Gripping device and conveying system

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of grabbing device for grabbing battery string, grabbing device includes multiple grabbing units sequentially arranged along first direction, each grabbing unit is used to grab one corresponding battery piece, grabbing unit includes: suction mechanism, its suction end faces downward, suction end is used to adsorb battery piece;And flattening mechanism is arranged in parallel with suction mechanism, and flattening mechanism includes pressing block and at least one drive assembly, the arc surface that protrudes downward is built on pressing block, drive assembly is connected with pressing block and is used to drive pressing block to move downward, to flatten battery piece.The utility model can improve battery piece warping, reduce battery piece fragmentation.The utility model further provides a kind of conveying system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of solar cell conveying technology, and in particular to a gripping device and conveying system. Background Technology

[0002] BC cells, short for back-contact cells, differ from other crystalline silicon cell routes in that the emitter, surface field, and metal electrodes are all located on the back of the cell, with no grid lines obstructing the front surface. This maximizes the use of incident light, reduces optical losses, provides a larger effective power generation area, results in high conversion efficiency, and is more aesthetically pleasing.

[0003] As BC solar cells are becoming increasingly thinner, the welding process makes them prone to warping. Current cell grippers cannot accommodate the warping of the cell strings, easily causing the cells to break during the gripping process. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to solve the technical problem of easy breakage of BC battery strings during the gripping process. This invention provides a gripping device and conveying system to reduce battery string breakage.

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this utility model provides a gripping device for gripping battery strings. The gripping device includes multiple gripping units arranged sequentially along a first direction. Each gripping unit is used to grip a corresponding battery cell. The gripping unit includes: The adsorption mechanism has its adsorption end facing downwards, and the adsorption end is used to adsorb the battery cells; and A flattening mechanism is arranged in parallel with an adsorption mechanism, and the flattening mechanism includes a pressing block and at least one driving component. The pressing block has a body and a protrusion extending downward in a direction away from the body. The extended end of the protrusion has an arc-shaped surface. The driving component is connected to the pressing block and is used to drive the pressing block to move downward to flatten the battery cell.

[0006] In an optional embodiment of this application, the cross-section of the protrusion is semi-circular, and its thickness in the vertical direction gradually decreases from the center toward the edge; the distance between the lowest point and the highest point of the arc surface is 1.5mm-3.5mm.

[0007] In an optional embodiment of this application, the gripping unit further includes a magnetic suction element, which is disposed on the side of the body away from the protrusion and is used to fix the pressure block when the adsorption mechanism adsorbs the battery cell.

[0008] In the optional scheme of this application, The pressing block is made of magnetic material, and the magnetic suction element is used to magnetically hold the pressing block; or The pressure block is equipped with a magnetic body, and the magnetic attractor is used to magnetically attract the magnetic body on the pressure block.

[0009] In the optional scheme of this application, The gripping unit also includes a support frame; The magnetic suction element and the adsorption mechanism are fixedly mounted on the bracket, the drive component is installed through the bracket, and at least a part of the drive component can move relative to the bracket.

[0010] In the optional scheme of this application, Before multiple flattening mechanisms act on the battery string, the height of the lowest point of each protrusion is configured such that the height of the lowest point of the protrusion gradually increases from the middle position of the gripping device along the first direction to both ends of the gripping device in the first direction.

[0011] In an optional embodiment of this application, before multiple flattening mechanisms act on the battery string, the height difference between the lowest points of the arc surfaces of two adjacent pressing blocks is 3mm-7mm.

[0012] In an optional embodiment of this application, the driving component includes: case; The elastic element is located inside the housing; The telescopic rod has a pressure block connected to one end and an elastic element connected to the other end.

[0013] In an optional embodiment of this application, the adsorption mechanism includes multiple suction nozzles, which are distributed on both sides of the pressure block in a first direction, and the suction nozzles are used to connect to a negative pressure power source to adsorb the battery cells under negative pressure.

[0014] According to another aspect of this application, embodiments of the present invention also provide a conveying system, the conveying system including any of the aforementioned gripping devices, comprising: A frame extending along a first direction, with multiple gripping units sequentially arranged on the frame along the first direction; and The drive module, connected to the frame, is used to move the frame and gripping unit to the next workstation.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, this utility model has the following beneficial effects: The present invention employs a gripping device with multiple gripping units, each corresponding to a battery cell in a battery string. This facilitates the dispersion of tension on the battery string, preventing concentrated stress on the battery cell and subsequent breakage. A flattening mechanism applies pressure to the surface of the battery cell, flattening any warped cells and preventing uneven stress and breakage during adsorption. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the specific embodiments of this application or the prior art, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this application; those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without any creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a front view of the grabbing unit provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 A left view of the grasping unit provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 A bottom view of the gripping unit provided in the embodiments of this application; Figures 4a to 4d This is a schematic diagram illustrating the process of the clamping block flattening the battery cell in the gripping device provided in this application embodiment; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the functional relationship of the gripping unit when picking up battery cells, as provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0018] Figure label: 100. Gripping unit, 200. Battery string, 210. Battery cell, 210a. Warped sheet, 210b. Flat sheet, 10. Adsorption mechanism, 11. Nozzle, 20. Flattening mechanism, 21. Pressing block, 211. Curved surface, 212. Body, 213. Protrusion, 22. Drive assembly, 221. Housing, 222. Telescopic rod, 223. Elastic element, 30. Magnetic element, 31. Magnetic body, 40. Support, 300. Frame, 500. Gripping device, 600. Substrate. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The following specific embodiments illustrate the implementation of this utility model. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of this utility model from the content disclosed in this specification. Although the description of this utility model will be presented in conjunction with preferred embodiments, this does not mean that the features of this utility model are limited to this embodiment. On the contrary, the purpose of describing the utility model in conjunction with the embodiments is to cover other options or modifications that may be derived based on the claims of this utility model. To provide a deep understanding of this utility model, many specific details will be included in the following description. This utility model may also be implemented without using these details. Furthermore, to avoid confusion or obscuring the focus of this utility model, some specific details will be omitted in the description. It should be noted that, without conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this utility model can be combined with each other.

[0020] It should be noted that in this specification, similar reference numerals and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0021] In the description of this embodiment, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "bottom", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship that the utility model product is usually placed in during use. They are only for the convenience of describing the utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the utility model.

[0022] The terms “first”, “second”, etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be interpreted as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0023] In the description of this embodiment, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "set up," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this embodiment based on the specific circumstances.

[0024] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the embodiments of this utility model will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 This is a front view of the grabbing unit provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 This is a left view of the grasping unit provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 3 This is a bottom view of the gripping unit provided in an embodiment of this application. Figures 4a to 4d This is a schematic diagram illustrating the process of the pressure block flattening the battery cell in the gripping device provided in this application embodiment. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the functional relationship of the gripping unit when picking up battery cells, as provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0025] The present invention provides a gripping device 500, such as... Figures 4a to 4d As shown, a device is used to grasp a battery string 200, the battery string 200 including components along a first direction ( Figures 4a to 5 As shown in the L1 direction, a plurality of battery cells 210 are arranged sequentially. The gripping device 500 includes a plurality of gripping units 100 arranged sequentially along the first direction. The number of battery cells 210 is equal to the number of gripping units 100 and corresponds one-to-one. Each gripping unit 100 is used to grip one corresponding battery cell 210 (e.g., ...). Figures 4a to 4d(As shown). The gripping unit 100 includes an adsorption mechanism 10 and a flattening mechanism 20. The adsorption end of the adsorption mechanism 10 faces downward and is used to adsorb the battery cell 210. The flattening mechanism 20 is arranged in parallel with the adsorption mechanism 10 and includes a pressing block 21 and at least one driving assembly 22. The pressing block 21 has a body 212 and a protrusion 213 extending downward away from the body 212. The extended end of the protrusion 213 is an arc-shaped surface 211. The arc-shaped surface 211 is configured to fit against the gripped surface of the battery cell 210 during the adsorption process of the gripping mechanism. The driving assembly 22 is connected to the pressing block 21 and is used to drive the pressing block 21 to move downward to flatten the battery cell 210.

[0026] Specifically, the battery string 200 is formed by welding multiple battery cells 210 in a row on a supporting plane. This supporting plane can be a desktop, workbench surface, or the upper surface of a conveyor belt. Before welding the battery cells 210, they are first arranged on the aforementioned supporting plane to provide support for them. After welding, the pressure block 21 moves downward to flatten the warped battery cells 210. After the pressure block 21 descends to its lowest point, its adsorption end adheres to the upper surface of the battery cell 210 to adsorb it.

[0027] By employing the above technical solution, multiple gripping units 100 are set in the gripping device 500, with each gripping unit 100 corresponding to one battery cell 210 in the battery string 200. This facilitates the dispersion of the pulling force on the battery string 200, preventing the battery cell 210 from being broken due to concentrated force. The flattening mechanism 20 applies pressure to the surface of the battery cell 210, flattening any warped battery cell 210 and preventing it from breaking due to uneven force during adsorption. The use of an arc-shaped surface 211 pressing against the upper surface of the battery cell 210 ensures that the lowest point of the arc-shaped surface 211 contacts the middle of the battery cell 210 first, and during the downward pressure, the battery cell 210 is stretched outward from the middle, preventing stress and breakage in the middle of the battery cell 210. Importantly, when the arc-shaped surface 211 presses against the battery cell 210, it causes a certain amount of downward deformation in the middle of the battery cell 210 (e.g., ...). Figure 5 As shown, when the curved surface 211 leaves the battery cell 210, the middle part of the battery cell 210 springs upward to flatten. If a flat surface is used to press against the battery cell 210, the middle part of the battery cell 210 may spring upward after the flat surface leaves the battery cell 210, failing to improve the warping phenomenon. It is worth mentioning that the material of the curved surface 211 can be a coating or patch made of silicone, rubber, or silicone rubber, or it can be made into a whole block 21 of silicone, rubber, or silicone rubber. Using soft silicone, rubber, or silicone rubber to support the curved surface 211 can prevent the block 21 from making hard contact with the battery cell 210, which would cause the battery cell 210 to break, and can also prevent scratches from forming on the surface of the battery cell 210.

[0028] As a further preferred embodiment, based on the above-mentioned solution, the specific embodiments of this application may also include one or more of the following additions or combinations.

[0029] Furthermore, the cross-section of the protrusion 213 is semi-circular, and its thickness in the vertical direction gradually decreases from the center towards the edge; the distance between the lowest point and the highest point of the arc-shaped surface 211 of the pressure block 21 ( Figure 1 The dimension L2 (as shown) is 1.5mm-3.5mm. Specifically, the width of the arc-shaped surface 211 along the first direction and the size of the distance L2 are related to the size of the battery cell 210. If the size of the battery cell 210 along the first direction is large, the width of the pressing block 21 along the first direction can be increased, and the width of the arc-shaped surface 211 and the size of L2 can be increased accordingly. For a conventional BC battery cell 210, the size of L2 can be 2.5mm, and for a larger size battery cell 210, L2 can be set to 3.5mm. With technological advancements, when the size of the BC battery cell 210 is reduced, an arc-shaped surface 211 with L2 of 1.5mm can also be used.

[0030] Furthermore, such as Figures 1 to 3As shown, the gripping unit 100 also includes a magnetic suction member 30, which is disposed on the side of the body 212 away from the protrusion 213, and is used to fix the pressure block 21 when the adsorption mechanism 10 adsorbs the battery cell 210. Specifically, when the battery cell 210 is placed on the support plane, the pressure block 21 presses against the battery cell 210 to make the battery cell 210 flat. After the flattening process is completed, the adsorption mechanism 10 adsorbs the battery cell 210 and takes the battery cell 210 away from the support plane where it is located. In order to prevent the pressure block 21 from continuing to apply pressure to the battery cell 210, the magnetic suction member 30 is used to adsorb and fix the pressure block 21 in this embodiment. In addition, the magnetic suction member 30 can limit the extreme position of the upward movement of the pressure block 21. When the arc-shaped surface 211 is pressed tightly against the battery cell 210 and the support plane, the upper end surface of the pressure block 21 contacts the lower surface of the magnetic suction member 30, and the magnetic suction member 30 then holds the pressure block 21 in place. Specifically, the magnetic attractor 30 is an electromagnet. The electromagnet is energized when in contact with the pressure block 21 to attract it, and de-energized after the attraction mechanism 10 releases the battery cell 210 to release the pressure block 21. In some embodiments, the pressure block 21 is made of magnetic material, and the magnetic attractor 30 is used to magnetically attract the pressure block 21. Specifically, the pressure block 21 may have a main body made of magnetic material and an arc-shaped surface 211 connected to the lower end of the main body. The supporting material of the arc-shaped surface 211 can be a soft material. Alternatively, the pressure block 21 can be integrally formed from magnetic material. In other embodiments, a magnetic body 31 is provided on the pressure block 21, and the magnetic attractor 30 is used to magnetically attract the magnetic body 31 on the pressure block 21. Specifically, the magnetic body 31 can be made of magnetic materials such as iron, nickel, or steel, and the position of the magnetic body 31 corresponds to the position of the magnetic component, or the magnetic body 31 is located directly below the magnetic component. When the pressure block 21 is pressed tightly against the battery cell 210 and the supporting plane, the magnetic body 31 contacts the magnetic component.

[0031] Furthermore, such as Figure 1 As shown, the gripping unit 100 also includes a support 40. The magnetic suction element 30 and the adsorption mechanism 10 are fixedly mounted on the support 40, and the driving component 22 passes through the support 40, with at least a portion of the driving component 22 capable of movement relative to the support 40. Specifically, as... Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the adsorption mechanism 10 and the magnetic suction element 30 are constructed below the support 40. When the support 40 moves downward, the pressure block 21 and the adsorption mechanism 10 can act on the battery cell 210 below. The distance between the upper end of the housing 221 of the drive assembly 22 and the upper surface of the support 40 can be adjusted according to the position of the gripping unit 100 on the gripping device 500, so that the positions of the multiple arc-shaped surfaces 211 are configured in a shape that is low in the middle and high at both ends along the first direction. The movable part of the drive assembly 22 can move together with the pressure block 21.

[0032] Furthermore, before the multiple flattening mechanisms 20 act on the battery string 200, the height of the lowest point of the arcuate surface 211 of each pressing block 21 is configured such that the height of the lowest point of the arcuate surface 211 gradually increases from the middle position along the first direction of the gripping device 500 to both ends of the gripping device 500. Specifically, the height difference of each arcuate surface 211 can be achieved by adjusting the drive assembly 22 as a whole. Figure 4a and Figure 4b As shown, by gradually increasing the height of multiple arc-shaped surfaces 211 from the middle to both ends, the arc-shaped surface 211 in the middle can first contact the warped piece 210a (i.e., the warped battery piece 210) in the middle of the battery string 200 and flatten the warped piece 210a into a flat piece 210b (i.e., the flat battery piece 210). As the gripping device 500 gradually moves downward, the arc-shaped surfaces 211 on the left and right sides of the middle arc-shaped surface 211 flatten their corresponding battery pieces 210 (e.g., the flat battery piece 210). Figure 4c As shown), and so on, gradually flatten all the battery cells 210 (as shown). Figure 4d As shown). Flattening the battery string 200 from the middle to both ends can unfold the battery string 200 from the middle to both ends along the first direction, avoiding the damage caused by the internal stress of the battery string 200 being unable to be released due to the simultaneous pressure of multiple arc surfaces 211.

[0033] Furthermore, before the multiple flattening mechanisms 20 act on the battery string 200 ( Figure 4a As shown), the height difference between the lowest points of the arc-shaped surfaces 211 of two adjacent pressure blocks 21 is 3mm-7mm (as shown). Figure 4a (As shown in the medium dimension L3).

[0034] Further, the drive assembly 22 includes a housing 221, a telescopic rod 222, and an elastic element 223. The telescopic rod 222 passes through the housing 221, and its lower end is connected to the pressure block 21. The elastic element 223 is sleeved on the end of the telescopic rod 222 away from the pressure block 21, and its two ends abut against the housing 221 and the telescopic rod 222, respectively. Specifically, the housing 221 is detachably connected to the bracket 40, and the height of the housing 221 relative to the bracket 40 can be adjusted during installation; however, the height of the housing 221 cannot be changed after it is installed on the bracket 40. The elastic element 223 is specifically a compression spring, which applies downward pressure to the telescopic rod 222 to drive the pressure block 21 to apply pressure to the battery cell 210.

[0035] Furthermore, such as Figure 3As shown, the adsorption mechanism 10 includes multiple suction nozzles 11, which are distributed on both sides of the pressure block 21 in a first direction. The suction nozzles 11 are connected to a negative pressure power source to adsorb the battery cells 210 under negative pressure. In some embodiments, the number of suction nozzles 11 is four, with two suction nozzles 11 on each side of the pressure block 21, and the two suction nozzles 11 on each side are mirror images of the two suction nozzles on the opposite side. In other embodiments, the number of suction nozzles 11 can be six, eight, or other even numbers, evenly distributed on both sides of the pressure block 21 in a mirror image arrangement to maintain the force balance on the battery cells 210.

[0036] According to another aspect of this application, the present invention also provides a conveying system, which includes a frame 300 and a drive module, wherein the frame 300 extends along a first direction, and a plurality of gripping units 100 are sequentially disposed on the frame 300 along the first direction (e.g., ...). Figures 4a to 4d (As shown). In some embodiments, the frame 300 may be formed by connecting multiple supports 40. In this example, the supports 40 mounted on the frame 300 improve stability and prevent the gripping device 500 from bending. The drive module is connected to the frame 300 and is used to move the frame 300 and the gripping unit 100 to the next work station. Specifically, the drive module may be a robotic arm or a conveying system consisting of a lifting mechanism and a translation mechanism.

[0037] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the above description is a further detailed explanation of the present invention in conjunction with specific embodiments, and should not be construed as limiting the specific implementation of the present invention to these descriptions. Those skilled in the art can make various changes in form and detail, including some simple deductions or substitutions, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A gripping device for gripping a battery string (200), characterized in that, The gripping device (500) includes a plurality of gripping units (100) arranged sequentially along a first direction, each gripping unit (100) being used to grip a corresponding battery cell (210), and the gripping unit (100) comprising: Adsorption mechanism (10), with its adsorption end facing downwards, the adsorption end being used to adsorb the battery cell (210); and A flattening mechanism (20) is arranged in parallel with the adsorption mechanism (10), and the flattening mechanism (20) includes a pressing block (21) and at least one driving component (22). The pressing block (21) has a body (212) and a protrusion (213) extending downward toward the body (212). The extended end of the protrusion (213) is an arc-shaped surface (211). The driving component (22) is connected to the pressing block (21) and is used to drive the pressing block (21) to move downward to flatten the battery cell (210). The gripping unit (100) also includes a magnetic suction member (30), which is disposed on the side of the body (212) away from the protrusion (213) and is used to fix the pressure block (21) when the adsorption mechanism (10) adsorbs the battery cell (210).

2. The gripping device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The cross-section of the protrusion (213) is semi-circular, and its thickness in the vertical direction gradually decreases from the center to the edge; the distance between the lowest point and the highest point of the arc surface (211) is 1.5mm-3.5mm.

3. The gripping device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pressing block (21) is made of magnetic material, and the magnetic attractor (30) is used to magnetically attract the pressing block (21); or The pressure block (21) is provided with a magnetic body (31), and the magnetic attractor (30) is used to magnetically attract the magnetic body (31) on the pressure block (21).

4. The gripping device as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The gripping unit (100) also includes a support (40); The magnetic suction element (30) and the adsorption mechanism (10) are fixedly disposed on the bracket (40), the driving component (22) is disposed through the bracket (40), and at least a portion of the driving component (22) is capable of moving relative to the bracket (40).

5. The gripping device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Before the multiple flattening mechanisms (20) act on the battery string (200), the height of the lowest point of each protrusion (213) is configured such that the height of the lowest point of the protrusion (213) gradually increases from the middle position of the gripping device (500) along the first direction to both ends of the gripping device (500) in the first direction.

6. The gripping device as described in claim 5, characterized in that, Before the multiple flattening mechanisms (20) act on the battery string (200), the height difference between the lowest points of the arcuate surfaces (211) of two adjacent pressing blocks (21) is 3mm-7mm.

7. The gripping device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The driving component (22) includes: Casing (221); An elastic element (223) is disposed within the housing (221); Telescopic rod (222), one end of which is connected to the pressure block (21); the other end is connected to the elastic element (223).

8. The gripping device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The adsorption mechanism (10) includes a plurality of suction nozzles (11), which are distributed on both sides of the pressure block (21) in a first direction, and the suction nozzles (11) are used to connect to a negative pressure power source to adsorb the battery cell (210) under negative pressure.

9. A conveying system comprising the gripping device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, include: A frame (300) extends along the first direction, and a plurality of gripping units (100) are sequentially disposed on the frame (300) along the first direction; as well as The drive module is connected to the frame (300) and is used to move the frame (300) and the gripping unit (100) to the next work station.

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