Cell covering mechanism

Abstract

A cell covering mechanism characterized in that it serves to press an end cap (11) of a battery (1) onto a housing (12) of the battery (1); wherein a first side of the end cap (11) is connected to a cell of the battery (1) via a tab (13); the cell covering mechanism comprises: a conveyor belt (2); wherein the conveyor belt (2) is used to convey a support (3), and the support (3) is used to support the battery (1); a bending device (4); wherein the bending device (4) is arranged at intervals on one side of the conveyor belt (2), and the bending device (4) is used to bend the tab (13) so that the end cap (11) rotates about the first side to be parallel to the open side of the housing (12); an alignment device (5);wherein the alignment device (5) is arranged at intervals along a conveying direction of the conveyor belt (2) on one side of the bending device (4), and the alignment device (5) is used to align the end cap (11) with the housing (12); and a cover device (6); wherein the cover device (6) is arranged at intervals along the conveying direction of the conveyor belt (2) on one side of the alignment device (5) away from the bending device (4), and the cover device (6) is used to press the end cap (11) onto the housing (12).

Description

Technical FieldThe present application relates to the technical field of battery manufacturing equipment, and more particularly to a cell covering mechanism.Prior ArtIn the battery production process, the jellyroll must be inserted into the case, then the tab protruding from the case is bent, and the end cap located at one end of the tab away from the case is pressed against the case and then processed.In the production process of the battery in the relevant technology, the bending of the tab, the alignment of the end cap with the notch of the case, and the pressing of the end cap and the case are manually performed. That is, the manual operation is cumbersome, and multiple operators are required in multiple processes, so that the labor cost is high, repetitive operations are burdensome, and the production efficiency is low.Content of the Present ApplicationThe present application discloses a cell cover mechanism that serves to press an end cap of a battery onto a housing of the battery; wherein a first side of the end cap is connected to a cell of the battery via a tab. The cell covering mechanism comprises:a conveyor belt; wherein the conveyor belt is used to convey a bracket, and the bracket is used to support the battery;a bending device; wherein the bending device is spaced on one side of the conveyor belt, and the bending device is used to bend the tab such that the end cap rotates about the first side to be parallel to the open side of the housing;an alignment device, wherein the alignment device is spaced along a conveying direction of the conveyor belt on one side of the bending device, and the alignment device is used to align the end cap with the housing; anda cover device; wherein the cover device is spaced along the conveyor belt direction at intervals on one side of the alignment device away from the bending device, and the cover device is used to press the end cap onto the housing.The advantageous effects of the present application: by arranging the bending device, the aligning device, and the covering device in order along the conveying direction of the conveyor belt, the automatic operation can achieve the bending of the tab of the battery, the aligning of the end cap with the housing, and the pressing of the end cap on the housing with a high degree of automation and a high production efficiency, thereby effectively reducing the labor cost.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGFIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application. FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of a cell covering mechanism according to some embodiments of the present application. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a bending device cooperating with a positioning device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. FIG. 4 is a schematic structural view of a bending apparatus according to some embodiments of the present application. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an alignment device cooperating with a cover device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present application.In the figures:1, A battery; 11, end cap; 111, second side; 12, housing; 13, tab; 2, conveyor belt; 3, bracket; 4, flexure; 41, first support; 42, first press assembly; 421, second drive member; 422, first press block; 423, first limiting surface; 43, second press assembly; 431, third drive member; 432, first support block; 433, second limiting surface; 44, tab flexure assembly; 441, first drive member; 442, push rod; 443, first mounting block; 5, alignment device; 51, sixth drive member; 52, first jaw; 6, cover device; 61, seventh drive member; 62, second jaw; 621, eighth drive member; 622, clamping plate; 7, positioning device; 71, second support; 72, first positioning assembly; 721, fourth drive member; 722, second press block; 73, second positioning assembly; 731, fifth drive element; 732, second support block.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTSAs shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cell cover mechanism according to some embodiments of the present application is used to press an end cap 11 of a battery 1 onto a case 12 of the battery 1. A first side of the end cap 11 is connected to a cell of the battery 1 via a tab 13. A side of the end cap 11 connected to the tab 13 is the first side. The first side in FIG. 1 is covered. The first side is a side opposite to a second side 111. The first side is parallel to the direction of the axis of the housing 12. the cell cover mechanism includes a conveyor belt 2, a bending device 4, an alignment device 5, and a cover device 6; the conveyor belt 2 is used for conveying a holder 3, and the holder 3 is used for supporting the battery 1; the bending device 4 is disposed at intervals on one side of the conveyor belt 2, and the bending device 4 is used for bending the tab 13 such that the end cap 11 rotates around the first side to be parallel to the open side of the housing 12; the alignment device 5 is disposed along a conveying direction of the conveyor belt 2 at intervals on one side of the bending device 4, and the alignment device 5 is used for aligning the end cap 11 with the housing 12; the covering device 6 is spaced along the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 2 on one side of the aligning device 5 away from the bending device 4, and the covering device 6 is used to press the end cap 11 onto the housing 12. By arranging the bending device 4, the aligning device 5, and the covering device 6 in order along the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 2, the automatic operation can achieve the bending of the tab 13 of the battery 1, the aligning of the end cap 11 with the housing 12, and the pressing of the end cap 11 onto the housing 12 with a high degree of automation and a high production efficiency, thereby effectively reducing the labor cost. Compared to conventional manual operations, the automated production and processing of this mechanism has a better effect, since it effectively improves the sealing effect of the finished end cap 11 and effectively ensures the consistency of the product. Moreover, by stepwise transfer of the conveyor belt 2, multi-station and multi-function parallel processing can be achieved, thereby further improving the production efficiency of the mechanism.It is to be understood that in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the battery 1 is a cylindrical battery, the conveyor belt 2 of the mechanism is a looped return conveyor line, and the holders 3 are uniformly distributed along the return conveyor line. In the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 2, the battery 1 is charged on the holder 3 located in front of the bending device 4. The holder 3 is a jaw, and a part of the housing 12 extending from the side of the tab 13 protrudes out of the jaw. When the battery 1 moves toward the bending device 4 with the conveyor belt 2, the state of the battery 1 is such that the first side of the end cap 11 is horizontal and faces upward. The bending device 4 comprises a first support 41, a first press assembly 42, a second press assembly 43, and a tab bending assembly 44. The first press assembly 42 and the second press assembly 43 are both arranged on the first support 41 and are respectively located on the upper and lower sides of the tab 13. The contact position between the first press assembly 42 or the second press assembly 43 and the tab 13 is a bending position. The tab flexure assembly 44 is disposed on the first support 41. The tab flexure assembly 44 is used to press the end cap 11 so that the tab 13 is flexed 90° about the flexure position, i.e., the tab 13 is flexed into two parts that are angled towards each other. The tab flexure assembly 44 effectively provides the flexing effect of the tab 13. the first press assembly 42 and the second press assembly 43 press against the tab 13, support and fix the tab 13, which promotes stable rotation of the driven end cap 11 about the pressing point of the tab 13 by the tab flexure assembly 44 and improves the stability of the end cap 11 during folding.More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tab flexure assembly 44 includes a first drive member 441 and a push rod 442. The first driving member 441 is inclined on the first support 41, and the first driving member 441 is inclined from top to bottom and toward the conveyor belt 2. The first driving member 441 drives the push rod 442 to move obliquely downward, so that the push rod 442 presses the end cap 11 downward and rotates around the bending position. The first press assembly 42 comprises a second drive element 421 and a first press block 422. The second driving member 421 is disposed on the first support 41 and is in gear connection with the first press block 422 to drive the first press block 422 to press it against the tab 13. The first press block 422 has a first limiting surface 423 for limiting the rotation of the end cap 1. the first limiting surface 423 is disposed at an angle to the end surface of the first press block 422 facing the tab 13. The second pressing assembly 43 includes a third driving member 431 and a first support block 432. The third driving member 431 is disposed on the first support 41, and the third driving member 431 is in a transmission connection with the first support block 432 to drive the first support block 432 against the tab 13. The first support block 432 has a second limiting surface 433 for limiting the rotation of the end cap 11, the second limiting surface 433 being arranged at an angle to the end surface of the first support block 432 which faces the tab 13.In an embodiment, the first limiting surface 423 is perpendicular to the end surface of the first pressing block 422 facing the tab 13, and the second limiting surface 433 is perpendicular to the end surface of the first supporting block 432 facing the tab 13. In this manner, when the first driving member 441 drives the push rod 442 to push the end cap 11 to rotate it downward about the bending position, the rotation angle of the end cap 11 is restricted until the end cap 11 is pressed against the second restricting surface 433. At this time, the first side of the end cap 11 is parallel to the open side of the housing 12, thereby improving the folding accuracy of the end cap 11. Of course, the first boundary surface 423 may not be parallel to the open side of the housing 12 as long as the first pressing block 422 can be pressed against the top of the tab 13.In other embodiments, when the battery 1 is charged and the first side of the end cap 11 faces upward, the first driving member 441 is inclined from below upward toward the conveyor belt 2, and the first driving member 441 drives the push rod 442 to move obliquely upward, so that the push rod 442 drives the end cap 11 to rotate upward about the bending position. The first limiting surface 423 is parallel to the open side of the housing 12 and the second limiting surface 433 may not be parallel to the open side of the housing 12, it merely being necessary to ensure that the first support block 432 can be pressed against the underside of the tab 13 under the action of the third drive element 431.In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the tab flexure assembly 44 further includes a first mounting block 443; the first mounting block 443 is disposed at the driving end of the first driving member 441, and the push rod 442 is rotatably connected to the first mounting block 443, which facilitates reducing friction between the push rod 442 and the end cap 11 when the push rod 442 pushes the end cap 11, thereby reducing wear of the end cap 11 and improving the quality of production of the battery 1.In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 5, the cell cover mechanism includes remote positioning devices 7 to prevent the housing 12 from translating or rotating when the tab 13 is bent, the end cap 11 aligned, and the end cap 11 pressed against the housing 12. The positioning device 7 is used for clamping the housing 12. The positioning device 7 is arranged between the conveyor belt 2 and the bending device 4, between the conveyor belt 2 and the alignment device 5, and between the conveyor belt 2 and the covering device 6. The positioning device 7 is arranged to restrict the position and angle of the housing 12 and thereby improve the accuracy in closing the battery 1.Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the positioning device 7 includes a second support 71, a first positioning assembly 72, and a second positioning assembly 73; the first positioning assembly 72 and the second positioning assembly 73 are disposed on the upper and lower sides of the housing 12; the first positioning assembly 72 includes a fourth driving member 721 and a second pressing block 722; the fourth driving member 721 is disposed on the second support 71, and the fourth driving member 721 is in gear connection with the second pressing block 722 to drive the second pressing block 722 to press the second pressing block 722 against the housing 12. The second positioning assembly 73 includes a fifth driving member 731 and a second support block 732; wherein the fifth driving member 731 is disposed on the second support block 71, and the fifth driving member 731 is in gear connection with the second support block 732 to drive the second support block 732 to press against a side of the housing 12 remote from the second press block 722. By delimiting the opposite sides of the housing 12 by the second pressing block 722 and the second supporting block 732, the housing 12 can maintain a relatively stable position and angle, thereby improving the accuracy of penetration of the end cap 11 into the housing 12.In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, the alignment device 5 includes a sixth drive member 51 and a first jaw 52; wherein the first jaw 52 is used to grip the end cap 11 and the sixth drive member 51 is in gear communication with the first jaw 52 to drive the central axis of the first jaw 52 to be aligned with the central axis of the housing 12 to align the end cap 11 with the housing 12. That is, the housing 12 is provided with a receiving groove for receiving the jellyroll. The first jaw 52 engages the circumferential side wall of the end cap 11, and the end cap 11 is driven by the sixth driving member 51 to face the notch of the receiving groove. In this embodiment, the sixth driving member 51 is a triaxial module, i.e., the first jaw 52 is driven by the sixth driving member 51 to move upward so that the central axis of the end cap 11 coincides with the central axis of the housing 12. Preferably, the sixth drive member 51, as permitted by the timing node, can move the first jaw 52, i.e., the end cap 11, toward the housing 12. That is, the sixth driving member 51 can move the first jaw 52 and the end cap 11 obliquely upward so that the end cap 11 approaches and faces the notch of the receiving groove, and the time for aligning the end cap 11 with the central axis of the housing 12, i.e., the time for moving the end cap 11 toward the housing 12, is integrated, thereby effectively improving the closing efficiency of the battery 1.In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the cover device 6 includes a seventh drive member 61 and a second jaw 62. the second jaw 62 is used to clamp the end cap 11. The seventh drive member 61 is in gear communication with the second jaw 62 to drive the second jaw 62 to move toward the housing 12 and to urge the end cap 11 against the housing 12. In this embodiment, the end cap 11 includes a body and a connecting portion protruding toward the housing 12 side; the second jaw 62 engages the outer circumferential side of the body and the seventh driving member 61 drives the movement of the second jaw 62 to cause the connecting portion to be inserted into the housing 12, i.e., the connecting portion abuts against the groove wall of the receiving groove and the body abuts against the notch of the receiving groove.In one embodiment, the covering device 6 further comprises a slide unit disposed on the second jaw 62 for pushing the end cap 11 against the housing 12. in particular, the second jaw 62 comprises an eighth driving member 621 and at least two clamping plates 622; wherein the eighth driving member 621 is capable of driving all the clamping plates 622 to move them closer to each other or further away from each other to clamp or release the end cap 11; all the clamping plates 622 enclose to form a clamping groove; the slide unit comprises a ninth driving member and a push rod (wherein the ninth driving member and the push rod are hidden by the clamping plates 622 and not shown in the figure). The ninth driving member is disposed on the eighth driving member 621 and is located in the clamping groove. The ninth drive member is in gear connection with the push rod to drive the push rod to expand so that the end cap 11 is pushed out of the clamping groove and presses against the housing 12, thereby ensuring a strong connection between the end cap 11 and the housing 12 and effectively ensuring a tight seal between the end cap 11 and the housing 12.Note that the first driving member 441, the second driving member 421, the third driving member 431, the fourth driving member 721, the fifth driving member 731, the eighth driving member 621, and the ninth driving member may all be directly driven by a linear cylinder. Of course, a linear motor module may be used instead to further ensure accuracy. In this embodiment, the sixth driving member 51 is a three-axis module and the seventh driving member 61 is a two-axis module, but of course, a robot may be used for driving.

Claims

A cell cover mechanism, characterized in that it is for pressing an end cap (11) of a battery (1) onto a housing (12) of the battery (1); wherein a first side of the end cap (11) is connected to a cell of the battery (1) via a tab (13); the cell cover mechanism comprises: a conveyor belt (2); wherein the conveyor belt (2) is used to convey a support (3) and the support (3) is used to support the battery (1); a bending device (4); wherein the bending device (4) is spaced on one side of the conveyor belt (2) and the bending device (4) is used to bend the tab (13) such that the end cap (11) rotates about the first side to be parallel to the open side of the housing (12); an alignment device (5); wherein the aligning device (5) is arranged along a conveying direction of the conveyor belt (2) at intervals on one side of the bending device (4) and the aligning device (5) is used to align the end cap (11) with the housing (12); and a covering device (6); wherein the covering device (6) is arranged along the conveying direction of the conveyor belt (2) at intervals on one side of the aligning device (5) away from the bending device (4) and the covering device (6) is used to press the end cap (11) onto the housing (12).The cell covering mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the bending device (4) comprises a first support (41), a first press assembly (42), a second press assembly (43), and a tab bending assembly (44); the first press assembly (42) and the second press assembly (43) are both disposed on the first support (41) and are located on the upper and lower sides of the tab (13), respectively; the first press assembly (42) and the second press assembly (43) are used to press against the upper and lower sides of the tab (13), respectively; a contact position between the first press assembly (42) and the second press assembly (43), respectively, and the tab (13) is a bending position; the tab bending assembly (44) is disposed on the first support (41), and the tab bending assembly (44) is used to press the end cap (11) so that the tab (13) is bent 90° about the bending position.The cell covering mechanism of claim 2, wherein the tab flexure assembly (44) comprises a first drive member (441) and a push rod (442); the first drive member (441) is disposed inclined on the first support (41), and the first drive member (441) is inclined from top to bottom and toward the conveyor belt (2); the first drive member (441) is used to drive the push rod (442) to move obliquely downward such that the push rod (442) pushes the end cap (11) downward and rotates about the flexure position; or the first drive member (441) is inclined from bottom to top and toward the conveyor belt (2); the first driving member (441) is used to drive the push rod (442) to move obliquely upward so that the push rod (442) pushes the end cap (11) upward and rotates about the bending position.The cell covering mechanism of claim 3, wherein the tab flexure assembly (44) further comprises a first mounting block (443); the first mounting block (443) is disposed at the driving end of the first driving member (441); and the push rod (442) is rotatably connected to the first mounting block (443).The cell covering mechanism of claim 2, wherein the first press assembly (42) comprises a second drive member (421) and a first press block (422); the second drive member (421) is disposed on the first support (41) and is in gear communication with the first press block (422) to drive the first press block (422) to press against the tab (13); wherein the first press block (422) has a first limiting surface (423) for limiting rotation of the end cap (11); the first limiting surface (423) is disposed at an angle to the end surface of the first press block (422) facing the tab (13); and / or the second press assembly (43) comprises a third drive member (431) and a first support block (432); the third driving member (431) is disposed on the first support (41), and the third driving member (431) is in gear connection with the first support block (432) to drive the first support block (432) to press it against the tab (13); wherein the first support block (432) has a second limiting surface (433) for limiting rotation of the end cap (11); the second limiting surface (433) is disposed at an angle to the end surface of the first support block (432) facing the tab (13).The cell covering mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cell covering mechanism further comprises a positioning device (7) used for clamping the housing (12); the positioning device (7) is arranged between the conveyor belt (2) and the bending device (4); and / or the positioning device (7) is arranged between the conveyor belt (2) and the aligning device (5); and / or the positioning device (7) is arranged between the conveyor belt (2) and the covering device (6).The cell covering mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the positioning device (7) comprises a second support (71), a first positioning assembly (72), and a second positioning assembly (73); the first positioning assembly (72) and the second positioning assembly (73) are disposed on the upper and lower sides of the housing (12); the first positioning assembly (72) comprises a fourth driving member (721) and a second press block (722); the fourth driving member (721) is disposed on the second support (71), and the fourth driving member (721) is in gear connection with the second press block (722) to drive the second press block (722) to press it against the housing (12); wherein the second positioning assembly (73) comprises a fifth driving member (731) and a second support block (732); the fifth driving member (731) is disposed on the second support block (732), and the fifth driving member (731) is in a gear connection with the second support block (732) to drive the second support block (732) to press against a side of the housing (12) remote from the second press block (722).The cell covering mechanism of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the alignment device (5) comprises a sixth drive member (51) and a first jaw (52); the first jaw (52) is used to grip the end cap (11); and the sixth drive member (51) is in gear communication with the first jaw (52) to drive a central axis of the first jaw (52) to be aligned with a central axis of the housing (12) to align the end cap (11) with the housing (12).The cell covering mechanism of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the covering device (6) comprises a seventh drive member (61) and a second jaw (62); the second jaw (62) is used to clamp the end cap (11); the seventh drive member (61) is in gear communication with the second jaw (62) to drive the second jaw (62) to move toward the housing (12) and to urge the end cap (11) against the housing (12).The cell covering mechanism of claim 9, wherein the covering device (6) further comprises a pusher unit disposed on the second jaw (62) for pushing the end cap (11) against the housing (12).

Images