Welding apparatus, battery production line, and control method

Abstract

A welding apparatus (100), comprising: a pressing member (3). The pressing member comprises at least two sub-pressing members (31), and the sub-pressing members (31) are arranged in a first direction and each are provided with pressing heads (32), respectively; and each sub-pressing member (31) is respectively connected to a corresponding pressing mechanism (1), and is driven by the corresponding pressing mechanism (1) to press down, so that the pressing heads (32) abut against structures to be welded of a battery. According to the welding apparatus, pressure is applied to the plurality of structures to be welded in the battery, preventing the problem of inadequate pressing and fitting caused by height deviations of the structures to be welded, and improving the welding quality of the battery. Also provided are a battery production line and a control method for the welding apparatus.

Description

Welding device, battery production line and control method

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application number "202410026186.1" filed by Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. on January 8, 2024, entitled "A welding device, battery production line and control method". Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of batteries, and in particular to a welding device, a battery production line and a control method. Background Art

[0004] In existing battery manufacturing processes, welding is required to electrically connect the electrode terminals of battery cells to busbars. During this welding process, there is a technical problem that the welded structures are not tightly fitted together, resulting in gaps, which affects the welding quality.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, one purpose of the present application is to provide a welding device, a battery production line and a control method.

[0007] In the first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a welding device for battery welding, comprising: a pressing member and at least two pressing mechanisms, the pressing member comprising at least two sub-pressing members, the sub-pressing members being arranged along a first direction and respectively having a pressing head; each sub-pressing member is respectively connected to a corresponding pressing mechanism, and is driven downward by the corresponding pressing mechanism to make the pressing head abut against the structure to be welded of the battery.

[0008] Therefore, each sub-pressing member is provided with a pressure head and is connected to an independent pressing mechanism, which can be driven by the pressing mechanism to apply pressure to different structures to be welded of the battery, so that each structure to be welded can be effectively pressed, effectively avoiding the situation of loose welding caused by height deviation of the structure to be welded, thereby greatly improving the battery welding quality.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present application, the pressing mechanism includes: a mounting plate, a driving member and a pressing device, the driving member is arranged on the mounting plate and can move relative to the mounting plate along a second direction, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, the sub-pressing member is arranged on the driving member, the pressing device is installed on the mounting plate and the movable end is connected to the driving member, and is used to drive the driving member to press downward along the second direction.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present application, the welding device also includes: a first guide rail, the first guide rail is arranged along a first direction, each pressing mechanism is movably arranged on the first guide rail, and the mounting plate is provided with a sliding connection structure adapted to the first guide rail.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present application, the sliding connection structure includes a positioning mechanism and / or a locking mechanism, the positioning mechanism is used to position the sliding connection structure on the first guide rail; the locking mechanism is used to lock the position of the sliding connection structure on the first guide rail.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present application, the driving member includes: a first plate body and a second plate body, the first plate body is parallel to the mounting plate and is slidingly connected to the mounting plate through a second guide rail; the second plate body is arranged at the bottom of the first plate body and forms an L-shaped structure or a T-shaped structure with the first plate body, and the sub-pressure member is installed on the second plate body.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present application, the pressing mechanism includes at least two pressing components, and the at least two pressing components are arranged at intervals along the first direction.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present application, the sub-pressure member is detachably connected to the driving member, and the driving member is provided with a locking mechanism for locking the sub-pressure member, and the locking mechanism includes: any one of: an inflatable locking mechanism, an electromagnetic locking mechanism, a motor-driven locking mechanism, and a manual locking mechanism.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present application, the sub-pressing member is a plate-like structure, and a first through hole is provided on the sub-pressing member, which passes through the upper and lower surfaces of the sub-pressing member. A second through hole aligned with the first through hole is provided in the middle of the pressure head, and the second through hole passes through the upper and lower surfaces of the pressure head.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the present application, the pressing mechanism further includes: a protective plate, which is located on a side of the sub-pressing member facing away from the pressing head and is arranged around the area where the first through hole is located.

[0017] According to some embodiments of the present application, a plurality of pressing heads are distributed along a straight line on the sub-pressing member; and the protective plate is a rectangular frame arranged around the plurality of first through holes.

[0018] According to some embodiments of the present application, the pressure head is provided with a dust suction channel, which is connected to the second through hole and is used to remove particulate matter formed by welding.

[0019] According to some embodiments of the present application, the sub-pressing member and the pressing head are movably connected, and an elastic member is provided between the sub-pressing member and the pressing head, and the elastic member is used to apply the elastic force of the back-ion pressing member to the pressing head.

[0020] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery production line, comprising: a wire body and the above-mentioned welding device, wherein the wire body is used to carry batteries; and the welding device is arranged on the side of the wire body.

[0021] In a third aspect, the present application further proposes a control method for a welding device, the control method comprising:

[0022] Controlling at least two pressing mechanisms to drive corresponding sub-pressing members to press downward, so that the pressing heads on the sub-pressing members abut against the structure to be welded of the battery, wherein the sub-pressing members are arranged in a first direction and are respectively provided with the pressing heads;

[0023] Controlling the welding equipment to weld the structure to be welded.

[0024] Additional aspects and advantages of the present application will be given in part in the description below, and in part will become obvious from the description below, or will be learned through practice of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present application will become apparent and easily understood from the description of the embodiments in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0026] FIG1 is a front view of a welding device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] FIG2 is a top view of a welding device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a submodule of a welding device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0029] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a submodule of a welding device according to an embodiment of the present application when a protective plate is installed;

[0030] FIG5 is a partial enlarged view of portion A in FIG1 ;

[0031] FIG6 is a flow chart of a control method for a welding device according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] To make the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0033] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meanings as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs. The terms used in the specification of this application are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only 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 drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. The terms "first" and "second" in the specification and claims of this application or the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order or a primary-secondary relationship.

[0034] References to "embodiments" in this application mean 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 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.

[0035] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "connected," and "attached" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they may refer to direct connections, indirect connections through an intermediate medium, or internal connections between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on specific circumstances.

[0036] The term "and / or" in this application simply describes an association between related objects, indicating that three possible relationships exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this application generally indicates that the related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0037] In the embodiments of this application, the same reference numerals represent the same components, and for the sake of brevity, detailed descriptions of the same components in different embodiments are omitted. It should be understood that the thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of the various components in the embodiments of this application, as well as the overall thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of the integrated device shown in the drawings are merely illustrative and should not constitute any limitation on this application.

[0038] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing 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 should not be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0039] In the description of the present application, a first feature being “on” or “under” a second feature may include the first and second features being in direct contact with each other, or the first and second features being in contact with each other not directly but via another feature therebetween.

[0040] In the description of this application, a first feature “on”, “above” and “above” a second feature includes the first feature being directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is horizontally higher than the second feature.

[0041] The term "plurality" used in this application refers to two or more (including two).

[0042] In related technologies, during battery welding, to ensure weld quality, a pressure plate is required to apply pressure to the electrode terminals and busbar structures to be welded, so that the busbar and electrode terminals are bonded together before laser welding. During operation, a single pressure plate is typically required to apply pressure to multiple structures to be welded simultaneously. When the pressure plate is large or there are many structures to be welded, it cannot apply pressure evenly to each structure.

[0043] In view of the above problems, the present application provides a welding device, a battery production line and a control method for solving the technical problem that local structures to be welded cannot be effectively pressed and fitted during battery welding. The welding device can be used to weld two or more structures in a battery to connect the two or more structures together. The two or more structures in the battery can be any structure in the battery that needs to be electrically connected or fixed by welding, for example, the above structures are busbars and electrode terminals, or battery case and upper cover, etc. The welding device is used in conjunction with welding equipment when in use. The welding device presses the two structures to be welded in the battery together, and then the two structures are welded and fixed by the welding equipment. The welding device is provided with multiple sub-pressing members, each of which is provided with a pressure head and an independent pressing mechanism. Each sub-pressing member is driven downward by the corresponding pressing mechanism. Therefore, the sub-pressing members and the pressing mechanism can apply pressure to multiple structures to be welded in the battery separately, thereby effectively avoiding the technical problem of being unable to be pressed and fitted due to height deviation of the structures to be welded, thereby improving the quality of battery welding.

[0044] The welding equipment may be a laser welding equipment, an ultrasonic welding equipment or other welding equipment, and this application does not limit this. The welding device can be used for welding various batteries, such as battery modules and battery packs, or primary batteries and secondary batteries. For example, secondary batteries include nickel-hydrogen batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, lead-acid (or lead-acid) batteries, lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, polymer batteries, etc. This battery is suitable for various electrical devices that use batteries, such as mobile phones, portable devices, laptops, electric vehicles, electric toys, electric tools, electric vehicles, ships and spacecraft, etc. For example, spacecraft include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles and spacecraft, etc.; the battery is used to provide electrical energy for the above-mentioned electrical devices.

[0045] It should be understood that the technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are not limited to being applicable to the batteries and welding equipment described above.

[0046] Please refer to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a front view of a welding device provided in some embodiments of the present application; Figure 2 is a side view of a welding device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0047] The welding device 100 in the embodiment of the present application is used for battery welding. The welding device 100 includes: a pressing member 3, including at least two sub-pressing members 31, which are arranged along a first direction and respectively have a pressing head 32; at least two pressing mechanisms 1; each sub-pressing member 31 is respectively connected to a corresponding pressing mechanism 1, and is driven downward by the corresponding pressing mechanism 1 to make the pressing head 23 abut against the structure to be welded of the battery.

[0048] As shown in Figure 1, the direction indicated by the arrow X is the first direction, the battery to be welded is placed below the sub-pressing member 31, and the structures to be welded on the battery are distributed along the first direction. The sub-pressing member 31 is driven by the pressing mechanism 1 to press down in the direction indicated by the arrow Z toward the battery so that the structures to be welded on the battery are fitted together.

[0049] Multiple sub-pressing members 31 are arranged close together along the first direction indicated by arrow X, forming a larger pressing member 3. This allows the pressing member 3 to apply pressure to more structures to be welded on the battery. Once each sub-pressing member 31 presses down against each structure to be welded, the battery can be welded using the laser welding equipment.

[0050] The number of the sub-presses 31 can be two, three, four or more. The number of the sub-presses 31 can be increased or decreased according to the number and distribution range of the structures to be welded in the battery.

[0051] The pressing mechanism 1 is used to provide a pressing driving force for the sub-pressing member 31 and drive the sub-pressing member 31 to move to an initial position (ie, the position of the sub-pressing member 31 when not pressed) after being pressed.

[0052] When welding the battery, each sub-pressing member 31 can be driven by the corresponding downward pressing mechanism to move toward the direction of the battery (usually downward), so that the pressure head 32 on the sub-pressing member 31 presses the two parts or structures to be welded in the battery, so that the two fit together, and finally the two structures or parts are laser welded by laser welding equipment.

[0053] The battery includes a housing and multiple battery cells housed within it. The positive electrode terminal of each battery cell needs to be welded to the positive busbar, and the negative electrode terminal of each battery cell needs to be welded to the negative busbar. During welding, the positive electrode terminal of the battery is first pressed against the positive busbar using the sub-pressing members 31, and then the positive electrode terminal and the positive busbar are laser welded using laser welding equipment.

[0054] In this embodiment, the pressing member 3 does not refer to an integral structural member (such as an integral plate-like structural member), but is functionally the same as the integral pressing plate, both of which include multiple pressing heads 32, and can press down and apply pressure to multiple structures to be welded through the pressing heads to facilitate welding. The difference between the pressing member 3 and the integral pressing plate is that, in this embodiment, each sub-pressing member 31 in the pressing member 3 can be pressed down independently, and it is not necessarily that each sub-pressing member 31 is pressed down or each sub-pressing member 31 is pressed down at the same time. That is, in the integral structure of the pressing plate, the pressing heads on it are installed on the same plate, so each pressing head can only press down at the same time; in this embodiment 175, each sub-pressing member 31 is provided with a pressing head 32, and each sub-pressing member 31 can be pressed down at the same time, or some sub-pressing members 31 can be pressed down first and other sub-pressing members 31 can be pressed down later, or all sub-pressing members 31 can be pressed down, or only some sub-pressing members 31 can be pressed down and other sub-pressing members 31 cannot be pressed down according to needs.

[0055] The sub-pressing member 31 can be a plate-like structure (i.e., a sub-pressing plate), a block-like structure, a strip-like structure, or a frame-like structure formed by at least two connecting rods. The sub-pressing member 31 is a plate-like structure, and the pressing head 32 is provided on the lower surface of the sub-pressing member.

[0056] The sub-pressing members 31 are connected to corresponding pressing mechanisms 1, meaning that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the number of sub-pressing members 31 and the number of pressing mechanisms 1, i.e., each sub-pressing member 31 is connected to a pressing mechanism 1 and driven downward by the pressing mechanism 1. For example, the welding device 100 includes first to fourth sub-pressing members and first to fourth pressing mechanisms. The first pressing mechanism corresponds to the first sub-pressing member and is used to drive the first sub-pressing member downward; similarly, the second pressing mechanism corresponds to the second sub-pressing member, and the third pressing mechanism corresponds to the third sub-pressing member.

[0057] In this embodiment, the pressing piece 3 includes multiple sub-pressing pieces 31, each sub-pressing piece 31 is provided with an independent pressing mechanism 1, and can be driven by the pressing mechanism 1 to apply pressure to different structures to be welded of the battery, so that each structure to be welded can be effectively pressed, effectively avoiding the situation where the structure to be welded cannot be pressed due to height deviation, thereby avoiding the situation where the battery structure to be welded is not welded firmly, and greatly improving the quality of battery welding.

[0058] In this embodiment, the pressing member 3 is composed of multiple sub-pressing members 31, allowing for a larger pressing member or a longer one. This improves welding efficiency. For example, in some cases, the pressing member 3 can simultaneously compress the electrode terminals and busbars of all battery cells in the battery pack, and then weld all the electrode terminals at once. Compared to sequential welding, this embodiment significantly improves welding efficiency.

[0059] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the welding device further includes a first guide rail 2. The first guide rail 2 is arranged along a first direction; each pressing mechanism 1 is movably mounted on the upper rail of the first guide rail 2. The pressing mechanism 1 and the corresponding sub-pressing member 31 form an independently pressing submodule, and each submodule is movably mounted on the first guide rail 2.

[0060] Each pressing mechanism 1 is movably mounted on the first guide rail 2. During welding, the spacing between the pressing mechanisms 1 can be adjusted as needed, thereby adjusting the spacing between the sub-pressing members 31. For example, in some embodiments, where the electrode terminals to be welded are relatively close together, the spacing between the pressing mechanisms 1 on the 205th guide rail 2 can be appropriately increased. Furthermore, the sub-pressing members 31 are detachably connected to the pressing mechanisms 1, allowing for the installation of various sub-pressing members 31 based on welding requirements. The number, spacing, and size of the pressing heads 32 on each sub-pressing member 31 can be adjusted appropriately based on the specific conditions, such as the pressing force and the spacing between the structures to be welded.

[0061] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a submodule capable of independent pressing, composed of each pressing mechanism 1 and the corresponding sub-pressing member 31 of a welding device in one embodiment. The pressing mechanism 1 includes a mounting plate 11 , a driving member 12 , and a pressing member 121 .

[0062] The driving member 12 is mounted on the mounting plate and is movable relative to the mounting plate in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction. The sub-pressing member 31 is mounted on the driving member 12. The pressing member 121 is mounted on the mounting plate and has a movable end connected to the driving member 12, for driving the driving member 12 to press downward in the second direction.

[0063] The driving member 12 and the pressing device 121 are arranged on the mounting plate 11. The mounting plate 11 is provided with a sliding connection structure adapted to the first guide rail 2. The pressing device 121 includes any one of an air cylinder, an oil cylinder, and a linear motor.

[0064] The mounting plate 11 can be a plate-like structural member with two parallel surfaces. The specific structure of the mounting plate 11 is not limited to the plate-like structure. The mounting plate 11 can also be a structural member of other shapes that are similar in function to the plate-like structural member and can be used to install the driving member 12 and the pressing member 121, such as a mounting frame, a base, a mounting seat, etc. The mounting plate 11 is provided with a sliding connection structure adapted to the first guide rail 2. The sliding connection structure includes a slider, and the slider slides with the first guide rail 2. Therefore, by adjusting the position of the slider on the first guide rail 2, the position of the pressing mechanism 1 and the sub-pressing member 31 on the first guide rail 2 can be adjusted. Among them, the sliding connection structure can be connected to the driving motor through a transmission structure such as a gear transmission structure, a belt transmission structure, a screw transmission structure, and a chain transmission structure, and the driving motor drives the slider to move on the first guide rail 2. For example, the slider adopts a screw transmission structure to connect with the drive motor. The screw transmission structure includes a screw, and the slider is provided with a threaded hole that matches the screw. The screw is connected to the drive motor. The drive motor drives the screw to rotate. The screw and the slider are threaded to cooperate, so that the sub-pressing member 31 located on the slider and on the first guide rail 2 can be moved. This application does not limit the driving structure of the slider on the first guide rail 2. In some embodiments, the position of the slider on the first guide rail 2 can also be adjusted manually.

[0065] The driving member 12 is used to transfer the downward force generated by the downward pressing device 121 to the sub-pressing member 31. The driving member 12 is slidably connected to the mounting plate 11 through the second guide rail 111. The fixed end of the downward pressing device 121 is installed on the mounting plate 11, and the movable end of the downward pressing device 121 is connected to the driving member 12. Therefore, the downward pressing movement of the downward pressing device 121 can drive the driving member 12 and the sub-pressing member 31 thereon to move downward.

[0066] In some embodiments, the sliding connection structure includes a positioning mechanism and / or a locking mechanism to precisely adjust the position of the pressing mechanism 1 on the first guide rail 2 and prevent the pressing mechanism 1 from shifting after adjustment. The positioning mechanism is used to locate the position of the sliding connection structure on the first guide rail 2, that is, the positioning mechanism can accurately move the sliding connection structure to a predetermined position on the first guide rail 2.

[0067] In one embodiment, the positioning mechanism may include positioning holes arranged at equal intervals along the first guide rail 2, and elastic columns adapted to the positioning holes, the elastic columns being mounted on the mounting plate 11 and movable with the mounting plate 11. When the mounting plate 11 is moved along the first guide rail 2, when the elastic columns are aligned with the positioning holes, the ends of the elastic columns can be extended into the positioning holes to achieve positioning. The positioning mechanism may also be an electronic positioning mechanism. The electronic positioning mechanism includes a grating positioning mechanism arranged along the first guide rail 2, or an encoding wheel positioning mechanism that rotates as the mounting plate 11 moves, etc. The present application does not limit the positioning mechanism. The locking mechanism is used to lock the position of the sliding connection structure on the first guide rail. The locking mechanism may be any one of an inflatable locking mechanism, an electromagnetic locking mechanism, a motor-driven locking mechanism, and a manual locking mechanism, and the present application does not limit this.

[0068] The pneumatic locking mechanism includes an inflatable airbag and a locking block driven by the airbag. When the airbag expands, the locking block extends into the lock hole to lock the mounting plate 11, thereby preventing it from sliding. Otherwise, it is unlocked. The electromagnetic locking mechanism includes an electromagnetic coil. When the electromagnetic coil is energized, it generates a magnetic force to lock the mounting plate 11.

[0069] The motor-driven locking mechanism includes a motor, and the rotation of the motor drives the locking block into the lock hole to lock, and vice versa to unlock. The driving member 12 can be a plate-shaped member or formed by connecting two or more plate-shaped members, or the driving member 12 can also be a rod-shaped member or formed by connecting two or more rod-shaped members, or formed by a combination of a rod-shaped member and a plate-shaped member. As shown in Figure 3, in one embodiment, the driving member 12 includes: a first plate body 1201 and a second plate body 1202. The first plate body 1201 is parallel to the mounting plate 11 and is slidably connected to the mounting plate through the second guide rail 111; the second plate body 1202 is arranged at the bottom of the first plate body 1201 and forms an L-shaped structure with the first plate body 1201, and the sub-pressing member 31 is installed on the second plate body.

[0070] The first plate 1201 and the second plate 1202 can be fixedly connected together by welding, bolting, etc. In some embodiments, the first plate 1201 and the second plate 1202 can also be an integrally formed structure obtained by an integral forming process such as die casting or casting.

[0071] In this embodiment, the L-shaped driving member 12 can ensure a stable sliding connection with the mounting plate 11, and at the same time, the second plate body 1202 and the sub-pressing member 31 have a large-area laminated connection surface, so that the downward force of the pressing component 121 can be effectively transmitted to the sub-pressing member 31.

[0072] The first plate 1201 and the second plate 1202 are not limited to the L-shaped structure. In some embodiments, the first plate 1201 and the second plate 1202 may also form a T-shaped structure, that is, the middle parts of the first plate 1201 and the second plate 1202 are fixedly connected.

[0073] In some embodiments, a right-angled reinforcing plate is further provided at the connection between the first plate 1201 and the second plate 1202 , wherein one right-angled side of the reinforcing plate is connected to the first plate 1201 , and the other right-angled side of the reinforcing plate is connected to the second plate 1202 .

[0074] As shown in FIG3 , in one embodiment, in order to enable the sub-pressing member 31 to obtain sufficient downward pressure and the downward pressure can be evenly applied to the sub-pressing member 31 , the downward pressing mechanism 1 includes more than two downward pressing members 121 , and the two or more downward pressing members 121 are spaced apart along the first direction.

[0075] The pressing mechanism 1 includes two pressing components 121 , which are pressing cylinders. The pressing cylinders are spaced apart along the length direction of the sub-pressing component 31 (ie, the direction indicated by the arrow X).

[0076] As shown in Figure 3, in one embodiment, the sub-pressing member 31 is detachably connected to the driving member 12. The driving member 12 is provided with a locking mechanism 122 for locking the sub-pressing member 31. The locking mechanism 122 may include any one of: a pneumatic locking mechanism, an electromagnetic locking mechanism, a motor-driven locking mechanism, and a manual locking mechanism, which is not limited in this application. The specific structures of the pneumatic locking mechanism, electromagnetic locking mechanism, and motor-driven locking mechanism are detailed in the above embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0077] The term "locking mechanism" and the locking mechanism provided on the slider in the above embodiments are named from the perspective of function or use, rather than referring to a specific structural difference. Both the locking mechanism and the locking mechanism can be pneumatic, electromagnetic, or other structures, that is, the structures of the two can be the same. Locking refers to the fastening of two separable components together, such as screwing a nut into a bolt to secure the nut and bolt together, i.e., the nut is locked to the bolt; while locking refers to the fixing of a movable component so that it cannot move, such as locking a slider to a guide rail or locking a turntable so that it cannot rotate.

[0078] The pressing mechanism 1 is provided with two locking mechanisms 122, which can be spaced apart along the length of the sub-pressing member 31. Specifically, the locking mechanisms 122 can be disposed on the outside of the pressing member 121, with one locking mechanism 122 securing one end of the sub-pressing member 31 and the other locking mechanism 122 securing the other end of the sub-pressing member 31. Of course, the number of locking mechanisms 122 can be one, three, four, etc., and the specific number of locking mechanisms 122 can be increased or decreased based on the size of the sub-pressing member 31 and the required locking strength.

[0079] As shown in Figure 4, in one embodiment, the pressing mechanism 1 further includes a protective plate 312. The protective plate 312 is located on the side of the sub-pressing member 31 facing away from the pressing head and surrounds the area where the first through hole is located. The protective plate 312 is used to prevent particles formed during the welding process from dispersing outward. The protective plate 312 has a certain height, making it difficult for particles to spread outward across the protective plate 312.

[0080] In one embodiment, the plurality of pressing heads 32 are distributed along a straight line on the sub-pressing member 31 ; the protective plate 312 is a rectangular frame disposed around the plurality of first through holes 311 .

[0081] As shown in Figure 4, in one embodiment, the pressure head is provided with a dust suction channel 322, which is connected to the second through hole 321 and is used to remove particulate matter generated by welding. The dust suction channel 322 is connected to the negative pressure pipe, which generates suction force to remove particulate matter. Schematically, the dust suction channel 322 on each sub-pressure member 31 is first connected to the dust suction main pipe, which is then connected to the negative pressure pipe. In this embodiment, the combination of the dust suction channel 322 and the protective plate 312 can effectively remove particulate matter generated by welding and prevent it from spreading outward.

[0082] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, in one embodiment, in order to enable the welding device to be adapted to laser welding equipment for welding operations, a first through hole 311 is provided on the sub-pressing member 31, which passes through the upper and lower surfaces of the sub-pressing member 31, and a second through hole 321 aligned with the first through hole 311 is provided in the middle of the pressing head 32, and the second through hole 321 passes through the upper and lower surfaces of the pressing head.

[0083] The first through-hole 311 can be shaped like a circular hole, a square hole, or a triangular hole. The press head 32 is positioned below the first through-hole 311. When the sub-press 31 is pressed downward, only the press head 32 contacts the battery structure to be welded, while the sub-press 31 does not. During laser welding, the laser sequentially passes through the first through-hole 311 and the second through-hole 321 in the middle of the press head 32, irradiating the busbar structure to be welded, thereby laser welding the structure to be welded.

[0084] As shown in FIG5 , the sub-pressing member 31 and the pressing head 32 are movably connected, and an elastic member 323 is provided between the sub-pressing member 31 and the pressing head 32 . The elastic member 323 is used to apply elastic force of the back-pressing member to the pressing head.

[0085] The sub-pressing member 31 and the pressing head 32 are movably connected via connecting rods. A single pressing head 32 can be movably connected to the sub-pressing member 31 via two or more connecting rods. Schematically, each of the four corners of the pressing head 32 is connected to the sub-pressing member 31 via a connecting rod. The pressing head 32 and the sub-pressing member 31 are relatively movable in the thickness direction of the sub-pressing member 31, rather than being fixed and immovable. The pressing head 32 is pressed downward by the elastic force of the elastic member 323.

[0086] In this embodiment, during the process of the sub-pressing member 31 applying pressure to the battery, since the pressing head 32 is movable and the elastic member 323 provides the downward elastic force, when the height of each structure to be welded on the battery deviates, each pressing head 32 can apply sufficient downward pressure to the corresponding structure to be welded.

[0087] In another embodiment, a battery production line is provided. The battery production line includes a line body and a welding device 100 as described above, wherein the line body is used to support batteries, and the welding device 100 is used to weld the structures within the battery module. The line body refers to a device installed along the battery production line to support batteries or accessories during the production process. The line body may be equipped with conveyor belts, drive rollers, transfer brackets, hoisting devices, and other conveying mechanisms for supporting and transferring batteries or accessories. Batteries or accessories during the production process can be moved from one production station to the next on the line body, thereby achieving efficient streamlined production operations.

[0088] In this battery production line, the welding device 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application is used to produce battery modules, which can simultaneously apply pressure to the structures to be welded of multiple batteries in the battery module, so that each structure to be welded can be effectively compressed, effectively avoiding the situation where compression cannot be caused by height deviation of the structure to be welded, thereby greatly improving the battery welding quality.

[0089] In another embodiment, a control method for a welding device is provided, which is applied to a control device, and the specific type of the control device is not limited, such as a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) device, an industrial computer, etc. As shown in FIG6 , the control method includes:

[0090] S01, controlling at least two pressing mechanisms 1 to drive corresponding sub-pressing members 31 to press downward, so that the pressing heads 32 on the sub-pressing members 31 abut against the battery structure to be welded, wherein the sub-pressing members 31 are arranged along a first direction and are respectively provided with pressing heads 32;

[0091] S02. Control the welding equipment to weld the structure to be welded.

[0092] The welding equipment may be a laser welding equipment, an ultrasonic welding equipment or other welding equipment, which is not limited in this application.

[0093] Each sub-pressing member 31 is provided with an independent pressing mechanism 1, and can be driven by the pressing mechanism 1 to apply pressure to different structures to be welded of the battery, so that each structure to be welded can be effectively pressed, effectively avoiding the situation where the structure to be welded cannot be pressed due to height deviation, thereby avoiding the situation where the battery structure to be welded is not welded firmly, and greatly improving the quality of battery welding.

[0094] Throughout this specification, reference to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples" means that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in conjunction with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. The specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0095] Although the embodiments of the present application have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and intent of the present application, and that the scope of the present application is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A welding device for battery welding, wherein, include: A pressing piece, the pressing piece comprising at least two sub-pressing pieces, the sub-pressing pieces are arranged in a first direction and are respectively provided with a pressing head; At least two pressing mechanisms; in Each of the sub-pressing members is respectively connected to a corresponding pressing mechanism and driven to press downward by the corresponding pressing mechanism, so that the pressing head abuts against the structure to be welded of the battery.

2. The welding device according to claim 1, wherein, The pressing mechanism includes: a mounting plate, a driving member, and a pressing device. The driving member is arranged on the mounting plate and can move relative to the mounting plate along a second direction, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, and the sub-pressing member is arranged on the driving member. The pressing device is installed on the mounting plate and the movable end is connected to the driving member, and is used to drive the driving member to press downward along the second direction.

3. The welding device according to claim 2, wherein, Also includes: The first guide rail is arranged along the first direction; each of the pressing mechanisms is movably arranged on the first guide rail, and the mounting plate is provided with a sliding connection structure adapted to the first guide rail.

4. The welding device according to claim 3, wherein, The sliding connection structure includes a positioning mechanism and / or a locking mechanism. The positioning mechanism is used to position the sliding connection structure on the first guide rail; the locking mechanism is used to lock the sliding connection structure on the first guide rail.

5. The welding device according to any one of claims 2-4, wherein, The driving member includes: a first plate body and a second plate body, the first plate body is parallel to the mounting plate and is slidably connected to the mounting plate through a second guide rail; the second plate body is arranged at the bottom of the first plate body and forms an L-shaped structure or a T-shaped structure with the first plate body, and the sub-pressing member is installed on the second plate body.

6. The welding device according to any one of claims 2-5, wherein, The pressing mechanism includes at least two pressing devices, and the at least two pressing devices are arranged at intervals along the first direction.

7. The welding device according to any one of claims 2-6, wherein, The sub-pressing member is detachably connected to the driving member, and the driving member is provided with a locking mechanism for locking the sub-pressing member, wherein the locking mechanism comprises any one of an inflatable locking mechanism, an electromagnetic locking mechanism, a motor-driven locking mechanism, and a manual locking mechanism.

8. The welding device according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein, The sub-pressing member is a plate-like structure, and is provided with a first through hole penetrating the upper and lower surfaces of the sub-pressing member. A second through hole aligned with the first through hole is provided in the middle of the pressing head, and the second through hole penetrates the upper and lower surfaces of the pressing head.

9. The welding device according to claim 8, wherein, The pressing mechanism further includes: a protection plate, which is located on a side of the sub-pressing member away from the pressing head and is arranged around the area where the first through hole is located.

10. The welding device according to claim 9, wherein, The plurality of pressing heads are distributed along a straight line on the sub-pressing member; and the protective plate is a rectangular frame arranged around the plurality of the first through holes.

11. The welding device according to claim 8, wherein, The pressure head is provided with a dust suction channel, which is communicated with the second through hole and is used for sucking out particles formed by welding.

12. The welding device according to any one of claims 1-11, wherein, The sub-pressing member and the pressing head are movably connected, and an elastic member is arranged between the sub-pressing member and the pressing head, and the elastic member is used to apply an elastic force away from the sub-pressing member to the pressing head.

13. A battery production line, wherein, include: Line body, used to carry the battery; as well as The welding device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the welding device is arranged on the side of the wire body.

14. A control method for a welding device, wherein, The control method comprises: Control at least two pressing mechanisms to drive the corresponding sub-pressing members to press down, so that the pressing heads on the sub-pressing members are abutted against the structure to be welded of the battery, wherein the sub-pressing members are arranged in a first direction and are respectively provided with the pressing heads; Control the welding equipment to weld the structure to be welded.

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