Piercing device and apparatus

Abstract

The application provides a hole-punching device and equipment, and relates to battery recycling; wherein the hole-punching device comprises a rack, a lifting driving element and a hole-punching mechanism installed on the rack; the hole-punching mechanism is located at the lifting end of the lifting driving element; the hole-punching mechanism is in multiple groups; the hole-punching mechanisms in the multiple groups are arranged along a first direction; each group of the hole-punching mechanisms is provided with a hole-punching end; and adjacent hole-punching ends are close to or away from each other along the first direction. The application realizes lifting driving and hole-punching, and is suitable for multiple types of battery packs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery recycling, and more specifically, to a punching device and apparatus. Background Technology

[0002] With the booming development of new energy industries such as electric vehicles, the global demand for power batteries is showing a continuous upward trend. Among various battery types, lithium iron phosphate batteries, with their superior cycle stability and safety performance, have steadily increased their market share and have become one of the mainstream power sources for new energy vehicles. Along with the continuous expansion of lithium iron phosphate battery production capacity, the number of retired batteries is also growing rapidly. From the perspective of environmental protection and resource recycling, establishing a sound lithium iron phosphate battery recycling system is of significant practical importance.

[0003] Current pretreatment and recycling processes for lithium iron phosphate battery packs mainly involve two stages: first, disassembling the battery pack into individual cells; and second, converting these individual cells into recycled materials such as battery powder through crushing, drying, and sorting. This process involves several complex steps, including structural adhesive decomposition, electrolyte and binder drying, and exhaust emission control. In existing mainstream recycling processes, rotary kilns are commonly used to dry the electrolyte in the crushed battery material. However, this process presents significant dust problems: the dust generated during drying easily adsorbs electrolyte components, leading to malfunctions in the dust removal system. Furthermore, to ensure process safety, the entire drying process must be carried out under nitrogen protection, resulting in substantial nitrogen consumption.

[0004] To address the aforementioned technical challenges, some companies have attempted to use tunnel kilns to perform overall calcination of the complete battery pack. However, this process presents new technical challenges: the electrolyte, separator, and other materials inside the battery pack decompose under high-temperature conditions, generating a large amount of gas. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this application is to provide a piercing device and equipment that can perform piercing on multiple individual cells of a battery pack to ensure the safety of the battery pack during baking.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a punching device for punching holes in a battery pack. The punching device includes a frame and a lifting drive and a punching mechanism mounted on the frame. The punching mechanism is located at the lifting end of the lifting drive. The punching mechanism is in multiple groups, and the multiple groups of punching mechanisms are arranged along a first direction. Each group of punching mechanisms is provided with a punching end, and adjacent punching ends are close to or far from each other along the first direction.

[0007] In an optional embodiment, the punching mechanism includes a punching component, a telescopic component, and a telescopic drive component. The punching component is mounted on the lifting end and has a punching end. One end of the telescopic component is connected to the punching component, and the other end of the telescopic component is connected to the punching component of an adjacent group of punching mechanisms. The drive end of the telescopic drive component is connected to the telescopic component in a transmission manner. Under the driving action of the telescopic drive component, the telescopic component extends or retracts in a first direction.

[0008] In an optional embodiment, the punching member is further provided with a connecting end, the connecting end and the punching end are arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the connecting end is connected to the telescopic member.

[0009] In an optional implementation, adjacent connection ends are plugged in.

[0010] In an optional implementation, each of the connecting ends is provided with a male connector and a female connector, and the male connector of one connecting end is plugged into the female connector of the adjacent connecting end.

[0011] In an optional embodiment, the connecting end of the first punching member is provided with one of a male head and a female head, and the connecting end of the last punching member is provided with the other of a male head and a female head.

[0012] In an optional embodiment, the punched end is configured in an arrow shape, with the pointed end facing the battery pack.

[0013] In an optional implementation, the punched ends are located on the same horizontal plane.

[0014] In an optional embodiment, the punching mechanism further includes a limiting member, which is mounted on the punching member and has a preset distance between it and the punching end.

[0015] Secondly, this application also provides a punching device, which includes a control device, a vision recognition device, a conveying device, and a punching device, wherein the control device, the vision recognition device, the conveying device, and the punching device are electrically connected to each other.

[0016] Compared to existing technologies, the advantages of this application are: This application uses a lifting drive mechanism to drive the punching end to move up and down, thereby enabling the punching of multiple battery cells in the battery pack, ensuring the safety of the battery pack during firing. Furthermore, the adjacent punching ends of this application can move relative to each other, making it suitable for different models of battery packs and offering high flexibility. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of the present utility model and should not be regarded as a limitation on the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 A plan view of the punching device at one angle is shown in some embodiments; Figure 2 A plan view of the punching device from another angle is shown in some embodiments; Figure 3 A plan view of the intermediate punching element is shown in some embodiments; Figure 4 A plan view of the first punching element in some embodiments is shown; Figure 5 A plan view of the last punch in some embodiments is shown; Figure 6 Circuit diagrams of the punching device in some embodiments are shown.

[0019] Explanation of key component symbols: 10-Punching device; 100-Frame; 200-Lifting drive component; 300-Punching mechanism; 310-Punching component; 311-Punching end; 312-Connecting end; 3121-Male head; 3122-Female head; 320-Telescopic component; 330-Telescopic drive component; 340-Limiting component; 20-Control device; 30-Visual recognition device; 40-Conveying device; 50-Battery pack. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The embodiments of this application are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this application, and should not be construed as limiting this application.

[0021] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0022] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0023] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; 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; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0024] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0025] Example 1 Please see Figures 1 to 3 This embodiment is applicable to the recycling of battery pack 50, which is composed of multiple battery cells arranged and assembled. Each battery cell is equipped with a safety valve. In this embodiment, the battery cell is opened by puncturing the safety valve, thus ensuring the safety of the battery pack 50 during baking.

[0026] This embodiment provides a punching device 10, which includes a frame 100 and a lifting drive 200 and a punching mechanism 300 mounted on the frame 100.

[0027] The rack 100 is configured as a gantry type.

[0028] The lifting drive unit 200 is configured as a lifting motor.

[0029] The punching mechanism 300 is located at the lifting end of the lifting drive 200. Under the driving action of the lifting drive 200, the punching mechanism 300 moves vertically up and down to the first position and the second position, with the first position being lower than the second position.

[0030] The battery pack 50 is placed below the punching mechanism 300. The lifting drive 200 is activated, which lowers the punching mechanism 300 to the first position to punch holes in the battery cells. Then, the lifting drive 200 is activated in reverse, which raises the punching mechanism 300 to the second position to prepare for the next punching operation.

[0031] The punching mechanism 300 consists of multiple groups, which are arranged along a first direction. Each group of punching mechanisms 300 is equipped with a punching end 311, and adjacent punching ends 311 are close to or far from each other along the first direction. Here, the first direction is the horizontal direction.

[0032] The punching mechanism 300 includes a punching member 310, a telescopic member 320, and a telescopic drive member 330. The punching member 310 is mounted on the lifting end and has a punching end 311. One end of the telescopic member 320 is connected to the punching member 310, and the other end of the telescopic member 320 is connected to the punching member 310 of the adjacent punching mechanism 300. The drive end of the telescopic drive member 330 is connected to the telescopic member 320 in a transmission connection. Under the driving action of the telescopic drive member 330, the telescopic member 320 extends or retracts in a first direction.

[0033] The telescopic drive component 330 is configured as a motor.

[0034] The puncture end 311 is configured in an arrow shape, with the pointed end of the puncture end 311 facing the battery pack 50. The arrow-shaped puncture end 311 can prevent the puncture mechanism 300 from penetrating too deeply, thus preparing for the subsequent removal of the safety valve.

[0035] In this embodiment, the height of each safety valve can be set to the same height, so the piercing end 311 is set to be on the same horizontal plane. When each piercing mechanism 300 descends to the first position, each safety valve is pierced and opened.

[0036] The punching component 310 is also provided with a connecting end 312, which is arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The connecting end 312 is connected to the telescopic component 320. Here, the second direction is the vertical direction.

[0037] Adjacent connection ends 312 are inserted, that is, one connection end 312 slides relative to another connection end 312 in the first direction. The insertion setting provides a guiding effect for the movement of the punching member 310, and avoids the height of the punching end 311 changing during the movement.

[0038] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 In some embodiments, the connecting end 312 of the first punching member 310 is provided with one of a male head 3121 and a female head 3122, and the connecting end 312 of the last punching member 310 is provided with the other of a male head 3121 and a female head 3122.

[0039] For example, the first punching member 310 has a female head 3122 at its connecting end 312, the last punching member 310 has a male head 3121 at its connecting end 312, and the middle punching member 310 has both a male head 3121 and a female head 3122 at its connecting end 312. This design makes the punching mechanism 300 more compact.

[0040] In some other embodiments, each connector 312 is provided with a male connector 3121 and a female connector 3122, and the male connector 3121 of one connector 312 is inserted into the female connector 3122 of the adjacent connector 312. This design enables mass production of the punched parts 310, reducing manufacturing costs.

[0041] The punching mechanism 300 also includes a limiting member 340, which is installed on the punching member 310 and has a preset distance between the limiting member 340 and the punching end 311. When the punching mechanism 300 descends to the first position, the limiting member 340 abuts against the upper surface of the safety valve. In this embodiment, the setting of the limiting member 340 further avoids the problem of the punching mechanism 300 penetrating too deeply.

[0042] Please continue reading. Figures 1 to 3 Based on the above, this embodiment further explains the working principle of the punching device 10 as follows: S100. Measure the distance between adjacent safety valves according to the model of battery pack 50.

[0043] S200. Adjust the distance between adjacent perforated ends 311 according to the spacing of the safety valves.

[0044] Activate the telescopic drive 330, and the telescopic component 320 extends or retracts along the first direction until the distance between adjacent perforated ends 311 is the same as the spacing between two adjacent safety valves.

[0045] S300. Start the lifting drive 200, which drives the punching mechanism 300 to descend to the first position to open the battery cell.

[0046] S400. Reverse start lifting drive 200, lifting drive 200 drives the punching mechanism 300 to rise to the second position, ready for the next punching.

[0047] This application uses a lifting drive mechanism to drive the punching end 311 to move up and down, thereby enabling the punching of multiple battery cells in the battery pack 50, ensuring the firing safety of the battery pack 50. Furthermore, the adjacent punching ends 311 in this application can move relative to each other, making it suitable for different models of battery packs 50 and highly flexible.

[0048] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 6 Based on the above, this embodiment also provides a punching device, which includes a control device 20, a vision recognition device 30, a conveying device 40, and a punching device 10. The control device 20 is electrically connected to the vision recognition device 30, the conveying device 40, and the punching device 10.

[0049] The visual recognition device 30 is positioned towards the battery pack 50 and takes a picture of the battery pack 50 to identify its position and the position of the safety valve. The information is then converted into an electrical signal and sent to the control device 20. The control device 20 makes a judgment and controls the punching device 10 to adjust the spacing of the punching ends 311 and to punch holes. After punching is completed, the control device 20 controls the conveying device 40 to transfer the battery pack 50 with holes and input the battery pack 50 to be punched.

[0050] Specifically, the visual recognition device 30 includes a camera and an image processing unit, and the conveying device 40 is a belt conveyor. The conveying device 40 is provided with a feeding area, a punching area and a discharging area. The punching area is located below the punching mechanism 300, the feeding area is located upstream of the punching area, and the discharging area is located downstream of the punching area.

[0051] The punching device provided in this embodiment has a high level of automation and can automatically punch holes in the battery pack 50. While improving punching efficiency, it also improves the safety factor of battery pack 50 recycling and has good practicality.

[0052] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0053] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting this application. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of this application.

Claims

1. A punching device for punching holes in a battery pack, characterized in that, The device includes a frame and a lifting drive and a punching mechanism mounted on the frame. The punching mechanism is located at the lifting end of the lifting drive. There are multiple sets of punching mechanisms, which are arranged along a first direction. Each set of punching mechanisms has a punching end, and adjacent punching ends are close to or far from each other along the first direction.

2. The punching device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The punching mechanism includes a punching component, a telescopic component, and a telescopic drive component. The punching component is mounted on the lifting end and has a punching end. One end of the telescopic component is connected to the punching component, and the other end of the telescopic component is connected to the punching component of the adjacent punching mechanism. The drive end of the telescopic drive component is connected to the telescopic component. Under the driving action of the telescopic drive component, the telescopic component extends or retracts in a first direction.

3. The punching device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The punching component is further provided with a connecting end, which is arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and is connected to the telescopic component.

4. The punching device as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The adjacent connection ends are plugged in.

5. The punching device as described in claim 4, characterized in that, Each of the aforementioned connectors is provided with a male connector and a female connector, and the male connector of one connector is plugged into the female connector of the adjacent connector.

6. The punching device as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The first punching component has one of a male head and a female head at its connecting end, and the last punching component has the other of a male head and a female head at its connecting end.

7. The punching device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The punched end is configured in an arrow shape, with the pointed end facing the battery pack.

8. The punching device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The punctured ends are located on the same horizontal plane.

9. The punching device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that, The punching mechanism further includes a limiting member, which is mounted on the punching member and has a preset distance between the limiting member and the punching end.

10. A punching device, characterized in that, It includes a control device, a visual recognition device, a conveying device, and a punching device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the control device, the visual recognition device, the conveying device, and the punching device are electrically connected to each other.

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