A pressing system

Abstract

This application discloses a pressing system, including: a sagger and a conveying assembly. The sagger is used to carry powder and is disposed on the conveying assembly, which can drive the sagger past the pressing position. The pressing assembly includes a fixing clamp and a pressing plate. The sagger is locked at the pressing position by several fixing clamps. The pressing plate moves under the driving action of a drive unit and presses the powder in the sagger. After the pressing plate contacts the powder, the drive unit drives the pressing plate to perform the pressing action of the powder at an increasing pressing speed. This application achieves the extrusion of gas in the powder by increasing the pressing speed. The slow compression at the beginning of contact improves the compaction of the pressing process through the subsequent accelerated pressing process, optimizes the uniformity of powder compression, and reduces the risk of damage to the inner wall of the sagger under stress concentration.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery production equipment technology, and in particular to a pressing system. Background Technology

[0002] In the sintering process of lithium cobalt oxide cathode materials, the cathode material needs to be pressed in the sagger to achieve dense packing. However, the current pressing process is crude, often using simple direct pressing operations, which leads to a large amount of gas remaining between the powder particles. This not only causes uneven packing density of the cathode material in the sagger, affecting sintering consistency, but also causes uneven stress on the inner wall of the sagger during the pressing process due to the rigid pressing head and the presence of gas in the powder, thus aggravating the formation of microcracks on the inner wall of the sagger and reducing its service life. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of this, the purpose of this application is to provide a pressing system to improve the uniformity and density of powder during the pressing process, improve the sintering effect of powder, and reduce the risk of damage to the sagger.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides the following technical solution:

[0005] A pressing system, comprising:

[0006] A sagger and a conveying assembly, wherein the sagger is used to carry powder and is disposed on the conveying assembly, and the conveying assembly is capable of driving the sagger through the pressing position;

[0007] The pressing assembly includes a fixing clamp and a pressing plate. The sagger is locked at the pressing position by a plurality of the fixing clamps. The pressing plate moves under the driving action of the driving unit and presses the powder in the sagger. After the pressing plate contacts the powder, the driving unit drives the pressing plate to perform the pressing action of the powder at an increasing pressing speed.

[0008] Preferably, in the above-mentioned pressing system, the movement process of the pressing plate after contacting the powder during a single pressing process includes a pre-pressing path, a main pressing path, and a fine pressing path, and the pressing plate moves at a constant speed in a single movement path.

[0009] Preferably, the above-mentioned pressing system further includes a laser ranging sensor disposed at the pressing position. After the pressing plate leaves the sagger, the laser ranging sensor performs a topological scan of the powder surface in the sagger and feeds back to the controller. After the flatness of the material surface meets the preset requirements, the controller feeds back to start the drive structure of the conveying component.

[0010] Preferably, in the above-described pressing system, the pressing plate is subjected to additional driving vibration by the driving unit during the operation of the precision pressing path.

[0011] Preferably, in the above-mentioned pressing system, the laser rangefinder is positioned 18cm-20cm above the sagger.

[0012] Preferably, in the above-described pressing system, the pressing plate is disposed on the support rod and is rotatably connected to the support rod;

[0013] A pressure film array is embedded in the side of the pressing plate that contacts the powder. The pressure film array is evenly arranged around the center of the pressing plate and feeds back the pressure detection value to the controller during the pressing process. The controller adjusts the pressing angle of the pressing plate based on the pressure difference of each area of ​​the pressure film array.

[0014] Preferably, in the above-mentioned pressing system, the pressing plate includes at least two independently configured pressing zones, each of which is provided with the pressure film array, and the pressing angle is independently adjusted by the controller.

[0015] Preferably, in the above-mentioned pressing system, the controller is a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), a microcontroller, or a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

[0016] Preferably, in the above-mentioned pressing system, the side of the pressing plate that contacts the powder is provided with a YSZ (yttrium-stabilized zirconia) ceramic coating.

[0017] Preferably, in the above-mentioned pressing system, the fixing clamp is an elastic clamping structure made of urethane or polyurethane.

[0018] As can be seen from the above technical solution, the pressing system provided in this disclosure locks the sagger at the pressing position using a fixing frame, and compresses the powder in the sagger by pressing down on the pressing plate. During the pressing action of the pressing plate, after contacting the powder, the pressing plate gradually increases the pressing speed. The initial slow pressing speed allows most of the gas in the powder to have space and time to escape, reducing residual gas in the powder. The subsequent accelerated pressing compacts the powder and eliminates internal stress, effectively solving the risks of powder inhomogeneity and air gap retention caused by traditional pressing structures and action methods. It not only reduces the porosity of the powder after pressing and improves the density uniformity, thus improving the batch consistency of the sintered product, but also ensures that the inner wall of the sagger is subjected to uniform stress, reducing the risk of damage and extending the service life of the sagger. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application 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 application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 A pressing system provided in one embodiment of this disclosure;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of one side of the pressure plate structure provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] in:

[0023] 10-Sagger; 20-Conveying assembly; 30-Fixing clamp; 40-Pressure plate; 410-Pressure zone; 50-Drive unit; 60-Support rod. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The core of this application is to disclose a pressing system to improve the uniformity and density of powder during the pressing process, enhance the sintering effect of the powder, and reduce the risk of damage to the sagger.

[0025] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, the embodiments shown below do not limit the scope of the utility model described in the claims. Additionally, the complete content of the structures represented in the following embodiments is not limited to those necessary for the solution of the utility model described in the claims.

[0026] like Figure 1 As shown, this disclosure provides a pressing system, which mainly includes a crucible 10, a conveying assembly 20, and a pressing assembly. The crucible 10 is used to carry powder and is disposed on the conveying assembly 20. The conveying assembly 20 can drive the crucible 10 to move. The movement of the crucible 10 passes through the pressing position. The pressing assembly includes fixing clamps 30 and a pressing plate 40. Several fixing clamps 30 lock the crucible 10 at the pressing position, and the pressing plate 40 performs a pressing action under the driving action of the driving unit 50 to press the powder in the crucible 10. In particular, after the pressing plate 40 contacts the powder, the driving unit 50 drives the pressing plate 40 to perform the pressing action of the powder at an increasing pressing speed.

[0027] It should be noted that the conveying assembly 20 can be a belt conveyor, chain conveyor, or roller kiln, etc., depending on the actual production needs. In order to maintain the structural stability of the sagger 10, the fixing clamps 30 can be pneumatic clamping devices or mechanical clamping devices, and the number is usually set to 2-8, evenly distributed on both sides of the sagger 10, to clamp the sagger 10. The pressure plate 40 can be made of stainless steel or hard alloy, and its pressing area is slightly smaller than the inner cavity size of the crucible 10. The drive unit 50 can be a servo motor or a hydraulic cylinder, or a combination of both, to adjust the speed of the pressure plate 40 for pressing. It should be noted that during the pressing process of the pressure plate 40, after contacting the powder, the initial stage of low-speed pressing promotes the expulsion of most of the gas in the powder. In the intermediate stage, the speed is appropriately increased to accelerate the pressing efficiency and form a dense structure. The final stage of high-speed pressing ensures that the required filling density is achieved. Compared with the traditional single-speed pressing method, the staged variable-speed pressing of the pressure plate 40 can significantly improve the filling uniformity of the powder, improve the finished product effect, and reduce the stress concentration problem on the inner wall of the crucible 10, thereby extending the service life of the crucible 10.

[0028] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this disclosure, the movement of the pressure plate 40 after contacting the powder during a single pressing process includes a pre-pressing path, a main pressing path, and a fine pressing path. The pre-pressing path refers to the process where the pressure plate 40 contacts the powder at a low speed and initially compacts it, primarily eliminating voids caused by loose powder accumulation. The main pressing path refers to the process where the pressure plate 40 performs primary compaction at a medium speed, achieving overall powder densification. The fine pressing path refers to the process where the pressure plate 40 completes final compaction at a higher speed, eliminating local density differences and improving surface smoothness. In the pressing system provided in this disclosure, the distances between the pre-pressing path, main pressing path, and fine pressing path can be set according to production needs, such as the pre-pressing path accounting for 30%, the main pressing path for 50%, and the fine pressing path for 20%. The switching of each path can be triggered by a displacement sensor or a time relay, effectively solving the problems of residual gas and uneven density inside the powder caused by traditional direct pressing methods.

[0029] Simultaneously, the pressure plate 40 moves at an increasing speed along the pre-pressing path, main pressing path, and fine pressing path to form a speed gradient. It should be noted that, preferably, the pressure plate 40 moves at a uniform speed within a single movement path to maintain the uniformity of the pressed material within that path, allowing the powder particles to arrange themselves in an orderly manner, reducing the generation of internal air gaps, and thus improving sintering consistency. In some embodiments of this disclosure, the pressure plate 40 moves at a speed of 0.5 mm / s along the pre-pressing path, 1.0 mm / s along the main pressing path, and 1.5 mm / s along the fine pressing path.

[0030] Furthermore, based on the above embodiments, a laser rangefinder is also provided at the pressing position. The laser rangefinder can adopt the principle of phase-type or pulse-type laser ranging, which measures the height data of each point on the material surface by emitting a laser beam and receiving the reflected signal. After the pressing plate 40 leaves the crucible 10, the laser rangefinder performs a topological scan of the powder surface in the crucible 10 and feeds the data back to the controller. After receiving the information from the laser rangefinder, the controller performs filtering and plane fitting algorithm processing to calculate the flatness index of the material surface, such as the root mean square deviation or the maximum height difference, and compares it with a preset range. If it does not meet the standard, it feeds back for re-pressing, and only after meeting the standard will it feed back to start the drive structure of the conveying component 20 to drive the pressed powder away from the pressing position. It should also be noted that in some embodiments of this disclosure, the laser rangefinder is set at a position of 18cm-20cm above the crucible 10, which ensures measurement accuracy and prevents the sensor from being contaminated by the powder.

[0031] To further optimize the above technical solution, in some embodiments of this disclosure, the pressure plate 40 is driven by the drive unit 50 to vibrate during the operation of the precision pressing path. This causes the powder particles to rearrange at the microscopic level, which helps to release trapped gas between particles and solves the problem of uneven density caused by gas retention during powder pressing. It should be noted that the vibration of the pressure plate 40 is achieved by a servo motor or a linear motor, and its amplitude can be set to 0.1mm-0.3mm, and its frequency to 50Hz-200Hz. This allows the powder particles to fill the gaps more fully, improving overall density while maintaining pressing accuracy.

[0032] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this disclosure, the pressure plate 40 is rotatably mounted on the support rod 60 to enable angle adjustment of the pressure plate 40. This adjustment can be achieved through a universal joint with a locking function, with the rotation angle controlled within ±5°. Simultaneously, a pressure film array is embedded in the side of the pressure plate 40 that contacts the powder. This embedded structure does not affect the flatness of the pressure plate 40 and can provide feedback on pressure detection values ​​during the pressing process. Specifically, the pressure film array is uniformly arranged around the center of the pressure plate 40 and provides feedback on pressure detection values ​​to the controller during the pressing process. The controller then adjusts the pressing angle of the pressure plate 40 based on the pressure difference between different areas of the pressure film array. That is, when the controller detects local pressure abnormalities on the material surface, it can immediately adjust the angle of the pressure plate 40 to redistribute the force on the powder and balance the unevenness of the material surface. This not only improves the uniformity of pressing but also avoids damage to the crucible 10 caused by single-point stress concentration. It should be noted that the pressure film array can be arranged in a ring or a rectangular pattern.

[0033] Based on the above embodiments, such as Figure 2As shown, the pressure plate 40 includes at least two independently configured pressure zones 410, and each pressure zone 410 is equipped with a pressure diaphragm array, with the pressure angle independently adjustable by a controller. When the controller detects abnormal pressure in a localized area of ​​the material surface through the pressure diaphragm array, it can individually adjust the tilt angle of that zone to redistribute the pressure force evenly. Compared to the integral pressure plate 40, this design improves response speed and the precision of the adjustment process, and can adapt to the pressure requirements of powders with different particle size distributions, thus enhancing the pressure effect of the pressure system. It should be noted that, depending on production precision requirements, more pressure zones 410 can be set. Preferably, multiple pressure zones 410 are evenly distributed in the circumferential direction to achieve a uniform pressure effect on each area.

[0034] Furthermore, in the pressing system provided in this embodiment, the controller can be a PLC, a microcontroller, or a CPU. A PLC, or Programmable Logic Controller, is a digital computing and operating electronic system specifically designed for industrial environments, characterized by high reliability and strong anti-interference capabilities. A microcontroller is an integrated circuit chip with advantages such as small size and low cost. A CPU, or Central Processing Unit, serves as a general-purpose computing core, providing high computing performance.

[0035] In addition, in some embodiments of this disclosure, a YSZ ceramic coating is provided on the side of the pressure plate 40 that contacts the powder. This coating can form a dense protective layer on the surface of the pressure plate 40 by plasma spraying or high-temperature sintering process. It has anti-corrosion and high-temperature resistance properties. Combined with constant pressure drive control, the breakage rate of the sagger 10 is reduced to 0.3%.

[0036] Furthermore, in the pressing system provided in this embodiment, the fixing clamp 30 is an elastic clamping structure made of urethane or polyurethane. It not only has good elasticity and wear resistance, and can maintain a stable clamping force during repeated clamping, but also has moderate hardness, which can effectively fix the crucible 10 without damaging the surface of the crucible 10 due to excessive rigidity.

[0037] The terms "first," "second," "left side," and "right side," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units may not be defined in the listed steps or units, but may include steps or units not listed.

[0038] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A press system characterized by, include: A sagger and a conveying assembly, wherein the sagger is used to carry powder and is disposed on the conveying assembly, and the conveying assembly is capable of driving the sagger through the pressing position; The pressing assembly includes a fixing clamp and a pressing plate. The sagger is locked at the pressing position by a plurality of the fixing clamps. The pressing plate moves under the driving action of the driving unit and presses the powder in the sagger. After the pressing plate contacts the powder, the driving unit drives the pressing plate to perform the pressing action of the powder at an increasing pressing speed.

2. The blank holder system of claim 1, wherein, During a single pressing process, the movement of the pressing plate after contacting the powder includes a pre-pressing path, a main pressing path, and a fine pressing path, and the pressing plate moves at a constant speed in a single movement path.

3. The pressing system as described in claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a laser rangefinder sensor located at the pressing position. After the pressing plate leaves the sagger, the laser rangefinder sensor performs a topological scan of the powder surface in the sagger and feeds the results back to the controller. The controller then activates the drive structure of the conveying component after the surface flatness meets the preset requirements.

4. The pressing system as described in claim 2, characterized in that, During the operation of the pressure plate in the precision pressing path, the driving unit adds a vibration action.

5. The pressing system as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The laser rangefinder is positioned 18cm-20cm above the sagger.

6. The pressing system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure plate is mounted on the support rod and is rotatably connected to the support rod. A pressure film array is embedded in the side of the pressing plate that contacts the powder. The pressure film array is evenly arranged around the center of the pressing plate and feeds back the pressure detection value to the controller during the pressing process. The controller adjusts the pressing angle of the pressing plate based on the pressure difference of each area of ​​the pressure film array.

7. The pressing system as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The pressure plate includes at least two independently configured pressure zones, each of which is equipped with the pressure diaphragm array, and the pressure angle is independently adjusted by the controller.

8. The pressing system as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The controller is a programmable logic controller, a microcontroller, or a central processing unit.

9. The pressing system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The side of the pressure plate that contacts the powder is coated with a yttrium oxide-stabilized zirconia ceramic coating.

10. The pressing system according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The fixing clamp is an elastic clamping structure made of urethane or polyurethane.

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