Cylindrical battery manufacturing machine and manufacturing method

Abstract

A manufacturing machine (19) and method for producing a cylindrical battery (1) having a cylindrical case (3) containing an electrochemical cell (2) comprising a processing conveyor (24, 39, 49) configured to advance along a processing path a sheet (26, 41, 51) designed to support the cylindrical case (3), and an operating group (27, 47, 52) arranged along the processing path and configured to perform a processing operation on the cylindrical case. The operating group (27, 47, 52) comprises a support body (28) axially aligned with the corresponding seat (26, 41, 51) and mounted to rotate about a first rotation axis (29), and a plurality of processing discs (30) configured to process the side wall (4) of the cylindrical case (3), the processing discs (30) being mounted on the support body (28) to form a circle about which the cylindrical case (3) in use is located at the center and being radially movable toward or away from the cylindrical case (3) in use therebetween.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a machine and method for manufacturing cylindrical batteries.

[0002] The present invention may be advantageously applied to the manufacture of lithium-ion cylindrical batteries, to which the following description makes explicit reference, without loss of generality. [Background technology]

[0003] Commercially available lithium-ion batteries are assembled in three different shapes: cylindrical, prismatic, and pouch.

[0004] A cylindrical battery has a cylindrical metal case with a single electrochemical cell inside having a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode wound together around a central pivot.

[0005] In particular, the cylindrical case is initially open on one side (i.e., in the shape of a cup with a closed bottom end and an open top end) to allow for the introduction of the wound electrochemical cells and an electrolyte that impregnates the wound electrochemical cells, and once the battery is formed (i.e., after all components are placed within the cylindrical case), the open end of the cylindrical case is closed to form a hermetic closure.

[0006] In particular, a circular lid (possibly connected to an annular gasket) is used to close the open end of the cylindrical case and is connected to the cylindrical case by deforming the upper edge of the cylindrical case relative to the lid. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing machine and a method for manufacturing cylindrical batteries that allows operation at high production rates (measured as cylindrical batteries produced per unit time) while ensuring adherence to a high quality of the final product.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a machine for manufacturing a cylindrical battery having a cylindrical case containing an electrochemical cell, the machine comprising: a processing conveyor configured to advance a sheet designed to support a cylindrical case along a processing path; and an operation group disposed along the processing path and configured to perform processing on the cylindrical case; The action group is a support body axially aligned with the corresponding seat and mounted for rotation about a first axis of rotation; The present invention has a plurality of treatment disks for applying treatment to the side walls of the cylindrical case, the treatment disks being attached to the support body so as to form a circle with the cylindrical case in use located at the center, and being radially movable so as to radially approach or move away from the cylindrical case in use located therebetween.

[0009] Preferably, each processing disc is rotatably mounted on the support body for rotation about a second axis of rotation parallel to the first axis of rotation.

[0010] Preferably, each processing disc is mounted in an idle manner so as to be free to rotate about the second axis of rotation.

[0011] Preferably, each treatment disk is rotatably mounted on the support body and rotates about a third axis of rotation parallel to the second axis of rotation and eccentric with respect to the treatment disk, such that rotation about the third axis of rotation causes radial displacement of the treatment disk.

[0012] Preferably, the operating group comprises an actuator device configured to synchronously rotate all the processing discs about corresponding third rotation axes between a loading / unloading position in which the processing discs are at a non-zero distance from the intermediate cylindrical case in use and a working position in which the processing discs contact the intermediate cylindrical case in use.

[0013] Preferably, the operating group comprises a plurality of columns, each column supporting at one end a corresponding processing disk mounted for rotation relative to the column about a second axis of rotation and at an opposite end hinged to the support body for rotation about a corresponding third axis of rotation.

[0014] Preferably, the manufacturing machine has an axially movable lifting device configured to remove the cylindrical case from the corresponding seat by connecting the cylindrical case to the operating group and to reinsert the cylindrical case into the corresponding seat by disconnecting the cylindrical case from the operating group.

[0015] Preferably, in the centre of the support body of the operating group there is arranged a central abutment element which does not rotate together with the support body and against which a cylindrical case connected to the operating group is pressed.

[0016] Preferably, the processing discs are evenly spaced around the first axis of rotation.

[0017] Preferably, the motion group is configured to move integrally with the processing conveyor.

[0018] Preferably, the processing conveyor is a processing wheel.

[0019] In an embodiment, the manufacturing machine has a first processing wheel, a second processing wheel, and a third processing wheel, each processing wheel configured to advance the sheet along a respective processing path.

[0020] The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a cylindrical battery having a cylindrical case housing an electrochemical cell and closed at its top by a lid, the method comprising: advancing, by a processing conveyor, a sheet designed to support the cylindrical cases along a processing path; performing processing on the cylindrical case by operation groups arranged along a processing path; The action group is a support body axially aligned with the corresponding seat and mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation; and a plurality of treatment disks designed to apply treatment to the side walls of a cylindrical case, the treatment disks being mounted on the support body so as to form a circle with the cylindrical case in use located at its center and being radially movable toward or away from the cylindrical case in use therebetween.

[0021] The following claims describe embodiments of the invention which form an integral part of this disclosure.

[0022] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show non-limiting embodiments thereof. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cylindrical battery. [Diagram 2] 2 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the upper end of the cylindrical battery in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 2A-2C show schematic diagrams of a series of operations for closing the cylindrical case of the cylindrical battery of FIG. 1 at the top. [Figure 4] 2A-2C show schematic diagrams of a series of operations for closing the cylindrical case of the cylindrical battery of FIG. 1 at the top. [Diagram 5] 2A-2C show schematic diagrams of a series of operations for closing the cylindrical case of the cylindrical battery of FIG. 1 at the top. [Figure 6] 2A-2C show schematic diagrams of a series of operations for closing the cylindrical case of the cylindrical battery of FIG. 1 at the top. [Figure 7] 2A-2C show schematic diagrams of a series of operations for closing the cylindrical case of the cylindrical battery of FIG. 1 at the top. [Figure 8] 2A-2C show schematic diagrams of a series of operations for closing the cylindrical case of the cylindrical battery of FIG. 1 at the top. [Figure 9] 2A-2C show schematic diagrams of a series of operations for closing the cylindrical case of the cylindrical battery of FIG. 1 at the top. [Figure 10]2 is a schematic top view of the cylindrical battery of FIG. 1 and, in particular, a manufacturing machine for producing the top closure of the cylindrical case of the cylindrical battery of FIG. 1. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a schematic front view of a first processing wheel of the manufacturing machine of FIG. 10. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the operating group of the first processing wheel of FIG. 11. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a schematic front view of a second processing wheel of the manufacturing machine of FIG. 10. [Figure 14] 14 and 15 are two schematic front views of the feeding unit of the manufacturing machine of FIG. 10 at two different operating moments. [Figure 15] 14 and 15 are two schematic front views of the feeding unit of the manufacturing machine of FIG. 10 at two different operating moments. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is a schematic front view of a third processing wheel of the manufacturing machine of FIG. 10. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a schematic elevational view of a detail of the operative group of the third processing wheel of FIG. 16; [Figure 18] FIG. 11 is a schematic front view of a compression unit present in a variant of the manufacturing machine of FIG. 10; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] In FIG. 1, a cylindrical electrical power energy battery is generally designated 1 .

[0025] The cylindrical battery 1 includes an electrochemical cell 2 formed by overlapping and rolling up a number of sheets into a cylindrical shape in a “jelly roll” or “Swiss roll” configuration, and a cylindrical case 3 that surrounds the electrochemical cell 2 .

[0026] The cylindrical case 3 has a cylindrical side wall 4, a lower end 5 that is initially closed by a bottom wall 6 that is seamlessly connected to the side wall 4, and an upper end 7 opposite the lower end 5 that is initially open to allow insertion of the electrochemical cell 2 and is then closed and sealed.

[0027] As better shown in Figure 2, a circular lid 8 is disposed on the upper end 7 of the cylindrical case 3 and forms a closure for the upper end 7 (i.e., constitutes the upper base of the cylindrical case 3). The lid 8 interfaces with an annular gasket 9 that is interposed between the lid 8 and the side wall 4 of the cylindrical case 3. In particular, the assembly of the lid 8 and the annular gasket 9 is clamped between an annular groove 10 formed (by deformation) in the side wall 4 and an edge 11 of the side wall 4 that is deformed relative to the lid 8.

[0028] The cylindrical battery 1 has an electrical pole (positive or negative) disposed in the bottom wall 6 (with sufficient electrical insulation) and an opposite electrical pole (negative or positive) disposed in the lid 8 (with sufficient electrical insulation).

[0029] A method for closing the open upper end 7 of the cylindrical case 3 will now be described with reference to FIGS.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, the side wall 4 of the cylindrical case 3 is initially undeformed (even at the edges 11) and perfectly cylindrical to allow easy insertion of the electrochemical cell 2.

[0031] As shown in Fig. 4, when the electrochemical cell 2 is inserted into the cylindrical case 3, the side wall 4 of the cylindrical case 3 (below the edge 11) is plastically deformed to form an annular groove 10. To perform this operation, a deformation tool 12 is used which plastically deforms the side wall 4 of the cylindrical case 3, and preferably also a pressing element 13 which, in combination with the action of the deformation tool 12, compresses the side wall 4 of the cylindrical case 3 in the axial direction to facilitate the deformation of the side wall 4 in the deformation tool 12. According to a preferred embodiment, the pressing element 13 has a central protrusion which is inserted into the side wall 4 of the cylindrical case 3 with a small clearance in order to center the side wall 4 (i.e. to place the side wall 4 in a known, predetermined position).

[0032] Then, as shown in FIG. 5, a gasket 9 is placed on the annular groove 10 (which serves as a support).

[0033] 6, the lid 8 is then placed over the annular groove 10 (which forms a support and has the previously placed gasket 9 interposed therebetween), or the lid 8 can be previously connected to the gasket 9, and the assembly of the lid 8 and the gasket 9 can be placed in the annular groove 10.

[0034] As shown in figures 7 and 8, the edge 11 is bent against the assembly of the lid 8 and the gasket 9, clamping (holding) the latter against the lower groove 10. Preferably, this operation is performed in two successive steps. First, the edge 11 is bent by the bending tool 14 by about 40-50° towards the assembly of the lid 8 and the gasket 9 (as shown in figure 7), and only afterwards, the edge 11 is bent further by the bending tool 15 (different in shape from the bending tool 14) until it reaches a 90° bend against the assembly of the lid 8 and the gasket 9 (as shown in figure 8). Preferably, in combination with the action of the bending tool 14, a pressing element 16 is also used which presses the lid 8 axially, and likewise in combination with the action of the bending tool 15, a pressing element 17 is also used which presses the lid 8 axially.

[0035] The final operation is the axial compression of the entire cylindrical case 3 (shown in FIG. 9), which results in an axial plastic deformation of the groove 10 and a compression of the edge 11 against the lid 8. To perform this axial compression, a pressing element 18 is used which presses against the entire upper end 7 of the cylindrical case 3. The result of the axial compression is clear when comparing FIG. 9, which shows the cylindrical case 3 before axial compression, with FIG. 2, which shows the cylindrical case 3 after axial compression.

[0036] In FIG. 10, a manufacturing machine for producing the cylindrical battery 1 and in particular for performing the top closure of the cylindrical case 3 of the battery 1 is generally indicated with the reference numeral 19 .

[0037] The manufacturing machine 19 has a horizontal conveyor (not shown) which advances a series of open-topped cylindrical cases 3 containing the electrochemical cells 2 along an entrance path which terminates at an exchange station S1.

[0038] The manufacturing machine 19 has a horizontal transfer wheel 20 mounted for rotation about a vertical axis of rotation 21 (perpendicular to the plane of the sheets) and receives cylindrical cases 3 at exchange station S1 and removes them at exchange station S2.

[0039] The manufacturing machine 19 has a horizontal transfer wheel 22 mounted for rotation about a vertical axis of rotation 23 (parallel to axis of rotation 21) and receives cylindrical cases 3 at exchange station S2 and removes cylindrical cases 3 at exchange station S3.

[0040] The manufacturing machine 19 comprises a first horizontal processing wheel 24 mounted for rotation about a vertical axis of rotation 25 (parallel to the axis of rotation 23) for receiving cylindrical cases 3 at exchange station S3 and for removing cylindrical cases 3 at exchange station S4. As shown in FIG. 11, the processing wheel 24 supports a number of sheets 26 (e.g. 12) evenly spaced along the circumference of the processing wheel 24, which advance along a circular processing path extending between exchange stations S3 and S4 (i.e. the processing path starts at exchange station S3 and ends at exchange station S4) by the rotation of the processing wheel 24 about the axis of rotation 25. Each sheet 26 is designed to laterally grip the corresponding cylindrical case 3, for example by holding the cylindrical case 3 by suction (i.e. the sheet 26 engages with a part of the side wall 4 of the cylindrical case 3), which can thereby be translated axially (i.e. parallel to the axis of rotation 25) relative to the corresponding sheet 26 (according to the method described below).

[0041] Each seat 26 of the processing wheel 24 is connected to a corresponding operating group 27 carried by the processing wheel 24 and moves (rotates) together with the processing wheel 24 itself. Each operating group 27 is configured to form an annular groove 10 on the side wall 4 of the cylindrical case 3 carried by the corresponding seat 26. In other words, there are as many operating groups 27 as there are seats 26, so that each operating group 27 always cooperates with only one corresponding seat 26. Each operating group 27 is arranged along a processing path defined by the processing wheel 24 and obtains an annular groove 10 in the cylindrical case 3 advancing along the processing path supported by the corresponding seat 26. For simplicity, only three seats 26 and one operating group 27 are shown in FIG. 11, but in reality there are twelve seats 26 and twelve corresponding operating groups 27.

[0042] 11 and 12, each operating group 27 has a support body 28 mounted on the processing wheel 24 for rotation therewith, axially aligned with the corresponding seat 26, and mounted for rotation about a vertical axis of rotation 29 parallel to the axis of rotation 25. In other words, each support body 28 rotates about its own central axis of rotation 29 which is coaxial with the corresponding seat 26 and located aligned with (at a distance from) the axis of rotation 25 of the processing wheel 24.

[0043] Each operating group 27 has a number of processing (deforming) disks 30 and is designed to deform the side wall 4 of the cylindrical case 3 carried by the corresponding seat 26 to form the annular groove 10. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, each operating group 27 has five processing disks 30 arranged evenly (symmetrically) around the rotation axis 29. Alternatively, a different number of processing disks 30 (for example, 2 to 8) arranged evenly (symmetrically) around the rotation axis 29 (i.e., arranged at the vertices of a regular polygon centered on the rotation axis 29) can be provided. In this way, the processing disks 30 are distributed around the rotation axis 29, and the thrust (pressure) exerted by each processing disk 30 is balanced (compensated) with the thrust (pressure) exerted by the other processing disks 30, thereby making the pressure exerted by the processing disks 30 on the cylindrical case 3 to be processed uniform.

[0044] That is, the edge of each treatment disk 30 constitutes the deformation tool 12 shown in FIG.

[0045] In each operating group 27, the processing discs 30 (all arranged coplanar with one another, i.e. at the same vertical height) are symmetrically mounted on the support body 28 so as to form a circle about which the cylindrical case in use is located at the centre, and are radially movable towards or away from the cylindrical case in use 3 between them.

[0046] In particular, each processing disk 30 is rotatably mounted on the support body 28 to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation 31 parallel to the axis of rotation 29. According to a preferred embodiment, each processing disk 30 is freely mounted on the support body 28 to rotate (i.e. without constraint, without external actuation) about the axis of rotation 31. Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment, each processing disk 30 is rotatably mounted on the support body 28 and rotates about a vertical axis of rotation 32 parallel to the axis of rotation 31 and eccentric with respect to the processing disk 30, such that rotation about the axis of rotation 32 causes a radial displacement of the processing disk 30.

[0047] According to a preferred embodiment, each operating group 27 consists of a number of columns 33, each column 33 supporting at one end a corresponding processing disk 30 which is (freely) mounted to rotate about a corresponding rotation axis 31 relative to the column 33, and at the opposite end is hinged to a support body 28 so as to rotate about a corresponding rotation axis 32 (eccentrically relative to the processing disk 30).

[0048] Each operating group 27 has an actuator device 34 (schematically shown in FIG. 11 ) for synchronously rotating all processing discs 30 about the corresponding rotation axis 32 between an unloading position in which the processing discs 30 are at a non-zero distance from the intervening cylindrical case 3 in use, and a working position in which the processing discs 30 are in contact with the intervening cylindrical case 3. In use, the processing discs 30 of each operating group 27 are placed in the unloading position for axially inserting the cylindrical case 3 between them or for axially removing the cylindrical case 3 from them, and the processing discs 30 of each operating group 27 are placed in the working position so that they can act on the cylindrical case 3 itself.

[0049] For each sheet 26, there is provided a corresponding lifting device 35 (shown in FIG. 11) which is carried by the processing wheel 24 to move (rotate) integrally with the processing wheel 24 itself, is axially movable (i.e., along the rotation axis 25), and is configured to extract the cylindrical case 3 from the corresponding sheet 26 (positioned above the sheet 26) by connecting the cylindrical case 3 to the corresponding operating group 27, and to re-insert the cylindrical case 3 into the corresponding sheet 26 by disconnecting the cylindrical case 3 from the operating group 27.

[0050] In the center of the support body 28 of each operating group 27 there is provided a central abutment element 36 which is integral with the processing wheel 24 and therefore does not rotate together with the support body 28, against which the cylindrical case 3 connected to the operating group 27 is pressed, i.e. the central abutment element 36 is stationary with respect to the processing wheel 24 and therefore the support body 28 rotates around it. The lower part of the abutment element 36 defines (supports) the pressing element 13 shown in FIG. 4.

[0051] According to a preferred embodiment, the central abutment element 36 of each operating group 27 does not perform any movement (neither rotation nor translation) relative to the processing wheel 24, since all axial movement of the cylindrical case 3 (i.e. parallel to the rotation axis 25) is left to the lifting device 35, and therefore each abutment element 36 establishes only a fixed abutment which exerts axial compression in cooperation with the corresponding lifting device 35.

[0052] Each operating group 27 is dimensioned such that, in use, the support body 28 makes at least one revolution around the axis of rotation 29 while the processing disc 30 is located in the working position. Preferably, in use, the support body 28 makes at least 2-3 complete revolutions around the axis of rotation 29 while the processing disc 30 is located in the working position.

[0053] In use, at the exchange station S3, the cylindrical case 3 is inserted into the seat 26. Then, as the processing wheel 24 rotates about the rotation axis 25, the corresponding lifting device 35 removes the cylindrical case 3 from the seat 26 with an upward axial movement by connecting the cylindrical case 3 to a corresponding movement group 27 located above the seat 26, in which position the cylindrical case 3 abuts at its top against a central abutment element 36.

[0054] When the cylindrical case 3 is connected to the operating group 27 by the lifting device 35, the actuator device 34 moves the processing disc 30 from the unloading position to the working position, and at the same time the support body 28 starts to rotate about the rotation axis 29. As a result, the processing disc 30 tends to rotate on the side wall 4 of the cylindrical case 3 (which remains stationary pressed against the central abutment element 36). The radial movement of the processing disc 30 caused by the actuator device 34 causes a deformation of the side wall 4 of the cylindrical case 3, forming the grooves 10.

[0055] According to a preferred embodiment, the radial movement of the treatment disc 30 occurs simultaneously with the rotation of the support body 28 about the rotation axis 29, so that the action of the treatment disc 30 on the side wall 4 of the cylindrical case 3 is progressive.

[0056] Thereafter, when the cylindrical case 3 arrives in the vicinity of the exchange station S4, the rotation of the support body 28 is stopped, the actuator device 34 moves the processing disk 30 from the working position to the unloading position, and the corresponding lifting device 35, by axial downward movement, disconnects the cylindrical case 3 from the corresponding operating group 27 located above the seat 26 and returns the cylindrical case 3 into the seat 26.

[0057] Finally, in the exchange station S4, the cylindrical case 3 provided with the grooves 10 is detached from the corresponding seat 26 of the processing wheel 24.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 10, the manufacturing machine 19 has a horizontal transfer wheel 37 mounted for rotation about a vertical axis of rotation 38 (parallel to axis of rotation 25) and receives cylindrical cases 3 from the processing wheel 24 at exchange station S4 and deposits cylindrical cases 3 at exchange station S5.

[0059] As shown in Figure 10, the manufacturing machine 19 has a horizontal second processing wheel 39 mounted for rotation about a vertical axis of rotation 40 (parallel to axis of rotation 38) for receiving cylindrical cases 3 from the transfer wheel 37 at exchange station S5 and depositing cylindrical cases 3 at exchange station S6. As shown in Figure 13, the processing wheel 39 supports a plurality (e.g., 12) of sheets 41 evenly spaced around the circumference of the processing wheel 39, and rotation of the processing wheel 39 about axis of rotation 40 advances the sheets 41 along a circular processing path extending between exchange stations S5 and S6 (i.e., the processing path begins at exchange station S5 and ends at exchange station S6). Each seat 41 is designed to laterally grip the corresponding cylindrical case 3 (i.e., the seat 41 engages with a portion of the side wall 4 of the cylindrical case 3), for example by holding the cylindrical case 3 by suction, thereby allowing the cylindrical case 3 to translate axially (i.e., parallel to the axis of rotation 40) relative to the corresponding seat 41 (according to the method described below).

[0060] As shown in FIG. 10, the manufacturing machine 19 has a feeding unit 42 configured to feed an assembly of a lid 8 and a gasket 9 stacked on top of each other onto the upper end 7 of the cylindrical case 3 (i.e., above the cylindrical case 3) carried by each sheet 41 at a feeding station S7 located between the exchange stations S5 and S6.

[0061] As shown in Figures 10, 14 and 15, the feeding unit 42 comprises a number of (e.g. six) suction gripping heads 43, each designed to hold an assembly of lids 8 and gaskets 9 superimposed on one another. Furthermore, the feeding unit 42 comprises a feeding wheel 44 arranged alongside the processing wheel 39 and mounted to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation 45 (parallel to the axis of rotation 40) and supporting the gripping heads 43 by means of a corresponding hinged arm 46. Preferably, each hinged arm 46 has a central joint and therefore two degrees of freedom.

[0062] Rotation of the feeding wheel 44 around the axis of rotation 45 leads each gripping head 43 through a pick-up station S8 where the gripping head 43 picks up a lid 8, then through a pick-up station S9 where the gripping head 43 picks up a gasket 9 to be superimposed on the previously picked-up lid 8, and finally through a feeding station S7 where the assembly of the superimposed lid 8 and gasket 9 is released onto the cylindrical case 3 (shown in Figures 14 and 15).

[0063] As shown in FIG. 13, each sheet 41 of the processing wheel 39 is connected to a corresponding operation group 47 carried by the processing wheel 39 and moves (rotates) integrally with the processing wheel 39. Each operation group 47 is configured to perform a first (partial) bending of the edge 11 of the cylindrical case 3 carried by the corresponding sheet 41 downstream of the feeding station S7 (i.e. after feeding the lid 8 and the gasket 9). In other words, there are as many operation groups 47 as there are sheets 41, so that each operation group 47 always works with only one corresponding sheet 41. Each operation group 47 is arranged along the processing path defined by the processing wheel 39 and performs a partial bending of the edge 11 (shown in FIG. 7) on the cylindrical case 3 advancing along the processing path supported by the corresponding sheet 41. For the sake of simplicity, only three sheets 41 and one operation group 47 are shown in FIG. 13, but in reality there are twelve sheets 41 and twelve corresponding operation groups 47.

[0064] As shown in Fig. 13, each operation group 47 is structurally identical to the operation group 27 described above, differing from it essentially in the shape of the corresponding processing disk 30, which is adapted to perform different operations. In each operation group 27, the edge of each processing disk 30 constitutes the deformation tool 12 shown in Fig. 4, while in each operation group 47, the edge of each processing disk 30 constitutes the bending tool 14 shown in Fig. 7. Furthermore, in each operation group 27, the lower part of the adjacent element 36 defines (supports) the pressing element 13 shown in Fig. 4, while in each operation group 47, the lower part of the adjacent element 36 defines (supports) the pressing element 16 shown in Fig. 7.

[0065] Like the processing wheel 24, the processing wheel 39 is carried by the processing wheel 39 in each seat 41 so as to move (rotate) integrally with itself, and is further provided with a corresponding lifting device 48 which is movable axially (i.e. along the rotation axis 40) and configured to extract the cylindrical case 3 from the corresponding seat 41 by connecting the cylindrical case 3 to a corresponding operating group 47 (located above the seat 41) and to re-insert the cylindrical case 3 into the corresponding seat 41 by disconnecting the cylindrical case 3 from the operating group 47.

[0066] According to a possible embodiment shown in Figures 14 and 15, the adjacent elements 36 of each operating group 47 have a vertically movable pusher which performs a working stroke (from top to bottom) to transfer the assembly consisting of the lid 8 and the gasket 9 from the corresponding gripping head 43 to the upper end 7 of the underlying cylindrical case 3 (for this purpose each gripping head 43 has a through hole through which the pusher is inserted).

[0067] In use, at the exchange station S5, the cylindrical case 3 is inserted into the seat 41. The treatment wheel 39 then rotates about its axis of rotation 40, which causes the seat 41 to pass through the feeding station S7, where the assembly consisting of the lid 8 and the gasket 9 is placed on the cylindrical case 3. The treatment wheel 39 then rotates about its axis of rotation 40, which causes the corresponding lifting device 48, by its upward axial movement, to remove the cylindrical case 3 from the seat 41 and to couple it to the corresponding operating group 47 located above the seat 41. In this position, the cylindrical case 3 abuts against the central abutment element 36.

[0068] When the cylindrical case 3 is connected to the operating group 47 by the lifting device 48, the actuator device 34 moves the processing disc 30 from the unloading position to the working position, and at the same time the support body 28 starts to rotate about the rotation axis 29. As a result, the processing disc 30 tends to rotate on the side wall 4 of the cylindrical case 3 (which remains stationary pressed against the central abutment element 36). The radial movement of the processing disc 30 generated by the actuator device 34 causes a partial bending of the edge 11 of the cylindrical case 3 (shown in FIG. 7).

[0069] According to a preferred embodiment, the radial movement of the treatment disc 30 occurs simultaneously with the rotation of the support body 28 about the rotation axis 29, so that the action of the treatment disc 30 on the side wall 4 of the cylindrical case 3 is gradual.

[0070] Thereafter, when the cylindrical case 3 arrives in the vicinity of the exchange station S6, the rotation of the support body 28 is stopped, the actuator device 34 moves the processing disk 30 from the working position to the unloading position, and the corresponding lifting device 48 moves axially downward, thereby disconnecting the cylindrical case 3 from the corresponding operating group 47 located above the seat 41, and the cylindrical case 3 is returned to the seat 41.

[0071] Finally, at station S6, the cylindrical case 3 with the lid 8 and gasket 9 is released from the corresponding seat 41 of the processing wheel 39.

[0072] 10, the manufacturing machine 19 has a horizontal third processing wheel 49 mounted for rotation about a vertical axis of rotation 50 (parallel to axis of rotation 40) and receives cylindrical cases 3 from the processing wheel 39 at exchange station S6 and deposits cylindrical cases 3 at exchange station S10. That is, the processing wheel 39 is configured to transfer each cylindrical case 3 directly to the processing wheel 49 at exchange station S6.

[0073] 16, the processing wheel 49 supports a plurality (e.g., 12) of sheets 51 evenly spaced around the circumference of the processing wheel 49, which are advanced along a circular processing path extending between exchange stations S6 and S10 (i.e., the processing path starts at exchange station S6 and ends at exchange station S10) by the rotation of the processing wheel 49 about its axis of rotation 50. Each sheet 51 is designed to laterally grip a corresponding cylindrical case 3, for example by holding the cylindrical case 3 by suction (i.e., the sheet 51 engages a portion of the side wall 4 of the cylindrical case 3), so that the cylindrical case 3 can be translated axially (i.e., parallel to the axis of rotation 50) relative to the corresponding sheet 51 (according to the method described below).

[0074] As shown in FIG. 16, each sheet 51 of the processing wheel 49 is coupled to a corresponding operating group 52 carried by the processing wheel 49 and moves (rotates) integrally with the processing wheel 49. Each operating group 52 is configured to perform a second (final) fold of the edge 11 of the cylindrical case 3 carried by the corresponding sheet 51, completing the folding of the edge 11 (as shown in FIG. 8). In other words, there are as many operating groups 52 as there are sheets 51, so that each operating group 52 always works with only one corresponding sheet 51. Each operating group 52 is arranged along the processing path defined by the processing wheel 49 and completes the bending of the edge 11 of the cylindrical case 3 advancing along the processing path supported by the corresponding sheet 51. For simplicity, only three sheets 51 and one operating group 52 are shown in FIG. 16, but in reality there are twelve sheets 51 and twelve corresponding operating groups 52.

[0075] As shown in Fig. 16, each operation group 52 is structurally completely identical to the operation groups 27 and 47 described above, but the operation groups 27 and 47 essentially differ in the shape of the corresponding processing disks 30, which are configured to perform different operations. In each operation group 27, the edge of each processing disk 30 constitutes the deformation tool 12 shown in Fig. 4, in each operation group 47, the edge of each processing disk 30 constitutes the bending tool 14 shown in Fig. 7, and in each operation group 52, the edge of each processing disk 30 constitutes the bending tool 15 shown in Fig. 8. Furthermore, in each operation group 27, the lower part of the adjacent element 36 defines (supports) the pressing element 13 shown in Fig. 4, in each operation group 47, the lower part of the adjacent element 36 defines (supports) the pressing element 16 shown in Fig. 7, and in each operation group 52, the lower part of the adjacent element 36 defines (supports) the pressing element 17 shown in Fig. 8.

[0076] Like the processing wheels 24 and 39, the processing wheel 49 is also carried by the processing wheel 49 to move (rotate) integrally with itself relative to each seat 51, and is provided with a corresponding lifting device 53 which is movable axially (i.e., along the rotation axis 50) and configured to extract the cylindrical case 3 from the corresponding seat 51 by connecting the cylindrical case 3 to a corresponding operating group 52 (located above the seat 51) and to re-insert the cylindrical case 3 into the corresponding seat 51 by disconnecting the cylindrical case 3 from the operating group 52.

[0077] In use, at the exchange station S6, the cylindrical case 3 is inserted into the seat 51. Then, as the processing wheel 49 rotates about the rotation axis 50, the corresponding lifting device 53 removes the cylindrical case 3 from the seat 51 with an upward axial movement by coupling the cylindrical case 3 to a corresponding operating group 52 located above the seat 51, in which position the cylindrical case 3 abuts against the central abutment element 36.

[0078] When the cylindrical case 3 is coupled to the operating group 52 by the lifting device 53, the actuator device 34 moves the processing disc 30 from the unloading position to the working position, and at the same time the support body 28 starts to rotate around the rotation axis 29, as a result of which the processing disc 30 tends to rotate on the side wall 4 of the cylindrical case 3 (the cylindrical case 3 remains stationary pressed against the central adjacent element 36), and the radial movement of the processing disc 30 generated by the actuator device 34 causes the edge 11 of the cylindrical case 3 to bend (as shown in Figures 8 and 17).

[0079] According to a preferred embodiment, the radial movement of the treatment disc 30 occurs simultaneously with the rotation of the support body 28 about the rotation axis 29 , so that the action of the treatment disc 30 on the side wall 4 of the cylindrical case 3 is gradual.

[0080] Thereafter, when the cylindrical case 3 arrives in the vicinity of the exchange station S10, the rotation of the support body 28 is stopped, the actuator device 34 moves the processing disk 30 from the working position to the unloading position, and the corresponding lifting device 48 moves axially downward to separate the cylindrical case 3 from the corresponding operating group 52 located above the seat 51, and returns the cylindrical case 3 to the seat 51.

[0081] According to a preferred embodiment, before arriving at the exchange station S10, the actuator device 34 moves the processing disk 30 from the working position to the unloading position, and the corresponding lifting device 48 pushes the cylindrical case 3 slightly upwards with an axial movement in order to perform the axial compression of the cylindrical case 3, as shown in Fig. 9. In this embodiment, the central adjacent element 36 of each operating group 52 first has a pressing element 17 shown in Fig. 8 to perform the bending of the edge 11 of the cylindrical case 3, and then has a pressing element 18 shown in Fig. 9 to perform the axial compression of the cylindrical case 3. That is to say, the central adjacent element 36 of each operating group 52 has both pressing elements 17 and pressing elements 18 which are axially movable and which protrude from the lower wall of the central adjacent element 36 when necessary.

[0082] Finally, at exchange station S10, the cylindrical case 3 is detached from the corresponding seat 51 of the processing wheel 49.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 10, the manufacturing machine 19 has a horizontal transfer wheel 54 mounted to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation 55 (parallel to the axis of rotation 50) and receives cylindrical cases 3 at exchange station S10 and removes cylindrical cases 3 at exchange station S11.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 10, the manufacturing machine 19 consists of a horizontal conveyor (not shown) which advances a series of cylindrical cases 3 containing electrochemical cells and closed at the top along an exit path starting from the exchange station S11.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 10, a control station S12 is located near the transport wheel 54, and the control station S12 is provided with an optical control device 56 for checking whether the upper end 7 of each cylindrical case 3 corresponds to the desired specifications. Furthermore, a reject station S13 is located near the transport wheel 54 (clearly downstream of the control station S12), and at the reject station S13, cylindrical cases 3 that do not meet the desired specifications (i.e., defective products) are removed from the transport wheel 54 and discarded, and then guided to a reject collection path.

[0086] According to another embodiment shown in Fig. 18, the manufacturing machine 19 has a number of compression units 57 (only one of which is shown in Fig. 18) arranged (at least functionally) downstream of the operation group 52. Each compression unit 57 is configured to axially compress the corresponding cylindrical case 3 so as to plastically deform the groove 10 by compressing the entire upper end 7 of the cylindrical case 3 (as can be seen by comparing Fig. 9, which shows the cylindrical case 3 before axial compression, with Fig. 2, which shows the cylindrical case 3 after axial compression). In particular, each compression unit 57 has an axially movable hammer 58 for applying axial compression to the corresponding cylindrical case 3.

[0087] According to a possible embodiment, a further (fourth) processing wheel is provided, interposed between the processing wheel 49 and the transfer wheel 54, rotating about a vertical axis of rotation and each comprising a series of seats designed to receive a cylindrical case 3 and comprising a series of compression units 57 cooperating with the seats.

[0088] According to an alternative embodiment, the compression unit 57 is integrated into the processing wheel 49 together with the operating group 52, for example by replacing the adjacent element 36 of the operating group 52 with a movable hammer 58 of the compression unit 57. First (in the first part of the processing pass), the operating group 52 acts to complete the bending of the edge 11 of the cylindrical case 3, and then (in the last part of the processing pass) the compression unit 57 acts to axially compress the cylindrical case 3.

[0089] According to a further embodiment, the compression unit 57 replaces the operating group 52 of the processing wheel 49 and thus becomes a bending and compression unit 57. For each bending and compression unit 57, the first (initial) part of the stroke of the hammer 58 completes the bending of the edge 11 of the corresponding cylindrical case 3, while the second (last) part of the stroke of the hammer 58 axially compresses the corresponding cylindrical case 3.

[0090] According to a preferred embodiment, the manufacturing machine 19 is a continuous type machine, i.e. it operates with a continuous law of motion, and the conveyors do not cyclically alternate between stop and movement steps, but instead have a constant forward speed (which obviously increases or decreases as the output per hour that the manufacturing machine 19 operates increases or decreases). As a result, all the processing wheels 24, 39, 49 rotate with a continuous law of motion around their corresponding axes of rotation 25, 40, 50.

[0091] According to an alternative embodiment not shown, there is no operating group 47 coupled to the processing wheel 39 and the bending of the edge 11 of each cylindrical case 3 is performed in a single step (instead of two successive steps) by an operating group 52 coupled to the processing wheel 49.

[0092] The operating group 27, the operating group 47 and the operating group 52 are structurally identical, differing only in the type of operating tool attached to them (i.e. the processing discs 30 have different shapes), and the processing wheels 24, 39, 49 are also structurally identical. In this way, one complex article is designed, which is duplicated many times (in a sort of "copy and paste") to constitute the three processing wheels 24, 39, 49 and all the operating groups 27, 47, 52.

[0093] The embodiments described herein can be combined with each other without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0094] The above-described manufacturing machine 19 has several advantages.

[0095] Firstly, said manufacturing machine 19 can be operated at high production rates (i.e. a high number of cylindrical cases 3 produced per unit time) without causing damage to the cylindrical cases 3 themselves. This result is achieved thanks to the special construction of the manufacturing machine 19, which allows the conveyor to operate with a continuous law of motion.

[0096] The manufacturing machine 19 described above is particularly compact and offers excellent access to all parts for adjustments, format changes, maintenance and repair work.

[0097] The manufacturing machine 19 described above allows the type of cylindrical case 3 to be changed relatively easily and quickly.

[0098] Finally, the manufacturing machine 19 described above is also simple in construction and cost effective in allowing the exact same type of structure to be replicated multiple times. [Explanation of symbols]

[0099] 1 Cylindrical battery 2. Electrochemical Cell 3 Cylindrical case 4 side wall 5 Bottom edge 6 Lower wall 7 Top 8 Lid 9 Gasket 10 grooves 11. Edge 12 Transformation tools 13 Pressing element 14 Bending tools 15 Bending tools 16 Pressing element 17 Pressing element 18 Pressing element 19 Manufacturing machinery 20 Transport Wheel 21 Rotation axis 22 Transport Wheel 23 Rotation axis 24 Processing Wheels 25 Rotational Axis 26 sheets 27 Action Group 28 Support body 29 Rotational Axis 30 Processing Disks 31 Rotation axis 32 Rotation axis 33 Pillar 34 Actuator device 35 Lifting device 36 Adjacent Elements 37 Transport Wheel 38 Rotational Axis 39 Processing Wheel 40 Rotational Axis 41 sheets 42 Feeding Unit 43 Grip Head 44 Feeding Wheel 45 Rotational axis 46 hinged arm 47 Action Group 48 Lifting device 49 Processing Wheel 50 Rotational Axis 51 sheets 52 Action Group 53 Lifting device 54 Transport Wheel 55 Rotation axis 56 Control device 57 Compression Unit 58 Hammer S1 Swapping Station S2 Exchange Station S3 Exchange Station S4 Swapping Station S5 Swapping Station S6 Swapping Station S7 Feeding Station S8 Pickup Station S9 Pickup Station S10 Swapping Station S11 Swapping Station S12 Control Station S13 Rejected Product Station

Claims

1. A manufacturing machine (19) for manufacturing a cylindrical battery (1) having a cylindrical case (3) containing an electrochemical cell (2), comprising: a processing conveyor (24, 39, 49) configured to advance a seat (26, 41, 51) designed to support said cylindrical case (3) along a processing path; an operation group (27, 47, 52) disposed along the processing path and configured to perform processing on the cylindrical case; The action group (27, 47, 52) a support body (28) axially aligned with the corresponding seat (26, 41, 51) and mounted to rotate about a first axis of rotation (29); a manufacturing machine (19) comprising a plurality of processing discs (30) designed to process the side walls (4) of the cylindrical cases (3), the processing discs (30) being attached to the support body (28) to form a circle with the cylindrical cases (3) in use positioned at their center and being radially movable to move radially toward and away from the cylindrical cases (3) in use located therebetween.

2. 2. A manufacturing machine (19) according to claim 1, wherein each processing disc (30) is rotatably mounted on the support body (28) so as to rotate about a second axis of rotation (31) parallel to the first axis of rotation (29).

3. 3. A manufacturing machine (19) according to claim 2, wherein each processing disc (30) is mounted in an idle manner so as to rotate freely about said second axis of rotation (31).

4. Each processing disc (30) is rotatably mounted on said support body (28) and rotates about a third rotation axis (32).

3. The manufacturing machine (19) of claim 2, wherein the third axis of rotation (32) is parallel to the second axis of rotation (31) and eccentric with respect to the processing disc (30) such that rotation about the third axis of rotation (32) causes a radial displacement of the processing disc (30).

5. The operating group (27, 47, 52) comprises an actuator device (34), 5. The manufacturing machine (19) according to claim 4, wherein the actuator device (34) is configured to rotate all of the processing discs (30) synchronously around the corresponding third rotation axis (32) between a loading / unloading position in which the processing discs (30) are at a non-zero distance from the intermediate cylindrical case (3) in use, and a working position in which the processing discs (30) contact the intermediate cylindrical case (3) in use.

6. The operating group (27, 47, 52) has a plurality of struts (33), 5. A manufacturing machine (19) according to claim 4, wherein each support (33) supports at one end a corresponding processing disk (30) mounted for rotation relative to the support (33) about the second axis of rotation (31), and at an opposite end is hinged to the support body (28) for rotation about the corresponding third axis of rotation (35).

7. A lifting device (35, 48, 53) that is movable in the axial direction is provided, 2. The manufacturing machine (19) according to claim 1, wherein the lifting device (35, 48, 53) is configured to remove the cylindrical case (3) from the corresponding seat (26, 41, 51) by connecting the cylindrical case (3) to the operating group (27, 47, 52), and to reinsert the cylindrical case (3) into the corresponding seat (26, 41, 51) by disconnecting the cylindrical case (3) from the operating group (27, 47, 52).

8. 2. A manufacturing machine (19) according to claim 1, wherein a central abutment element (36) is arranged in the center of the support body (28) which does not rotate together with the support body (28) and against which the cylindrical case (3) connected to the operating group (27, 47, 52) is pressed.

9. 2. The manufacturing machine (19) of claim 1, wherein the processing discs (30) are evenly distributed around the first axis of rotation (29).

10. 2. The manufacturing machine (19) of claim 1, wherein the motion group (27, 47, 52) is configured to move integrally with the processing conveyor (24, 39, 49).

11. A manufacturing method for manufacturing a cylindrical battery (1) having a cylindrical case (3) containing an electrochemical cell (2) and closed at the top by a lid (8), comprising: - advancing, by means of a conveyor (24, 39, 49), a sheet (26, 41, 51) designed to support said cylindrical case (3) along a processing path; performing a process on the cylindrical case (3) by operation groups (27, 47, 52) arranged along the process path; The action group (27, 47, 52) a support body (28) axially aligned with the corresponding seat (26, 41, 51) and mounted to rotate about an axis of rotation (29); and a plurality of treatment discs (30) designed to treat the side walls (4) of the cylindrical case (3), the treatment discs (30) being attached to the support body (28) to form a circle with the cylindrical case (3) in use positioned at its center and being radially movable to move radially toward or away from the cylindrical case (3) in use between them.

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