertical direction. The first clamping part is located on the upper side of the second clamping part, and the material receiving side of the second clamping part is provided with a rounded bevel.

10. The clamp according to claim 6, characterized in that, The third clamping part and the fourth clamping part are arranged opposite each other in the horizontal direction. The third clamping part is provided with a guide wheel on the material receiving side. The fourth clamping part can move closer to or further away from the third clamping part in the horizontal direction.

11. A welding device, characterized in that, include: The welding head, the feeding mechanism, and the fixture as described in any one of claims 1-10; The feeding mechanism is located on the material receiving side of the clamping station and is used to feed material to the clamping station. The welding head is used to weld the material at the clamping station.

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