Battery assembling system and battery assembling method

Abstract

The present application discloses a battery assembling system and a battery assembling method. The battery assembling system comprises a first transport mechanism, a hoisting mechanism, a flip mechanism, and an inversion mechanism; the hoisting mechanism is used for inverting a case to a battery module of the inversion mechanism; the inversion mechanism is used for assembling the inverted case and the battery module into an inverted battery pack and transporting the inverted battery pack to the first transport mechanism; the first transport mechanism is used for transporting the inverted battery pack to the flip mechanism; and the flip mechanism is used for flipping the inverted battery pack into an upright battery pack. Therefore, the hoisting mechanism does not need to hoist and flip the overall structure of the battery module and the case, so that the large safety risk caused by large hoisting weight of the hoisting mechanism can be relieved, and the risk of large relative displacement of the battery module and the case caused by the unstable hoisting process of the hoisting mechanism can be relieved, thereby improving the product yield.

Description

Battery assembly system and battery assembly method

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 2023116726313, filed on December 6, 2023, entitled “A Battery Assembly System and Battery Assembly Method,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical field

[0002] The present application relates to the technical field of battery production, and in particular to a battery assembly system and a battery assembly method. [Background Technology]

[0003] Energy conservation and emission reduction are key to sustainable development, which in turn promotes the adjustment of energy structure and drives the development and application of battery technology. The key to the development of battery technology lies in electrochemical energy storage technology. Due to its advantages such as high energy density, good cycle life, high operating voltage, environmental friendliness, and low self-discharge, it has been widely used in portable electronics, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems.

[0004] In the battery production system, the battery module and the box need to be flipped as a whole. However, in the existing battery production system, the battery module and the box are directly flipped as a whole using a lifting mechanism. However, the overall weight of the battery module and the box is relatively large. If the lifting mechanism is directly used for lifting and flipping, there will be great risks.

[0005] [Summary of the invention]

[0006] The main purpose of this application is to provide a battery assembly system and a battery assembly method, aiming to solve the above-mentioned technical problems existing in the prior art.

[0007] To solve the above problems, the present application provides a battery assembly system, which includes a first transport mechanism, a lifting mechanism, a flipping mechanism and an inverted mechanism; the lifting mechanism is used to invert the box body onto the battery module of the inverted mechanism; the inverted mechanism is used to assemble the inverted box body and the battery module into an inverted battery pack, and to transport the inverted battery pack to the first transport mechanism; the first transport mechanism is used to transport the inverted battery pack to the flipping mechanism; and the flipping mechanism is used to flip the inverted battery pack into an upright battery pack. Thus, the lifting mechanism inverts the box onto the battery module of the inverting mechanism, assembles the battery module and the box through the inverting mechanism to obtain an inverted battery pack, and transports the inverted battery pack to the flipping mechanism through the inverting mechanism and the first transport mechanism respectively, so that the flipping mechanism flips the inverted battery pack into an upright battery pack. There is no need for the lifting mechanism to lift and flip the overall structure of the battery module and the box, which can alleviate the greater safety risks caused by the heavy weight lifted by the lifting mechanism, and can also alleviate the risk of large relative displacement of the battery module and the box due to the unstable lifting process of the lifting mechanism, thereby improving product yield.

[0008] In some embodiments, the battery module is supported on a carrier, which is supported on a first transport mechanism, so that the inverted battery pack and the carrier are transported to the flipping mechanism via the first transport mechanism. The battery assembly system also includes a second transport mechanism, which is used to support a box for transporting the upright battery pack. Thus, the battery module is supported on the carrier, and the box is inverted on the battery module, which can effectively protect the battery module through the box and the carrier. Furthermore, the carrier supported on the first transport mechanism facilitates the stable transportation of the inverted battery pack by the first transport mechanism in conjunction with the carrier, while the box supported on the second transport mechanism facilitates the stable transportation of the upright battery pack by the second transport mechanism in conjunction with the box.

[0009] In some embodiments, the flipping mechanism clamps the load and the box to flip the inverted battery pack into an upright position. Thus, the flipping mechanism clamps the load and the box, stably clamping and flipping the battery module without damaging the battery module. This improves flipping safety compared to a hoisting mechanism that lifts and flips the battery module and box.

[0010] In some embodiments, the flip mechanism is used to separate the upright battery pack from the load, the second transport mechanism carries the box to transport the upright battery pack, and the first transport mechanism is used to transport the load. Thus, after the flip mechanism flips the inverted battery pack into an upright position, the upright battery pack can be directly separated from the load, facilitating separate transportation and processing of the upright battery pack and the load, alleviating the load from interfering with subsequent operations and improving battery module assembly efficiency.

[0011] In some embodiments, the battery assembly system further includes a pressurizing mechanism, and the second transport mechanism transports the box and battery modules to the pressurizing mechanism, which is used to compress the box and battery modules. Thus, by compressing the battery modules and box with the pressurizing mechanism, the fixation of the battery modules and box can be improved, thereby increasing the efficiency of battery module assembly.

[0012] In some embodiments, at least one of the first transport route of the first transport mechanism and the second transport route of the second transport mechanism is circular. Thus, compared to traditional single-line transport routes, the circular shape of at least one of the first transport route and the second transport route can reduce the footprint of logistics distribution by reducing the need for a large area.

[0013] In some embodiments, the flipping mechanism is located on both the first and second transport routes. This facilitates the first transport mechanism to transport the inverted battery pack to the flipping mechanism, and facilitates the second transport mechanism to transport the upright battery pack away from the flipping mechanism, thereby improving overall transportation efficiency and further alleviating the problem of dispersed logistics distribution and the large area occupied.

[0014] In some embodiments, the second transport route is annular, and the hoisting mechanism flips the box outside the loop of the second transport route. Thus, the hoisting mechanism flips the box outside the loop of the second transport route, which can reduce the risk of interference caused by the second transport route when flipping the box.

[0015] In some embodiments, the battery assembly system further includes a gluing mechanism for applying adhesive to the box, and a second transport mechanism for transporting the glue-coated box so that the hoisting mechanism can lift the box. Thus, the gluing mechanism applies adhesive to the box, which can bond the box and battery module together via the adhesive, thereby improving the stability of the flip-down battery pack and the secure bonding between the battery module and the box, thereby ensuring the stability and safety of the battery module.

[0016] In some embodiments, the position where the lifting mechanism lifts the box, the position where the inverting mechanism is located, and the position where the first transport mechanism receives the inverted battery pack are in the same direction. Thus, the position where the lifting mechanism lifts the box, the position where the inverting mechanism is located, and the position where the first transport mechanism receives the inverted battery pack are in the same direction, which can make the layout of the battery assembly system more reasonable and alleviate the problems of dispersed logistics distribution and large floor space.

[0017] To solve the above problems, the present application provides a battery assembly method for a battery assembly system as described above, the battery assembly method comprising: in response to a hoisting mechanism, inverting a box onto a battery module to obtain an inverted battery pack, and transporting the inverted battery pack to a first transport mechanism via the inverting mechanism; in response to the inverted battery pack being located on the first transport mechanism, transporting the inverted battery pack to a flipping mechanism via the first transport mechanism; and in response to the inverted battery pack being transported to the flipping mechanism, flipping the inverted battery pack into an upright battery pack via the flipping mechanism. Thus, the first transport mechanism transports the inverted battery pack to the flipping mechanism, and the flipping mechanism flips the inverted battery pack into an upright battery pack. This eliminates the need to lift and flip the overall structure of the battery module and box via the hoisting mechanism, alleviating the greater safety risks caused by the heavy weight hoisted by the hoisting mechanism. It also mitigates the risk of large relative displacement between the battery module and the box due to an unstable hoisting process by the hoisting mechanism, thereby improving product yield.

[0018] In some embodiments, the battery assembly method further includes: responding to the flipping mechanism flipping the inverted battery pack into an upright battery pack, separating the upright battery pack from a load via the flipping mechanism; and transporting the upright battery pack and the load separately from the flipping mechanism. Thus, after the flipping mechanism flips the inverted battery pack into an upright battery pack, the upright battery pack can be directly separated from the load, facilitating separate transportation and processing of the upright battery pack and the load, alleviating the load from interfering with subsequent operations and improving battery module assembly efficiency.

[0019] In some embodiments, the steps of separately transporting the upright battery pack and the load from the flipping mechanism include: receiving the upright battery pack at the flipping mechanism via a second transport mechanism to transport the upright battery pack away from the flipping mechanism; and, in response to the upright battery pack being transported away from the flipping mechanism, receiving the load from the flipping mechanism via the first transport mechanism to transport the load away from the flipping mechanism. Thus, by first transporting the upright battery pack away from the flipping mechanism via the second transport mechanism, and then transporting the load away from the flipping mechanism via the first transport mechanism, the overall operational layout is more rationalized, preventing the load from interfering with subsequent operations and improving battery module assembly efficiency.

[0020] In some embodiments, after receiving the upright battery pack at the flipping mechanism via the second transport mechanism and transporting the upright battery pack away from the flipping mechanism, the battery assembly method includes: transporting the upright battery pack to a pressing mechanism via the second transport mechanism; and compacting the box and the battery module via the pressing mechanism. Thus, compacting the battery module and the box via the pressing mechanism can improve the securing effect between the battery module and the box, thereby increasing the efficiency of battery module assembly.

[0021] In some embodiments, in response to the hoisting mechanism inverting the box onto the battery module to obtain an inverted battery pack, the step of transporting the inverted battery pack to the first transport mechanism via the inverting mechanism includes: transporting the box to a lifting station via the second transport mechanism; the hoisting mechanism lifting the box at the lifting station; flipping the box via the hoisting mechanism; inverting the flipped box onto the battery module of the inverting mechanism; assembling the inverted box and the battery module into an inverted battery pack via the inverting mechanism; and transporting the inverted battery pack to the first transport mechanism via the inverting mechanism. Thus, transporting the box to the lifting station via the second transport mechanism facilitates the hoisting operation of the box by the hoisting mechanism, thereby improving the automation of battery assembly. The hoisting mechanism only needs to lift and flip the box. Compared with the hoisting mechanism lifting and flipping the entire structure of the battery module and the box, it can alleviate the greater safety risks caused by the heavy weight lifted by the hoisting mechanism. It can also alleviate the risk of large relative displacement of the battery module and the box caused by the unstable hoisting process of the hoisting mechanism, thereby improving product yield.

[0022] In some embodiments, the step of transporting the box to the lifting station via the second transport mechanism includes: transporting the box to a gluing mechanism via the second transport mechanism; gluing the box via the gluing mechanism; and transporting the gluing box to the lifting station via the second transport mechanism. Thus, by coating the box with adhesive via the gluing mechanism, the box and the battery module can be bonded together via the adhesive, thereby improving the stability of the flip-chip battery pack and mitigating the risk of significant displacement of the battery module within the box.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0024] FIG1 is a first structural schematic block diagram of a battery assembly system according to one or more embodiments of the present application;

[0025] FIG2 is a disassembled schematic diagram of a battery module, a box, and a carrier according to one or more embodiments of the present application;

[0026] FIG3 is a second structural schematic block diagram of a battery assembly system according to one or more embodiments of the present application;

[0027] FIG4 is a schematic flow chart of a battery assembly method according to one or more embodiments of the present application.

[0028] Reference numerals: battery assembly system 10 ; box 20 ; battery module 30 ; load 40 ; first transport mechanism 100 ; first transport route 110 ; lifting mechanism 200 ; inversion mechanism 300 ; flipping mechanism 400 ; second transport mechanism 500 ; second transport route 510 ; pressurizing mechanism 600 ; gluing mechanism 700 . [Specific implementation method]

[0029] The following embodiments of the technical solution of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present application and are therefore only examples and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application.

[0030] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs; the terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application; the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of this application and the above-mentioned figure descriptions are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0031] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the technical terms "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish different objects and should not be understood to indicate or imply relative importance or implicitly specify the quantity, specific order, or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of this application, the meaning of "plurality" is more than two, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0032] References herein to "embodiments" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0033] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "and / or" is simply a description of the association relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent the following three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0034] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the term "multiple" refers to more than two (including two). Similarly, "multiple groups" refers to more than two groups (including two groups), and "multiple pieces" refers to more than two pieces (including two pieces).

[0035] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the technical terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0036] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, technical terms such as "installed," "connected," "connected," and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integration; mechanical connections or electrical connections; direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; internal connections between two components or interactions between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present application based on specific circumstances.

[0037] Currently, market developments indicate that batteries are increasingly being used. They are not only used in energy storage systems such as hydropower, thermal, wind, and solar power plants, but are also widely used in electric vehicles like electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and electric cars, as well as in military equipment and aerospace. As battery applications continue to expand, market demand is also growing.

[0038] Batteries mentioned in this field can be categorized as either primary batteries or rechargeable batteries, depending on whether they are rechargeable. Primary batteries are also called "disposable" batteries or primary batteries because once they are depleted, they cannot be recharged and must be discarded. Rechargeable batteries are also called secondary batteries, secondary batteries, or storage batteries. Rechargeable batteries are manufactured using different materials and processes than primary batteries. Their advantage is that they can be reused multiple times after charging, and their output current capacity is higher than that of most primary batteries. Common types of rechargeable batteries include lead-acid batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries offer advantages such as light weight, high capacity (1.5 to 2 times that of nickel-metal hydride batteries of the same weight), no memory effect, and a very low self-discharge rate. Consequently, despite their relatively high price, they are widely used. Lithium-ion batteries are also widely used in pure electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. While the capacity of lithium-ion batteries used for these applications is relatively low, they offer high output, high charging current, and a long service life, albeit at a higher cost.

[0039] The batteries described in the embodiments of this application are either rechargeable batteries or disposable batteries. The embodiments disclosed herein will be described primarily using lithium-ion batteries as an example. It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are applicable to any other suitable type of rechargeable battery. The batteries described in the embodiments disclosed herein can be directly or indirectly used in appropriate devices to power such devices.

[0040] Batteries can be used in electrical devices, which can use the battery to provide electrical energy to perform corresponding functions. Electrical devices may include, but are not limited to, mobile phones, tablets, laptops, electric toys, power tools, electric vehicles, electric cars, ships, spacecraft, etc. Electric toys may include fixed or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric ship toys, and electric airplane toys. Spacecraft may include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and spacecraft, etc.

[0041] The battery may include a battery module and a housing. The battery module may be disposed within the housing to provide better protection for the battery module. The battery module may include multiple battery cells, which may be connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid configuration. A hybrid configuration refers to multiple battery cells being connected in both series and parallel. Multiple battery cells may be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid configuration, and then the entire structure of the multiple battery cells may be housed within the housing. Alternatively, the battery module may be formed by first connecting multiple battery cells in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid configuration to form a battery module, and then connecting multiple battery modules in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid configuration to form a battery module.

[0042] Among them, battery cell production methods include laminated and wound types, that is, battery cells are divided into two types: laminated batteries and wound batteries. Laminated batteries have uniform current collection effect, low internal resistance, and high specific power, but in order to improve precision, they require extremely high mold precision, high equipment investment, and relatively complex processes, resulting in low production efficiency. Wound batteries are simple to produce, with moderate equipment precision requirements during the production and assembly processes, high production efficiency, and low cost. In terms of performance, wound batteries have excellent high and low temperature performance, very fast charging, ultra-long life, stable high output voltage, solid structure, and strong shock resistance.

[0043] In battery production systems, the battery module and case need to be flipped as a whole. However, in related battery production systems, a lifting mechanism is directly used to flip the battery module and case as a whole. However, the battery module and case are heavy, so using a lifting mechanism directly for flipping the battery module and case can be risky. Furthermore, the lifting process may be unstable, causing relative displacement between the battery module and case, resulting in offset placement of the battery module into the case, which may not meet product quality requirements.

[0044] In order to solve the technical problems existing in the related art, the present application provides a battery assembly system. See Figure 1, which is a first structural schematic block diagram of a battery assembly system according to one or more embodiments of the present application.

[0045] The battery assembly system 10 includes a first transport mechanism 100 , a hoisting mechanism 200 , a turning mechanism 400 and an inverting mechanism 300 .

[0046] The hoisting mechanism 200 may include, but is not limited to, a crane, and for example, a mobile crane with a lattice jib, a bridge crane, a gantry crane, a mobile crane, etc. The hoisting mechanism 200 may suspend an object, move the suspended object from one location to another, or perform operations such as flipping the suspended object.

[0047] The first transport mechanism 100 may include, but is not limited to, an intelligent transport vehicle, an intelligent transport robot, and an unmanned guided vehicle. For example, the first transport mechanism 100 may be an AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle), which may include an electromagnetic, optical, or visual automatic guidance device, enabling the AGV to travel along a predetermined route or a self-planned route, thereby serving as a transport vehicle with a carrying function. The first transport mechanism 100 may carry items to transport the items from one location to another along a predetermined transport trajectory.

[0048] The inverting mechanism 300 can be used to provide a working platform for carrying items and to assemble two items on the working platform. The inverting mechanism 300 can also push the carried items to the first transport mechanism 100 so that the first transport mechanism 100 can transport the items.

[0049] The flipping mechanism 400 can flip the article. For example, the flipping mechanism 400 can first clamp the article and then flip the article to a specific angle in a certain direction.

[0050] 2 , FIG2 is a disassembled schematic diagram of a battery module 30 , a box 20 , and a carrier 40 according to one or more embodiments of the present application.

[0051] The hoisting mechanism 200 is used to invert the housing 20 onto the battery module 30 of the inversion mechanism 300. The housing 20 may include, but is not limited to, a vehicle chassis or a battery box. When the housing 20 is a vehicle chassis, the battery module 30 and the vehicle chassis are integrated, thus embracing CTC (Cell to Chassis) technology. This reduces battery space usage, increases battery capacity per unit space, and improves range. It also enhances the structural strength of the vehicle chassis and improves vehicle safety.

[0052] The battery module 30 can be placed on the inverted mechanism 300 in advance. When the battery module 30 needs to be assembled with the box body 20, the box body 20 can be suspended to the battery module 30 by the lifting mechanism 200. Specifically, the box body 20 can have an inwardly recessed receiving groove. When the opening of the receiving groove faces upward in the direction of gravity, the box body 20 can be considered to be upright. When the opening of the receiving groove faces downward, the box body 20 can be considered to be inverted. The inverted placement of the box body 20 on the battery module 30 of the inverted mechanism 300 can be understood as: the position of the battery module 30 remains unchanged, and the box body 20 approaches the battery module 30 from top to bottom along the direction of gravity until the battery module 30 is accommodated in the receiving groove of the box body 20. Among them, the lifting mechanism 200 can flip the box body 20 during the process of suspending the box body 20, so as to facilitate the inverted placement of the box body 20 on the battery module 30 of the inverted mechanism 300.

[0053] The inversion mechanism 300 is used to assemble the inverted case 20 and battery module 30 into an inverted battery pack and transport the inverted battery pack to the first transport mechanism 100. The first transport mechanism 100 is used to transport the inverted battery pack to the flipping mechanism 400. When the case 20 is inverted onto the battery module 30 along the direction of gravity, the overall structure after the battery module 30 and the case 20 remain relatively fixed can be understood as an inverted battery pack. The inversion mechanism 300 provides a working platform for carrying items. The battery module 30 can be placed on the working platform of the inversion mechanism 300 to facilitate the lifting mechanism 200 to invert the case 20 onto the battery module 30. The inversion mechanism 300 may also include various auxiliary structures, such as structures for positioning the battery module 30, guiding the case 20 to invert onto the battery module 30, and adjusting the position of the inverted battery pack, so that the inverted case 20 and battery module 30 can be assembled into an inverted battery pack through the inversion mechanism 300. The first transport mechanism 100 can be moved to a predetermined position. After the inverted battery pack is formed, the inverted assembly mechanism 300 can guide the inverted battery pack to move onto the first transport mechanism 100 , so that the first transport mechanism 100 can move the inverted battery pack to the flip mechanism 400 .

[0054] The flipping mechanism 400 is used to flip an inverted battery pack into an upright position. An upright battery pack can be understood as one in which the battery module 30 is located above the housing 20 in the direction of gravity and supported by the housing 20. Upon detecting that an inverted battery pack has been transported to a predetermined location by the first transport mechanism 100, the flipping mechanism 400 can grip the inverted battery pack and flip it in a specific direction by a specific angle, for example, by flipping it 180° to an upright position.

[0055] Through the above embodiment, the lifting mechanism 200 inverts the box 20 onto the battery module 30 of the inverting mechanism 300, assembles the battery module 30 and the box 20 through the inverting mechanism 300 to obtain an inverted battery pack, and transports the inverted battery pack to the flipping mechanism 400 through the inverting mechanism 300 and the first transport mechanism 100 respectively, so that the flipping mechanism 400 flips the inverted battery pack into an upright battery pack. There is no need for the lifting mechanism 200 to lift and flip the overall structure of the battery module 30 and the box 20, which can alleviate the greater safety risks caused by the large weight hoisted by the lifting mechanism 200, and can also alleviate the risk of large relative displacement between the battery module 30 and the box 20 due to the unstable hoisting process of the lifting mechanism 200, thereby improving product yield.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 3 , FIG. 3 is a second structural schematic block diagram of the battery assembly system 10 according to one or more embodiments of the present application.

[0057] The battery module 30 is carried on the carrier 40, and the carrier 40 is carried on the first transport mechanism 100, so that the inverted battery pack and the carrier 40 are transported to the flipping mechanism 400 through the first transport mechanism 100; the battery assembly system 10 also includes a second transport mechanism 500, which is used to carry the box 20 to transport the upright battery pack.

[0058] The carrier 40 may include, but is not limited to, a battery tray. The carrier 40 may be used to carry the battery module 30. The carrier 40 may be provided with a fixing structure for securing the battery module 30. For example, the carrier 40 may be formed with a positioning groove, the radial dimension of which may be slightly larger than the radial dimension of the battery module 30. When the carrier 40 carries the battery module 30, the battery module 30 is partially accommodated in the positioning groove, thereby securing the battery module 30. In the initial state, the carrier 40 is positioned on the inversion mechanism 300, and the battery module 30 can be supported on the carrier 40. After the lifting mechanism 200 inverts the box 20 onto the battery module 30 on the inversion mechanism 300 to obtain an inverted battery pack, the inversion mechanism 300 transports the carrier 40 and the inverted battery pack together, and the inverted battery pack is received by the first transport mechanism 100, facilitating the first transport mechanism 100 to transport the carrier 40 and the inverted battery pack to the flip mechanism 400. Among them, the first transport mechanism 100 can be provided with a structure matching the load 40. When the first transport mechanism 100 transports the load 40, the first transport mechanism 100 can have a better fixing effect on the load 40, thereby improving the stability of the first transport mechanism 100 in the process of transporting the inverted battery pack.

[0059] The second transport mechanism 500 may include, but is not limited to, an intelligent transport vehicle, an intelligent transport robot, and an unmanned guided vehicle. For example, the second transport mechanism 500 may be an AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle), which may include an electromagnetic, optical, or visual automatic guidance device, so that the AGV can travel along a predetermined route or a route planned by itself, and thus can serve as a transport vehicle with a carrying function. The second transport mechanism 500 can carry the box 20 to transport the box 20 from one location to another along a predetermined transport trajectory. The second transport mechanism 500 can be used to transport the box 20 to a position convenient for lifting by the hoisting mechanism 200, and can be used to receive the upright battery pack at the flipping mechanism 400 to transport the upright battery pack away from the flipping mechanism 400. The second transport mechanism 500 may be provided with a structure that matches the box 20. When the second transport mechanism 500 transports the box 20 or the upright battery pack, the second transport mechanism 500 can better fix the box 20, thereby improving the stability of the second transport mechanism 500 in the process of transporting the box 20 or the upright battery pack. Thus, the battery module 30 is supported on the load 40, and the box 20 is inverted on the battery module 30, effectively protecting the battery module 30 through the box 20 and the load 40. Furthermore, the load 40 is supported on the first transport mechanism 100, which facilitates the stable transportation of the inverted battery pack by cooperating with the load 40. The box 20 is supported on the second transport mechanism 500, which facilitates the stable transportation of the upright battery pack by cooperating with the box 20.

[0060] In some embodiments, the battery assembly system 10 further includes a gluing mechanism 700, which is used to apply adhesive to the box body 20, and the second transport mechanism 500 is used to transport the box body 20 after gluing so that the hoisting mechanism 200 can lift the box body 20. Adhesives may include, but are not limited to, instant glue, epoxy resin adhesives, anaerobic glues, hot melt adhesives, pressure-sensitive adhesives, latex, etc. In this embodiment, the box body 20 may have an inwardly concave receiving groove. In the direction of gravity, when the opening of the receiving groove faces upward, the box body 20 can be considered to be upright. When the opening of the receiving groove faces downward, the box body 20 can be considered to be inverted. When it is necessary to apply adhesive to the box body 20, the second transport mechanism 500 transports the upright box body 20 to the gluing mechanism 700, and the gluing mechanism 700 applies adhesive to the inner wall of the receiving groove of the box body 20. After the gluing operation is completed, the second transport mechanism 500 can transport the box 20 to a predetermined location. The hoisting mechanism 200 lifts the box 20 at the predetermined location and flips the box 20 so that it is inverted onto the battery module 30. Thus, the gluing mechanism 700 applies adhesive to the box 20, which can bond the box 20 and the battery module 30 together, improving the stability of the inverted battery pack and the firmness of the bonding between the battery module 30 and the box 20, thereby ensuring the stability and safety of the battery module 30.

[0061] In some embodiments, the flipping mechanism 400 clamps the load 40 and the case 20 to flip the inverted battery pack into an upright position. The battery module 30 is supported on the load 40, and the case 20 is inverted on the battery module 30. The load 40 and the case 20 can form a clamping structure around the battery module 30 from two opposing sides of the battery module 30. The flipping mechanism 400 can simultaneously clamp the load 40 and the case 20, allowing for stable gripping and flipping of the battery module 30 without damaging it. This improves safety during flipping compared to hoisting and flipping the battery module 30 and the case 20 using the hoisting mechanism 200.

[0062] Furthermore, the flipping mechanism 400 is used to separate the upright battery pack from the load 40, the second transport mechanism 500 carries the box 20 to transport the upright battery pack, and the first transport mechanism 100 is used to transport the load 40. After the flipping mechanism 400 clamps the load 40 and the box 20 to flip the inverted battery pack into an upright position, the load 40 is positioned above the battery module 30 in the direction of gravity. The flipping mechanism 400 can further clamp the load 40, eliminating the need for the load 40 to rest on the battery module 30, thereby achieving the purpose of separating the upright battery pack from the load 40. After the upright battery pack and the load 40 are separated, the second transport mechanism 500 transports the upright battery pack away from the flipping mechanism 400, and the first transport mechanism 100 transports the load 40 away from the flipping mechanism 400. For example, the second transport mechanism 500 may first move to the flipping mechanism 400 to receive the upright battery pack. After the second transport mechanism 500 transports the upright battery pack away from the flipping mechanism 400, the first transport mechanism 100 then moves to the flipping mechanism 400 to receive the load 40, thereby transporting the load 40 away from the flipping mechanism 400. Alternatively, after the flipping mechanism 400 separates the upright battery pack from the load 40, the flipping mechanism 400 may shift the upright battery pack and / or the load 40 in the direction of gravity, thereby allowing the first transport mechanism 100 and the second transport mechanism 500 to move to the flipping mechanism 400 simultaneously and transport the load 40 and the upright battery pack away from the flipping mechanism 400, respectively. Thus, after the flipping mechanism 400 flips the inverted battery pack into an upright position, the upright battery pack can be directly separated from the load 40, facilitating their separate transportation and processing, alleviating the obstruction of subsequent operations by the load 40 and improving the assembly efficiency of the battery module 30.

[0063] Furthermore, the battery assembly system 10 also includes a pressurizing mechanism 600. The second transport mechanism 500 transports the case 20 and the battery module 30 to the pressurizing mechanism 600, which is used to compress the case 20 and the battery module 30. After receiving the upright battery pack, the second transport mechanism 500 can transport the upright battery pack to the pressurizing mechanism 600. The pressurizing mechanism 600 presses the battery module 30, which can make the adhesive inside the case 20 more evenly distributed, improve the fixation effect between the battery module 30 and the case 20, and improve the assembly efficiency of the battery module 30. After the second transport mechanism 500 transports the upright battery pack to the pressurizing mechanism 600, the upright battery pack can remain in the second transport mechanism 500. The pressurizing mechanism 600 extends its pressurizing portion to press the battery module 30, thereby cooperating with the second transport mechanism 500 to compress the case 20 and the battery module 30.

[0064] In some embodiments, at least one of the first transport route 110 of the first transport mechanism 100 and the second transport route 510 of the second transport mechanism 500 is circular. In this embodiment, the first transport route 110 is circular, the second transport route 510 is circular, or both the first transport route 110 and the second transport route 510 are circular. The first transport mechanism 100 can travel along the first transport route 110, and the second transport mechanism 500 can travel along the second transport route 510. Compared to traditional single-line transport routes, this allows for a more concentrated footprint, alleviating the problem of dispersed logistics distribution and the resulting large footprint.

[0065] Furthermore, the flipping mechanism 400 is located on both the first transport route 110 and the second transport route 510. The flipping mechanism 400 can be located on the first transport route 110, while the gluing mechanism 700, the location where the hoisting mechanism 200 lifts the box 20, the flipping mechanism 400, and the pressurizing mechanism 600 can all be located on the second transport route 510. Thus, the flipping mechanism 400 is located on both the first transport route 110 and the second transport route 510, facilitating the first transport mechanism 100 to transport inverted battery packs to the flipping mechanism 400 and the second transport mechanism 500 to transport upright battery packs away from the flipping mechanism 400, thereby improving overall transportation efficiency and further alleviating the problem of dispersed logistics distribution and the large area occupied.

[0066] Furthermore, the second transport route 510 is annular, and the hoisting mechanism 200 flips the box 20 outside the loop of the second transport route 510. Specifically, after lifting the box 20, the hoisting mechanism 200 flips the box 20 outside the loop of the second transport route 510. This can reduce the risk of interference caused by the second transport route 510 when flipping the box 20, thereby facilitating the replacement of the inversion mechanism 300 and the flipping mechanism 400, and improving the layout flexibility of the battery assembly system 10.

[0067] In some embodiments, the position where the hoisting mechanism 200 lifts the box 20, the position where the inverting mechanism 300 is located, and the position where the first transport mechanism 100 receives the inverted battery pack are all in the same direction. This allows the suspension portion of the hoisting mechanism 200 to move in only one direction to complete the lifting, inversion, and inversion of the box 20 onto the battery module 30. This allows for a more rational layout of the battery assembly system 10 and alleviates the issues of dispersed logistics and large floor space requirements.

[0068] To sum up, the lifting mechanism 200 inverts the box 20 on the battery module 30 of the inverting mechanism 300 to obtain an inverted battery pack, and transports the inverted battery pack to the flipping mechanism 400 through the inverting mechanism 300 and the first transport mechanism 100 respectively, so that the flipping mechanism 400 flips the inverted battery pack into an upright battery pack. There is no need for the lifting mechanism 200 to lift and flip the overall structure of the battery module 30 and the box 20, which can alleviate the greater safety risks caused by the large weight hoisted by the lifting mechanism 200. At the same time, it can also alleviate the risk of large relative displacement between the battery module 30 and the box 20 due to the unstable hoisting process of the lifting mechanism 200, thereby improving the product yield.

[0069] To address the technical issues in the related art, this application provides a battery assembly method that can be applied to the battery assembly system 10 of any of the aforementioned embodiments. Referring to Figure 4 , Figure 4 is a schematic flow chart of a battery assembly method according to one or more embodiments of this application. Specifically, the method includes the following steps S401 to S403.

[0070] Step S401: In response to the hoisting mechanism, the box is inverted on the battery module to obtain an inverted battery pack, and the inverted battery pack is transported to the first transport mechanism through the inverting mechanism.

[0071] The battery modules can be pre-placed on the inversion mechanism. When the battery modules need to be assembled with the box, the box can be first transported to a predetermined position to facilitate the lifting of the box by the lifting mechanism. The box is then inverted onto the battery modules, and the inverted box and battery modules are assembled using the inversion mechanism to obtain an inverted battery pack. The first transport mechanism can remain at the predetermined position before the box is inverted. Once the inversion is detected, the inversion mechanism can be controlled to transport the inverted battery pack to the first transport mechanism.

[0072] Step S402: In response to the inverted battery pack being located on the first transport mechanism, the inverted battery pack is transported to the flipping mechanism via the first transport mechanism.

[0073] The first transport mechanism may be an unmanned guided vehicle (UGV), which may include an automatic guidance device such as an electromagnetic, optical, or visual device, enabling the UGV to travel along a pre-defined route or a self-planned route. Upon detecting that the first transport mechanism has received the inverted battery pack, the first transport mechanism may transport the inverted battery pack to the flipping mechanism along the predetermined transport path, so that the flipping mechanism can flip the inverted battery pack.

[0074] Step S403: In response to the inverted battery pack being transported to the flipping mechanism, the inverted battery pack is flipped into an upright battery pack by the flipping mechanism.

[0075] When an inverted battery pack is detected and transported to the predetermined position of the flip mechanism, the flip mechanism can be controlled to clamp the inverted battery pack and flip it in a certain direction to a specific angle. For example, the inverted battery pack can be flipped 180 degrees to form an upright battery pack. An upright battery pack can be understood as a battery module located above the box in the direction of gravity and supported by the box.

[0076] Through the above embodiment, the first transport mechanism transports the inverted battery pack to the flipping mechanism, and the flipping mechanism flips the inverted battery pack into an upright battery pack. There is no need to lift and flip the overall structure of the battery module and the box through the hoisting mechanism, which can alleviate the greater safety risks caused by the heavy weight hoisted by the hoisting mechanism. At the same time, it can also alleviate the risk of large relative displacement of the battery module and the box caused by the unstable hoisting process of the hoisting mechanism, thereby improving product yield.

[0077] Furthermore, the battery assembly method further includes: flipping the inverted battery pack into an upright battery pack in response to the flipping mechanism, separating the upright battery pack from the carrier through the flipping mechanism; and transporting the upright battery pack and the carrier separately from the flipping mechanism.

[0078] The carrier may include, but is not limited to, a battery tray, which can be used to support the battery module. Initially, the carrier is positioned on the inversion mechanism, and the battery module is supported on the carrier. After the hoisting mechanism inverts the box onto the battery module to produce an inverted battery module, the inversion mechanism transports the carrier and the inverted battery module together, which are then received by the first transport mechanism, facilitating transport of the carrier and the inverted battery module to the flipping mechanism. The battery module is supported on the carrier, and the box is inverted onto the battery module. The carrier and box can form a sandwich structure around the battery module from opposite sides of the battery module. The flipping mechanism can simultaneously clamp the carrier and box, allowing for stable grip and flipping of the battery module without damaging it. After the flipping mechanism clamps the carrier and box to flip the inverted battery module to an upright position, the carrier is positioned above the battery module in the direction of gravity. The flipping mechanism can further clamp the carrier, eliminating the need for the carrier to rest on the battery module, thereby separating the upright battery module from the carrier. After detecting that the upright battery pack is separated from the load, the load can be transported away from the flipping mechanism via the first transport mechanism, and the upright battery pack can be transported away from the flipping mechanism via the second transport mechanism. Thus, after the flipping mechanism flips the inverted battery pack to the upright position, the upright battery pack can be directly separated from the load, facilitating their separate transportation and processing, reducing the risk of the load interfering with subsequent operations and improving battery module assembly efficiency.

[0079] Furthermore, the steps of transporting the upright battery pack and the load respectively from the flipping mechanism include: receiving the upright battery pack at the flipping mechanism by the second transport mechanism to transport the upright battery pack away from the flipping mechanism; in response to the upright battery pack being transported away from the flipping mechanism, receiving the load at the flipping mechanism by the first transport mechanism to transport the load away from the flipping mechanism.

[0080] The second transport mechanism can first move to the flip mechanism to receive the upright battery pack. After the second transport mechanism transports the upright battery pack away from the flip mechanism, the first transport mechanism then moves to the flip mechanism to receive the load, thereby transporting the load away from the flip mechanism. This can streamline the overall operational layout, alleviate the load from interfering with subsequent operations, and improve battery module assembly efficiency. In other embodiments, after the flip mechanism separates the upright battery pack from the load, the flip mechanism can move the upright battery pack and / or the load to displace the upright battery pack and the load in the direction of gravity. This allows the first and second transport mechanisms to simultaneously move to the flip mechanism, and respectively transport the load and the upright battery pack away from the flip mechanism.

[0081] Furthermore, after the second transport mechanism receives the upright battery pack at the flipping mechanism to transport the upright battery pack away from the flipping mechanism, the battery assembly method includes: transporting the upright battery pack to the pressurizing mechanism by the second transport mechanism; and pressing the box body and the battery module by the pressurizing mechanism. After detecting that the second transport mechanism has transported the upright battery pack to the pressurizing mechanism, the pressurizing mechanism presses the battery module, which can make the adhesive inside the box body more evenly distributed, improve the fixing effect of the battery module and the box body, and improve the assembly efficiency of the battery module. After the second transport mechanism transports the upright battery pack to the pressurizing mechanism, the upright battery pack can remain in the second transport mechanism, and the pressurizing mechanism extends the pressurizing portion to press the battery module to cooperate with the second transport mechanism to press the box body and the battery module.

[0082] In some embodiments, in response to the lifting mechanism inverting the box onto the battery module to obtain an inverted battery pack, the step of transporting the inverted battery pack to the first transport mechanism through the inverted mechanism (step S401) includes: transporting the box to the lifting station through the second transport mechanism; the lifting mechanism lifts the box at the lifting station; flipping the box through the lifting mechanism; inverting the flipped box onto the battery module of the inverted mechanism, and assembling the inverted box and the battery module into an inverted battery pack through the inverted mechanism; and transporting the inverted battery pack to the first transport mechanism through the inverted mechanism.

[0083] The lifting station can be any position where the lifting mechanism can lift the box. For example, the lifting mechanism has a suspension part that can move in a specific direction, and the lifting station is located at any position on the movement path of the suspension part. The box can be placed upright on the second transport mechanism, and the box is transported to the lifting station by the second transport mechanism. After detecting that the second transport mechanism has transported the box to the lifting station, the lifting mechanism can connect with the box at the lifting station and suspend the box. The box is flipped from the upright state to the inverted state by the lifting mechanism, and the flipped box is inverted onto the battery module. The inverted box and the battery module are then assembled into an inverted battery pack by the inverting mechanism. After detecting that the box is inverted, the inverting mechanism can be controlled to transport the inverted battery pack to the first transport mechanism. Therefore, transporting the box to the lifting station through the second transport mechanism can facilitate the lifting operation of the box by the lifting mechanism, thereby improving the automation of battery assembly. The lifting mechanism only needs to lift and flip the box. Compared with the lifting mechanism lifting and flipping the overall structure of the battery module and the box, it can alleviate the greater safety risks caused by the heavy weight lifted by the lifting mechanism. At the same time, it can also alleviate the risk of large relative displacement of the battery module and the box due to the unstable lifting process of the lifting mechanism, thereby improving product yield.

[0084] Furthermore, the step of transporting the box to the lifting station via the second transport mechanism includes: transporting the box to the gluing mechanism via the second transport mechanism; gluing the box via the gluing mechanism; and transporting the glued box to the lifting station via the second transport mechanism. The box may have an inwardly recessed receiving groove. When adhesive glue is required to be applied to the box, the second transport mechanism transports the upright box to the gluing mechanism, which then applies adhesive to the inner wall of the receiving groove of the box. After the gluing operation is completed, the second transport mechanism transports the box to a predetermined location, where the lifting mechanism lifts the box and flips the box over so that it is placed upside down on the battery module.

[0085] To sum up, the first transport mechanism transports the inverted battery pack to the flipping mechanism, and the flipping mechanism flips the inverted battery pack into an upright battery pack. There is no need to lift and flip the overall structure of the battery module and the box through the lifting mechanism, which can alleviate the greater safety risks caused by the heavy weight lifted by the lifting mechanism. At the same time, it can also alleviate the risk of large relative displacement of the battery module and the box caused by the unstable lifting process of the lifting mechanism, thereby improving product yield.

[0086] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and they should all be included in the scope of the claims and specification of the present application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the various embodiments can be combined in any way. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions that fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A battery assembly system, characterized in that: The battery assembly system includes a first transportation mechanism, a hoisting mechanism, a flipping mechanism and an inverting mechanism; The hoisting mechanism is used to invert the box onto the battery module of the inverting mechanism; The inverted assembly mechanism is used to assemble the inverted box and the battery module into an inverted battery pack, and is used to transport the inverted battery pack to the first transport mechanism; The first transport mechanism is used to transport the inverted battery pack to the flip mechanism; The flipping mechanism is used to flip the inverted battery pack into an upright battery pack.

2. The battery assembly system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The battery module is carried on a carrier, and the carrier is carried on the first transport mechanism, so that the inverted battery module and the carrier are transported to the flip mechanism by the first transport mechanism; The battery assembly system further includes a second transport mechanism, which is used to carry the box to transport the upright battery pack.

3. The battery assembly system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The flipping mechanism clamps the carrier and the box to flip the inverted battery pack into the upright battery pack.

4. The battery assembly system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The flipping mechanism is used to separate the upright battery pack from the carrier, the second transport mechanism carries the box to transport the upright battery pack, and the first transport mechanism is used to transport the carrier.

5. The battery assembly system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The battery assembly system further includes a pressurizing mechanism, and the second transport mechanism transports the box and the battery module to the pressurizing mechanism, and the pressurizing mechanism is used to tightly press the box and the battery module.

6. The battery assembly system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that: At least one of the first transport route of the first transport mechanism and the second transport route of the second transport mechanism is circular.

7. The battery assembly system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The turning mechanism is located on the first transport route and the second transport route.

8. The battery assembly system according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: The second transport route is ring-shaped, and the hoisting mechanism flips the box outside the ring of the second transport route.

9. The battery assembly system according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that: The battery assembly system further includes a glue coating mechanism, which is used to coat adhesive glue on the box body, and the second transport mechanism is used to transport the glue-coated box body so that the lifting mechanism can lift the box body.

10. The battery assembly system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The station where the lifting mechanism lifts the box, the station where the inverted mechanism is located, and the station where the first transport mechanism receives the inverted battery pack are in the same direction.

11. A battery assembly method of a battery assembly system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: The battery assembly method comprises: In response to the hoisting mechanism inverting the box onto the battery module to obtain an inverted battery pack, the inverted battery pack is transported to the first transport mechanism by the inverted mechanism; In response to the inverted battery pack being located at the first transport mechanism, transporting the inverted battery pack to the flipping mechanism via the first transport mechanism; In response to the inverted battery pack being transported to the flipping mechanism, the inverted battery pack is flipped into an upright battery pack by the flipping mechanism.

12. The battery assembly method according to claim 11, characterized in that: The battery assembly method further comprises: In response to the flipping mechanism flipping the inverted battery pack into an upright battery pack, the upright battery pack is separated from a carrier by the flipping mechanism; The upright battery pack and the load are transported from the flipping mechanism respectively.

13. The battery assembly method according to claim 12, characterized in that: The steps of transporting the upright battery pack and the object from the flipping mechanism respectively include: Receiving the upright battery pack at the flipping mechanism by a second transport mechanism to transport the upright battery pack away from the flipping mechanism; In response to the upright battery pack being transported away from the flipping mechanism, the first transport mechanism receives the object at the flipping mechanism to transport the object away from the flipping mechanism.

14. The battery assembly method according to claim 13, characterized in that: After the step of receiving the upright battery pack at the flipping mechanism by a second transport mechanism to transport the upright battery pack away from the flipping mechanism, the battery assembly method includes: transporting the upright battery pack to a pressurizing mechanism by the second transport mechanism; The box body and the battery module are tightly pressed by the pressurizing mechanism.

15. The battery assembly method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that: The step of inverting the box onto the battery module to obtain an inverted battery pack in response to the hoisting mechanism, and transporting the inverted battery pack to the first transport mechanism by the inverted mechanism comprises: The box is transported to the lifting station by the second transport mechanism; The hoisting mechanism hoists the box at the hoisting station; Turning over the box body by means of the lifting mechanism; Place the flipped box upside down on the battery module of the inverted mechanism; Assembling the inverted box and the battery module into the inverted battery pack by the inverted mechanism; The inverted battery pack is transported to the first transport mechanism by the inverted mechanism.

16. The battery assembly method according to claim 15, characterized in that: The step of transporting the box to the lifting station by the second transport mechanism comprises: transporting the box to the gluing mechanism by the second transport mechanism; The box body is subjected to a gluing process by the gluing mechanism; The glue-coated box is transported to the lifting station by the second transport mechanism.

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