Battery cell, battery, power consumption device, and method and device for manufacturing battery cell

Abstract

The present application provides a battery cell, a battery, a power consumption device, and a manufacturing method and device for the battery cell. The battery cell includes a case, a battery core, an end cap assembly, and a current collecting part. The battery core includes a body and a tab protruding from one end of the body in a first direction. The case has an opening and accommodates the battery core. The end cap assembly is placed over the opening. The current collecting part is located on a side of the body facing the end cap assembly in the first direction and connects the tab and the end cap assembly. The tab includes a first connection portion for connecting with the current collecting part, and the first connection portion is disposed on a side of the current collecting part facing the end cap assembly in the first direction. This battery cell fully utilizes the space between the current collecting part and the end cap assembly, and the space occupied by the tab inside the case can be reduced to provide more space for the body of the battery core, which contributes to improving the energy density of the battery cell.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to battery cells, batteries, power consuming devices, and methods and devices for manufacturing battery cells. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art With the development of new energy technology, the applications of batteries are becoming more and more widespread, such as mobile phones, notebook computers, battery cars, electric cars, electric airplanes, electric steamships, electric toy cars, electric toy steamships, electric toy airplanes and electric tools.

[0003] In battery technology, not only the safety of the battery must be taken into consideration, but also the issue of battery performance, and the magnitude of the energy density of the battery affects the battery performance. Therefore, how to increase the energy density of the battery cell is one of the technical issues in battery technology that needs to be solved as soon as possible. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Embodiments of the present application provide battery cells, batteries, power consuming devices, and methods and apparatus for manufacturing battery cells that are advantageous for increasing the energy density of the battery cells. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery cell, the battery cell including a battery core including a main body portion and a tab protruding from one end of the main body portion in a first direction, a case having an opening for accommodating the battery core, an end cap assembly for covering the opening, and a current collecting part located on a side of the main body portion toward the end cap assembly in the first direction for connecting the tab and the end cap assembly, wherein the tab includes a first connection portion for connecting with the current collecting part, and the first connection portion is arranged to be located on a side of the current collecting part toward the end cap assembly in the first direction.

[0006] In the above technical solution, the first connection portion of the tab, which is connected to the current collecting part, is located on the side of the current collecting part facing the end cap assembly, thereby making full use of the space between the current collecting part and the end cap assembly, reducing the space occupied by the tab inside the case, and providing more space for the main body of the electrode assembly, which is advantageous for improving the energy density of the battery cell.

[0007] In some embodiments, the collecting part has a folded portion, the folded portion is arranged so as to be folded back on a side of the collecting part toward the end cap assembly in the first direction, and the folded portion is used to connect the first connection part.

[0008] In the above technical solution, a foldable portion is provided on the current collecting component, and the first connection portion may be integrally connected to the foldable portion before the foldable portion is folded, so that the electrical connection between the first connection portion and the current collecting component can be more easily realized. After the first connection portion is connected to the foldable portion, the foldable portion can be folded back on the current collecting component to naturally position the first connection portion on the side of the current collecting component facing the end cap assembly, and the shaping effect on the tab can be improved.

[0009] In some embodiments, in the first direction, the first connection portion is stacked with the fold portion, and the first connection portion is located on the side of the fold portion toward the end cap assembly.

[0010] In the above technical proposal, the first connection portion is installed in a stacked manner with the folded portion in a first direction, and the first connection portion is located on the side of the folded portion facing the end cap assembly; such a structure, on the one hand, ensures that there is a relatively large overcurrent area between both the first connection portion and the folded portion, and on the other hand, makes the first connection portion and the entire folded portion compact, reduces the thickness of the first connection portion and the entire folded portion, and reduces the risk that the first connection portion and the entire folded portion are too thick, increasing the distance from the collecting part to the end cap assembly, thereby reducing the space for accommodating the main body portion inside the case.

[0011] In some embodiments, the fold back portion is foldably connected to an edge portion of the current collecting piece.

[0012] In the above technical solution, the folded portion is connected to the edge position of the current collecting part in a folded manner, and the folded portion plays a protective role for the tab, reducing the risk that the edge of the current collecting part will damage the tab.

[0013] In some embodiments, the current collecting part has the folded portion connected to both opposing ends in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, the battery core includes two tabs spaced apart from each other on the main body portion along the second direction, and first connection portions of the two tabs are respectively connected to the two folded portions.

[0014] In the above technical solution, the first connection portions of the two tabs on the battery core are respectively connected to two folded portions on the current collecting part, which can improve the stability of the current collecting part inside the case and reduce the risk of the current collecting part shaking inside the case.

[0015] In some embodiments, the folded portion and the current collecting piece are a unitary structure.

[0016] In the above technical solution, the folded part and the current collecting part are of an integrally molded structure, the molding method of the folded part and the current collecting part is simple, and the firmness between them is guaranteed.

[0017] In some embodiments, the tab is folded around the current collecting part, and the tab further includes a second connection portion, the second connection portion being used to connect the main body portion and the first connection portion, and in the first direction, the second connection portion is located on a side of the current collecting part facing the main body portion.

[0018] In the above technical solution, the tab is bent around the current collecting part, so that the current collecting part can play a good stopper role against the tab, and reduce the risk of the tab being inserted into the body part.

[0019] In some embodiments, the end cap assembly includes an end cap for covering the opening, an electrode terminal installed on the end cap for electrically connecting to the current collecting part, and an insulating member installed on the side of the end cap facing the main body portion in the first direction for separating the end cap from the battery core, the current collecting part including a first current collecting portion for connecting to the first connection portion, and an accommodating gap is formed between the first current collecting portion and the insulating member in the first direction, and the accommodating gap is used to accommodate the first connection portion.

[0020] In the above technical solution, an accommodation gap is formed between the first current collecting portion of the current collecting part and the insulating member, and the first connection portion is accommodated in the accommodation gap, thereby effectively utilizing the space between the first current collecting portion and the insulating member, reducing the space occupied by the tab inside the case, and providing more space for the main body of the electrode assembly, which is advantageous for improving the energy density of the battery cell.

[0021] In some embodiments, the insulating member has an inner surface facing the main body portion, and the insulating member is provided with a first recess that is recessed from the inner surface in a direction away from the main body portion, the first recess is used to accommodate at least a portion of the first current collecting portion, and the accommodating gap is formed between the first current collecting portion and a bottom surface of the first recess in the first direction.

[0022] In the above technical solution, a first recess is provided on the insulating member, and at least a portion of the first current collecting part is accommodated in the first recess, which is advantageous in reducing the space occupied by the first current collecting part inside the case, leaving more space for the main body, and increasing the energy density of the battery cell.

[0023] In some embodiments, the insulating member has an outer surface facing away from the body portion, a first protrusion is protruding from the outer surface at a position corresponding to the first recess, the first recess is recessed from the inner surface into the first protrusion in a direction facing away from the body portion, and a second recess is provided in the end cap, the second recess being adapted to accommodate at least a portion of the first protrusion.

[0024] In the above technical solution, at least a part of the first protrusion is disposed within the second recess, so that the structures of both the insulating member and the end cap can be made more compact and the space occupied by the insulating member inside the case can be reduced. The first recess is recessed from the inner surface into the first protrusion along a direction away from the main body, so that the recess depth of the first recess is increased, and the first current collecting member can be accommodated in a deeper position of the first recess, providing more space for the main body.

[0025] In some embodiments, the current collecting part further includes a second current collecting part, the second current collecting part is connected to the first current collecting part, and the second current collecting part is used to electrically connect with the electrode terminal, and in the first direction, the first current collecting part and the second current collecting part are offset from each other so that the current collecting part forms an accommodation space on a side of the first current collecting part facing the main body part, and the accommodation space is used to accommodate a portion of the tab.

[0026] In the above technical solution, the first current collecting part and the second current collecting part are installed with a shift in the first direction, so that the current collecting part forms an accommodation space for accommodating the tab on the side facing the body part of the first current collecting part, allowing the entire tab to move upward, thereby creating more space in the body part, and being advantageous for improving the energy density of the battery cell.

[0027] According to a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery, the battery including a battery cell according to any one of the embodiments of the first aspect, and a housing for housing the battery cell.

[0028] According to a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a power consuming device, the device including a battery according to any one of the embodiments of the second aspect.

[0029] According to a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a method for manufacturing a battery cell, the method including providing a battery core including a main body portion and a tab protruding from one end of the main body portion in a first direction and including a first connection portion, providing a case having an opening, providing an end cap assembly, providing a current collecting part, connecting the current collecting part to the first connection portion and the end cap assembly, housing the battery core within the case, and covering the opening with the end cap assembly, wherein, in the first direction, the current collecting part is located on a side of the main body portion toward the end cap assembly, and the first connection portion is located on a side of the current collecting part toward the end cap assembly.

[0030] In some embodiments, the current collecting part includes a folded portion, and connecting the current collecting part to the tab and the end cap assembly includes connecting the first connection portion to the folded portion, folding the folded portion back onto the current collecting part so that the tab is folded around the current collecting part, and connecting the end cap assembly to the current collecting part so that the first connection portion is positioned on a side of the current collecting part facing the end cap assembly.

[0031] According to a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a battery cell manufacturing apparatus, the manufacturing apparatus including a first providing device for providing a battery core including a body portion and a tab protruding from one end of the body portion in a first direction and including a first connection portion, a second providing device for providing a case having an opening, a third providing device for providing an end cap assembly, a fourth providing device for providing a current collecting part, and an assembly device for connecting the current collecting part to the first connection portion and the end cap assembly, and for housing the battery core in the case and covering the end cap assembly with the opening, wherein, in the first direction, the current collecting part is located on a side of the body portion toward the end cap assembly, and the first connection portion is located on a side of the current collecting part toward the end cap assembly. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0032] In order to more clearly explain the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces drawings that need to be used in the embodiments. It should be understood that the following drawings only illustrate some embodiments of the present application, and should not be regarded as limiting the scope. Those skilled in the art can also obtain other related drawings based on these drawings without exerting creative efforts. [Figure 1] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle according to some embodiments of the present application. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a battery cell according to some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the battery cell shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a local cross-sectional view of the battery cell shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the current collector shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a front view of the current collecting part shown in FIG. [Figure 8] 1 is a flow chart of a method for manufacturing a battery cell according to some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 9] 5 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a battery cell according to some further embodiments of the present application. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a battery cell manufacturing apparatus according to some embodiments of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the following will clearly describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present application, and not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained based on the embodiments of the present application without the need for creative efforts by those skilled in the art are all within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0034] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art in the technical field of this application, and the terms used in the specification of this application are only for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application, and the terms "comprises" and "has" and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of this application and the above drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive "comprises". The terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification and claims of this application or the above drawings are not intended to describe a specific order or subordinate relationship, but are intended to distinguish different objects.

[0035] An "embodiment" referred to in this application means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the application. The appearances of this phrase in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are they mutually exclusive separate or alternative embodiments of other embodiments.

[0036] In the description of the present application, it should be explained that unless otherwise clearly defined or limited, the terms "attached", "connected", "connected" and "attached" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, may be a fixed connection, a removable connection, or an integral connection, may be a direct connection, may be an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or may be communication between the insides of two elements. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the present application according to the specific situation.

[0037] In the embodiments of the present application, the same reference numerals represent the same elements, and for the sake of brevity, detailed descriptions of the same elements in different embodiments are omitted. It should be understood that the thickness, length, width, etc. of various elements in the embodiments of the present application shown in the drawings, and the overall thickness, length, width, etc. of the integrated device are illustrative descriptions, and should not be construed as any limitation to the present application.

[0038] In this application, "plurality" refers to two or more (including two).

[0039] In the present application, the battery cell may include a lithium ion secondary battery, a lithium ion primary battery, a lithium sulfur battery, a sodium lithium ion battery, a sodium ion battery, or a magnesium ion battery, etc., and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. The battery cell may have a cylindrical, flat, rectangular, or other shape, etc., and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. Battery cells are generally divided into three types according to the packaging method, namely, a cylindrical battery cell, a rectangular battery cell, and a pouch battery cell, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0040] The battery referred to in the embodiments of the present application refers to a single physical module that includes one or more battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. For example, the battery referred to in the present application may include a battery module or a battery pack. The battery generally includes a housing for packaging one or more battery cells. The housing can prevent liquid or other foreign matter from affecting the charging or discharging of the battery cells.

[0041] The battery cell includes an electrode assembly and an electrolyte, and the electrode assembly is composed of a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator. The battery cell is mainly operated by the movement of metal ions between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate. The positive electrode plate includes a positive electrode collector and a positive electrode active material layer, and the positive electrode active material layer is coated on the surface of the positive electrode collector. Taking a lithium ion battery as an example, the material of the positive electrode collector may be aluminum, and the positive electrode active material may be lithium cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium, or lithium manganate, etc. The negative electrode plate includes a negative electrode collector and a negative electrode active material layer, and the negative electrode active material layer is coated on the surface of the negative electrode collector. The material of the negative electrode collector may be copper, and the negative electrode active material may be carbon or silicon, etc. The material of the separator may be PP (polypropylene) or PE (polyethylene), etc. In addition, the electrode assembly may have a wound type structure or a stacked type structure, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0042] Currently, a battery cell generally includes a case, a battery core, an end cap assembly, and a current collecting component, where the tabs of the battery core are electrically connected to the end cap assembly and the current collecting component through the end cap assembly, the battery core is housed within the case, and the end cap assembly is fitted over an opening of the case to provide a sealed space for the battery core and the electrolyte.

[0043] The inventor discovered that in a battery cell, the connection portion between the tab of the battery core and the current collecting part is located on the side of the current collecting part that is away from the end cap assembly, and the tab occupies a part of the space inside the case, so that the space that can be provided for the main body of the battery core inside the case is reduced, and the energy density of the battery cell is accordingly reduced. The inventor discovered that in a typical battery cell, after the current collecting part is connected to the end cap assembly, there is a gap between a part of the area of ​​the current collecting part and the end cap assembly, and the space at the gap position is not effectively utilized.

[0044] In view of this, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery cell, the battery cell including a case, a battery core, an end cap assembly, and a current collecting part. The battery core includes a body portion and a tab protruding from one end of the body portion in a first direction. The case has an opening, and the case is used to accommodate the battery core. The end cap assembly is used to cover the opening. In the first direction, the current collecting part is located on a side of the body portion facing the end cap assembly, and the current collecting part is used to connect the tab and the end cap assembly. Here, the tab includes a first connecting portion for connecting with the current collecting part, and in the first direction, the first connecting portion is arranged to be located on a side of the current collecting part facing the end cap assembly.

[0045] In such a battery cell, by locating the first connection portion of the tab on the side of the current collecting part facing the end cap assembly, the space between the current collecting part and the end cap assembly can be fully utilized, the space occupied by the tab inside the case can be reduced, and more space can be provided in the main body portion of the battery core, which is advantageous in improving the energy density of the battery cell.

[0046] The battery cells described in the embodiments of the present application are applicable to batteries and power consuming devices that use batteries.

[0047] The power consumption devices may be vehicles, mobile phones, portable devices, notebook computers, steamships, spacecraft, electric toys and power tools, etc. The vehicles may be fuel oil vehicles, gas vehicles or new energy vehicles, the new energy vehicles may be pure electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles or range extender vehicles, etc., the spacecraft include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles and spaceships, etc., the electric toys include stationary or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric steamship toys and electric airplane toys, etc., and the electric tools include metal cutting power tools, polishing power tools, assembly power tools and railway power tools, such as electric drills, electric grinders, electric wrenches, electric drivers, electric hammers, hammer drills, concrete vibrators and electric planers, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not particularly limit the above power consumption devices.

[0048] In the following embodiment, for ease of explanation, the power consuming device is a vehicle.

[0049] 1, which is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle 1000 according to some embodiments of the present application, in which a battery 100 is installed inside the vehicle 1000, and the battery 100 may be installed at the bottom, head or tail of the vehicle 1000. The battery 100 may be used to power the vehicle 1000, for example, the battery 100 may be used as an operating power source for the vehicle 1000.

[0050] The vehicle 1000 may further include a controller 200 and a motor 300, where the controller 200 is used to control the battery 100 to power the motor 300, for example for start-up, navigation and operating power consumption needs of the vehicle 1000 during driving.

[0051] In some embodiments of the present application, the battery 100 can not only be the operating power source for the vehicle 1000, but can also provide driving power to the vehicle 1000 as a driving power source for the vehicle 1000, in place of, or in place of, fuel oil or natural gas.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery 100 according to some embodiments of the present application, in which the battery 100 includes a housing 10 and a battery cell 20, and the housing 10 is used to accommodate the battery cell 20.

[0053] Here, the housing 10 is a member that houses the battery cells 20, and the housing 10 provides a housing space for the battery cells 20, and the housing 10 may adopt various structures. In some embodiments, the housing 10 may include a first portion 11 and a second portion 12, and the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 are placed on each other to define a housing space for housing the battery cells 20. The first portion 11 and the second portion 12 may have various shapes, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped, a cylindrical body, etc. The first portion 11 may have a hollow structure with one side open, and the second portion 12 may also have a hollow structure with one side open, and when the open side of the second portion 12 is placed on the open side of the first portion 11, the housing 10 having the housing space is formed. The first portion 11 may have a hollow structure with one side open, and the second portion 12 may have a plate-shaped structure, and when the second portion 12 is placed on the open side of the first portion 11, the housing 10 having the housing space is formed. The first part 11 and the second part 12 may achieve a seal via a sealing element, which may be a sealing ring, a sealant, or the like.

[0054] In the battery 100, the battery cell 20 may be one or more. When there are more than one battery cell 20, the battery cells 20 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel, and the series-parallel connection means that the battery cells 20 are connected in series or in parallel. The battery modules may first be configured by connecting the battery cells 20 in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel, and then the battery modules may be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel to form a whole and accommodated in the housing 10. All the battery cells 20 may be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel, and then the whole configured of all the battery cells 20 may be accommodated in the housing 10.

[0055] In some embodiments, the battery 100 may further include a bus bar member, and the plurality of battery cells 20 may be electrically connected to each other via the bus bar member, thereby realizing a series connection, a parallel connection, or a series-parallel connection of the plurality of battery cells 20. The bus bar member may be a metal conductor, for example, copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, an aluminum alloy, or the like.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a battery cell 20 according to some embodiments of the present application, which may include a case 21, a battery core 22, an end cap assembly 23, and a current collecting component 24.

[0057] The case 21 is a member for housing the battery core 22, and may be a hollow structure with an opening at one end, or may be a hollow structure with openings at both opposing ends. The material of the case 21 may be various, for example, copper, iron, aluminum, steel, aluminum alloy, etc. The case 21 may be various shapes, for example, a cylinder, a rectangular parallelepiped, etc. Illustratively, in FIG. 3, the case 21 has a rectangular parallelepiped structure.

[0058] The battery core 22 is a member where an electrochemical reaction occurs in the battery cell 20. The battery core 22 includes a body 221 and a tab 222. The tab 222 protrudes from one end of the body 221, and the tab 222 is divided into a positive electrode tab 222a and a negative electrode tab 222b. The battery core 22 may be one electrode assembly or may be composed of a plurality of electrode assemblies. The electrode assembly may include a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator. The electrode assembly may be a wound structure formed by winding a positive electrode plate, a separator, and a negative electrode plate, or may be a stacked structure formed by stacking and arranging a positive electrode plate, a separator, and a negative electrode plate.

[0059] The positive electrode plate may include a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer coated on both opposing sides of the positive electrode current collector. The negative electrode plate may include a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer coated on both opposing sides of the negative electrode current collector. The electrode assembly may include a body portion, a positive subtab, and a negative subtab, the body portion being a portion of the electrode assembly corresponding to an area of ​​the plate coated with the active material layer, the positive subtab being a portion of the positive electrode plate not coated with the positive electrode active material layer, and the negative subtab being a portion of the negative electrode plate not coated with the negative electrode active material layer.

[0060] When the battery core 22 includes only one electrode assembly, the main body portion of the electrode assembly is the main body portion 221 of the battery core 22, the positive subtab of the electrode assembly is the positive electrode tab 222a of the battery core 22, and the negative subtab of the electrode assembly is the negative electrode tab 222b of the battery core 22. When the battery core 22 includes multiple electrode assemblies, the main body portion 221 of the battery core 22 may be formed together with the main body portions of all the electrode assemblies, the positive electrode tab 222a of the battery core 22 may be formed together with the positive subtabs of the multiple electrode assemblies, and the negative electrode tab 222b of the battery core 22 may be formed together with the negative subtabs of the multiple electrode assemblies. Of course, the positive electrode tab 222a and the negative electrode tab 222b of the battery core 22 may be one or more. For example, in FIG. 3 , the battery core 22 has two positive electrode tabs 222a and two negative electrode tabs 222b, and the positive subtabs of some of the electrode assemblies are stacked and folded to form one positive electrode tab 222a, the negative subtabs of some of the electrode assemblies are stacked and folded to form one negative electrode tab 222b, the positive subtabs of another portion of the electrode assemblies are stacked and folded to form another positive electrode tab 222a, and the negative subtabs of another portion of the electrode assemblies are stacked and folded to form another negative electrode tab 222b.

[0061] The end cap assembly 23 includes an end cap 231, which is a member that is placed over the opening of the case 21 to isolate the internal environment of the battery cell 20 from the external environment. The end cap 231 is placed over the opening of the case 21, and the end cap 231 and the case 21 together define a sealed space for accommodating the battery core 22, the electrolyte, and other members. The shape of the end cap 231 can be adapted to the shape of the case 21, for example, when the case 21 has a rectangular parallelepiped structure, the end cap 231 has a rectangular plate-like structure that can be adapted to the case 21, or, for example, when the case 21 has a cylindrical structure, the end cap 231 has a circular plate-like structure that can be adapted to the case 21. The material of the end cap 231 may be various, for example, copper, iron, aluminum, steel, aluminum alloy, etc., and the material of the end cap 231 may be the same as or different from the material of the case 21.

[0062] The end cap assembly 23 may further include an insulating member 232, which is a member that separates the end cap 231 and the battery core 22, thereby insulating and isolating the end cap 231 from the battery core 22. The insulating member 232 is made of an insulating material, such as rubber or plastic.

[0063] The end cap assembly 23 may further include an electrode terminal 233, which is mounted on the end cap 231 and is electrically connected to the tab 222 of the electrode assembly to output electrical energy of the battery cell 20. The electrode terminal 233 may include a positive electrode terminal 233a and a negative electrode terminal 233b, where the positive electrode terminal 233a is used to electrically connect with the positive electrode tab 222a and the negative electrode terminal 233b is used to electrically connect with the negative electrode tab 222b.

[0064] The current collecting part 24 is a member that realizes electrical connection between the end cap assembly 23 and the tab 222. The current collecting part 24 may be connected between the electrode terminal 233 and the tab 222 to realize electrical connection between the end cap assembly 23 and the tab 222. Of course, the positive electrode terminal 233a may be connected to the positive electrode tab 222a via one current collecting part 24, and the negative electrode terminal 233b may be connected to the negative electrode tab 222b via another current collecting part 24.

[0065] Continuing to refer to FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the battery cell 20 may further include a pressure relief mechanism 25 that is activated when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 20 reaches a threshold value to release the internal pressure of the battery cell 20.

[0066] "Operation" refers to the pressure relief mechanism 25 operating or being activated to a certain state, thereby allowing the internal pressure and temperature of the battery cell 20 to be released. Possible operations of the pressure relief mechanism 25 may include, but are not limited to, at least a portion of the pressure relief mechanism 25 bursting, crushing, tearing, or opening. When the pressure relief mechanism 25 operates, the high temperature and high pressure material inside the battery cell 20 is discharged from the operating portion as a discharge. In this manner, pressure and temperature relief can be generated in the battery cell 20 under a pressure or temperature control condition, thereby avoiding the occurrence of a potential more serious accident. Discharge from the battery cell 20 includes, but is not limited to, electrolyte, melted or split positive and negative electrodes, separator fragments, high temperature and high pressure gas generated by the reaction, flames, etc.

[0067] The pressure relief mechanism 25 may be an independent member attached to the end cap 231. For example, the pressure relief mechanism 25 may be a member such as an explosion-proof valve, an explosion-proof sheet, an air valve, a pressure relief valve, or a safety valve attached to the end cap 231. The pressure relief mechanism 25 may be a part of the end cap 231. For example, a notch groove is provided on the end cap 231, and an area defined by the notch groove forms the pressure relief mechanism 25.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the battery cell 20 shown in FIG. 3. An embodiment of the present application provides a battery cell 20, which includes a case 21, a battery core 22, an end cap assembly 23, and a current collecting part 24. The battery core 22 includes a body portion 221 and a tab 222, and the tab 222 protrudes from one end of the body portion 221 in a first direction Z. The case 21 has an opening, and the case 21 is used to accommodate the battery core 22. The end cap assembly 23 is used to cover the opening. In the first direction Z, the current collecting part 24 is located on the side of the body portion 221 facing the end cap assembly 23, and the current collecting part 24 is used to connect the tab 222 and the end cap assembly 23. Here, the tab 222 includes a first connection portion 2221 for connecting to the collecting part 24, and in the first direction Z, the first connection portion 2221 is positioned so as to be located on the side of the collecting part 24 facing the end cap assembly 23.

[0069] The current collecting part 24 is a member that realizes electrical connection between the end cap assembly 23 and the tab 222. Only the positive electrode tab 222a may be connected to the end cap assembly 23 via the current collecting part 24, and only the negative electrode tab 222b may be connected to the end cap assembly 23 via the current collecting part 24. For example, the positive electrode tab 222a and the negative electrode tab 222b are located at both ends of the main body 221 in the first direction Z, respectively, and the positive electrode tab 222a is connected to the end cap assembly 23 via the current collecting part 24, and the negative electrode tab 222b is connected to the case 21. Of course, the positive electrode tab 222a and the negative electrode tab 222b may each be connected to one end cap assembly 23 via one current collecting part 24. For example, the positive electrode tab 222a and the negative electrode tab 222b are both located at the same end of the body 221 in the first direction Z, and the positive electrode tab 222a is connected to one end cap assembly 23 via one current collecting part 24, and the negative electrode tab 222b is connected to another end cap assembly 23 via another current collecting part 24. The current collecting part 24 is a conductor and may be made of a material such as copper, iron, aluminum, steel, or aluminum alloy.

[0070] Depending on the structure of the end cap assembly 23, the current collecting part 24 may be connected to different positions of the end cap assembly 23. For example, in an embodiment in which the end cap assembly 23 includes only the end cap 231, the tab 222 is connected to the end cap 231 via the current collecting part 24, and in an embodiment in which the end cap assembly 23 includes the end cap 231, the insulating member 232, and the electrode terminal 233, the tab 222 is connected to the electrode terminal 233 via the current collecting part 24.

[0071] The first connecting portion 2221 is a portion of the tab 222 that is connected to the current collecting part 24. The first connecting portion 2221 may be directly connected to the current collecting part 24, for example, both are directly welded, or the first connecting portion 2221 may be indirectly connected to the current collecting part 24, for example, the first connecting portion 2221 is indirectly connected to the current collecting part 24 via a conductive adhesive layer.

[0072] In FIG. 4, the first direction Z is the thickness direction of the end cap assembly 23.

[0073] In the embodiment of the present application, the first connection portion 2221 of the tab 222, which is connected to the current collecting part 24, is located on the side of the current collecting part 24 facing the end cap assembly 23, thereby making full use of the space between the current collecting part 24 and the end cap assembly 23, reducing the space occupied by the tab 222 inside the case 21, and providing more space for the main body portion 221 of the electrode assembly, which is advantageous for improving the energy density of the battery cell 20.

[0074] In some embodiments, a folded portion 241 is provided on the collecting part 24, and the folded portion 241 is configured to be folded back on the side of the collecting part 24 toward the end cap assembly 23 in the first direction Z, and the folded portion 241 is used to connect the first connection portion 2221.

[0075] The folded portion 241 is a portion that can be folded back with respect to the current collecting component 24 and is connected to the first connecting portion 2221. By providing the folded portion 241 connected to the first connecting portion 2221 on the current collecting component 24, the current collecting component 24 and the first connecting portion 2221 are indirectly connected via the folded portion 241, thereby realizing an electrical connection between the first connecting portion 2221 and the current collecting component 24. As can be understood, the folded portion 241 is a conductor and may be made of a material such as copper, iron, aluminum, steel, or an aluminum alloy.

[0076] The folded portion 241 and the current collecting part 24 may be an integrally molded structure, or a fold may be formed between the folded portion 241 and the current collecting part 24, and the folded portion 241 may be folded around the fold as a rotation axis. The folded portion 241 and the current collecting part 24 may be a structure that is separated and then connected together, for example, the folded portion 241 and the current collecting part 24 are welded together. The folded portion 241 and the first connecting portion 2221 may be connected by various methods, for example, welding, adhesion with a conductive adhesive layer, etc.

[0077] A foldable fold-back portion 241 is provided on the current collecting part 24, and the first connecting portion 2221 may be integrally connected to the fold-back portion 241 before folding back the fold-back portion 241, for example by welding or bonding via a conductive adhesive layer, so as to more easily realize an electrical connection between the first connecting portion 2221 and the current collecting part 24. After connecting the first connecting portion 2221 to the fold-back portion 241, the fold-back portion 241 is folded back onto the current collecting part 24 so that the first connecting portion 2221 is naturally disposed on the side of the current collecting part 24 facing the end cap assembly 23, and the shaping effect on the tab 222 can be improved.

[0078] In some embodiments, continuing to refer to FIG. 4, in the first direction Z, the first connection portion 2221 is positioned in a stacked manner with the folded portion 241, and the first connection portion 2221 is located on the side of the folded portion 241 toward the end cap assembly 23.

[0079] The first connecting portion 2221 is arranged to be stacked with the folded portion 241, which means that the first connecting portion 2221 and the folded portion 241 are in contact with each other and stacked together. The first connecting portion 2221 and the folded portion 241 may both have a thin structure. Of course, the folded portion 241 and the current collecting part 24 may both be arranged to be stacked in the first direction Z to eliminate a gap between the folded portion 241 and the current collecting part 24.

[0080] In this embodiment, the first connection portion 2221 is stacked and installed with the folded portion 241 in the first direction Z, and the first connection portion 2221 is located on the side of the folded portion 241 facing the end cap assembly 23. Such a structure, on the one hand, ensures that there is a relatively large overcurrent area between the first connection portion 2221 and the folded portion 241, and on the other hand, makes the first connection portion 2221 and the folded portion 241 as a whole compact, reduces the thickness of the first connection portion 2221 and the folded portion 241 as a whole, and reduces the risk that the first connection portion 2221 and the folded portion 241 as a whole are too thick, thereby increasing the distance from the current collecting part 24 to the end cap assembly 23, and thereby reducing the space for accommodating the main body portion 221 inside the case 21.

[0081] In other embodiments, the first connection portion 2221 may cover the outside of the folded portion 241, with a portion of the first connection portion 2221 positioned on the side of the folded portion 241 toward the end cap assembly 23 and another portion of the first connection portion 2221 positioned between the folded portion 241 and the current collecting part 24 to increase the contact area between the first connection portion 2221 and the folded portion 241.

[0082] In some embodiments, and continuing to refer to FIG. 4, the fold-back portion 241 is foldably connected to an edge portion of the current collecting piece 24 .

[0083] The edge position of the current collecting part 24 refers to the edge position of the outer contour of the current collecting part 24. Exemplarily, the folded-back portion 241 is connected to an edge position of one end of the current collecting part 24 in the second direction X in a manner that allows it to be folded back, and the second direction X is perpendicular to the first direction Z. In FIG. 4 , the second direction X is the width direction of the end cap assembly 23.

[0084] The fold-back portion 241 is connected to the edge position of the current collecting part 24 so that it can be folded back, and a fold can be formed at the edge position of the current collecting part 24, making it easy to fold back the fold-back portion 241. The fold-back portion 241, which is located at the edge position of the current collecting part 24, also provides a protective effect for the tab 222, reducing the risk that the edge of the current collecting part 24 will damage the tab 222.

[0085] 4 , in some embodiments, the current collecting part 24 has two folded portions 241 connected to both opposing ends in the second direction X, where the second direction X is perpendicular to the first direction Z. The battery core 22 includes two tabs 222 spaced apart from each other on the body part 221 along the second direction X, and the first connection portions 2221 of the two tabs 222 are connected to the two folded portions 241, respectively.

[0086] The two tabs 222 connected to the two folded portions 241 of the current collecting part 24 respectively have the same polarity, for example, the two tabs 222 may both be positive electrode tabs 222a or both be negative electrode tabs 222b. Taking the example that the two tabs 222 are both positive electrode tabs 222a, the battery core 22 may include a plurality of electrode assemblies arranged along the second direction X, and the positive subtabs in some of the electrode assemblies together constitute one positive electrode tab 222a, and the positive subtabs in other of the electrode assemblies together constitute another positive electrode tab 222a.

[0087] The first connection portions 2221 of the two tabs 222 of the battery core 22 are respectively connected to two folded portions on the current collecting part 24, thereby improving the stability of the current collecting part 24 within the case 21 and reducing the risk of the current collecting part 24 shaking within the case 21.

[0088] In some embodiments, the folded portion 241 and the current collecting part 24 are a one-piece molded structure. The molding method of the folded portion 241 and the current collecting part 24 is simple and ensures the firmness between them.

[0089] 4 , in some embodiments, the tab 222 is folded around the current collecting part 24. The tab 222 further includes a second connecting portion 2222, which is used to connect the main body portion 221 and the first connecting portion 2221, and which is located on a side of the current collecting part 24 facing the main body portion 221 in the first direction Z.

[0090] The second connection portion 2222 is a portion of the tab 222 that is connected between the body portion 221 and the first connection portion 2221. The tab 222 is folded around the current collecting part 24, i.e., a part of the tab 222 is located on the side of the current collecting part 24 facing the end cap assembly 23, and another part is located on the side of the current collecting part 24 facing the body portion 221, for example, the first connection portion 2221 of the tab 222 is located on the side of the current collecting part 24 facing the end cap assembly 23, and the second connection portion 2222 of the tab 222 is located on the side of the current collecting part 24 facing the body portion 221.

[0091] In an embodiment in which the current collecting part 24 is provided with a folded portion 241 and the first connecting portion 2221 is connected to the folded portion 241, the tab 222 is folded around the entire current collecting part 24 and the folded portion 241 to position the current collecting part 24 and the folded portion 241 between the first connecting portion 2221 and the second connecting portion 2222 in the first direction Z, with the first connecting portion 2221 being positioned on the side of the folded portion 241 facing the end cap assembly 23 and the second connecting portion 2222 being positioned on the side of the folded portion 241 facing the main body portion 221 of the current collecting part 24. In an actual assembly process, after the first connecting portion 2221 is connected to the folded portion 241, the folded portion 241 can be folded back so that the tab 222 is folded around the entire current collecting part 24 and the folded portion 241, and the connection position between the first connecting portion 2221 and the second connecting portion 2222 is transitioned in an arc.

[0092] In a typical battery cell 20, the first connection portion 2221 of the tab 222 that connects to the current collecting part 24 is located on the side facing the main body 221 of the current collecting part 24. If the battery cell 20 is in a vibration environment, the main body 221 of the battery core 22 may shake up and down within the case 21, and the tab 222 may easily be inserted into the main body 221 by the pressure of both the main body 221 and the current collecting part 24, which may cause the tab 222 to break the separator and lead to a risk of a short circuit between the positive and negative electrodes.

[0093] However, in this embodiment, since the tab 222 is folded around the current collecting part 24 , the current collecting part 24 acts as a good stopper for the tab 222 , reducing the risk of the tab 222 being inserted into the body part 221 .

[0094] In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a local cross-sectional view of the battery cell 20 shown in FIG. 3, and the end cap assembly 23 includes an end cap 231, an insulating member 232, and an electrode terminal 233. The end cap 231 is used to cover the opening of the case 21 (shown in FIG. 4). The electrode terminal 233 is installed in the end cap 231, and the electrode terminal 233 is used to electrically connect with the current collecting part 24. The insulating member 232 is installed on the side of the end cap 231 facing the main body part 221 in the first direction Z, and the insulating member 232 is used to separate the end cap 231 and the battery core 22. The current collecting part 24 includes a first current collecting part 242 for connecting with the first connecting part 2221, and an accommodating gap 26 is formed between the first current collecting part 242 and the insulating member 232 in the first direction Z, and the accommodating gap 26 is used to accommodate the first connecting part 2221.

[0095] The electrode terminal 233 is a member for outputting electric energy of the battery cell 20 in the end cap assembly 23. The number of electrode terminals 233 on the end cap 231 may be one or two. Taking the number of electrode terminals 233 on the end cap 231 as an example, the two electrode terminals 233 are a positive electrode terminal 233a and a negative electrode terminal 233b, respectively, and the positive electrode terminal 233a is electrically connected to the positive electrode tab 222a of the battery core 22 through one current collecting part 24, and the negative electrode terminal 233b is electrically connected to the negative electrode tab 222b of the battery core 22 through another current collecting part 24. The two electrode terminals 233 on the end cap 231 may be arranged at intervals along the third direction Y, and the third direction Y, the second direction X (shown in FIG. 4), and the first direction Z are perpendicular to each other in pairs. In FIG. 5, the third direction Y is the longitudinal direction of the end cap assembly 23.

[0096] The first current collecting portion 242 is a portion that is connected to the first connecting portion 2221 of the current collecting component 24. In an embodiment in which the folded portion 241 is provided on the current collecting component 24, the folded portion 241 is provided on the first current collecting portion 242, the first connecting portion 2221 is indirectly connected to the folded portion 241 via the first current collecting portion 242, the folded portion 241 is accommodated in the accommodation gap 26, and in the first direction Z, the folded portion 241 is located on a side of the first current collecting portion 242 that is away from the main body portion 221, and the first connecting portion 2221 is located on a side of the first current collecting portion 242 that faces the end cap assembly 23.

[0097] Since an accommodation gap 26 is formed between the first current collecting portion 242 of the current collecting part 24 and the insulating member 232, the first connection portion 2221 is accommodated within the accommodation gap 26, thereby effectively utilizing the space between the first current collecting portion 242 and the insulating member 232, reducing the space occupied by the tab 222 inside the case 21, and providing more space for the main body portion 221 of the electrode assembly, which is advantageous for improving the energy density of the battery cell 20.

[0098] It should be noted that in the embodiment of the present application, the longitudinal direction of the end cap assembly 23 is the longitudinal direction of the end cap 231, the width direction of the end cap assembly 23 is the width direction of the end cap 231, and the thickness direction of the end cap assembly 23 is the thickness direction of the end cap 231.

[0099] In some embodiments, the insulating member 232 has an inner surface 2321 facing the main body portion 221, and the insulating member 232 is provided with a first recess 2322 recessed from the inner surface 2321 along a direction away from the main body portion 221, and the first recess 2322 is used to accommodate at least a part of the first current collecting portion 242. In the first direction Z, an accommodation gap 26 is formed between the first current collecting portion 242 and a bottom surface 2322a of the first recess 2322.

[0100] The inner surface 2321 of the insulating member 232 is a surface facing the main body portion 221 of the insulating member 232, and the inner surface 2321 may be a flat surface. The first recess 2322 is a recessed space for accommodating the first current collecting portion 242 in the insulating member 232, and the first recess 2322 may accommodate a part of the first current collecting portion 242, or may accommodate the entire first current collecting portion 242. When at least a part of the first current collecting portion 242 is accommodated in the first recess 2322, the first connection portion 2221 is located on the side of the first current collecting portion 242 facing the end cap assembly 23, and therefore the first connection portion 2221 is accommodated in the first recess 2322.

[0101] The bottom surface 2322a of the first recess 2322 is the surface of the recess facing the main body portion 221 in the first direction Z and is the surface of the recess farthest from the main body portion 221 in the first direction Z. The accommodating gap 26 refers to a region formed between the surface of the first current collecting portion 242 facing away from the main body portion 221 and the bottom surface 2322a of the first recess 2322.

[0102] In this embodiment, at least a portion of the first current collecting portion 242 is accommodated within the first recess 2322, which is advantageous in reducing the space occupied by the first current collecting portion 242 inside the case 21, leaving more space for the main body portion 221, and increasing the energy density of the battery cell 20.

[0103] In some embodiments, the insulating member 232 has an outer surface 2323 facing away from the body portion 221, and a first protrusion 2324 is provided on the outer surface 2323 at a position corresponding to the first recess 2322, and the first recess 2322 is recessed from the inner surface 2321 into the first protrusion 2324 along a direction facing away from the body portion 221. A second recess is provided in the end cap 231, and the second recess is used to accommodate at least a portion of the first protrusion 2324.

[0104] The outer surface 2323 of the insulating member 232 is a surface that is away from the main body portion 221 of the insulating member 232, and the outer surface 2323 may be a flat surface. The outer surface 2323 may be in close contact with the end cap 231, or may be spaced apart from each other. The first protrusion 2324 protruding from the outer surface 2323 may be understood as the first protrusion 2324 extending from the outer surface 2323 in a direction away from the main body portion 221. The first recess 2322 is recessed from the inner surface 2321 into the first protrusion 2324 along a direction away from the main body portion 221, so that the bottom surface 2322a of the first recess 2322 is farther from the main body portion 221 than the outer surface 2323 of the insulating member 232 in the first direction Z.

[0105] The second recess is a recessed space for accommodating the first protrusion 2324 in the end cap 231, and the second recess may accommodate the entire first protrusion 2324 or a part of the first protrusion 2324. When the outer surface 2323 of the insulating member 232 is in close contact with the end cap 231, the first protrusion 2324 is completely accommodated in the second recess, and when there is a distance between the outer surface 2323 of the insulating member 232 and the end cap 231, a part of the first protrusion 2324 is accommodated in the second recess.

[0106] In this embodiment, at least a portion of the first protrusion 2324 is disposed within the second recess, making the structures of both the insulating member 232 and the end cap 231 more compact and reducing the space occupied by the insulating member 232 inside the case 21. The first recess 2322 is recessed from the inner surface 2321 into the first protrusion 2324 along a direction away from the main body portion 221, increasing the recess depth of the first recess 2322 and allowing the first current collecting portion 242 to be accommodated at a deeper position in the first recess 2322, providing more space in the main body portion 221.

[0107] 5 and 6, in some embodiments, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the current collector shown in FIG. 5, where the current collecting member 24 further includes a second current collecting portion 243, the second current collecting portion 243 is connected to the first current collecting portion 242, and the second current collecting portion 243 is used to electrically connect with the electrode terminal 233. In the first direction Z, the first current collecting portion 242 and the second current collecting portion 243 are offset from each other, so that the current collecting member 24 forms an accommodating space 244 on the side of the first current collecting portion 242 facing the body portion 221, and the accommodating space 244 is used to accommodate a part of the tab 222.

[0108] The second current collecting part 243 may be directly or indirectly connected to the electrode terminal 233. Exemplarily, a boss 245 is provided on the second current collecting part 243, and the boss 245 penetrates the insulating member 232 and is connected to the electrode terminal 233. Both the second current collecting part 243 and the first current collecting part 242 may have a sheet-like structure.

[0109] In an embodiment in which the folded portion 241 is connected to both opposing ends of the current collecting part 24 in the second direction X, two first current collecting parts 242 in the current collecting part 24 may be installed corresponding to each other, and the two first current collecting parts 242 are both connected to the second current collecting part 243, and one folded portion 241 is installed corresponding to one first current collecting part 242.

[0110] The accommodating space 244 of the collecting part 24 is used to accommodate a portion of the tab 222, and in an embodiment in which the tab 222 includes a second connection portion 2222 located on the side facing the main body portion 221 of the collecting part 24, the accommodating space 244 is used to accommodate at least a portion of the second connection portion 2222 of the tab 222.

[0111] For example, refer to FIG. 7, which is a front view of the current collecting part 24 shown in FIG. 6, where the current collecting part 24 further includes a third current collecting part 246, and the first current collecting part 242, the third current collecting part 246 and the second current collecting part 243 are connected in sequence to form a “Z”-shaped structure, such that the first current collecting part 242 and the second current collecting part 243 are offset from each other in the first direction Z.

[0112] Since the first current collecting part 242 and the second current collecting part 243 are installed offset in the first direction Z, the current collecting part 24 forms an accommodation space 244 for accommodating the tab 222 on the side of the first current collecting part 242 facing the main body part 221, and allows the entire tab 222 to move upward, providing more space in the main body part 221, which is advantageous for improving the energy density of the battery cell 20.

[0113] An embodiment of the present application provides a battery 100, which includes a housing 10 and a battery cell 20 according to any one of the above embodiments, where the housing 10 is used to accommodate the battery cell 20.

[0114] An embodiment of the present application provides a power consuming device, the device including a battery 100 according to any one of the above embodiments.

[0115] 3 and 4, an embodiment of the present application provides a rectangular battery, which includes a case 21, a battery core 22, an end cap assembly 23, and a current collecting part 24. The battery core 22 includes a body 221, a positive electrode tab 222a, and a negative electrode tab 222b, and the positive electrode tab 222a and the negative electrode tab 222b both protrude from one end of the body 221 in the first direction Z. The positive electrode tab 222a is electrically connected to the positive electrode terminal 233a of the end cap assembly 23 via one current collecting part 24, and the negative electrode tab 222b is electrically connected to the negative electrode terminal 233b of the end cap assembly 23 via another current collecting part 24. Both the positive electrode tab 222a and the negative electrode tab 222b include a first connection part 2221. Here, a folded-back portion 241 is provided on the collecting part 24, the folded-back portion 241 is connected to the first connection portion 2221, and the folded-back portion 241 is arranged so as to be able to be folded back to the side of the collecting part 24 facing the end cap assembly 23 in the first direction Z, so that the first connection portion 2221 is positioned on the side of the collecting part 24 facing the end cap assembly 23.

[0116] In such a rectangular battery 100, electrical connection between the first connection portion 2221 and the current collecting part 24 can be easily achieved via the fold-back portion 241. By folding back the fold-back portion 241 onto the current collecting part 24, the first connection portion 2221 can be positioned on the side of the current collecting part 24 facing the end cap assembly 23, which improves the shaping effect on the positive electrode tab 222a and the negative electrode tab 222b, fully utilizes the space between the current collecting part 24 and the end cap assembly 23, reduces the space occupied by the positive electrode tab 222a and the negative electrode tab 222b inside the case 21, and provides more space for the main body portion 221 of the electrode assembly, which is advantageous for improving the energy density of the battery cell 20.

[0117] Referring to FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a battery cell 20 according to some embodiments of the present application, the embodiments of the present application provide a method for manufacturing a battery cell 20, and the manufacturing method includes:

[0118] S100: Providing a battery core 22 including a main body portion 221 and a tab 222 protruding from one end of the main body portion 221 in a first direction Z and including a first connection portion 2221; S200: Providing a case 21 having an opening; S300: Provide an end cap assembly 23; S400: Providing a current collecting part 24; S500: Connect the current collecting part 24 to the first connecting part 2221 and the end cap assembly 23; S600: The battery core 22 is housed in the case 21; S700: The end cap assembly 23 is placed over the opening.

[0119] Here, in the first direction Z, the current collecting part 24 is located on the side of the main body portion 221 facing the end cap assembly 23, and the first connection portion 2221 is located on the side of the current collecting part 24 facing the end cap assembly 23.

[0120] In the above method, the order of steps S100, S200, S300 and S400 is not limited. For example, step S400 may be performed first, followed by step S300, then step S200, and then step S100.

[0121] In the above method, the order of steps S500 and S600 is not limited. For example, step S600 may be executed first, and then step S500.

[0122] Referring to FIG. 9, FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a battery cell 20 according to some other embodiments of the present application, in an embodiment in which a folded portion 241 is provided on the current collecting part 24, step S500 may include:

[0123] S510: Connect the first connection portion 2221 to the folded-back portion 241; S520: Fold the folded-back portion 241 back onto the current collecting part 24 so that the tab 222 is folded around the current collecting part 24; S530: The end cap assembly 23 is connected to the current collecting part 24 so that the first connecting portion 2221 is positioned on the side of the current collecting part 24 facing the end cap assembly 23.

[0124] It should be noted that the relevant structures of the battery cell 20 manufactured by the manufacturing methods according to the above embodiments may refer to the battery cell 20 according to the above embodiments, and will not be further described here.

[0125] Referring to FIG. 10 , FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a manufacturing equipment 2000 for a battery cell 20 according to some embodiments of the present application, which further provides a manufacturing equipment 2000 for a battery cell 20, the manufacturing equipment 2000 including a first providing apparatus 2100, a second providing apparatus 2200, a third providing apparatus 2300, a fourth providing apparatus 2400, and an assembly apparatus 2500.

[0126] The first providing device 2100 is used to provide the battery core 22, the battery core 22 includes a body portion 221 and a tab 222, the tab 222 protrudes from one end of the body portion 221 in the first direction Z, and the tab 222 includes a first connecting portion 2221. The second providing device 2200 is used to provide the case 21, the case 21 has an opening. The third providing device 2300 is used to provide the end cap assembly 23. The fourth providing device 2400 is used to provide the current collecting part 24. The assembling device 2500 is used to connect the current collecting part 24 to the first connecting portion 2221 and the end cap assembly 23, the assembling device 2500 is further used to accommodate the battery core 22 in the case 21, and the assembling device 2500 is further used to cover the opening with the end cap assembly 23.

[0127] Here, in the first direction Z, the current collecting part 24 is located on the side of the main body portion 221 facing the end cap assembly 23, and the first connection portion 2221 is located on the side of the current collecting part 24 facing the end cap assembly 23.

[0128] It should be mentioned that the relevant structures of the battery cell 20 manufactured by the manufacturing equipment 2000 according to the above embodiment may refer to the battery cell 20 according to each of the above-mentioned embodiments, and will not be further described here.

[0129] It should be mentioned that, unless there is a conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments in the present application can be combined with each other.

[0130] The above examples are only intended to explain the technical solution of the present application, and are not intended to limit the present application, and those skilled in the art may make various modifications and variations to the present application. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present application shall be included within the protection scope of the present application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0131] 10-housing, 11-first part, 12-second part, 20-battery cell, 21-case, 22-battery core, 221-main body, 222-tab, 222a-positive electrode tab, 222b-negative electrode tab, 2221-first connection part, 2222-second connection part, 23-end cap assembly, 231-end cap, 232-insulating member, 2321-inner surface, 2322-first recess, 2322a-bottom surface, 2323-outer surface, 2324-first protrusion, 233-electrode terminal, 233a-positive electrode terminal, 233b-negative electrode terminal Pole terminal, 24-current collecting part, 241-fold portion, 242-first current collecting part, 243-second current collecting part, 244-accommodating space, 245-boss, 246-third current collecting part, 25-pressure relief mechanism, 26-accommodating gap, 100-battery, 200-controller, 300-motor, 1000-vehicle, 2000-manufacturing equipment, 2100-first providing device, 2200-second providing device, 2300-third providing device, 2400-fourth providing device, 2500-assembly device, Z-first direction, X-second direction, Y-third direction.

Claims

1. A battery cell, a battery core including a body portion and a tab protruding from one end of the body portion in a first direction; a case having an opening for accommodating the battery core; an end cap assembly for covering the opening; a current collecting part located on a side of the body portion facing the end cap assembly in a first direction, for connecting the tab and the end cap assembly; wherein the tab includes a first connection portion for connecting with the current collecting part, and in the first direction, the first connection portion is disposed on a side of the current collecting part facing the end cap assembly; The end cap assembly includes: an end cap for covering the opening; an electrode terminal disposed on the end cap for electrically connecting to the current collecting component; an insulating member disposed on a side of the end cap facing the main body in the first direction, for separating the end cap from the battery core; the current collecting part includes a first current collecting part for connecting with the first connection part, and an accommodating gap is formed between the first current collecting part and the insulating member in the first direction, the accommodating gap is used to accommodate the first connection part, the insulating member has an inner surface facing the main body portion, and a first recess is provided in the insulating member, the first recess being recessed from the inner surface along a direction away from the main body portion, and the first recess is used to accommodate at least a portion of the first current collecting portion; The battery cell, in which the accommodation gap is formed between the first current collecting portion and a bottom surface of the first recess in the first direction.

2. 2. The battery cell according to claim 1, wherein the current collecting part has a folded portion, the folded portion is arranged so as to be able to be folded back on a side of the current collecting part toward the end cap assembly in the first direction, and the folded portion is used to connect the first connection part.

3. 3. The battery cell of claim 2, wherein in the first direction, the first connection portion is stacked with the folded portion, and the first connection portion is located on a side of the folded portion toward the end cap assembly.

4. The battery cell according to claim 2 , wherein the folded-back portion is connected to an edge position of the current collecting component so as to be able to be folded back.

5. the folded-back portion is connected to both opposing ends of the current collecting component in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction; 5. The battery cell according to claim 2, wherein the battery core includes two tabs spaced apart from each other on the main body along the second direction, and first connection portions of the two tabs are respectively connected to the two folded-back portions.

6. The battery cell according to claim 2 , wherein the folded portion and the current collecting part are of an integrally molded structure.

7. the tab is folded around the current collecting piece; 7. The battery cell according to claim 1, wherein the tab further includes a second connection portion, the second connection portion being used to connect the main body portion and the first connection portion, and in the first direction, the second connection portion is located on a side of the current collecting part facing the main body portion.

8. 2. The battery cell of claim 1, wherein the insulating member has an outer surface facing away from the main body portion, a first convex portion protruding from the outer surface at a position corresponding to the first concave portion, the first concave portion recessed from the inner surface into the first convex portion along a direction facing away from the main body portion, and a second concave portion is provided in the end cap, and the second concave portion is used to accommodate at least a portion of the first convex portion.

9. the current collecting component further includes a second current collecting part, the second current collecting part is connected to the first current collecting part, and the second current collecting part is used for electrically connecting to the electrode terminal; 9. The battery cell according to claim 1, wherein in the first direction, the first current collecting portion and the second current collecting portion are arranged offset from each other so that the current collecting part forms an accommodation space on a side of the first current collecting portion facing the main body portion, and the accommodation space is used to accommodate a portion of the tab.

10. A battery, A battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 9; and a housing for housing the battery cell.

11. A power consumer device comprising the battery of claim 10.

12. A method for manufacturing a battery cell, comprising: providing a battery core including a body portion and a tab protruding from one end of the body portion in a first direction and including a first connection portion; providing a case having an opening; providing an end cap assembly; Providing a current collecting component; connecting the current collecting piece to the first connection portion and to the end cap assembly; housing the battery core in the case; and placing an end cap assembly over the opening; In the first direction, the current collecting part is located on a side of the main body portion facing the end cap assembly, and the first connection part is located on a side of the current collecting part facing the end cap assembly, The end cap assembly includes: an end cap for covering the opening; an electrode terminal disposed on the end cap for electrically connecting to the current collecting component; an insulating member disposed on a side of the end cap facing the main body in the first direction, for separating the end cap from the battery core; the current collecting part includes a first current collecting part for connecting with the first connection part, and an accommodating gap is formed between the first current collecting part and the insulating member in the first direction, the accommodating gap is used to accommodate the first connection part, the insulating member has an inner surface facing the main body portion, and a first recess is provided in the insulating member, the first recess being recessed from the inner surface along a direction away from the main body portion, and the first recess is used to accommodate at least a portion of the first current collecting portion; the accommodating gap is formed between the first current collecting portion and a bottom surface of the first recess in the first direction.

13. A folded portion is provided on the current collecting part, connecting the current collecting piece to the first connection portion and to the end cap assembly, connecting the first connection portion to the folded portion; folding the fold back portion against the current collecting piece such that the tab is folded around the current collecting piece; and connecting the end cap assembly to the current collecting part so that the first connection portion is positioned on a side of the current collecting part facing the end cap assembly.

14. A battery cell manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing battery cells, comprising: a first providing device for providing a battery core including a body portion and a tab protruding from one end of the body portion in a first direction and including a first connection portion; a second providing device for providing a case having an opening; a third application device for applying the end cap assembly; a fourth presenting device for presenting a current collecting piece; an assembly device for connecting the current collecting part to the first connection part and the end cap assembly, for housing the battery core in the case, and for covering the end cap assembly over the opening; The battery cell to be manufactured is In the first direction, the current collecting part is located on a side of the main body portion facing the end cap assembly, and the first connection part is located on a side of the current collecting part facing the end cap assembly, The end cap assembly includes: an end cap for covering the opening; an electrode terminal disposed on the end cap for electrically connecting to the current collecting component; an insulating member disposed on a side of the end cap facing the main body in the first direction, for separating the end cap from the battery core; the current collecting part includes a first current collecting part for connecting with the first connection part, and an accommodating gap is formed between the first current collecting part and the insulating member in the first direction, the accommodating gap is used to accommodate the first connection part, the insulating member has an inner surface facing the main body portion, and a first recess is provided in the insulating member, the first recess being recessed from the inner surface along a direction away from the main body portion, and the first recess is used to accommodate at least a portion of the first current collecting portion; The housing gap is formed between the first current collecting portion and a bottom surface of the first recess in the first direction. Battery cell manufacturing equipment.

Images