Stacking device

Abstract

Stacking device, comprising: a support frame; a stacking platform provided on the support frame, wherein the stacking platform comprises a stacking station extending along a first direction parallel to a horizontal direction, the stacking station being configured to place an electrode, the electrode comprising an electrode body and a contact flag connected to one side of the electrode body along the first direction; a press arrangement provided on the support frame, wherein the press arrangement comprises a press cutting tool group, the press cutting tool group comprising at least two movable press cutting tools, the press cutting tools of the press cutting tool group being provided on opposite sides of the stacking station along a second direction, the press cutting tools being configured to contact the electrode body to limit the position of the electrode, the second direction being parallel to the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the first direction.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED REGISTRATIONS

[0001] The present application is based on Chinese patent application No. 202321386600.7, filed on May 31, 2023, entitled “Stacking apparatus”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, and claims priority therefrom. AREA OF TECHNOLOGY

[0002] The present invention relates to the technical field of stacking devices, in particular a stacking device. BACKGROUND

[0003] The production of lithium-ion batteries is primarily divided into two processes: winding and stacking. Compared to winding, stacking produces cells with higher energy density and better quality. The stacking process is the most important step in the stacking production process. In this process, the electrodes are stacked on a stacking device, and a press-cutting tool is used to secure the stacked electrodes.

[0004] In related technologies, the press-cutting tool is located on the side of the electrode bearing the contact tab. Because the contact tabs are small and thin, they can become wavy and twisted during the production process. During operation, it is quite possible for the press-cutting tool to scratch the contact tabs, which severely impacts the quality of a jelly roll pack and can even damage the electrodes. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present application aims to address at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, one object of the present application is to provide a stacking device that changes the mounting position of the press-cutting tool on the electrodes. The electrodes are secured by contact between the press-cutting tool and the electrode body (the side of the electrode body without contact tabs), which prevents the press-cutting tool from scratching the contact tabs of the electrodes during operation, thereby improving product quality.

[0006] A stacking device according to an embodiment of the present application comprises the following: a support frame; a stacking platform provided on the support frame, wherein the stacking platform comprises a stacking station extending along a first direction parallel to a horizontal direction, wherein the stacking station is configured to place an electrode, the electrode comprising an electrode body and a contact flag connected to one side of the electrode body along the first direction;and a press arrangement provided on the support frame, wherein the press arrangement comprises a press cutting tool group, the cutting tool group comprising at least two movable press cutting tools, the press cutting tools of the press cutting tool group being provided on opposite sides of the stacking station along a second direction, the press cutting tools being configured to contact the electrode body to limit the position of the electrode, the second direction being parallel to the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the first direction.

[0007] With the stacking device according to the embodiment of the present invention and by providing the press-cutting tools on opposite sides of the stacking station along the second direction and by configuring the press-cutting tools in such a way that they contact the electrode body to limit the position of the electrode, the mounting position of the press-cutting tools relative to the electrode is on the side of the electrode body without the contact tab, thereby preventing the press-cutting tools from scratching the contact tab of the electrode during operation, thus improving product quality.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present application, the press cutting tool group comprises two press cutting tools, and the two press cutting tools of the press cutting tool group are located on opposite sides of the stacking station along the second direction, and the two press cutting tools of the press cutting tool group are offset in the second direction.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present application, the two press cutting tools of the press cutting tool group are located on opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline of the stacking station along the first direction, and the longitudinal centerline is located in the middle of the stacking station along the first direction and extends along the second direction.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present application, the stacking device comprises the following: a press cutting tool control mechanism for controlling the movement of the press cutting tools, wherein the press cutting tool control mechanism is configured to control the press cutting tools to move along the first direction, the second direction and an up-and-down direction.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present application, the die-cutting tool control mechanism comprises the following: a die-cutting tool setting mechanism, a die-cutting tool parallel movement mechanism, and a die-cutting tool vertical movement mechanism. The die-cutting tool setting mechanism is configured to adjust the position of the die-cutting tools relative to the stacking station in the first direction. The die-cutting tool parallel movement mechanism is configured to drive the die-cutting tools to move along the second direction, moving the die-cutting tools away from or toward the stacking station. The die-cutting tool vertical movement mechanism is configured to control the die-cutting tools to move along the up-and-down direction, pressing on or releasing the electrode at the stacking station.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present application, the die-cutting tool positioning mechanism comprises a die-cutting tool positioning plate and a locking element. The die-cutting tool positioning plate is provided with a first slide rail extending along the first direction. The die-cutting tools are provided on the die-cutting tool positioning plate and are slidably engaged with the first slide rail. When the die-cutting tools are provided in a preset position along the first direction, the locking element is configured to lock and secure the die-cutting tools relative to the die-cutting tool positioning plate. The stacking device further comprises a mounting frame, and the die-cutting tool parallel movement mechanism is provided on the mounting frame.The output end of the die-cutting tool parallel movement mechanism is connected to the die-cutting tool position adjustment plate to drive the die-cutting tool position adjustment plate to move along the second direction. The output end of the die-cutting tool vertical movement mechanism is connected to the mounting frame to drive the mounting frame to move in the up-and-down direction.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present application, the stacking device comprises two stacking stations arranged along the second direction. Two press-cutting tool groups are provided, and each of the two press-cutting tool groups corresponds to two stacking stations. Each press-cutting tool group is configured to limit the position of the electrode of the corresponding stacking station.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present application, each press-cutting tool group comprises two press-cutting tools, and the two press-cutting tools of the press-cutting tool group are located on opposite sides of the stacking station along the second direction. During the stacking process, the two press-cutting tools in each press-cutting tool group are configured to alternately attach a jelly roll pack and a newly stacked electrode. The jelly roll pack consists of a plurality of electrodes that have already been stacked.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present application, the two die-cutting tools in each die-cutting tool group are a first die-cutting tool and a second die-cutting tool, respectively. The die-cutting arrangement comprises two die-cutting tool control mechanisms. One of the two die-cutting tool control mechanisms is configured to control the first die-cutting tool in the two die-cutting tool groups, and the other is configured to control the second die-cutting tool in the two die-cutting tool groups.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the present application, the stacking platform is height-adjustable relative to the support frame. The stacking device includes a lifting mechanism for driving the stacking platform so that it is raised and lowered. The lifting mechanism is provided on the support frame and connected to the underside of the stacking platform. The two press-cutting tool control mechanisms are located on opposite sides of the lifting mechanism along the first direction.

[0017] Further aspects and advantages of the present application are partly set out in the following description and partly become apparent from the description or can be experienced through practical application of the disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The foregoing and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present application will become obvious and easily understandable from the description of the embodiments, considered together with the following drawings, in which: Fig. 1 a stacking device according to some embodiments of the present application; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Fig. 1 is; Fig. 3 a top view of the stacking device Fig. 1 is; Fig. 4 is a view of the stacking device in Fig. It's number 1 from the left. Reference symbol:

[0019] 100. Stacking device; 10. Support frame; 11. Mounting frame; 20. Stacking platform; 2. stacking station; 30. Press assembly; 3. Press cutting tool group; 31. Press cutting tool; 311. First die-cutting tool; 312. Second die-cutting tool; 4. Die-cutting tool control mechanism; 41. Die-cutting tool adjusting mechanism; 411. Die-cutting tool position adjusting plate; 412. First slide rail; 42. Die-cutting tool parallel movement mechanism; 421. First motor; 422. First ball screw; 423. First spindle connection seat; 424. Second slide rail; 43. Die-cutting tool vertical movement mechanism; 431. Second motor; 432. Second ball screw; 433. Second spindle connection seat; 434. Third slide rail; 44. Die-cutting tool pressure adjusting mechanism. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXECUTION FORMS

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

[0021] A stacking device 100 according to an embodiment of the present application is described below with reference to the Fig. 1 to 4 described.

[0022] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the stacking device 100 according to the embodiment of the present application comprises the following: a support frame 10, a stacking platform 20 and a press arrangement 30.

[0023] The stacking platform 20 is provided on the support frame 10. The stacking platform 20 includes a stacking station 2 extending along a first direction (e.g., referring to direction e1 in the drawings). The first direction is parallel to the horizontal direction. The stacking station 2 is configured to place electrodes, and each electrode comprises an electrode body and a contact tab connected to one side of the electrode body along the first direction. The electrodes can be continuously stacked at the stacking station 2. When the number of electrodes at the stacking station 2 reaches a preset quantity, the stacking station 2 is moved to the next process. During the stacking process, two stacking stations 2 are provided at the stacking platform 20 to stack the electrodes simultaneously, with the same number of electrodes and at the same stacking speed.

[0024] The press assembly 30 is provided on the support frame 10. The press assembly 30 secures the electrodes to the stacking platform 20, preventing positional displacement of the electrodes during the stacking process. This ensures the smooth progress of the next process and guarantees overall quality after stacking a large number of electrodes. The press assembly 30 includes a press-cutting tool group 3, and the press-cutting tool group 3 comprises at least two movable press-cutting tools 31. For example, the press-cutting tool group 3 may comprise two movable press-cutting tools 31, or the press-cutting tool group 3 may comprise a plurality of movable press-cutting tools 31. The press-cutting tools 31 of the press-cutting tool group 3 are arranged on opposite sides of the stacking station 2 along a second direction (e.g., with reference to direction e2 in the drawings).The press-cutting tools 31 are configured to contact the electrode body to limit the position of the electrodes. The second direction is parallel to the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the first direction. The press-cutting tools 31 in the press-cutting tool group 3 can fix and limit the position of the lower electrodes by applying downward pressure, which prevents positional displacement of the electrodes at the stacking station 2 during the stacking process and ensures the normal progress of the next process.

[0025] Since the electrode contact tabs are relatively thin, they tend to curl or twist during production. When the electrodes are at stacking station 2, the position of a portion of the contact tabs may be higher than the horizontal plane of the electrode body. If the press-cutting tools 31 are located on the electrode body side with the contact tabs, their movement will cause a collision or friction with the portion of the contact tabs that is higher than the electrode body, potentially damaging the contact tabs and affecting product quality. Furthermore, the relatively large thickness of the electrode body results in a lower tendency to deform during production, thus ensuring that all parts of the electrode body are on the same horizontal plane at stacking station 2.Consequently, during the movement of the press cutting tools 31, there is no collision or friction between the press cutting tools 31 and the electrode body.

[0026] Consequently, the contact tabs are connected to one side of the electrode body along the first direction, and the press-cutting tools 31 are positioned on opposite sides of the stacking station 2 along the second direction. When the press-cutting tools 31 contact the electrode body and limit its position, the point of action of the pressure exerted on the electrode body by the press-cutting tools 31 is on opposite sides of the electrode body along the second direction. This position of action of the press-cutting tools 31 allows the side of the electrode body on which the contact tabs are located to be avoided, thus eliminating the risk of the press-cutting tools 31 scratching the contact tabs during operation, which improves product quality.

[0027] Furthermore, positioning the press-cutting tool 31 on opposite sides of the stacking station 2 along the second direction allows a wider range of electrode lengths to be placed on the stacking station 2. This makes the stacking device 100 suitable for a wider range of electrode lengths, thus improving overall compatibility.

[0028] With the stacking device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention and by providing the press-cutting tools 31 on the opposite sides of the stacking station 2 along the second direction and by configuring the press-cutting tools 31 in such a way that they contact the electrode body to limit the position of the electrode, the fixing position of the electrodes by the press-cutting tools 31 is on the side of the electrode body where the contact tabs are not provided, thereby preventing the press-cutting tools 31 from scratching the contact tabs of the electrodes during operation, which improves the product quality.

[0029] According to some embodiments of the present application, referring to Fig. In section 3, the press-cutting tool group 3 comprises two press-cutting tools 31. The two press-cutting tools 31 of the press-cutting tool group 3 are located on opposite sides of the stacking station 2 along the second direction, and the two press-cutting tools 31 of the press-cutting tool group 3 are offset in the second direction. The two press-cutting tools 31 work together to secure the electrodes to the stacking station 2, which can improve the stability of the electrodes at the stacking station 2 and prevent positional displacement. Furthermore, the two press-cutting tools 31 are located on opposite sides of the stacking station 2 along the second direction and are offset in the second direction, which can lead to a greater uniformity of force on the electrodes at the stacking station 2, thereby making the electrodes at the stacking station 2 more stable.

[0030] According to some embodiments of the present application, referring to Fig. In section 3, the two press-cutting tools 31 of the press-cutting tool group 3 are located on both sides of the longitudinal centerline of the stacking station 2 along the first direction. The longitudinal centerline is located in the middle of the stacking station 2 along the first direction and extends along the second direction. This arrangement allows for a more even distribution of force on the electrodes of the stacking station 2, thereby improving the stability of the electrodes at the stacking station 2 and ensuring the clamping effect of the press-cutting tool group 3. Furthermore, it facilitates the clamping of longer electrodes by the press-cutting tool group 3, thus ensuring the clamping effect of the press-cutting tool group 3 on electrodes of varying lengths.

[0031] According to some embodiments of the present application, referring to the Fig. 1 to 2 and 4, the stacking device 100 comprises a press-cutting tool control mechanism 4 for controlling the movement of the press-cutting tool 31. The press-cutting tool control mechanism 4 is configured to control the movement of the press-cutting tools 31 along the first direction, the second direction, and an up-and-down direction. By controlling the movement of the press-cutting tool 31, the press-cutting tool control mechanism 4 can adjust the position of the press-cutting tools 31 relative to the stacking station 2 and can also achieve the attachment and separation of the electrodes at the stacking station 2 by the press-cutting tools 31.

[0032] According to some embodiments of the present application, referring to the Fig. 1 to 2 and 4, the press-cutting tool control mechanism 4 comprises the following: a press-cutting tool adjustment mechanism 41, a press-cutting tool parallel movement mechanism 42, and a press-cutting tool vertical movement mechanism 43. The press-cutting tool adjustment mechanism 41 is configured to adjust the position of the press-cutting tools 31 relative to the stacking station 2 in the first direction. Before the stacking process, the pressure adjustment mechanism can adjust the position of the press-cutting tool 31 relative to the stacking station 2 in the first direction according to the size of the electrodes at the stacking station 2 in the first direction, to ensure that the press-cutting tools 31 exert a good fastening effect on the electrodes and improve the stability of the electrodes during the stacking process.

[0033] The parallel movement mechanism 42 of the cutting tool is configured to drive the cutting tools 31 to move along the second direction, moving them away from or closer to the stacking station 2. The vertical movement mechanism 43 is configured to control the cutting tools 31 to move up and down, pressing on or releasing the electrodes at the stacking station 2. During the stacking process, the parallel movement mechanism 42 and the vertical movement mechanism 43, which are linked together, achieve the fastening and separation of the electrodes by the cutting tool parallel movement mechanism 42 and the cutting tool vertical movement mechanism 43.

[0034] If it is necessary for the press-cutting tools 31 to secure the electrodes, the press-cutting tools 31 can first be moved along the second direction by the parallel movement mechanism 42, which brings the press-cutting tools 31 closer to the electrodes at the stacking station 2. Then, the press-cutting tools 31 are moved downwards by the press-cutting tool vertical movement mechanism 43, pressing the electrodes onto the stacking station 2 to secure them. If it is necessary to separate the press-cutting tools 31 from the electrodes, the press-cutting tools 31 can first be moved upwards by the press-cutting tool vertical movement mechanism 43, thereby releasing the electrodes at the stacking station 2.Then the press cutting tools 31 are moved along the second direction by the press cutting tool parallel movement mechanism 42, thereby moving the press cutting tools 31 away from the electrodes at the stacking station 2, thus separating the press cutting tools 31 from the electrodes.

[0035] According to some embodiments of the present application, referring to the Fig. 1 to 4, the press cutting tool setting mechanism 41 comprises a press cutting tool position setting plate 411 and a locking element. The press cutting tool position setting plate 411 is provided with a first slide rail 412 extending along the first direction. The press cutting tools 31 are provided on the press cutting tool position setting plate 411 and are slidably engaged with the first slide rail 412. The first slide rail 412 guides the press cutting tools 31, thereby allowing the press cutting tools 31 to move along the first direction.When the press-cutting tools 31 are set to a preset position along the first direction, the locking element locks the press-cutting tools 31 relative to the press-cutting tool position setting plate 411, thus preventing the press-cutting tools 31 from moving relative to the press-cutting tool position setting plate 411 during the stacking process. This secures the movement path of the press-cutting tools 31 during the stacking process and guarantees the fastening effect of the press-cutting tools 31 to the electrodes.

[0036] Prior to the stacking process, the press-cutting tools 31 can be moved in the first direction according to the size of the electrodes, allowing them to slide relative to the first guide rail 412. This sets the position of the press-cutting tools 31 in the first direction, ensuring effective attachment of the press-cutting tools 31 to electrodes of different sizes. Once the press-cutting tools 31 are set to a suitable position, they can be locked relative to the press-cutting tool position adjustment plate 411 using the locking element. This prevents the press-cutting tools 31 from moving relative to the press-cutting tool position adjustment plate 411 during the stacking process, thus ensuring the correct movement path of the press-cutting tool position during the stacking process.

[0037] The locking element can, for example, be a fastener, and the locking element can extend through the die-cutting tools 31 and the die-cutting tool position adjustment plate 411 to lock the die-cutting tools 31 relative to the plate 411. If movement of the die-cutting tools 31 relative to the plate 411 is required, the locking element can be removed before moving the die-cutting tools 31.

[0038] The stacking device 100 further comprises a mounting frame 11. The press-cutting tool parallel movement mechanism 42 is provided on the mounting frame 11, and the mounting frame 11 can support and secure the press-cutting tool parallel movement mechanism 42. The output end of the press-cutting tool parallel movement mechanism 42 is connected to the press-cutting tool position adjustment plate 411 to drive the press-cutting tool position adjustment plate 411 so that it moves along the second direction. When the press-cutting tool parallel movement mechanism 42 is operating, the output end of the press-cutting tool parallel movement mechanism 42 drives the press-cutting tool position adjustment plate 411 so that it moves along the second direction.The press cutting tool position adjustment plate 411 in turn drives the press cutting tools 31 so that they move along the second direction, causing the press cutting tools 31 to move away from or closer to the stacking station 2.

[0039] The output end of the die-cutting tool vertical movement mechanism 43 is connected to the mounting frame 11 to drive the mounting frame 11 in an up-and-down direction. When the die-cutting tool vertical movement mechanism 43 is operating, its output end can drive the mounting frame 11 as a whole in an up-and-down direction. The mounting frame 11 will drive the die-cutting tool parallel movement mechanism 42 in an up-and-down direction. The die-cutting tool parallel movement mechanism 42 will drive the die-cutting tool position adjustment plate 411 in a direction of movement.The press cutting tool position adjustment plate 411 will drive the press cutting tools 31 so that they move in the up-and-down direction, so that the press cutting tools 31 press onto or release the electrodes at the stacking station 2.

[0040] Specifically, the press-cutting tool parallel movement mechanism 42 can comprise a first motor 421, a first ball screw 422, a first screw connection seat 423, and a second slide rail 424. The first motor 421 of the press-cutting tool parallel movement mechanism 42 is attached to the mounting frame 11. The output shaft of the first motor 421 is connected to the first ball screw 422, and the first ball screw 422 extends in the second direction. The first ball screw 422 is connected to the first screw connection seat 423, and the first screw connection seat 423 is mounted relative to the press-cutting tool position adjustment plate 411. The press-cutting tool position adjustment plate 411 is slidably engaged with the second slide rail 424, and the second slide rail 424 extends in the second direction.The second slide rail 424 can guide the press cutting tool position adjustment plate 411.

[0041] When the first motor 421 is operating, its output shaft drives the first ball screw, causing it to rotate. The rotation of the ball screw is transferred to the motion of the first spindle connection seat 423. The first spindle connection seat 423 then drives the press tool position adjustment plate 411, causing it to slide along the second slide rail 424. This, in turn, drives the press tools 31 to move in the second direction, causing them to move away from or towards the stacking station 2.

[0042] The vertical motion mechanism 43 for the press cutting tool can comprise a second motor 431, a second ball screw 432, a second screw connection seat 433, and a third slide rail 434. The second motor 431 of the vertical motion mechanism 43 for the press cutting tool is attached to the support frame 10. The output shaft of the second motor 431 is connected to the second ball screw 432, and the second ball screw 432 extends along the up-and-down direction. The second ball screw 432 is connected to the second screw connection seat 433, and the second screw connection seat 433 is mounted relative to the mounting frame 11. The mounting frame 11 and the third slide rail 434 are slidably engaged. The third slide rail 434 extends along the up-and-down direction, and the third slide rail 434 guides the mounting frame 11.

[0043] When the second motor 431 is operating, its output shaft drives the second ball screw, causing it to rotate. The rotation of the second ball screw is converted into the movement of the second spindle connection seat 433. The second spindle connection seat 433 drives the mounting frame 11, causing it to slide along the third slide rail 434. The mounting frame 11 drives the press-cutting tool parallel movement mechanism 42, causing it to move as a whole in the up-and-down direction.The press cutting tool parallel movement mechanism 42 drives the press cutting tool position adjustment plate 411 to move along the up-and-down direction, causing the press cutting tool position adjustment plate 411 to move the press cutting tools 31 along the up-and-down direction, thereby causing the press cutting tools 31 to press on or release the electrodes at the stacking station 2.

[0044] The press assembly 30 can, for example, include a press-cutting tool pressure adjustment mechanism 44. The press-cutting tool pressure adjustment mechanism 44 is configured to adjust the pressure of the press-cutting tools 31 on the electrodes at the stacking station 2, thereby ensuring the effective fastening of the press-cutting tools 31 to the electrodes and improving the stability of the electrodes. The press-cutting tool pressure adjustment mechanism 44 can, for example, be a cylinder.

[0045] According to some embodiments of the present application, referring to Fig. 3, the stacking device 100 comprises two stacking stations 2 arranged in the second direction. Two press-cutting tool groups 3 are provided, each corresponding to one of the two stacking stations 2. Each of the press-cutting tool groups 3 is configured to limit the position of the electrodes at the corresponding stacking station 2. The press-cutting tools 31 of the press-cutting tool group 3 can fix and limit the position of the lower electrodes by applying downward pressure, thus preventing the electrodes at the stacking station 2 from changing their position during the stacking process and ensuring the normal operation of the next process.

[0046] The stacking platform 20 of the stacking device 100 is equipped with two stacking stations 2. Compared to the stacking device 100, which has multiple stacking stations 2, this simplifies the overall structure of the stacking device 100, facilitates replacement and maintenance of the entire structure, and improves overall maintenance efficiency. Furthermore, this reduces the overall size of the stacking device 100, allowing for flexible adaptation of its design to different stacking efficiency requirements.

[0047] If a stacking station 2 requires replacement due to improper electrode stacking, the complexity of the replacement logic increases with the number of stacking stations 2 in the stacking device 100, and the overall replacement time is longer. Furthermore, each stacking station 2 stops operation during the replacement process, reducing the overall machine efficiency by a factor equal to the number of stacking stations. The more stacking stations 2 the stacking device 100 has, the greater the reduction in overall efficiency. Consequently, providing two stacking stations 2 in the stacking device 100 simplifies the overall replacement logic, reduces the replacement time, and minimizes the reduction in overall machine efficiency during replacement compared to a stacking device 100 with a large number of stacking stations 2.

[0048] According to some embodiments of the present application, referring to Fig. 3, each press-cutting tool group 3 comprises two press-cutting tools 31, and the two press-cutting tools 31 of the press-cutting tool group 3 are located on opposite sides of the stacking station 2 along the second direction. The two press-cutting tools 31 work together to secure the electrodes to the stacking station 2, thereby improving the stability of the electrodes at the stacking station 2 and preventing displacement. Furthermore, the two press-cutting tools 31, located along the second direction on opposite sides of the stacking station 2, ensure a more uniform force distribution on the electrodes at the stacking station 2, thus making the electrodes at the stacking station 2 more stable.

[0049] During the stacking process, the two press-cutting tools 31 in each press-cutting tool group 3 are configured to alternately attach a jelly roll pack and the newly stacked electrodes. The jelly roll pack consists of a multitude of pre-stacked electrodes. This arrangement allows for a faster overall action of the press-cutting tool group 3 during the continuous stacking of electrodes, thereby increasing the overall stacking efficiency while ensuring the effective attachment of the press-cutting tool group 3 to the electrodes.

[0050] During the stacking process, one press-cutting tool 31 of the press-cutting tool group 3 maintains the attachment to the jelly roll pack, while the other press-cutting tool 31 can first be raised to disengage from the lower jelly roll pack and then move horizontally from the position directly above the lower jelly roll pack. After the newly stacked electrode is placed at the stacking station 2 so that it is above the original jelly roll pack, the press-cutting tool 31 first moves horizontally to position itself directly above the newly stacked electrode and then presses vertically downwards onto the newly stacked electrode.After the next electrode is passed, the pressing tool 31 continues to apply downward pressure to the jelly roll pack, and the other pressing tool 31 performs the same action to secure the newly stacked electrode, thus achieving the function of the two pressing tools 31 to alternately secure the jelly roll pack and the newly stacked electrode. When the number of stacked electrodes reaches a preset value, the two pressing tools 31 perform the same action sequentially, so that both pressing tools 31 are placed on the completed jelly roll pack, thereby jointly securing it to the finished jelly roll pack.

[0051] According to some embodiments of the present application, referring to the Fig. In sections 1 to 2 and 4, the two press cutting tools 31 in each press cutting tool group 3 are a first press cutting tool 311 and a second press cutting tool 312, respectively. The press arrangement 30 comprises two press cutting tool control mechanisms 4. One of the two press cutting tool control mechanisms 4 is configured to control the first press cutting tool 311 in the two press cutting tool groups 3, and the other press cutting tool control mechanism 4 is configured to control the second press cutting tool 312 in the two press cutting tool groups 3. The first press cutting tool 311 and the second press cutting tool 312 in each press cutting tool group 3 are controlled by different press cutting tool control mechanisms 4.When the first press-cutting tool 311 and the second press-cutting tool 312 alternately secure the jelly roll pack and the newly stacked electrode, the reaction time of the first press-cutting tool 311 and the second press-cutting tool 312 can be reduced, thereby improving the reaction speed of the first press-cutting tool 311 and the second press-cutting tool 312. This can improve overall stacking efficiency and also facilitate higher-speed stacking operations.

[0052] According to some embodiments of the present application, referring to the Fig.1 to 4, each press-cutting tool control mechanism 4 comprises a press-cutting tool adjustment mechanism 41, a press-cutting tool parallel movement mechanism 42, and a press-cutting tool vertical movement mechanism 43. The press-cutting tool adjustment mechanism 41 is configured to adjust the position of the press-cutting tools 31 relative to the stacking station 2 in the first direction. Prior to the stacking process, the press-cutting tool adjustment mechanism can adjust the position of the press-cutting tools 31 relative to the stacking station 2 in the first direction according to the size of the electrodes at the stacking station 2 in the first direction, to ensure that the press-cutting tools 31 exert a good fastening effect on the electrodes and improve the stability of the electrodes during the stacking process.

[0053] The parallel movement mechanism 42 of the press-cutting tools is configured to drive the press-cutting tools 31 to move along the second direction, moving them away from or closer to the stacking station 2. The vertical movement mechanism 43 of the press-cutting tools is configured to control the press-cutting tools 31 to move in the up-and-down direction, pressing on or releasing the electrodes at the stacking station 2.During the stacking process, both the first press cutting tool 311 and the second press cutting tool 312 attach and detach the electrodes via the press cutting tool parallel movement mechanism 42 and the press cutting tool vertical movement mechanism 43, which are interconnected, thus generally facilitating the first press cutting tool 311 and the second press cutting tool 312 to alternately attach the jelly roll pack and the newly stacked electrodes.

[0054] During the stacking process, the first cutting tool 311 holds the jelly roll pack securely. The second cutting tool 312 is first raised under the control of the cutting tool vertical movement mechanism 43, which extends from the lower jelly roll pack and releases the electrodes at the stacking station 2. Then, driven by the cutting tool parallel movement mechanism 42, the second cutting tool 312 moves away from the stacking station 2 in the second direction, moving from directly above the lower jelly roll pack. After the newly stacked electrode is placed on the stacking station 2 and positioned above the original jelly roll pack, the second cutting tool 312, driven by the cutting tool parallel movement mechanism 42, moves in the second direction towards the stacking station 2 and positions itself directly above the newly stacked electrode.Then, controlled by the vertical movement mechanism 43, the second press cutting tool 312 moves downwards until the second press cutting tool 312 presses the electrodes firmly onto the stacking station 2.

[0055] After the next electrode has been transported, the second press-cutting tool 312 holds the jelly roll pack in place. The first press-cutting tool 311 can first be raised under the control of the press-cutting tool vertical movement mechanism 43, which extends from the lower jelly roll pack and releases the electrodes at the stacking station 2. Then, driven by the press-cutting tool parallel movement mechanism 42, the first press-cutting tool 311 moves away from the stacking station 2 in the second direction, moving from directly above the lower jelly roll pack.After the newly stacked electrode is placed on stacking station 2 and positioned above the original jelly roll pack, the first press-cutting tool 311, driven by the press-cutting tool parallel movement mechanism 42, first moves in the second direction towards stacking station 2 and positions itself directly above the newly stacked electrode. Then, controlled by the press-cutting tool vertical movement mechanism 43, the first press-cutting tool 311 moves downwards until it firmly presses the electrodes onto stacking station 2.

[0056] Consequently, during the continuous stacking of electrodes at the stacking station 2, the first press cutting tool 311 and the second press cutting tool 312 alternately attach and detach the jelly roll pack and the newly stacked electrode via the press cutting tool parallel movement mechanism 42 and the press cutting tool vertical movement mechanism 43, which are interconnected, thereby improving the response speed of the first press cutting tool 311 and the second press cutting tool 312 and improving the overall stacking efficiency.

[0057] According to some embodiments of the present application, the stacking platform 20 is height-adjustable relative to the support frame 10. The stacking device 100 includes a lifting mechanism 40 (not shown in the drawings) for driving the stacking platform 20 so that it is raised and lowered. The lifting mechanism 40 is provided on the support frame 10 and connected to the underside of the stacking platform 20. The lifting mechanism 40 is configured to drive the stacking platform 20 so that it is raised and lowered, thereby achieving the overall height adjustment of the stacking platform 20. The output end of the lifting mechanism 40 can be connected to the underside of the stacking platform 20. When the lifting mechanism 40 is operating, it can control the raising and lowering of the stacking platform 20 through the output end, thereby changing the height of the stacking platform 20.

[0058] Two press-cutting tool control mechanisms 4 are located on opposite sides of the lifting mechanism 40 along the first direction. This arrangement allows the lifting mechanism 40 to be positioned close to the central position of the stacking station 2 along the first direction. During the lifting and lowering of the stacking platform 20, it ensures that both stacking stations 2 have the same flatness, thus preventing positional displacement of the electrodes on the stacking station 2 and ensuring electrode stability. Furthermore, this makes the overall structure of the stacking device 100 more compact and improves space utilization.

[0059] According to some embodiments of the present application, the stacking device 100 has a generally centrally symmetrical structure, which makes the overall structure of the stacking device 100 more compact and improves space utilization. Furthermore, it makes the mass distribution of the overall structure more uniform, thereby ensuring the stability of the stacking device 100 during operation.

[0060] According to some embodiments of the present application, the stacking platform 20 is height-adjustable relative to the support frame 10. The stacking device 100 includes a lifting mechanism 40 for driving the stacking platform 20 so that it is raised and lowered. The lifting mechanism 40 is located on the support frame 10 and is connected to the underside of the stacking platform 20. The lifting mechanism 40 is configured to drive the stacking platform 20 so that it is raised and lowered, thereby achieving the overall height adjustment of the stacking platform 20. The output end of the lifting mechanism 40 can be connected to the underside of the stacking platform 20. When the lifting mechanism 40 is operating, the stacking platform 20 can be controlled so that it is raised and lowered by the output end of the lifting mechanism 40, thereby changing the height of the stacking platform 20.

[0061] During the stacking process, the stacking platform 20 is controlled by the lifting mechanism 40 to maintain the same horizontal height for each newly stacked electrode at the stacking station 2. This allows an image acquisition unit to photograph and inspect each electrode at a fixed focal length, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the image acquisition unit. During the stacking process, the lifting mechanism 40 also lowers the stacking platform 20 for each newly stacked electrode at the stacking station 2, according to the thickness of the electrode, ensuring that the horizontal height of each newly stacked electrode at the stacking station 2 is the same. This allows the image acquisition unit to photograph and inspect each electrode at a fixed focal length, thus ensuring the clarity of the image acquisition unit.

[0062] According to some embodiments of the present application, the underside of the support frame 10 is provided with a movable base to allow the stacking device 100 to be movable. The two stacking stations 2 of the stacking device 100 are arranged along the second direction. The movable base can drive the support frame 10 so that it moves, thereby moving the stacking device 100 as a whole through the support frame 10. In this process, after the stacking device 100 has completed stacking, a plurality of stacking devices 100 move to the unloading position and are arranged sequentially in the second direction to align with the unloading equipment.After the stacking device 100 has completed stacking, the multiple stacking devices 100 move into the unloading position under the action of the movable base, where they are arranged sequentially along the second direction. The multiple stacking devices 100 then stop moving in the unloading position, thus facilitating combined unloading and ensuring compatibility with various unloading equipment. Once all unloading is complete, the multiple stacking devices 100 can return to their original positions along their original paths of movement, allowing for flexible arrangement of the multiple stacking devices 100.

[0063] According to some embodiments of the present application, the distance between two adjacent stacking stations 2 in the arrangement direction of the plurality of stacking devices 100 is the same. The term "two adjacent stacking stations 2" refers to two stacking stations 2 within the same stacking device 100, as well as two adjacent stacking stations 2 of two adjacent stacking devices 100 within the plurality of stacking devices 100 in the unloading position. The distance between a plurality of Jelly Roll Packs processed in the unloading equipment is the same. Consequently, since the distance between two adjacent stacking stations 2 is the same, it can be ensured that the distance between the Jelly Roll Packs at two adjacent stacking stations 2 is the same, thereby facilitating general conformity and compatibility with unloading equipment and simplifying the unloading process.

[0064] The distance between two adjacent stacking stations 2 ranges from 150-200 mm. A suitable distance can be selected based on different unloading equipment, which is useful for general consistency and compatibility with various unloading equipment and can improve the versatility of the stacking device 100. For example, the distance between two adjacent stacking stations 2 can be 150 mm, 175 mm, 200 mm, etc.

[0065] In this application, references to terms such as "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrated embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or properties described in connection with the embodiment or example in question that are included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this application, the illustrative terms used in the above application need not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, specific described features, structures, materials, or properties may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0066] Although embodiments of the present application have been shown and described, the person skilled in the art understands that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and nature of the present application, the scope of protection of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] CH 202321386600.7

[0001]

Claims

[1] Stacking device comprising: a support frame; a stacking platform provided on the support frame, wherein the stacking platform comprises a stacking station extending along a first direction parallel to a horizontal direction, the stacking station being configured to place an electrode, the electrode comprising an electrode body and a contact flag connected to one side of the electrode body along the first direction; a press arrangement provided on the support frame, wherein the press arrangement comprises a press cutting tool group, the press cutting tool group comprising at least two movable press cutting tools, the press cutting tools of the press cutting tool group being provided on opposite sides of the stacking station along a second direction, the press cutting tools being configured to contact the electrode body to limit the position of the electrode, the second direction being parallel to the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the first direction. [2] Stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the press cutting tool group comprises two press cutting tools and the two press cutting tools of the press cutting tool group are located on opposite sides of the stacking station along the second direction and the two press cutting tools of the press cutting tool group are offset in the second direction. [3] Stacking device according to claim 2, wherein the two press cutting tools of the press cutting tool group are located on opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline of the stacking station along the first direction and the longitudinal centerline is located in the middle of the stacking station along the first direction and extends along the second direction. [4] Stacking device according to one of claims 1-3, comprising: a press cutting tool control mechanism for controlling the movement of the press cutting tools, wherein the press cutting tool control mechanism is configured to control the press cutting tools to move along the first direction, the second direction and an up-and-down direction. [5] Stacking device according to claim 4, wherein the press cutting tool control mechanism comprises: a press cutting tool adjustment mechanism, a press cutting tool parallel movement mechanism and a press cutting tool vertical movement mechanism, wherein the press cutting tool adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust the position of the press cutting tools relative to the stacking station in the first direction, wherein the press cutting tool parallel movement mechanism is configured to drive the press cutting tools to move along the second direction to move the press cutting tools away from or towards the stacking station, and the press cutting tool vertical movement mechanism is configured to control the press cutting tools to move along the up-and-down direction to press on or release the electrode. [6] Stacking device according to claim 5, wherein the press cutting tool setting mechanism comprises a press cutting tool position setting plate and a locking element, wherein the press cutting tool position setting plate is provided with a slide rail extending along the first direction, wherein the press cutting tools are provided on the press cutting tool position setting plate and are slidably engaged with the first slide rail, and the locking element is configured to then, when the press cutting tools are set in a preset position along the first direction, to lock and secure the press cutting tools relative to the press cutting tool position setting plate; wherein the stacking device further comprises a mounting frame, wherein the press cutting tool parallel movement mechanism is provided on the mounting frame, and the output end of the press cutting tool parallel movement mechanism is connected to the press cutting tool position adjustment plate to drive the press cutting tool position adjustment plate to move along the second direction; wherein the output end of the press cutting tool vertical movement mechanism is connected to the mounting frame to drive the mounting frame so that it moves in the up-and-down direction. [7] Stacking device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the stacking device comprises two stacking stations arranged along the second direction, two press cutting tool groups are provided, the two press cutting tool groups each corresponding to the two stacking stations and each press cutting tool group is configured to limit the position of the electrode of the corresponding stacking station. [8] Stacking device according to claim 7, wherein each press-cutting tool group comprises two press-cutting tools and the two press-cutting tools of the press-cutting tool group are located on opposite sides of the stacking station along the second direction and during the stacking process the two press-cutting tools in each press-cutting tool group are configured to alternately attach a jelly roll pack and a newly stacked electrode, wherein the jelly roll pack consists of a plurality of already stacked electrodes. [9] Stacking device according to claim 8, wherein the two press cutting tools in each press cutting tool group are a first press cutting tool and a second press cutting tool respectively, wherein the press arrangement comprises two press cutting tool control mechanisms, one of the two press cutting tool control mechanisms being configured to control the first press cutting tool in the two press cutting tool groups, and the other being configured to control the second press cutting tool in the two press cutting tool groups. [10] Stacking device according to claim 9, wherein the stacking platform is height-adjustable relative to the support frame, the stacking device comprising a lifting mechanism for driving the stacking platform so that it is raised and falls, the lifting mechanism being provided on the support frame and connected to the underside of the stacking platform, and both press cutting tool control mechanisms being located on opposite sides of the lifting mechanism along the first direction.

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