Soft package module welding pressure foot structure and soft package module welding system

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of battery manufacturing equipment, and provides a soft package module welding pressure foot structure and a soft package module welding system. The welding pressure foot structure comprises a mounting plate and a pressing piece. The pressing piece comprises a connecting part and an abutting part. The middle part of one side of the abutting part is provided with the connecting part, and the other side is an abutting surface used for pressing down the tab. The connecting part is rotationally connected with the mounting plate through a rotating shaft, so that the abutting surface can be inclined relative to the mounting plate. Through the cooperation of the mounting plate and the pressing piece, the pressing piece can self-adaptively adjust the inclination angle of the abutting surface when pressing the tab, the tab is completely attached to the bottom plate, the problems of welding-through and false welding caused by uneven energy distribution during laser welding are avoided, the reliability of the electrical connection between the battery cell and the integrated busbar is improved, and the overall safety performance of the battery module is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery manufacturing equipment technology, and in particular to a welding foot structure for soft-pack modules and a welding system for soft-pack modules. Background Technology

[0002] In the manufacturing process of pouch battery modules, the tabs of the battery cells are typically connected to the integrated busbar (CCS) via laser welding. This process generally includes the following steps: First, the tabs of the battery cells are passed through pre-set welding holes on the base plate of the integrated busbar; then, the tabs are bent using a bending device to initially attach them to the surface of the base plate; finally, the tabs are pressed down with welding feet to ensure a tight fit with the base plate before laser welding.

[0003] However, since the base plate of the integrated busbar is generally only mounted to the module frame or battery pack housing through its edges or a few discrete fixing points, the base plate lacks effective support below the welding area. When the overall width of the integrated busbar is large, the base plate is prone to deformation under its own weight and the external forces applied during the bending of the tabs, resulting in local tilting in the welding area. The bottom surface of conventional welding press feet is a planar structure, which makes it difficult to adapt to the deformed base plate surface when pressing the tabs, resulting in microscopic gaps between the tabs and the base plate.

[0004] During subsequent laser welding, the microscopic gap between the electrode tab and the base plate can lead to uneven laser energy distribution, easily causing welding defects such as burn-through or incomplete welds. These defects can severely affect the reliability of the electrical connection between the cell and the integrated busbar, thereby reducing the overall safety performance of the battery module. Utility Model Content

[0005] In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, or at least partially solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application provides a welding foot structure for soft-pack modules.

[0006] The first aspect of this application provides a welding foot structure for a flexible module, comprising: Mounting plate; The pressing component includes a connecting part and an abutting part. The connecting part is located in the middle of one side of the abutting part, and the other side is an abutting surface for pressing down the electrode tab. The connecting part is rotatably connected to the mounting plate through a rotating shaft so that the abutting surface can be tilted relative to the mounting plate.

[0007] Optionally, a limiting component may also be included; The limiting member is disposed on the mounting plate, at least partially disposed on both sides of the connecting portion along the radial direction of the rotating axis, and has a gap between it and the connecting portion to limit the maximum rotation angle of the pressing member relative to the mounting plate.

[0008] Optionally, the limiting member includes a horizontal plate portion and two vertical plate portions. The horizontal plate portion is disposed on the side of the connecting portion away from the abutting portion, and the two vertical plate portions are respectively disposed at both ends of the horizontal plate portion and both extend toward the connecting portion, so that the two vertical plate portions are located on both sides of the connecting portion along the radial direction of the rotating shaft. There are gaps between the pressing member and the longitudinal plate and the transverse plate.

[0009] Optionally, each of the longitudinal plates is fixedly connected to the mounting plate by a plurality of fasteners; Each of the longitudinal plates has a plurality of through holes spaced apart along its extension direction, and a fastener is inserted into each of the through holes.

[0010] Optionally, the rotating shaft includes a main shaft and a bushing. The pressing member is provided with a rotating hole. The main shaft passes through the rotating hole and is connected to the mounting plate. The bushing is sleeved on the main shaft and located in the rotating hole. The bushing abuts against the inner wall of the main shaft and the rotating hole.

[0011] Optionally, the spindle includes a screw section and an end, the mounting plate is provided with a mounting screw hole, the mounting screw hole is coaxially arranged with the rotating hole, and the screw section passes through the rotating hole and is threadedly connected to the mounting screw hole; The end is located at the end of the screw portion away from the mounting plate, and the diameter of the end is larger than the diameter of the rotating hole, so that the end can axially limit the pressing member.

[0012] Optionally, the abutment portion is formed with a mounting cavity for mounting welding equipment; The abutting surface is provided with a welding port that communicates with the mounting cavity.

[0013] Optionally, the abutment portion has an installation port communicating with the mounting cavity on the side near the connecting portion.

[0014] Optionally, the abutting part includes a base and two spaced-apart uprights, the connecting part is disposed on one side of the base, and the two uprights are disposed on the other side of the base; The two upright plates and the base together form the mounting cavity, the side of the two upright plates away from the base together forms the abutment surface, and the edge of the side of the two upright plates away from the base together forms the weld joint.

[0015] The second aspect of this application provides a flexible packaging module welding system, including a worktable, a drive mechanism, welding equipment, and a flexible packaging module welding presser foot structure as described in any of the preceding claims; The drive mechanism is disposed on the worktable and is connected to the mounting plate to drive the pressing member to move toward or away from the worktable. The welding equipment is mounted on the pressing component.

[0016] The technical solution provided in this application has the following advantages compared with the prior art: The soft-pack module welding foot structure provided in this application rotatably connects the connecting part of the pressing component to the mounting plate. When the mounting plate moves downward as a whole, the contact surface of the pressing component first contacts the tab of the battery cell. During the contact process with the tab, the inclined base plate causes an imbalance in the force exerted by the tab on the contact surface on both sides of the rotating shaft, allowing the pressing component to adaptively rotate around the rotating shaft and change the inclination angle of the contact surface. This ensures that the tab and the base plate are completely fitted together, eliminating microscopic gaps. Through the cooperation between the mounting plate and the pressing component, the pressing component can adaptively adjust the inclination angle of the contact surface when pressing the tab, ensuring a complete fit between the tab and the base plate. This avoids the problems of burn-through and incomplete welding caused by uneven energy distribution during laser welding, improves the reliability of the electrical connection between the battery cell and the integrated busbar, and thus enhances the overall safety performance of the battery module. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0018] 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, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the welding foot structure of the soft-pack module described in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the welding foot structure of the soft-pack module described in the embodiments of this application; Figure 3 This is a front view of the welding foot structure of the soft-pack module described in the embodiments of this application; Figure 4 for Figure 3 Sectional view along direction AA.

[0020] The components are as follows: 1. Mounting plate; 2. Pressing part; 21. Connecting part; 211. Rotating hole; 22. Abutting part; 221. Base; 222. Vertical plate; 23. Mounting cavity; 231. Mounting port; 232. Welding port; 3. Rotating shaft; 31. Main shaft; 311. Screw part; 312. End; 32. Bushing; 4. Limiting part; 41. Horizontal plate part; 42. Vertical plate part. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To better understand the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application, the solution of this application will be further described below. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in these embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0022] Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full understanding of this application, but this application may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein; obviously, the embodiments in the specification are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments.

[0023] A soft-pack battery module typically includes a battery cell and an integrated busbar. The base plate of the integrated busbar is mounted on the battery casing. After the battery cell's tabs pass through the through holes in the base plate, the tabs are bent using a bending device to initially attach them to the surface of the base plate. Then, welding press feet are used to press the tabs down to make them fit tightly against the base plate before laser welding.

[0024] However, the base plate of the integrated busbar is only mounted to the battery casing through its edges or a few discrete fixing points, leaving it without rigid support and in a suspended state. When the overall width of the integrated busbar is large, the base plate is prone to deformation under its own weight and the external forces applied during the bending of the tabs, resulting in local tilting of the welding area. The side of the commonly used welding press foot that contacts the tab is a flat structure. When the welding press foot presses down on the tab, a gap will appear between the tab and the tilted base plate.

[0025] The gap between the electrode tab and the base plate prevents the heat from the area of ​​the electrode tab receiving laser irradiation from being effectively conducted and dissipated to the base plate below. This causes the local temperature of the electrode tab to rise rapidly in a very short time, melting the area of ​​the electrode tab irradiated by the laser and forming a hole. This is the weld burn-through problem caused by the gap between the electrode tab and the base plate. After the laser passes through the electrode tab, the air in the gap between the electrode tab and the base plate will affect the propagation of the laser, causing the base plate temperature to be insufficient. The electrode tab may reach its melting temperature, but the base plate may not. In this case, the connection between the electrode tab and the base plate is a physical adhesion, not a metallurgical bond, which is the problem of a poor weld caused by the gap between the electrode tab and the base plate.

[0026] To solve the above problems, refer to Figures 1 to 4As shown, the first aspect of this application provides a welding foot structure for a soft-pack module, including: a mounting plate 1; and a pressing member 2, including a connecting part 21 and an abutting part 22. The connecting part 21 is provided in the middle of one side of the abutting part 22, and the other side is an abutting surface for lowering the pressure electrode tab. The connecting part 21 is rotatably connected to the mounting plate 1 through a rotating shaft 3 so that the abutting surface can be tilted relative to the mounting plate 1.

[0027] When the mounting plate 1 moves downwards as a whole, the contact surface of the pressing component 2 first contacts the tab of the battery cell. During the contact process, the inclined base plate causes an imbalance in the force exerted by the tab on the contact surface on both sides of the rotating shaft 3, causing the pressing component 2 to rotate adaptively around the rotating shaft 3, changing the tilt angle of the contact surface to ensure complete contact between the tab and the base plate, eliminating microscopic gaps. Through the cooperation of the mounting plate 1 and the pressing component 2, the pressing component 2 can adaptively adjust the tilt angle of the contact surface when pressing the tab, ensuring complete contact between the tab and the base plate. This avoids the problems of burn-through and incomplete welding caused by uneven energy distribution during laser welding, improves the reliability of the electrical connection between the battery cell and the integrated busbar, and thus enhances the overall safety performance of the battery module.

[0028] Specifically, the mounting plate 1 is a rectangular flat plate structure used to mount the drive components in the welding system of the soft-pack battery module. A through hole is located on the side of the mounting plate 1 near the end. The rotating shaft 3 can be rotatably mounted in the through hole of the mounting plate 1 via a bearing, or it can be inserted directly into the through hole. The pressing component 2 is rotatably connected to the mounting plate 1 near the end via the rotating shaft 3, so that most of the components of the pressing component 2 are located on the outside of the mounting plate 1, facilitating the pressing component 2 to press down on the electrode tabs.

[0029] One side of the pressing member 2 forms an abutment surface for pressing the electrode tab, and this abutment surface has a smooth planar structure. The connecting part 21 can be rotatably connected to the rotating shaft 3 via a bearing, or the rotating shaft 3 can be fixedly connected to the connecting part 21, and the rotating shaft 3 can be rotatably connected to the mounting plate 1, as long as the pressing member 2 can rotate relative to the mounting plate 1.

[0030] The connecting part 21 is a block structure and is located on one side of the pressing member 2. A rotating hole 211 is provided on the connecting part 21, and the diameter of the rotating hole 211 is adapted to the diameter of the rotating shaft 3, so that the rotating shaft 3 can be inserted into the rotating hole 211 and the connecting part 21 can rotate relative to the rotating shaft 3.

[0031] The abutment portion 22 is a block structure, with a connecting portion 21 fixed on one side and an abutment surface for pressing the tab on the other side. The connecting portion 21 is located in the middle of the abutment portion 22 along its length to ensure that the force on all parts of the abutment portion 22 is uniform when the mounting plate 1 pushes down the connecting portion 21. Since the deformation of the base plate is small, the gap between the tab and the base plate is mostly in the millimeter range. When the abutment surface presses down on the tab, it follows the inclination of the base plate, and the overall rotation of the abutment portion 22 is small. The connecting portion 21 remains in the middle of the abutment portion 22, so that the force applied by the connecting portion 21 to the abutment portion 22 will not cause the abutment portion 22 to tilt, ensuring the pressing effect of the abutment surface on the tab.

[0032] The volume of the abutment part 22 is larger than that of the connecting part 21 to ensure that the abutment part 22 can fully press the electrode tab; the abutment part 22 can be welded to the connecting part 21, or the abutment part 22 and the connecting part 21 can be integrally formed by mold.

[0033] The limiting member 4 extends to both sides of the connecting part 21, and the connecting part 21 has a gap with the limiting member 4 in the radial direction of the rotating shaft 3. When the connecting part 21 rotates around the rotating shaft 3, the connecting part 21 abuts against the limiting member 4 and stops rotating. That is, the limiting members 4 on both sides can restrict the rotation of the connecting part 21 within a certain range.

[0034] The tabs are relatively long, and the pressing member 2 has a large volume to fully press the tabs. However, when the pressing member 2 is large, it is difficult for it to cooperate with the limiting member 4 on the mounting plate 1. Therefore, the pressing member 2 is divided into a connecting part 21 and an abutting part 22, so that the abutting part 22 can be adapted to the size of the tabs, and the connecting part 21 can be adapted to the size of the mounting plate 1. This makes it easy to install the pressing member 2 on the mounting plate 1 and facilitates the cooperation between the connecting part 21 and the limiting member 4.

[0035] In some embodiments, the abutment portion 22 has a mounting cavity 23 for mounting welding equipment; the abutment surface has a welding port 232 communicating with the mounting cavity 23.

[0036] With this configuration, when the contact surface is in contact with the electrode tab, the welding equipment can perform welding operations on the electrode tab and the base plate through the welding port 232; the contact part 22 can protect the mounting cavity 23 and reduce the interference of the external environment on the welding equipment.

[0037] Specifically, the abutment part 22 is hollow inside, so that the space inside the abutment part 22 serves as the mounting cavity 23. A welding port 232 is provided at the middle position of the abutment surface. The welding equipment can be installed in the mounting cavity 23 through the welding port 232, and the welding end of the welding equipment is located at the welding port 232.

[0038] The length of the welding joint 232 matches the length of the electrode tab, so that after the contact surface is in contact with the electrode tab, the welding joint 232 is directly opposite the electrode tab; after the pressing part 2 presses down on the electrode tab, the welding end of the welding equipment emits a laser at the welding joint 232 to perform laser welding on the electrode tab and the base plate.

[0039] In some embodiments, the abutment portion 22 is provided with an installation port 231 communicating with the mounting cavity 23 on the side near the connecting portion 21.

[0040] With this configuration, the tab size of the soft-pack module is limited. After the welding port 232 is matched with the size of the tab, the width of the welding port 232 is also small, making it difficult for the welding equipment to enter the mounting cavity 23 through the welding port 232. The area of ​​the abutment part 22 near the connecting part 21 is large, so a larger opening can be provided as the mounting port 231, which facilitates the welding equipment to be installed in the mounting cavity 23 through the mounting port 231.

[0041] The specific abutment part 22 has a rectangular through hole on the side facing the connecting part 21 as an installation port 231. The size of the installation port 231 is larger than the size of the welding port 232 so that the welding equipment can enter the installation cavity 23 through the installation port 231.

[0042] In some embodiments, the abutment portion 22 includes a base 221 and two spaced-apart upright plates 222. The connecting portion 21 is disposed on one side of the base 221, and the two upright plates 222 are disposed on the other side of the base 221. The two upright plates 222 and the base 221 together form an installation cavity 23. The side of the two upright plates 222 away from the base 221 together forms an abutment surface, and the edges of the side of the two upright plates 222 away from the base 221 together form a weld joint 232.

[0043] With this configuration, the base 221 serves as the mounting base for the two upright plates 222. The two upright plates 222 limit and protect the welding equipment, and the mounting openings formed on the sides of the two upright plates 222 allow the welding equipment to pass through, so as to facilitate the welding equipment entering the mounting cavity 23.

[0044] The base 221 is a rectangular block structure. One side is connected to the connecting part 21, and the other side is fixedly connected to two upright plates 222. The two upright plates 222 can both extend along the length direction of the base 221, and the two upright plates 222 are spaced apart along the width direction of the base 221. The two upright plates 222 can be parallel to each other, or the distance between the two upright plates 222 can be gradually reduced in the direction away from the base 221.

[0045] The side of the two upright plates 222 away from the base 221 is a plane, and the side of the two upright plates 222 away from the base 221 is on the same plane, so that the side of the two upright plates 222 away from the base 221 together forms an abutment surface; when the pressing member 2 presses down on the electrode tab, the two upright plates 222 abut against the electrode tab together, and the welding equipment releases laser to the electrode tab from the space between the two upright plates 222.

[0046] The two upright plates 222 form installation openings on both sides of the base 221 along its length. The welding equipment can enter the installation cavity 23 through the installation openings, so that the welding equipment can be smoothly installed in the installation cavity 23 when the size of the welding port 232 is small.

[0047] The two upright plates 222 and the base 221 can be manufactured as a single piece using a mold, or the two upright plates 222 can be welded onto the base 221.

[0048] The rotating shaft 3 has a cylindrical structure. The diameter of the rotating shaft 3 is designed according to the thickness of the pressing member 2 and the force applied, ensuring that the rotating shaft 3 can bear the weight of the pressing member 2 and the force applied when the pressing member 2 presses down on the electrode tab. The drive device of the welding system can drive the mounting plate 1 to move up and down along its length. The rotating shaft 3 is installed on one side of the mounting plate 1 in the thickness direction and is perpendicular to the mounting plate 1, that is, the moving direction of the rotating shaft 3 is perpendicular to that of the mounting plate 1. This ensures that when the pressing member 2 presses down on the electrode tab, the pressing member 2 can be tilted relative to the mounting plate 1.

[0049] Reference Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the rotating shaft 3 includes a main shaft 31 and a bushing 32. The pressing member 2 is provided with a rotating hole 211. The main shaft 31 passes through the rotating hole 211 and is connected to the mounting plate 1. The bushing 32 is sleeved on the main shaft 31 and located in the rotating hole 211. The bushing 32 abuts against the main shaft 31 and the inner wall of the rotating hole 211.

[0050] With this configuration, the bushing 32 acts as an intermediate transition and lubrication point during the rotation of the pressing part 2, ensuring smooth and stable rotation without any jamming. It also avoids surface wear caused by direct friction between the main shaft 31 and the rotating hole 211, extending the service life of the presser foot structure. As a wear part, the bushing 32 can be replaced separately, reducing maintenance costs and repair difficulty.

[0051] Specifically, the pressing member 2 is provided with a rotating hole 211 that passes through the pressing member 2. When the pressing member 2 includes a connecting part 21 and an abutting part 22, the rotating hole 211 is provided on the connecting part 21.

[0052] The spindle 31 is a cylindrical structure. After passing through the rotating hole 211, the spindle 31 is fixedly connected to the mounting plate 1. The bushing 32 is sleeved on the spindle 31 and located inside the rotating hole 211.

[0053] Bushing 32 is an annular sleeve structure, made of polytetrafluoroethylene or copper alloy. Polytetrafluoroethylene has excellent self-lubricating properties, while copper alloy has both good wear resistance and thermal conductivity.

[0054] The inner diameter of the bushing 32 matches the diameter of the main shaft 31, so that the bushing fits snugly against the main shaft 31. The outer diameter of the bushing 32 matches the diameter of the rotating hole 211, so that the bushing 32 fits snugly against the inner wall of the rotating hole 211. The bushing 32 abuts against the main shaft 31 and the inner wall of the rotating hole 211, so that when the pressing part 2 is not under force, the friction between the bushing 32 and the main shaft 31 and the friction between the bushing 32 and the inner wall of the rotating hole 211 can keep the pressing part 2 in a stable position relative to the mounting plate 1.

[0055] When the forces acting on different positions of the contact surface are different, the forces acting on the pressing part 2 on both sides of the main shaft 31 are unbalanced, and the pressing part 2 will overcome the friction and rotate.

[0056] Reference Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the spindle 31 includes a screw portion 311 and an end 312. The mounting plate 1 is provided with a mounting screw hole, which is coaxially arranged with the rotating hole 211. The screw portion 311 passes through the rotating hole 211 and is threadedly connected to the mounting screw hole. The end 312 is located at the end of the screw portion 311 away from the mounting plate 1. The diameter of the end 312 is larger than the diameter of the rotating hole 211 so that the end 312 axially limits the pressing member 2.

[0057] This design, through the threaded connection between the screw section 311 and the mounting screw hole, makes the installation and disassembly of the main shaft 31 more convenient, facilitating equipment assembly, maintenance, and component replacement. The diameter of the end 312 is larger than that of the rotating hole 211, achieving reliable axial positioning of the pressing part 2, effectively preventing axial movement of the pressing part 2 during rotation, and ensuring the stability and pressing accuracy of the pressing part 2.

[0058] Specifically, the screw part 311 is cylindrical and has external threads machined on its surface. The mounting plate 1 is provided with mounting screw holes that match the size of the screw part 311. After the screw part 311 passes through the rotating hole 211, it is screwed into the mounting screw hole, so that the screw part 311 is threadedly connected to the mounting screw hole.

[0059] The end 312 is located at the end of the screw portion 311 away from the mounting plate 1. It is a circular disc structure and is coaxially arranged with the screw portion 311 so that the connection between the end 312 and the screw portion 311 forms a stepped structure. The main shaft 31 can be a commonly used bolt structure, with the screw portion 311 as the bolt shank and the end 312 as the bolt head; alternatively, both the screw portion 311 and the end 312 of the main shaft 31 can be designed and manufactured according to the actual situation of the pressing member 2 and the mounting plate 1.

[0060] The screw portion 311 and the end 312 can be integrally molded using a mold, or the end 312 can be welded to the screw portion 311. The diameter of the end 312 is larger than the diameter of the rotating hole 211, making the side of the end 312 facing the screw portion 311 a limiting surface. After the screw portion 311 is threadedly connected to the mounting plate 1, the limiting surface can abut against the connecting part 21 of the pressing member 2. When the applied force exceeds the frictional force, the connecting part 21 begins to rotate relative to the limiting surface. Alternatively, there can be a gap between the limiting surface and the connecting part 21 of the pressing member 2, so that the end 312 restricts the pressing member 2 from disengaging from the end of the screw portion 311 away from the mounting plate 1.

[0061] The bushing 32 is fitted onto the screw part 311. The axial length of the bushing 32 can be selected to be consistent with the axial length of the rotating hole 211, so that the end of the bushing 32 is flush with the side of the connecting part 21 of the pressing member 2 facing away from the mounting plate 1; or the axial length of the bushing 32 can be slightly larger than the axial length of the rotating hole 211, so that the bushing 32 extends out of the rotating hole 211 and abuts against the limiting surface.

[0062] In some embodiments, the spindle 31 further includes an elastic element that abuts against the end 312 and the bushing 32.

[0063] With this configuration, the spring can act as a buffer between the end 312 and the bushing 32, preventing the bushing 32 from colliding with the end 312. The spring can also apply an elastic force to the end 312 away from the mounting plate 1. The screw part 311 is subjected to the elastic force, which makes the thread of the screw part 311 fit tightly with the thread of the mounting screw hole, thereby improving the stability of the screw part 311.

[0064] Specifically, the elastic element is a spring, which is sleeved on the screw part 311. One end of the spring abuts against the end face of the bushing 32, and the other end abuts against the side of the end 312 facing the screw part 311. After the screw part 311 is threadedly connected to the mounting screw hole, the spring pushes the bushing 32 toward the mounting plate 1 in the compressed state, so that the thread of the screw part 311 is tightly engaged with the mounting screw hole.

[0065] Reference Figures 1 to 4 As shown, in some embodiments, the welding foot structure of the soft package module also includes a limiting member 4; The limiting member 4 is disposed on the mounting plate 1, at least partially disposed on both sides of the connecting part 21 along the radial direction of the rotating shaft 3, and has a gap between it and the connecting part 21 to limit the maximum rotation angle of the pressing member 2 relative to the mounting plate 1.

[0066] This configuration uses a limiting element 4 to restrict the rotation range of the pressing element 2 relative to the mounting plate 1, thus preventing structural damage or pressing failure caused by excessive rotation of the pressing element 2.

[0067] Specifically, the limiting member 4 can be made of steel plate bent into a U-shaped structure, so that the two bent parts of the limiting member 4 are on both sides of the connecting part 21. Alternatively, the limiting member 4 can include two limiting blocks, which are respectively set on both sides of the connecting part 21; when the pressing member 2 rotates around the rotating shaft 3, the pressing member 2 will abut against the limiting block after rotating a certain angle and will not be able to continue rotating.

[0068] The limiting member 4 and the portion on both sides of the rotating shaft 3 have a gap with the pressing member 2, allowing the pressing member 2 to rotate around the rotating shaft. Once the pressing member 2 comes into contact with the limiting member 4, it can no longer rotate. That is, the gap between the limiting member 4 and the pressing member 2 determines the maximum rotation angle of the pressing member 2. The plane of the pressing member 2 away from the contact surface is the mounting surface. The mounting plate 1 is set in the vertical direction. The limiting member 4 is located on the top side of the mounting surface and on both sides of the rotating shaft 3 in the horizontal direction. The limiting member 4 is spaced apart from the mounting surface. When the mounting surface of the pressing member 2 is on the horizontal surface, the pressing member 2 is in the initial state. When the pressing member 2 rotates around the rotating shaft 3, the mounting surface is inclined relative to the horizontal surface and will abut against the limiting member 4 on one side of the rotating shaft 3, so that the limiting member 4 can limit the maximum rotation angle of the pressing member 2.

[0069] Since the connecting part 21 is located in the middle of the abutting part 22, after the abutting part 22 is separated from the electrode tab, the abutting part 22 will return to its initial state under its own gravity.

[0070] Reference Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the limiting member 4 includes a horizontal plate portion 41 and two vertical plate portions 42. The horizontal plate portion 41 is disposed on the side of the connecting portion 21 away from the abutting portion 22, and the two vertical plate portions 42 are respectively disposed at both ends of the horizontal plate portion 41 and both extend toward the connecting portion 21, so that the two vertical plate portions 42 are located on both sides of the connecting portion 21 along the radial direction of the rotating shaft 3. There are gaps between the pressing member 2 and the longitudinal plate 42 and the transverse plate 41.

[0071] This configuration allows the horizontal plate 41 and the two vertical plates 42 to be interconnected and share the load as a whole. The U-shaped limiting member 4, mounted on the mounting plate 1, positions the connecting part 21. The two vertical plates 42, located on either side of the connecting part 21, ensure that the connecting part 21 can abut against the vertical plates 42 and stop rotating during rotation. The gaps between the connecting part 21 and the vertical plates 42 and the horizontal plate 41 ensure the flexibility of the connecting part 21's rotation.

[0072] Specifically, the limiting component 4 can be made of steel plate bent into a U-shaped structure, that is, the horizontal plate part 41 and the two vertical plate parts 42 are an integrated structure. Of course, the horizontal plate part 41 and the vertical plate parts 42 can also be connected to each other by welding.

[0073] The horizontal plate portion 41 is a rectangular flat plate structure, and both ends of the horizontal plate portion 41 are on both sides of the connecting portion 21 along the radial direction of the rotation axis 3, so that the two vertical plate portions 42 can be positioned on both sides of the connecting portion 21 respectively. The vertical plate portions 42 can be perpendicular to the horizontal plate portion 41, or they can be inclined to the horizontal plate portion 41, as long as the two vertical plate portions 42 are on both sides of the connecting portion 21.

[0074] A 1.5mm gap can be selected between the longitudinal plate portion 42 and the connecting portion 21, and a 1.5mm gap can be selected between the transverse plate portion 41 and the connecting portion 21, thereby controlling the range of movement of the connecting portion 21 in the space enclosed by the two longitudinal plate portions 42 and the transverse plate portion 41, and avoiding excessive rotation angle of the connecting portion 21.

[0075] Reference Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in some embodiments, each longitudinal plate portion 42 is fixedly connected to the mounting plate 1 by a plurality of fasteners; Each longitudinal plate 42 has multiple through holes arranged at intervals along its extension direction, and a fastener is inserted into each through hole.

[0076] With this configuration, when the connecting part 21 rotates and comes into contact with the longitudinal plate part 42, the longitudinal plate part 42 will bear the impact of the connecting part 21. Multiple connection points are formed between the longitudinal plate part 42 and the mounting plate 1, and the multiple connection points are spaced apart along the extension direction of the longitudinal plate part 42, so that the multiple connection points can evenly distribute the impact force on the longitudinal plate part 42, avoiding loosening of the connection due to vibration or impact during long-term use of the longitudinal plate part 42, and ensuring the limiting effect of the longitudinal plate part 42.

[0077] Specifically, multiple through holes are provided on each longitudinal plate portion 42. The number of through holes is determined according to the length of the longitudinal plate portion 42, usually 2 to 4, and it is possible to provide 3 through holes on the longitudinal plate portion 42.

[0078] The fastener is a bolt. The mounting plate 1 can be provided with screw holes that correspond to multiple through holes on the longitudinal plate 42. After the fastener passes through the through holes on the longitudinal plate 42, it is threaded into the corresponding screw hole. Tightening the bolt will cause the head of the bolt to press the longitudinal plate 42 against the mounting plate 1.

[0079] The second aspect of this application provides a flexible module welding system, including a worktable, a drive mechanism, welding equipment, and a flexible module welding press foot structure as described in any of the preceding claims; the drive mechanism is disposed on the worktable and connected to a mounting plate 1 to drive the pressing member 2 to move toward or away from the worktable; the welding equipment is mounted on the pressing member 2.

[0080] By using the above-mentioned welding foot structure in the soft package module welding system, when the pressing part 2 presses down on the electrode tab, the connecting part 21 drives the abutting part 22 to rotate relative to the mounting plate 1, so as to change the tilt angle of the abutting surface relative to the mounting surface, thereby realizing the bottom plate of the integrated busbar with adaptive tilt of the abutting surface, ensuring that the electrode tab and the bottom plate are completely in contact, and significantly reducing the incidence of welding defects such as weld burn-through and incomplete welding.

[0081] Specifically, the workbench has a rectangular flat structure to ensure its flatness and stability. The length and width of the workbench are determined according to the size of the pouch battery modules, facilitating loading, unloading, and equipment maintenance by operators.

[0082] The drive mechanism can be driven by a cylinder or a servo motor. Cylinder drive offers a simple structure and rapid response, while servo motor drive provides high control precision; the choice depends on the welding requirements. The drive mechanism includes a cylinder body (or motor body), an output shaft (or lead screw), and a connecting seat. The cylinder body (or motor body) is fixed above or to the side of the worktable via a bracket. The output shaft (or lead screw) is positioned perpendicular to the worktable surface. The connecting seat is fixed to the end of the output shaft (or lead screw) and is used to connect to the mounting plate 1 of the welding press foot structure. The stroke of the drive mechanism is determined based on the height of the battery module.

[0083] The welding equipment is a laser welding machine, which includes a laser generator, a transmission optical fiber, and a laser head. The laser output from the laser generator is transmitted to the laser head through the transmission optical fiber. The power of the laser head is adjusted according to the welding requirements. The welding equipment is installed on the pressing part 2. When the laser head is at the contact surface, the laser head can emit laser light to the contact surface to perform the welding operation when the contact surface presses down on the tab.

[0084] The drive mechanism is fixed above the worktable by a bracket, and its output shaft (or lead screw) is perpendicular to the worktable surface, ensuring that the drive mechanism can drive the welding presser foot structure to move vertically, realizing the pressing and lifting actions. The mounting plate 1 of the welding presser foot structure is fixedly connected to the connecting seat of the drive mechanism by bolts or clips, etc. The connection is firm and there is no relative movement, ensuring that the power of the drive mechanism can be accurately transmitted to the pressing part 2, realizing the effective application of pressing force.

[0085] When using the soft-pack module welding foot structure and soft-pack module welding system provided in this application embodiment, the operator places the soft-pack battery module on the workbench and fixes the module position by using positioning pins and clamping mechanisms to ensure that the welding area of ​​the electrode tab and the integrated busbar base plate is aligned with the pressing part 2 of the welding foot structure and the laser head.

[0086] Upon receiving a control signal, the drive mechanism moves the mounting plate 1 and the pressing element 2 of the welding foot structure downwards synchronously. After the two upright plates 222 on the base 221 contact the electrode tabs, the drive mechanism continues to apply pressure, causing the forces exerted by the upright plates 222 on the base 221 on both sides of the rotating shaft 3 to become unbalanced. This allows the pressing element 2 to adapt to the deformation of the integrated busbar base plate and rotate around the rotating shaft 3, so that the contact surface gradually and completely fits the electrode tabs.

[0087] Once the pressing component 2 tightly adheres the electrode tab to the base plate, the control system sends a welding signal, activating the laser generator of the welding equipment. The laser beam is transmitted to the laser head via a transmission fiber, and the laser beam emitted by the laser head irradiates the welding area between the electrode tab and the base plate through the welding port 232, achieving laser welding. During the welding process, the drive mechanism maintains a stable pressing force, ensuring that the pressing component 2 always keeps the electrode tab tightly fitted to the base plate, preventing the formation of microscopic gaps.

[0088] After welding is completed, the control system sends a reset signal, the welding equipment stops emitting laser light, and the output shaft or lead screw of the drive mechanism retracts upward, causing the pressing part 2 of the welding pressure foot structure to move away from the electrode tab. The pressing part 2 then resets under the action of the elastic element or its own gravity. The operator releases the clamping mechanism of the worktable, removes the welded battery module, and completes one welding operation.

[0089] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0090] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement 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 described herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A welding foot structure for a flexible module, characterized in that, include: Mounting plate (1); The pressing part (2) includes a connecting part (21) and an abutting part (22). The connecting part (21) is provided in the middle of one side of the abutting part (22), and the other side is an abutting surface for pressing the lower electrode tab. The connecting part (21) is rotatably connected to the mounting plate (1) through a rotating shaft (3) so that the abutting surface can be tilted relative to the mounting plate (1).

2. The flexible module welding foot structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a limiting component (4); The limiting member (4) is disposed on the mounting plate (1), at least partially disposed on both sides of the connecting part (21) along the radial direction of the rotating shaft (3), and has a gap with the connecting part (21) to limit the maximum rotation angle of the pressing member (2) relative to the mounting plate (1).

3. The flexible module welding foot structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The limiting member (4) includes a horizontal plate portion (41) and two vertical plate portions (42). The horizontal plate portion (41) is disposed on the side of the connecting portion (21) away from the abutting portion (22). The two vertical plate portions (42) are respectively disposed at both ends of the horizontal plate portion (41) and both extend toward the connecting portion (21), so that the two vertical plate portions (42) are located on both sides of the connecting portion (21) along the radial direction of the rotating shaft (3). There are gaps between the pressing member (2) and the longitudinal plate (42) and the transverse plate (41).

4. The flexible module welding foot structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, Each of the longitudinal plates (42) is fixedly connected to the mounting plate (1) by a plurality of fasteners; Each of the longitudinal plates (42) has a plurality of through holes arranged at intervals along its extension direction, and a fastener is inserted into each of the through holes.

5. The flexible module welding foot structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotating shaft (3) includes a main shaft (31) and a bushing (32). The pressing member (2) is provided with a rotating hole (211). The main shaft (31) passes through the rotating hole (211) and is connected to the mounting plate (1). The bushing (32) is sleeved on the main shaft (31) and located in the rotating hole (211). The bushing (32) abuts against the inner wall of the main shaft (31) and the rotating hole (211).

6. The flexible module welding foot structure according to claim 5, characterized in that, The main shaft (31) includes a screw part (311) and an end (312). The mounting plate (1) is provided with a mounting screw hole. The mounting screw hole is coaxially arranged with the rotating hole (211). The screw part (311) passes through the rotating hole (211) and is threadedly connected to the mounting screw hole. The end (312) is located at the end of the screw portion (311) away from the mounting plate (1), and the diameter of the end (312) is larger than the diameter of the rotating hole (211) so that the end (312) axially limits the pressing member (2).

7. The flexible module welding foot structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The abutment portion (22) has an installation cavity (23) for installing welding equipment. The abutting surface is provided with a welding port (232) that communicates with the mounting cavity (23).

8. The flexible module welding foot structure according to claim 7, characterized in that, The abutment portion (22) has an installation port (231) that communicates with the mounting cavity (23) on the side near the connecting portion (21).

9. The flexible module welding foot structure according to claim 7, characterized in that, The abutting part (22) includes a base (221) and two spaced upright plates (222). The connecting part (21) is disposed on one side of the base (221), and the two upright plates (222) are disposed on the other side of the base (221). The two upright plates (222) and the base (221) together form the mounting cavity (23). The sides of the two upright plates (222) away from the base (221) together form the abutment surface, and the edges of the two upright plates (222) away from the base (221) together form the weld joint (232).

10. A flexible module welding system, characterized in that, Includes a workbench, a drive mechanism, welding equipment, and a soft-pack module welding presser foot structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 9; The drive mechanism is disposed on the worktable and is connected to the mounting plate (1) to drive the pressing member (2) to move toward or away from the worktable; The welding equipment is installed on the pressing component (2).

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