Battery pack electrode tab disassembly device

Abstract

The utility model relates to secondary battery and its manufacturing field especially, and more particularly to battery pack electrode connecting piece disassembling device. The utility model discloses a three -axis drive mechanism is set up in the disassembling position of battery pack electrode connecting piece disassembling device, and sets up laser cutting module and milling module on the action output part of three -axis drive mechanism, can determine the relative position of electrode connecting piece and pole and the position information of electrode connecting piece on the top of pole through visual detection module, so can cut the electrode connecting piece around pole through laser cutting module in the disassembling position, can also carry out milling to the electrode connecting piece remaining on the top of pole after laser cutting, realizes the complete removal of the electrode connecting piece connected on each battery core pole of battery pack in the same station, need not manual disassembly operation, and also avoid the tedious labor of taking out battery core from battery box and loading back, greatly reduce the labor intensity, improve the disassembly efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of secondary batteries and their manufacturing technology, and in particular to a device for disassembling battery pack electrode connecting pieces. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid expansion of the new energy vehicle industry, the use of battery packs has also increased. Efficient recycling of battery packs is of great significance for energy conservation, emission reduction, and cost reduction. Battery packs typically consist of multiple cells connected in series and parallel via conductive connecting tabs. These connecting tabs are welded to the terminals of the cells. During battery pack recycling, it is often necessary to remove the conductive connecting tabs from the cell terminals to separate the individual cells. Existing dismantling lines, after cutting the conductive connecting tabs, still leave a small number of tabs on top of the cell terminals, requiring manual removal. This process often involves removing the cells from the battery box, removing the conductive connecting tabs from the cell terminals, and then placing the cells back into the battery box. The entire process is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and extremely inconvenient. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a battery pack electrode connector disassembly device to solve the problem that existing disassembly lines cannot completely remove conductive connectors and require manual operation, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive.

[0004] The battery pack electrode connector disassembly device of this utility model includes a disassembly position for parking the battery pack to be disassembled. A three-axis drive mechanism is provided at the disassembly position. The three-axis drive mechanism is provided with a control module to control its operation. The action output part of the three-axis drive mechanism is provided with a laser cutting module for cutting the electrode connector around the terminal post, and a milling module for milling the electrode connector remaining after cutting the terminal post. The three-axis drive mechanism is also provided with a visual inspection module for capturing images of the top of the battery pack to obtain three-dimensional data of the terminal post. The visual inspection module, the laser cutting module, and the milling module all cooperate with the control module. The laser cutting module and the milling module cut and mill the electrode connector at the same disassembly position.

[0005] This invention provides a novel battery pack electrode connector disassembly device. By incorporating a three-axis drive mechanism at the disassembly point, and integrating a laser cutting module and a milling module on the mechanism's output unit, the device utilizes a vision inspection module to determine the relative position of the electrode connector to the terminal post and the position of the electrode connector on the top of the terminal post. This allows for simultaneous laser cutting of the electrode connector around the terminal post at the disassembly point, and milling of the electrode connector remaining on the top of the terminal post after laser cutting. This enables the complete removal of the electrode connectors connected to each cell terminal post of the battery pack in a single station. The integrated laser cutting and milling stations reduce equipment size, lower manufacturing costs, and improve space utilization. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for manual disassembly and avoids the tedious labor of removing and reinstalling the cells from the battery box, significantly reducing workload and improving disassembly efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0006] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the battery pack electrode connection piece disassembly device of this utility model (the loading and lifting device is not shown).

[0007] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an electrode connector disassembly device;

[0008] Figure 3 Top view of the electrode connector disassembly device;

[0009] Figure 4 Rear view of the electrode connector disassembly device;

[0010] Figure 5 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of the structure of region A in the middle;

[0011] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the electrode connector disassembly device from the rear view.

[0012] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a six-degree-of-freedom motion platform.

[0013] In the diagram: 1. Conveying mechanism; 2. Six-degree-of-freedom motion platform; 20. Fixed clamping structure; 21. Fixed base; 22. Telescopic cylinder; 23. Motion platform; 30. Support column; 31. Longitudinal guide rail; 32. Longitudinal moving main beam; 33. Lateral moving trolley; 34. Laser cutting module; 35. Vision inspection module; 36. Milling module; 38. Elevating bracket; 40. T-joint; 41. Electrically controlled valve; 42. Branch pipe; 44. Fixed pipe joint; 320. Longitudinal drive motor; 321. Longitudinal rack; 330. Lateral drive motor; 331. Lateral rack; 332. Lateral screw and nut mechanism; 333. Lifting screw and nut mechanism; 334. Bearing seat. Detailed Implementation

[0014] The features and performance of this utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the embodiments.

[0015] This invention addresses the problems of existing technologies by setting up a laser cutting module and a milling module at the same workstation. After laser cutting the electrode connecting piece around the electrode post to separate it from the electrode post, the electrode connecting piece at the top of the electrode post is milled, thus completely separating the electrode connecting piece from the electrode post. This eliminates the need for manual disassembly and avoids the tedious labor of removing and reinstalling the battery cell from the battery box, greatly reducing workload and improving disassembly efficiency.

[0016] Specific implementation method of the battery pack electrode connection piece disassembly device of this utility model:

[0017] The battery pack electrode connector disassembly device of this utility model includes a conveying mechanism fixedly installed on a ground foundation. The conveying mechanism has a loading position, a disassembly position, and an unloading position on its conveying path. The battery pack electrode connector disassembly device includes a loading lifting device, such as a KBK crane, installed at the loading position. The loading lifting device is used to lift the battery pack to be disassembled and place it on the conveying platform of the conveying mechanism. An electrode connector disassembly device is installed at the disassembly position. After the conveying mechanism conveys the battery pack to be disassembled to the disassembly position, the electrode connector disassembly device disassembles the electrode connectors on the top surface of the battery pack. After the electrode connectors are disassembled, the conveying mechanism conveys the disassembled battery pack to the unloading position for unloading. Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the conveying mechanism and the electrode connecting piece disassembly device is shown for reference.

[0018] The structure of the electrode connector disassembly device is as follows: Figure 2-6As shown, the device includes a three-axis drive mechanism, which is equipped with a control module to control its movements. A disassembly execution module for disassembling the electrode connecting pieces is located on the action output section of the three-axis drive mechanism and can move in the lateral, longitudinal, and vertical directions to perform the disassembly action. The disassembly execution module includes a laser cutting module 34 and a milling module 36. The laser cutting module 34 is used to cut the electrode connecting pieces around the electrode post, separating the electrode connecting pieces around the electrode post. The milling module 36 is used to mill the electrode connecting pieces remaining after laser cutting at the top of the electrode post. This allows the electrode connecting pieces on each electrode post of the battery cell to be completely disassembled and removed using the electrode connecting piece disassembly device.

[0019] The three-axis drive mechanism is also equipped with a vision inspection module 35 for capturing images of the top of the battery pack to obtain three-dimensional data of the electrode posts and electrode connectors. The vision inspection module 35, the laser cutting module 34, and the milling module 36 are all connected to the control module. The vision inspection module 35 acquires the position information of the electrode connectors and electrode posts and transmits it to the control module. The control module controls the three-axis drive mechanism to move, driving the laser cutting module 34 and the milling module 36 to cut and mill the electrode connectors at the disassembly position.

[0020] Specifically, the three-axis drive mechanism includes a longitudinal guide rail 31 supported by a support column 30, along which a longitudinal moving main beam 32 capable of reciprocating is mounted. The longitudinal guide rail 31 is a double-rail guide rail, including left and right guide rails. The longitudinal moving main beam 32 extends laterally, with its two ends positioned above the left and right guide rails respectively. The disassembly point is located in the lower space corresponding to the length range of the longitudinal guide rail 31 and the length range of the longitudinal moving main beam 32. Both the left and right guide rails include longitudinally extending guide rail beams and guide strips fixed to the top surface of the guide rail beams. The guide strips are dovetail strips. Dovetail-shaped sliders are provided at both ends of the longitudinal moving main beam 32, and the dovetail-shaped sliders slide and guide the sliding engagement with the dovetail strips on the corresponding guide rails. Longitudinal racks 321 extending longitudinally are fixed on the left and right guide rails respectively. Longitudinal drive motors 320 are provided at both ends of the longitudinal moving main beam 32. The torque output end of the longitudinal drive motor 320 meshes with the longitudinal racks 321 through gears, thereby realizing the movement of the longitudinal moving main beam 32 relative to the longitudinal guide rail 31. Providing longitudinal drive motors 320 at both ends of the longitudinal moving main beam 32 provides driving force at both ends, ensuring more stable and precise movement of the longitudinal moving main beam 32. Of course, in other embodiments, a longitudinal drive motor 320 can be provided only at one end of the longitudinal moving main beam 32, and adaptably, a longitudinal rack 321 can be provided on one of the left or right guide rails corresponding to the longitudinal drive motor 320.

[0021] On both sides of the longitudinally moving main beam 32, there are transversely moving trolleys 33 that move laterally. Each of the two transversely moving trolleys 33 is equipped with a lifting mechanism. The lifting action of the lifting mechanism constitutes the action output of the three-axis drive mechanism. The laser cutting module 34 and the milling module 36 are respectively mounted on the two action outputs. Specifically, the guiding movement between the transversely moving trolleys 33 and the longitudinally moving main beam 32 can be the same as the guiding movement between the longitudinally moving main beam 32 and the longitudinal guide rail 31, such as... Figure 4 As shown, a transverse drive motor 330 is fixedly mounted on the transverse moving carriage 33, which is equipped with a milling module 36. A transversely extending rack 331 is fixedly mounted on the vertical side of the longitudinal moving main beam 32. The torque output end of the transverse drive motor 330 meshes with the transverse rack 331 through gears, thereby realizing the movement of the transverse moving carriage 33 along the longitudinal moving main beam 32. Slightly different, the longitudinal moving main beam 32 is provided with dovetail-shaped guide bars on its vertical side and top surface, and the transverse moving carriage 33 is provided with corresponding dovetail-shaped sliders. The guide sliding is achieved through the cooperation of the dovetail-shaped sliders and the guide bars.

[0022] The guiding method between the lateral moving trolley 33 and the longitudinal moving main beam 32 can also differ from the guiding method between the longitudinal moving main beam 32 and the longitudinal guide rail 31. For example... Figure 5 As shown, the transverse moving trolley 33, equipped with a laser cutting module 34, achieves transverse guiding movement through a guide slider on its surface and a guide rail on the vertical side of the longitudinal moving main beam 32. The vertical side of the longitudinal moving main beam 32 is provided with a transversely extending transverse screw and nut mechanism 332. The transverse screw of the transverse screw and nut mechanism 332 is driven by a drive motor to rotate around its own axis. The moving nut of the transverse screw and nut mechanism 332 is fixedly connected to the transverse moving trolley 33, thereby driving the transverse moving trolley 33 to move laterally along the longitudinal moving main beam 32.

[0023] The lifting mechanism on the frame of the two lateral moving trolleys 33 is a vertically arranged lifting screw and nut mechanism 333. The lifting screw of the lifting screw and nut mechanism 333 is driven by the drive motor to rotate around its own axis. The lifting nut of the lifting screw and nut mechanism 333 is fixedly installed with a bearing seat 334. The laser cutting module 34 and the milling module 36 are fixed on the corresponding bearing seats 334, and thus are driven to move up and down.

[0024] Of course, in different implementations, the guiding movement method between the longitudinal guide rail 31 and the longitudinal moving main beam 32, the guiding movement method between the longitudinal moving main beam 32 and the transverse moving trolley 33, and the guiding movement method between the bearing seat 334 and the frame of the transverse moving trolley 33 can be adaptively selected from the guiding movement methods listed above.

[0025] In this embodiment, the vision inspection module 35 is also mounted on the motion output section of the three-axis drive mechanism. This allows it to be moved to the optimal shooting position by the three-axis drive mechanism, thereby more accurately acquiring the three-dimensional position information of the pole and electrode connecting piece. Specifically, considering that the laser cutting module 34 will not generate flying debris and will not damage the vision inspection module 35, the vision inspection module 35 and the laser cutting module 34 are arranged side by side laterally on the same motion output section (i.e., on the carrier 334 of the transverse moving carriage 33). Of course, in other embodiments, the vision inspection module 35 can also be mounted on the same motion output section as the milling module 36. In this case, the two need to be at a certain distance, or the vision inspection module 35 can be protected by a transparent protective cover. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the vision inspection module 35 is fixedly installed on the lower side of the longitudinal moving main beam 32 and moves with the longitudinal moving main beam 32. Or, in other embodiments, the vision inspection module 35 can also be mounted on a stand fixed relative to the ground foundation, positioned from top to bottom corresponding to the disassembly position.

[0026] The battery pack electrode connector disassembly device is also equipped with a dust extraction device. This device is used to extract dust and debris generated during laser cutting and grinding to prevent them from scattering inside the battery pack. The dust extraction device includes a negative pressure suction unit and suction pipelines. The main pipeline of the suction pipeline branches into two branches via a T-junction 40, which lead to branch pipelines 42 of the laser cutting module 34 and the milling module 36, respectively. Each branch pipeline 42 is connected in series with an electrically controlled valve 41 that controls the opening and closing of the corresponding pipeline. The electrically controlled valve 41 is connected to the control module to control the opening of the corresponding branch pipeline 42 during laser cutting and milling.

[0027] To facilitate the arrangement of the suction pipeline and avoid interference between the suction pipeline and the movement of the three-axis drive mechanism, a raised support 38 is provided at one end of the longitudinal moving main beam 32. The raised support 38 extends vertically and is fixedly connected to the longitudinal moving main beam 32 at its lower end. A horizontal platform is provided at its upper end. A tee 40 is fixedly installed on the horizontal platform of the raised support 38. The tee 40 is Y-shaped, with one connection port facing away from the longitudinal moving main beam 32 for connecting to the negative pressure suction host via the main pipeline. The other two connection ports are inclined towards the two sides of the longitudinal moving main beam 32, for leading to the laser cutting module 34 and the milling module 36 respectively via branch pipelines 42. Electrically controlled valves 41 connected in series on the two branch pipelines 42 are respectively installed on the section of the tee 40 used to connect the two branch pipelines 42. Both the main pipeline and the branch pipelines 42 use flexible hoses. The raised support 38 supports and elevates the tee 40 and the electrically controlled valves 41, bearing their weight. Figure 6As shown, one branch pipe 42 is led downwards from the top of the longitudinally moving main beam 32 at the tee 40 to the top of the milling module 36, where it is fixed and then extends downwards to the milling machining area. The other branch pipe 42 is led downwards from the top of the longitudinally moving main beam 32 at the tee 40 to the top of the laser cutting module 34, and then extends downwards through a top-to-bottom... Figure 5 The three fixed pipe joints 44 shown are led downwards to the cutting position of the laser cutting module 34. Figure 5 Branch pipe 42 is not shown in the image.

[0028] The conveying platform on the conveying mechanism 1 is an adjustable motion platform 23, capable of adjusting the posture of the battery pack fixedly mounted on it. Specifically, it includes a six-degree-of-freedom motion platform 2 and a clamping structure 20 mounted on the six-degree-of-freedom motion platform 2 for fixing the battery pack to be disassembled. The six-degree-of-freedom motion platform 2 is connected to a control module to level the top surface of the battery pack based on the three-dimensional data of the battery pack detected by the vision inspection module 35. Specifically, the six-degree-of-freedom motion platform 2 includes a lower fixed base 21 and an upper motion platform 23. Three pairs of telescopic cylinders 22 are evenly distributed around the circumference between the fixed base 21 and the motion platform 23. The lower ends of the two telescopic cylinders 22 in the same pair are close together, and the upper ends of the two telescopic cylinders 22 in adjacent pairs are close together. The two ends of the telescopic cylinders 22 are respectively ball-jointed to the fixed base 21 and the motion platform 23. The control module controls the telescopic cylinders 22 to extend and retract, enabling the posture adjustment of the motion platform 23. Figure 7 In the illustrated embodiment, the telescopic cylinder 22 is an electric telescopic cylinder. Of course, in other embodiments, the telescopic cylinder 22 can be a telescopic air cylinder or a telescopic hydraulic cylinder.

[0029] In use, the battery pack electrode connector disassembly device of this utility model involves hoisting the battery pack to be disassembled onto the conveying platform at the loading position using a loading lifting device. After secure clamping by the fixing clamping structure 20 on the conveying platform, the battery pack is moved to the disassembly position via the conveying platform. The control module controls the motion output unit of the three-axis drive mechanism to move and moves the vision detection module 35 to the upper center area of ​​the battery pack to be disassembled. Then, the vision detection module 35 records and transmits the recording results to the control module. The control module obtains the center coordinates of the terminal posts of each cell in the battery pack to be disassembled based on the recording results, and then controls the three-axis drive mechanism to drive the laser cutting module 34 to perform laser cutting around each terminal post, cutting the electrode connectors around the terminal posts. The process involves cutting and separating the electrode connecting pieces. After cutting, the cut electrode connecting pieces are manually removed. The control module drives the three-axis drive mechanism to move the vision detection module 35 to the upper central area of ​​the battery pack to be disassembled. The vision detection module 35 then records the image and transmits the recording results to the control module. The control module obtains the angle between the surface of the remaining electrode connecting piece and the upper surface of the motion platform 23 based on the recording results, and controls the six-degree-of-freedom motion platform 2 to level it. The adjustable angle range of the motion platform relative to the horizontal plane is ±15°, which provides good adaptability and allows for leveling various battery packs of different specifications. Afterwards, the three-axis drive mechanism drives the milling module 36 to mill the remaining electrode connecting pieces at the top of each electrode post using the center coordinates of the electrode post. During laser cutting and milling, a dust extraction device removes dust from the laser cutting and milling locations respectively.

[0030] This novel battery pack electrode connector disassembly device does not damage the battery box, and individual cells remain inside. It combines vision technology, a three-axis drive mechanism, and a six-degree-of-freedom platform. A laser cutting module cuts the electrode connectors around the terminal post, and mills the remaining connectors on top of the terminal post after laser cutting, completely removing them. This milling process eliminates the need for manual removal, reducing labor intensity and the risk of errors, thus saving on labor costs. Furthermore, the device does not damage the battery box or the battery arrangement within; it only removes and replaces the battery terminal connectors. The integrated laser cutting and milling modules simplify the equipment size, improve space utilization, reduce manual labor, and lower labor costs.

[0031] The above describes a preferred embodiment of the battery pack electrode connector disassembly device of this utility model, wherein the three-axis drive mechanism is a bridge structure. In other embodiments, the three-axis drive mechanism can also be a robotic arm-type three-axis mechanism. In the above embodiment, the three-axis drive mechanism has two lateral moving carriages 33, that is, it has two motion output parts. The laser cutting module 34 and the milling module 36 are respectively mounted on the two motion output parts. In other embodiments, the three-axis drive mechanism has only one motion output part, and the laser cutting module 34 and the milling module 36 are both mounted on one motion output part. In the above embodiment, a loading and lifting device is provided at the loading position to load the battery pack. In other embodiments, a robotic arm can also be used for loading. In the above embodiments, the six-degree-of-freedom motion platform 2 uses three pairs of telescopic cylinders 22 to cooperate for leveling. In other embodiments, the six-degree-of-freedom motion platform 2 can be configured with a central fixed support and multiple peripheral adjustable supports between the fixed base 21 and the motion platform 23 to achieve attitude adjustment. Specifically, a central support column is set in the middle position between the fixed base 21 and the motion platform 23. The top of the central support column is ball-jointed with the motion platform 23. Three peripheral support rods are evenly arranged around the central support column. The peripheral support rods are telescopic rods. The top of the telescopic rods is ball-jointed with the motion platform 23, and the bottom is hinged to the fixed base 21. The attitude of the motion platform 23 is adjusted by adjusting the length of the three peripheral support rods.

[0032] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. The patent protection scope of the present utility model shall be determined by the claims. Similarly, any equivalent structural changes made based on the description and drawings of the present utility model shall also be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A battery pack electrode connector disassembly device, characterized in that, The device includes a disassembly position for parking the battery pack to be disassembled. A three-axis drive mechanism is provided at the disassembly position. The three-axis drive mechanism is equipped with a control module to control its movement. The action output section of the three-axis drive mechanism is equipped with a laser cutting module for cutting the electrode connecting pieces around the terminal post, and a milling module for milling the remaining electrode connecting pieces cut from the top of the terminal post. The three-axis drive mechanism is also equipped with a visual inspection module for capturing images of the top of the battery pack to obtain three-dimensional data of the terminal post. The visual inspection module, the laser cutting module, and the milling module all cooperate with the control module, and the laser cutting module and the milling module cut and mill the electrode connecting pieces at the same disassembly position.

2. The battery pack electrode connector disassembly device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The three-axis drive mechanism includes a longitudinal guide rail that is elevated, a longitudinal moving main beam that can reciprocate along the longitudinal guide rail, and transverse moving trolleys that move laterally along the longitudinal opposite sides of the longitudinal moving main beam. Each transverse moving trolley is equipped with a lifting mechanism, and the lifting action part of the lifting mechanism constitutes the action output part of the three-axis drive mechanism. The laser cutting module and the milling module are respectively mounted on the two action output parts.

3. The battery pack electrode connector disassembly device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The vision detection module is mounted on the motion output section of the three-axis drive mechanism.

4. The battery pack electrode connector disassembly device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The visual inspection module and the laser cutting module are arranged horizontally side by side on the same motion output unit.

5. The battery pack electrode connector disassembly device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The longitudinal guide rail is a double-rail guide rail, and the two ends of the longitudinal moving main beam move along the two longitudinal guide rails respectively. The disassembly position is located in the lower space corresponding to the length range of the longitudinal guide rail and the length range of the longitudinal moving main beam, and a conveying mechanism is provided in the lower space to realize the transfer of the battery pack between the loading position, the disassembly position and the unloading position.

6. The battery pack electrode connector disassembly device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The conveying mechanism is equipped with a conveying platform to achieve the fixed installation of the battery pack to be disassembled on it. The conveying platform includes a six-degree-of-freedom motion platform and a fixing clamping structure installed on the six-degree-of-freedom motion platform for fixing the battery pack to be disassembled. The six-degree-of-freedom motion platform is connected to the control module to level the top surface of the battery pack according to the three-dimensional data detected by the vision inspection module.

7. The battery pack electrode connector disassembly device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The six-degree-of-freedom motion platform includes a fixed base on the lower side and a motion platform on the upper side. Three pairs of telescopic cylinders are evenly distributed on a circumference between the fixed base and the motion platform. The lower ends of the two telescopic cylinders in the same pair are close together, and the upper ends of the two telescopic cylinders in adjacent pairs are close together.

8. The battery pack electrode connector disassembly device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The battery pack electrode connector disassembly device is also equipped with a suction dust removal device, which includes a suction host and a suction pipeline. The main pipeline of the suction pipeline is branched into two branches through a tee, which are respectively led to the laser cutting module and the milling module. Each branch pipeline is connected in series with an electrically controlled valve that controls the on / off state of the corresponding pipeline.

9. The battery pack electrode connector disassembly device according to claim 8, characterized in that, One end of the longitudinally moving main beam is provided with a raised support, the tee is fixedly installed on the raised support, and the electrically controlled valves connected in series on the two branch pipes are fixedly connected to the tee.

10. The battery pack electrode connector disassembly device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The loading position is equipped with a loading and lifting device to place the battery pack to be disassembled onto the six-degree-of-freedom motion platform.

11. The battery pack electrode connector disassembly device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The adjustable angle range of the motion platform relative to the horizontal plane is ±15°.

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