Cover removal device and battery injection equipment

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a cover removal device and battery filling equipment, where the cover removal device includes a rack and a transport mechanism. The transport mechanism includes a base, a lifting assembly, a gripping assembly, and multiple closing assemblies. When a battery that has been placed in place moves below the transport mechanism together with the tray and top cover, the gripping assembly first moves downward under the drive of the lifting assembly, and then grabs the top cover. As the gripping assembly grabs the top cover, the plugs of the multiple closing assemblies extend into the multiple filling cups, respectively, to close the drain holes of the filling cups. The gripping assembly then moves upward under the drive of the lifting assembly, removing the top cover from the tray and thereby separating the filling cups from the batteries. Since the multiple plugs respectively close the drain holes of the multiple pouring cups, even if electrolyte remains in the pouring cup, when the pouring cup is separated from the battery, the remaining electrolyte will not leak from the drain hole, thereby effectively preventing the batteries in the tray from being contaminated by the electrolyte.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This disclosure claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202323067523.1 for "Cover Removal Device and Battery Injection Equipment," filed with the China Patent Office on November 14, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of lithium battery equipment, and more particularly to a cover removal device and a battery filling device. [Background technology]

[0003] After the lithium batteries are placed in the outer casing, they need to be placed in a battery filling device to inject electrolyte. During the filling process, typically, a batch of batteries is placed on a tray and then placed in the battery filling device. Then, an upper cover including a plurality of filling cups is placed on the tray, and the plurality of filling cups are respectively connected to the filling holes of the plurality of batteries. A certain amount of electrolyte is poured into each filling cup, and the electrolyte can gradually flow into the battery through the drain hole at the bottom, thereby realizing the injection of electrolyte into the battery.

[0004] The top cover and the filling cup on it also place the battery in a pressure-equalizing cavity to cycle positive and negative pressure and allow it to stand, thereby facilitating the absorption of electrolyte. After the battery has stood, the entire top cover can be removed from the tray and the battery can be moved on to the next process.

[0005] However, if the pouring cup is tilted or the drain hole is clogged, the pouring process may not be smooth, and as a result, electrolyte may remain in the pouring cup even after pouring is complete. When the top cover is removed from the tray, the electrolyte remaining in the pouring cup may leak and contaminate the batteries in the tray, resulting in problems such as the need to reprocess or dispose of the batteries, and increasing maintenance work. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, it is necessary to provide a cover removal device and a battery electrolyte injection device that can effectively prevent the electrolyte from contaminating the battery.

[0007] A cover removal device, Rack and a transport mechanism attached to the rack, the transport mechanism including a lifting assembly, a picking assembly, and a plurality of closing assemblies, the picking assembly being capable of picking up and releasing an upper cover including a plurality of filling cups, and being capable of moving along an up-and-down direction under the driving of the lifting assembly to remove the upper cover from the tray, and each of the closing assemblies including a stopper; The closure assembly can move together with the gripping assembly, and when the gripping assembly grips the top cover, the plugs of the multiple closure assemblies can extend into the multiple filling cups, respectively, to close the drain holes of the filling cups.

[0008] In one embodiment, the gripping assembly includes a support plate, a drive member, and two opposing clamp plates, the support plate being connected to the drive end of the lifting assembly, each clamp plate having a positioning pin on one side facing the other clamp plate, the two clamp plates being slidably attached to the support plate, and the drive member being capable of driving the two clamp plates to move toward or away from each other, so that the positioning pins are inserted into or removed from mounting holes on the side of the upper cover.

[0009] In one embodiment, the transport mechanism further includes a base plate for supporting the lifting assembly, the gripping assembly, and the closing assembly, the base plate being attached to the rack, the gripping assembly further including a guide rod extending along the vertical direction, a linear bearing being provided on the base plate, the guide rod being slidably drilled in the linear bearing, and one end of the guide rod being connected to the support plate.

[0010] In one embodiment, the closure assemblies are attached to the support plate and are movable along the vertical direction together with the support plate.

[0011] In one embodiment, the stopper can elastically abut against the bottom of the filling cup along the vertical direction.

[0012] In one embodiment, each of the closure assemblies further includes a base and an elastic member, the plug being slidably mounted on the base along the vertical direction, and the elastic member applying a downward clamping force to the plug.

[0013] In one embodiment, the base is columnar, and the elastic member is a compression spring that is fitted in the base and abuts against the plug.

[0014] In one embodiment, the rack further includes a waste discharge carrier, and the transport mechanism can move along a predetermined direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, thereby driving the grabbing assembly to move above the waste discharge carrier, and the grabbing assembly can move along the vertical direction under the drive of the lifting assembly and place the grabbed upper cover on the waste discharge carrier.

[0015] In one embodiment, the rack is provided with a toothed rod extending along the predetermined direction, the transport mechanism further includes a base for supporting the lifting assembly, the gripping assembly and the closing assembly, the base being slidably attached to the rack along the predetermined direction, the transport mechanism further includes a motor attached to the base and a gear connected to the motor, the gear meshing with the toothed rod, and the gear rolling along the toothed rod under the drive of the motor, thereby driving the substrate to slide along the predetermined direction.

[0016] In one embodiment, the rack further includes a cleaning mechanism attached to the rack, which can move along the predetermined direction to above the waste discharge carrier and can clean the multiple liquid filling cups arranged on the upper cover of the waste discharge carrier.

[0017] In one embodiment, the cleaning mechanism includes a second substrate, a second lifting assembly, and a cleaning assembly, the second substrate being slidably attached to the rack along the predetermined direction, the second lifting assembly and the cleaning assembly being attached to the second substrate, the cleaning assembly being capable of moving together with the second substrate to above the waste discharge carrier, and the cleaning assembly including a plurality of cleaning heads, each of which can extend into a plurality of liquid injection cups of the upper cover placed on the waste discharge carrier under the drive of the second lifting assembly.

[0018] In one embodiment, the cleaning mechanism further includes a discharge conveyor line, and the cleaning mechanism further includes a second gripping assembly, the second gripping assembly is attached to the second base and can grip and release the upper cover, the second gripping assembly can move together with the second base to above the waste discharge carrier, and can move along the up and down direction under the driving of the second lifting assembly to grip the upper cover placed on the waste discharge carrier, The second gripping assembly can move above the discharge conveyor line together with the second substrate, and can move along the vertical direction under the drive of the second lifting assembly to place the gripped upper cover on the discharge conveyor line.

[0019] In one embodiment, a limiting ring is formed on the cleaning head, and when the cleaning head extends into the liquid filling cup, the limiting ring can abut against the opening edge of the liquid filling cup to cover the opening of the liquid filling cup.

[0020] In one embodiment, the limiting ring can elastically abut against the opening edge of the filling cup along the vertical direction.

[0021] A battery filling device includes the cover removing device according to any one of the above preferred embodiments.

[0022] In the cover removal device and battery filling equipment, when the batteries, tray, and top cover are moved downward by the conveying mechanism after the batteries have been placed, the grasping assembly first moves downward under the driving force of the lifting assembly, and then grasps the top cover. As the grasping assembly grasps the top cover, the stoppers of the closure assemblies extend into the filling cups to close the drain holes of the filling cups. The grasping assembly then moves upward under the driving force of the lifting assembly, removing the top cover from the tray containing the batteries, thereby separating the filling cups from the batteries. During this process, the stoppers close the drain holes of the filling cups, so that even if electrolyte remains in the filling cups when the filling cups are separated from the batteries, the remaining electrolyte will not leak through the drain holes, effectively preventing the batteries in the tray from being contaminated by the electrolyte.

[0023] In order to more clearly describe the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions of the prior art, the following briefly introduces drawings necessary for describing the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative efforts. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a cover removal device according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 2] 2 is a front view of a transport mechanism in the cover removing device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a left side view of the transport mechanism shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a front view of a waste discharge carrier in the cover removing device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a left side view of the waste discharge carrier shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 2 is a front view of a cleaning mechanism in the cover removal device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a left side view of the cleaning mechanism shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 10 is a schematic diagram of the engagement of a tray and a top cover according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a left side view of the engagement between the tray and the upper cover shown in FIG. 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] In order to clarify the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure, specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, many specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific examples disclosed below, because the present disclosure can be implemented in many ways other than those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0026] In describing the present disclosure, as necessary for understanding, any orientation or positional relationship indicated by terms such as "center," "lateral," "longitudinal," "width," "length," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "diameter," "circumferential," etc., is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and is used only to explain and simplify the present disclosure, and does not indicate or imply that the devices or elements referred to have a particular orientation or must be constructed and operated in a particular direction, and therefore should not be construed as limitations on the present disclosure.

[0027] Additionally, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed to denote or imply relative importance or the quantity of technical features. Thus, a feature delimited by "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this disclosure, unless otherwise specified, the meaning of "plurality" refers to two or more, e.g., two, three.

[0028] In this disclosure, unless otherwise specified, the terms "attached," "coupled," "connected," and "secured" should be understood in a broad sense, and may refer to, for example, a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection, a mechanical connection or an electrical connection, a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, an internal communication between two elements, or an interactive relationship between two elements. Those skilled in the art may understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this disclosure depending on the particular situation.

[0029] In this disclosure, unless otherwise specified, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature refers to the first feature being in direct contact with the second feature or the first feature being in indirect contact with the second feature via an intermediate medium. Furthermore, a first feature being "above," "above," and "above" a second feature refers to the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or the first feature having a higher horizontal height than the second feature. A first feature being "below," "below," and "below" a second feature refers to the first feature being directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or the first feature having a lower horizontal height than the second feature.

[0030] It should be understood that when an element is referred to as being "fixed" or "mounted" to another element, it may be directly fixed to the other element, or intermediate elements may be present. When an element is referred to as being "connected" to another element, it may be directly connected to the other element, or intermediate elements may also be present. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "left," "right," and similar terms used herein are for descriptive purposes only and do not represent the only embodiments.

[0031] 1, the present disclosure provides a cover removal device 10 and a battery filling device. The battery filling device includes the cover removal device 10.

[0032] The battery filling equipment is used to fill batteries in batches. The filling equipment typically includes additional components, such as a filling mechanism (not shown) and a pressure equalizing cavity (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , a plurality of batteries (not shown) to be filled are first placed in a tray 20, and then a top cover 30 is attached to the tray 20. The top cover 30 includes a plurality of filling cups 31, the number and arrangement of which are the same as the number and arrangement of the batteries in the tray 20. The plurality of filling cups 31 are connected to a plurality of filling holes, respectively. After the tray 20 and top cover 30 are assembled, the filling mechanism fills a predetermined amount of electrolyte into each filling cup 31. The tray 20 and top cover 30 are then transferred to the pressure equalizing cavity, where positive and negative pressures are cycled and the tray 20 and top cover 30 are left stationary, thereby facilitating the inflow and absorption of the electrolyte into the batteries.

[0033] After the settling is completed, the tray 20 and the upper cover 30 are removed from the pressure-equalizing cavity and transferred to the cover removal device 10, which removes the upper cover 30 from the tray 20 and separates the injection cup 31 from the battery. After the injection is completed, the plurality of batteries are transported to the next process together with the tray 20.

[0034] 2 and 3, the cover removal apparatus 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a rack 100 and a transport mechanism 200. As shown in FIG.

[0035] The transport mechanism 200 includes a base plate 210, a lifting assembly 220, a gripping assembly 230, and a plurality of closing assemblies 240. The base plate 210 provides support and is typically a metal plate-like structure, and the lifting assembly 220, the gripping assembly 230, and the plurality of closing assemblies 240 are all supported directly or indirectly by the base plate 210. The base plate 210 is attached to the rack 100, and thus the transport mechanism 200 is attached to the rack 100. Of course, in other embodiments, the lifting assembly 220, the gripping assembly 230, and the plurality of closing assemblies 240 may also be supported by the rack 100.

[0036] The gripping assembly 230 can grip and release the top cover 30. After the batteries have been placed, the trays 20 and top covers 30 are transferred to the cover removal device 10, which is positioned below the transfer mechanism 200. Specifically, in this embodiment, the cover removal device 10 further includes a supply conveyor line 400. After the trays 20 with the batteries placed thereon are removed from the pressure-isolating cavity, they are placed on the supply conveyor line 400 and transported below the transfer mechanism 200 via the supply conveyor line 400.

[0037] The lifting assembly 220 can drive the gripping assembly 230 to move vertically, thereby removing the top cover 30 from the tray 20. Specifically, the lifting assembly 220 first drives the gripping assembly 230 to descend to approximately the same height as the top cover 30, so that the gripping assembly 230 can grip the top cover 30. After the gripping assembly 230 has gripped the top cover 30, the lifting assembly 220 first drives the gripping assembly 230 to rise, so that the top cover 30 can be removed from the tray 20. The tray 20 with the batteries placed on it is transported to the next process under the drive of the supply conveyor line 400.

[0038] The lift assembly 220 may be a cylinder or motor screw structure as long as it is attached to the base plate 210 and can move the transport mechanism 200 up and down.

[0039] In this embodiment, the gripping assembly 230 includes a support plate 231, a drive member 232, and two opposing clamp plates 233. The support plate 231 is connected to the drive end of the lifting assembly 220, and a positioning pin 234 is provided on one side of each clamp plate 233 facing another clamp plate 233. The two clamp plates 233 are slidably attached to the support plate 231, and the drive member 232 can drive the two clamp plates 233 to move toward or away from each other, so that the positioning pins 234 are inserted into or removed from mounting holes 301 on the side of the upper cover 30 ( FIG. 9 ).

[0040] The clamp plate 233 is slidably mounted on the support plate 231 via a guide rail and a slider, and the drive member 232 can be a cylinder. The two clamp plates 233 can be driven by the same drive member 232, or by two separate drive members 232. Driven by the lifting assembly 220, the support plate 231 can move downward until the positioning pins 234 are aligned with the mounting holes 301 on the side of the upper cover 30. In this case, when the drive member 232 drives the two clamp plates 233 to approach each other, the positioning pins 234 can be attached to the mounting holes 301, thereby securing the upper cover 30. 30 The upper cover can be grasped. 30 When it is necessary to release the clamps 233, the drive member 232 simply drives the two clamps 233 apart until the locating pin 234 is withdrawn from the mounting hole 301.

[0041] Specifically, in this embodiment, the gripping assembly 230 further includes a guide rod 235 extending in the up-down direction, a linear bearing 211 is provided on the base plate 210, the guide rod 235 is slidably drilled into the linear bearing 211, and one end of the guide rod 235 is connected to the support plate 231. A plurality of guide rods 235 are usually provided, and can guide the support plate 231 in cooperation with the linear bearing 211, thereby preventing the support plate 231 from shaking during the lifting and lowering process.

[0042] The number and arrangement of the closing assemblies 240 are generally the same as the number and arrangement of the pouring cups 31 on the upper cover 30. Under the drive of the lifting assembly 220, the closing assemblies 240 can move together with the grasping assembly 230. Specifically, in this embodiment, a plurality of closing assemblies 240 are attached to the support plate 231.

[0043] Furthermore, each closure assembly 240 includes a stopper 241. The stopper 241 may be rod-shaped and extend in the vertical direction. The closure assembly 240 can move together with the grasping assembly 230. When the grasping assembly 230 grasps the upper cover 30, the stoppers 241 of the multiple closure assemblies 240 can extend into the multiple pouring cups 31 to close drain holes (not shown) of the pouring cups 31, respectively.

[0044] Specifically, when the lifting assembly 220 drives the gripping assembly 230 to move downward, the closing assemblies 240 also move downward. When the gripping assembly 230 descends to a height where it can grip the upper cover 30, the plugs 241 can extend into the pouring cups 31 to close the drain holes of the pouring cups 31, respectively.

[0045] After the grasping assembly 230 grasps the upper cover 30, the grasping assembly 230 moves upward under the drive of the lifting assembly 220, thereby removing the upper cover 30 from the tray 20 on which the batteries are placed, thereby separating the filling cups 31 from the batteries. During this process, the plugs 241 respectively close the drain holes of the filling cups 31. Therefore, even if electrolyte remains in the filling cups 31, the remaining electrolyte will not leak out of the drain holes, thereby effectively preventing the batteries in the tray 20 from being contaminated by the remaining electrolyte.

[0046] In this embodiment, the plug 241 can elastically abut against the bottom of the pouring cup 31 in the vertical direction. On the one hand, the elastic abutment can prevent damage to the plug 241 and the pouring cup 31 due to strong contact between the plug 241 and the bottom of the pouring cup 31. On the other hand, the plug 241 elastically abuts against the bottom of the pouring cup 31 can generate a clamping force, so that the plug 241 can maintain secure abutment with the bottom of the pouring cup 31 and will not be separated from the bottom of the pouring cup 31 due to factors such as shaking, thereby better achieving the purpose of closing the drain hole.

[0047] Furthermore, in this embodiment, each closure assembly 240 further includes a base 242 and an elastic member 243. The plug 241 is slidably attached to the base 242 in the vertical direction, and the elastic member 243 applies a downward clamping force to the plug 241. When the plug 241 abuts against the bottom of the pouring cup 31, the elastic member 243 is elastically deformed to generate a downward clamping force, thereby allowing the plug 241 to be securely pressed against the bottom of the pouring cup 31.

[0048] Obviously, in other embodiments, the stopper 241 can be configured as a structure molded from an elastic material, and the stopper 241 can achieve elastic contact with the bottom of the filling cup 31 through its own elasticity.

[0049] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the base 242 is columnar, and the elastic member 243 is a compression spring that is fitted into the base 242 and abuts against the plug 241. The compression spring is highly reliable and less prone to failure. Furthermore, the columnar base 242 can effectively restrict the compression spring, effectively preventing it from falling off or shifting out of position, thereby improving the reliability of the closure assembly 240.

[0050] After the transport mechanism 200 removes the upper cover 30 from the tray 20, it is necessary to retrieve the upper cover 30 for the subsequent battery injection. Before that, it is necessary to drain the electrolyte remaining in the injection cup 31.

[0051] Referring again to FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the cover removal device 10 further includes a waste discharge carrier 500 mounted on the rack 100, and the conveying mechanism 200 can move along a predetermined direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, thereby driving the grabbing assembly 230 to move above the waste discharge carrier 500, and the grabbing assembly 230 can move along the vertical direction under the drive of the lifting assembly 220, and place the grabbed upper cover 30 on the waste discharge carrier 500.

[0052] Specifically, the predetermined direction refers to the left-right direction in FIG. 1 . The waste discharge carrier 500 can place the upper cover 30 without blocking the drain hole of the pouring cup 31 in the placed upper cover 20. After the transport mechanism 200 removes the upper cover 30 from the tray 20, the substrate 210 can move along the predetermined direction until the transport mechanism 200 is positioned above the waste discharge carrier 500. Then, the lifting assembly 220 drives the grasping assembly 230 to descend until the upper cover 30 contacts or is about to contact the waste discharge carrier 500. The grasping assembly 230 releases the grasped upper cover 30 and places the upper cover 30 on the waste discharge carrier 500. Finally, the lifting assembly 220 drives the grasping assembly 230 to ascend, and the transport mechanism 200 returns to its original position to perform the removal operation on the next upper cover 30.

[0053] After the gripping assembly 230 releases the upper cover 30 and moves up, the plug 241 is also removed from the pouring cup 31, thereby opening the drain hole of the pouring cup 31. In this case, the electrolyte remaining in the pouring cup 31 can flow out through the drain hole. After the electrolyte remaining in all the pouring cups 31 has been completely drained, the upper cover 30 can be removed from the waste discharge assembly and collected.

[0054] 4 and 5 , in this embodiment, the waste discharge carrier 500 includes a porous mounting plate 510, a liquid collection tank 520, a liquid discharge line 530, and a liquid storage tank 540. The porous mounting plate 510 is used to mount the upper cover 30, and its surface is provided with a plurality of liquid discharge nozzles 511 that can be connected to the drain holes of the pouring cup 31. The liquid collection tank 520 is provided below the porous mounting plate 510 and communicates with the liquid discharge line 530. The electrolyte remaining in the pouring cup 31 flows out of the drain holes and enters the liquid collection tank 520 through the liquid discharge nozzles 511 and then is guided to the liquid storage tank 540 via the liquid discharge line 530 for collection. The liquid discharge line 530 can also be connected to an external pump device (not shown) to pump out the waste liquid from the liquid storage tank 540.

[0055] 1 and 2 again, specifically, in this embodiment, the rack 100 is provided with a rod 110 extending along a predetermined direction, and the substrate 210 is attached to the rack 100 so as to be slidable along the predetermined direction. The transport mechanism 200 further includes a motor 250 attached to the substrate 210 and a gear 260 connected to the motor 250. The gear 260 engages with the rod 110, and the gear 260 rolls along the rod 110 under the driving of the motor 250, thereby driving the substrate 210 to slide along the predetermined direction.

[0056] The gear 260 may be rotatably attached to the base plate 210 via a rotation shaft, a bearing, etc. When the gear 260 rolls along the toothed rod 110 under the drive of the motor 250, it can drive the base plate 210 to slide along a predetermined direction, thereby driving the lifting assembly 220, the gripping assembly 230, the closing assembly 240, and the upper cover 30 gripped by the gripping assembly 230 to move along the predetermined direction.

[0057] The drain hole of the pouring cup 31 may be clogged, so the remaining electrolyte cannot naturally flow out of the drain hole due to gravity. Furthermore, after long-term use, the inner wall of the pouring cup 31 may become dirty. In this case, before recovering the upper cover 30 of the waste discharge carrier 500, it is necessary to further clean the multiple pouring cups 31 inside the upper cover 30.

[0058] Referring again to Figure 1, in this embodiment, the cover removal device 10 further includes a cleaning mechanism 300 attached to the rack 100, and the cleaning mechanism 300 can move along a predetermined direction to above the waste discharge carrier 500 and can clean multiple liquid pouring cups 31 of the upper cover 30 arranged on the waste discharge carrier 500.

[0059] The cleaning mechanism 300 can clean the pouring cup 31 by blowing, water jetting, or a combination thereof, thereby achieving the purpose of cleaning the drain hole and cleaning the inner wall of the pouring cup 31.

[0060] Referring to Figures 6 and 7 together, in this embodiment, the cleaning mechanism 300 includes a second substrate 310, a second lifting assembly 320, and a cleaning assembly 340, wherein the second substrate 310 is attached to the rack 100 along a predetermined direction, and the cleaning assembly 340 includes a plurality of cleaning heads 341, which can extend into a plurality of liquid injection cups 31 of the upper cover 30 placed on the waste discharge carrier 500 under the drive of the second lifting assembly 320.

[0061] The second lifting assembly 320 and the cleaning assembly 340 are both attached to the second substrate 310 and move in a predetermined direction together with the second substrate 310, and can be driven to move the cleaning assembly 340 above the waste discharge carrier 500. Then, the second lifting assembly 320 can be driven to move the cleaning assembly 340 downward until the multiple cleaning heads 341 respectively extend into the multiple pouring cups 31.

[0062] Specifically, the cleaning assembly 340 further includes elements such as a confluence block 342 and a fluid control valve 343. A plurality of cleaning heads 341 communicate with the confluence block 342, and the fluid control valve 343 controls whether the fluid flows into the confluence block 342. After the cleaning heads 341 extend into the pouring cup 31, the fluid control valve 343 opens, allowing the cleaning fluid to enter the confluence block 342 and spray out of the cleaning heads 341 to clean the pouring cup 31.

[0063] The structure of the cleaning mechanism 300 is almost the same as that of the transport mechanism 200, with the difference being that the closing assembly 240 is replaced with a cleaning assembly 340. Specifically, in this embodiment, the cleaning mechanism 300 further includes a second motor 350 attached to the second substrate 310 and a second gear 360 connected to the second motor 350, the second gear 360 meshing with the toothed rod 110, and the second gear 360 rolling along the toothed rod 110 under the driving of the second motor 350, thereby driving the second substrate 310 to slide in a predetermined direction.

[0064] Similarly, the second gear 360 may be rotatably attached to the second substrate 310 via a rotation shaft, a bearing, etc. When the second gear 360 rolls along the toothed rod 110 under the drive of the second motor 350, it can drive the second substrate 310 to slide along a predetermined direction, thereby driving the lifting assembly 220 and the closing assembly 240 to move along the predetermined direction.

[0065] In this embodiment, a limiting ring 3411 is formed on the cleaning head 341, and when the cleaning head 341 extends into the pouring cup 31, the limiting ring 3411 can abut against the opening edge of the pouring cup 31 to cover the opening of the pouring cup 31.

[0066] The limiting ring 3411 can be molded integrally with the cleaning head 341. The limiting ring 3411 can cover the opening of the pouring cup 31, thereby preventing the cleaning liquid from splashing out of the opening of the pouring cup 31 during the cleaning process, and the wastewater generated during cleaning is discharged only through the drain hole of the pouring cup 31, thereby effectively maintaining a clean working environment.

[0067] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the limiting ring 3411 can elastically abut against the opening edge of the pouring cup 31 in the vertical direction. On the one hand, the elastic abutment prevents damage to the pouring cup 31 due to strong contact between the limiting ring 3411 and the opening edge of the pouring cup 31. On the other hand, the elastic abutment can generate a clamping force, which allows the limiting ring 3411 to maintain secure abutment against the opening edge of the pouring cup 31. This prevents the limiting ring 3411 from being separated from the pouring cup 31 due to factors such as shaking, thereby better achieving the purpose of covering the opening of the pouring cup 31.

[0068] Similarly, the limiting ring 3411 elastically abuts against the edge of the opening of the pouring cup 31 due to a clamping force provided by a second elastic member 344 such as a compression spring.

[0069] In this embodiment, the cover removal device 10 further includes a discharge conveyor line 600, and the cleaning mechanism 300 further includes a second gripping assembly 330. The second gripping assembly 300 is attached to a second base plate 310 and can grip and release the top cover 30. The second gripping assembly 330 can move above the waste discharge carrier 500 together with the second base plate 310 and can move vertically under the drive of the second lifting assembly 320 to grip the top cover 30 placed on the waste discharge carrier 500. The second gripping assembly 330 can move above the discharge conveyor line 600 together with the second base plate 310 and can move vertically under the drive of the second lifting assembly 320 to place the gripped top cover 30 on the discharge conveyor line 600.

[0070] Since the discharge conveyor line 600 and the waste discharge assembly are spaced apart, the upper cover 30 can be moved to a designated position for collection. After the second gripping assembly 330 moves above the waste discharge carrier 500, the second lifting assembly 320 first drives the second gripping assembly 330 to grip the upper cover 30 and the cleaning assembly 340 to descend until the plurality of cleaning heads 341 extend into the plurality of pouring cups 31 to clean them, respectively. After the cleaning of the pouring cups 31 is completed, the second lifting assembly 320 then drives the second gripping assembly 330 to ascend. When driven in this manner, the upper cover 30 can be lifted from the waste discharge carrier 500, and then the second substrate 310 moves along a predetermined direction to the discharge conveyor line 600 until the second gripping assembly 330 moves above the discharge conveyor line 600, and finally, the second lifting assembly 320 drives the second gripping assembly 330 to descend and release the upper cover 30, so that the upper cover 30 can be placed on the discharge conveyor line 600 for collection.

[0071] It should be noted that in another embodiment, the top cover 30 can be directly removed from the waste discharge carrier 500 for recovery.

[0072] The second gripping assembly 330 may have the same structure as the gripping assembly 230. Specifically, in this embodiment, the second gripping assembly 330 includes a second support plate 331, a second drive member 332, and two opposing second clamp plates 333. The second support plate 331 is connected to the drive end of the second lifting assembly 320. A second positioning pin 334 is provided on one side of each second clamp plate 333 facing the other second clamp plate 333. The two second clamp plates 333 are slidably attached to the second support plate 331. The second drive member 332 can drive the two second clamp plates 333 to move toward or away from each other, so that the second positioning pins 334 are inserted into or removed from the mounting holes 301 on the side of the upper cover 30 ( FIG. 9 ).

[0073] The second clamp plate 333 is slidably mounted on the second support plate 331 via a guide rail and a slider, and the second driving member 332 may be a cylinder. The two second clamp plates 333 may be driven by the same second driving member 332, or each may be driven by two second driving members 332. Under the drive of the second lifting assembly 320, the second support plate 331 can move downward until the second positioning pin 334 is aligned with the mounting hole 301 on the side of the upper cover 30. In this case, when the second driving member 332 drives the two second clamp plates 333 to approach each other, the second positioning pin 334 can be attached to the mounting hole 301, thereby lowering the upper cover 30. 30 The upper cover can be easily grasped. 30 When it is necessary to release the second clamps 333, the second driving member 332 only needs to drive the two second clamps 333 away from each other until the second positioning pin 334 is removed from the mounting hole 301.

[0074] In the cover removal device 10 and battery filling equipment, when the batteries that have been placed are moved below the conveying mechanism 200 together with the tray 20 and upper cover 30, the grasping assembly 230 is first moved downward under the driving force of the lifting assembly 220, and then the grasping assembly 230 grasps the upper cover 30. As the grasping assembly 230 grasps the upper cover 30, the plugs 241 of the multiple closure assemblies 240 extend into the multiple filling cups 31, respectively, to close the drain holes of the filling cups 31. Next, when the grasping assembly 230 is moved upward under the driving force of the lifting assembly 220, the upper cover 30 can be removed from the tray 20 on which the batteries are placed, thereby separating the filling cups 31 from the batteries. During this process, the multiple plugs 241 respectively close the drain holes of the multiple pouring cups 31, so that when the pouring cup 31 is separated from the battery, even if electrolyte remains in the pouring cup 31, the remaining electrolyte will not leak out of the drain hole, thereby effectively preventing the batteries in the tray 20 from being contaminated by the electrolyte.

[0075] Each technical feature of the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined arbitrarily, and for the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-mentioned embodiments are described, but as long as there is no contradiction in the combinations of those technical features, they shall be deemed to be within the scope of protection of this specification.

[0076] The above examples only represent some embodiments of the present disclosure, and although the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent claims of the invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make some modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present disclosure, and they also belong to the scope of protection of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of the patent of the present disclosure is based on the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A cover removal device, Rack and a transport mechanism attached to the rack, the transport mechanism including a lifting assembly, a picking assembly, and a plurality of closing assemblies, the picking assembly being capable of picking up and releasing an upper cover including a plurality of filling cups, and being capable of moving along an up-and-down direction under the driving of the lifting assembly to remove the upper cover from the tray, and each of the closing assemblies including a stopper; A cover removal device characterized in that the closure assembly can move together with the gripping assembly, and when the gripping assembly grips the top cover, the plugs of the multiple closure assemblies can extend into the multiple filling cups, respectively, to close the drain holes of the filling cups.

2. 2. The cover removing device of claim 1, wherein the gripping assembly includes a support plate, a drive member, and two clamp plates arranged opposite each other, the support plate being connected to the drive end of the lifting assembly, each clamp plate being provided with a positioning pin on one side facing the other clamp plate, the two clamp plates being slidably attached to the support plate, and the drive member being able to drive the two clamp plates to move toward or away from each other, so that the positioning pin is inserted into or removed from mounting holes on the side of the upper cover.

3. 3. The cover removal device according to claim 2, wherein the transport mechanism further includes a base plate for supporting the lifting assembly, the gripping assembly, and the closing assembly, the base plate being attached to the rack, the gripping assembly further including a guide rod extending along the vertical direction, a linear bearing being provided on the base plate, the guide rod being slidably inserted into the linear bearing, and one end of the guide rod being connected to the support plate.

4. 4. The cover removing device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of closing assemblies are attached to the support plate and are movable in the up-down direction together with the support plate.

5. 5. The cover removing device according to claim 1, wherein the plug is capable of elastically contacting the bottom of the pouring cup along the vertical direction.

6. 6. The cover removal device according to claim 5, wherein each of the closure assemblies further includes a base and an elastic member, the stopper being slidably attached to the base along the vertical direction, and the elastic member applying a downward clamping force to the stopper.

7. 7. The cover removing device according to claim 6, wherein the base is columnar, and the elastic member is a compression spring fitted to the base and abutting against the plug.

8. A cover removal device as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a waste discharge carrier provided on the rack, wherein the transport mechanism is capable of moving along a predetermined direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, thereby driving the grabbing assembly to move above the waste discharge carrier, and the grabbing assembly is capable of moving along the vertical direction under the drive of the lifting assembly, and placing the grabbed upper cover on the waste discharge carrier.

9. 9. The cover removal device according to claim 8, wherein the rack is provided with a toothed rod extending along the predetermined direction, the transport mechanism further includes a base plate for supporting the lifting assembly, the gripping assembly, and the closing assembly, the base plate being slidably attached to the rack along the predetermined direction, the transport mechanism further includes a motor attached to the base plate and a gear connected to the motor, the gear meshing with the toothed rod, and the gear rolling along the toothed rod under the driving of the motor, thereby driving the substrate to slide along the predetermined direction.

10. 10. The cover removal device according to claim 8, further comprising a cleaning mechanism attached to the rack, the cleaning mechanism being capable of moving along the predetermined direction to above the waste discharge carrier and capable of cleaning the plurality of liquid pouring cups arranged on the upper cover of the waste discharge carrier.

11. 11. The cover removal device of claim 10, wherein the cleaning mechanism includes a second substrate, a second lifting assembly, and a cleaning assembly, the second substrate being slidably attached to the rack along the predetermined direction, the second lifting assembly and the cleaning assembly being attached to the second substrate, the cleaning assembly being movable together with the second substrate to above the waste discharge carrier, and the cleaning assembly including a plurality of cleaning heads, each of which can extend into a plurality of liquid filling cups of the upper cover placed on the waste discharge carrier under the drive of the second lifting assembly.

12. a discharge conveyor line, and the cleaning mechanism further includes a second gripping assembly, the second gripping assembly being attached to the second base and capable of gripping and releasing the upper cover, the second gripping assembly being movable together with the second base to above the waste discharge carrier, and being driven by the second lifting assembly to move along the up-and-down direction and grip the upper cover placed on the waste discharge carrier; 12. The cover removing device according to claim 11, wherein the second gripping assembly can move above the discharge conveyor line together with the second substrate, and can move along the vertical direction under the driving of the second lifting assembly to place the gripped upper cover on the discharge conveyor line.

13. 12. The cover removing device according to claim 11, wherein a limiting ring is formed on the cleaning head, and when the cleaning head extends into the pouring cup, the limiting ring can abut against an edge of the opening of the pouring cup to cover the opening of the pouring cup.

14. The cover removing device according to claim 13, wherein the limiting ring is capable of elastically contacting the opening edge of the filling cup along the vertical direction.

15. A battery filling equipment comprising the cover removing device according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

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