Inspection system and method for inspecting backsides of tabs of bare cells in cell combination device

Abstract

An inspection system (10) and method for inspecting the backsides of tabs of bare cells (100) in a cell combination device (200). The inspection system (10) comprises a top cap supporting device (400), a cell combination device (200), first inspection devices (300A), second inspection devices (300B), and a control device. The cell combination device (200) is configured to shift main bodies of two bare cells (100) from a lying position to an upright cell-combined state when a top cap (116) is supported by the top cap supporting device (400); and the top cap supporting device (400) is configured to be able to move from a supporting position to a displacement position after the bare cells (100) are in the upright cell-combined state, so as to allow tabs to extend to expose desired ranges of backsides of anode tabs (112) and backsides of cathode tabs (114), such that the first inspection devices (300A) and the second inspection devices (300B) respectively perform image capture thereon, and an image can be used in subsequent processes after being processed.

Description

Detection system and method for detecting the back of bare cell tabs in a cell assembly device

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202410146273.0, filed on February 2, 2024, entitled “Detection system and detection method for back detection of bare cell tabs in a core assembly device,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a detection system and a detection method for detecting the back of a bare cell tab in a cell-closing device. Background Art

[0004] During the bare cell assembly process, there is a core-closing operation, which involves standing two flat bare cells upright with the tabs at the bottom. Since the main body of the bare cell needs to be "lifted" 90 degrees relative to the welded top cover during the core-closing operation, the surface of the tab located between the main body of the bare cell and the top cover can easily break due to bending stress, especially the outward-facing back of the tab. Therefore, it is necessary to detect cracks on the back of the tab online after the core-closing operation is completed, so as to obtain information about the quality of the tab back for use in subsequent processes.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of the above-mentioned problems existing in the prior art, the embodiments of the present disclosure aim to provide a detection system and a detection method to perform online detection of the back of the anode (cathode) tab of the bare battery cell during the core assembly operation, so as to detect whether there are defects on the back of the tab of the bare battery cell for use in subsequent processes.

[0007] In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a detection system for detecting the back of a bare cell tab in a cell-closing device. The detection system includes a top cover supporting device, a cell-closing device, a first detection device, a second detection device, and a control device. The top cover supporting device is configured to be movable between at least a supporting position that supports the top cover of the bare cell and a displacement position that just abuts against but no longer supports the top cover. The top cover of the bare cell is welded to the anode tab and the cathode tab. The cell-closing device is configured to shift the bodies of two bare cells arranged side by side from a lying position to an upright, closed position with the top covers supported by the top cover supporting device. In the upright, closed position, the bodies of the bare cells are completely held by a retaining device with the back of the tab facing outward. The top cover supporting device is configured to be driven by a first drive mechanism to move from the supporting position to the displacement position after the bare cell is in the upright, closed position, thereby allowing the anode tab and the cathode tab to extend to expose the desired range of the back of the anode tab and the back of the cathode tab. Both the first detection device and the second detection device include an image acquisition mechanism. The first detection device is configured to capture images of the anode ear back region from the side. The second detection device is configured to capture images of the cathode ear back region from the side. The control device is configured to control the core closing device to flip the main body of the bare cell from a flat position to an upright core closing position, control the movement of the top cover supporting device, control image capture by the first and second detection devices, and receive and process the captured images to determine whether there are defects in the anode ear back region and the cathode ear back region for use in subsequent processes.

[0008] Therefore, the detection system disclosed in the present invention utilizes the mobility of the top cover supporting device to realize online detection of the back of the anode ear and the back of the cathode ear of the bare battery cell, thereby obtaining more comprehensive information about the quality of the back of the pole ear.

[0009] According to one or more embodiments, the top cover supporting device includes a support plate and a first drive mechanism. The support plate is used to support the top cover of the bare cell, and the first drive mechanism is disposed on the platform. The first drive mechanism is connected to the support plate and is capable of driving the support plate to move along the bare cell toward the platform to extend the anode and cathode tabs.

[0010] In the above structure, the first drive mechanism can provide driving force for the movement of the support plate, and the support plate can transmit the driving force of the first drive mechanism to the top cover of the bare cell. By moving the support plate, the top cover of the bare cell can be controlled to move between the top cover support position and the displacement position to adjust the extension state of the anode and cathode tabs.

[0011] According to one or more embodiments, the first driving mechanism also includes a limiting jig, which is arranged at one end of the support plate facing the bare battery cell. The surface of the limiting jig facing the bare battery cell is concave to form a receiving groove, and the shape of the receiving groove matches the top cover of the bare battery cell.

[0012] In the above structure, setting a limiting fixture can guide the movement direction of the top cover of the bare battery cell, reduce the risk of deformation and displacement of the top cover of the bare battery cell during the flipping process, improve the accuracy of detection and improve the structural integrity of the bare battery cell.

[0013] According to one or more embodiments, the first drive mechanism further includes a first drive motor and a limit assembly, the limit assembly including a connecting plate and two limit plates. The connecting plate is connected to the first drive motor, and the two limit plates are connected to the connecting plate. The two limit plates have concave surfaces on the side facing away from the first drive motor to form a limit groove, which is configured to accommodate a portion of the support plate to limit movement of the support plate relative to the connecting plate.

[0014] In the above structure, a connecting plate is provided to connect the two limit plates to the first drive motor, and a limit groove is provided on the limit plate to limit the position of the support plate, thereby reducing the risk of displacement of the support plate during movement and improving the stability of the detection process and the accuracy of the detection results.

[0015] According to one or more embodiments, a pair of first detection devices are aligned with each other and disposed on opposite sides of the core-closing device to respectively capture images of the anode backs of two bare cells arranged side by side. A pair of second detection devices are aligned with each other and disposed on opposite sides of the core-closing device to respectively capture images of the cathode backs of two bare cells arranged side by side.

[0016] Therefore, the detection system disclosed in the present invention can realize online detection of all the back parts of the tabs of two bare battery cells arranged side by side, so as to obtain high-quality images respectively, thereby obtaining more comprehensive information about the quality of the back parts of the tabs.

[0017] According to one or more embodiments, the first detection device and the second detection device further include a light source, wherein the light source includes a coaxial light source coaxially arranged with the image acquisition mechanism and a first strip light source and a second strip light source disposed on either side of the coaxial light source. The control device can control the coaxial light source to be turned on, thereby causing the image acquisition mechanism to capture an image with a first exposure level. Alternatively, the control device can control the coaxial light source, the first strip light source, and the second strip light source to be turned on simultaneously, thereby causing the image acquisition mechanism to capture an image with a second exposure level.

[0018] Therefore, the arrangement and lighting combination of the coaxial light source and the strip light source can provide the image acquisition mechanism with optional sufficient fill light, so that the image acquisition mechanism can capture high-quality images with desired exposure according to actual needs.

[0019] According to one or more embodiments, the first detection device further includes a mounting member provided on the platform, the image acquisition mechanism includes an imaging device and an imaging lens, the imaging device and the imaging lens are provided on the mounting member, and the imaging lens is provided between the imaging device and the coaxial light source.

[0020] In the above structure, an imaging device is provided to capture images of the cathode ear and the back of the anode ear, thereby achieving image acquisition. An imaging lens is provided to collect light from the object, thereby improving the imaging effect of the imaging device and enhancing the accuracy of detection.

[0021] According to one or more embodiments, the cell closing device includes a cell closing flipping mechanism and a second driving mechanism, wherein the cell closing flipping mechanism is driven by the second driving mechanism to gradually flip the body of the bare cell from a flat state to an upright cell closing state.

[0022] Therefore, the core closing device can easily realize smooth and stable flipping of the bare battery cell.

[0023] According to one or more embodiments, the second drive mechanism includes a second drive motor, a fixed seat, a rotating block, and a rotating bearing. The second drive motor and the fixed seat are disposed on the platform, the rotating block is disposed on a side of the fixed seat facing away from the second drive motor, and the output shaft of the second drive motor passes through the fixed seat and is connected to the rotating block. The second drive motor drives the rotating block to rotate about the output shaft of the second drive motor, and the retaining device is connected to the rotating block. The rotating bearing is disposed between the rotating block and the fixed seat to rotatably connect the rotating block and the fixed seat.

[0024] In the above structure, a second drive motor is provided to drive the rotating block, and the fixed base is capable of supporting the output shaft of the second drive motor and the rotating block. The rotating block is used to drive the retaining device to rotate, and the rotating bearing rotatably connects the rotating block to the fixed base, reducing the resistance and friction during the rotating block's rotation, improving the stability of the rotation process to enhance detection accuracy, and reducing damage to the bare cell structure during rotation to maintain the integrity of the bare cell structure.

[0025] According to one or more embodiments, there are two fixing seats, two rotating blocks and two rotating bearings are provided respectively, and the core flipping mechanism further includes a transmission plate, which is connected between the two rotating blocks, and the retaining device is provided on the transmission plate.

[0026] In the above structure, two fixing seats and two rotating blocks are provided to connect the two ends of the transmission plate, thereby improving the balance of force on the transmission plate and improving the stability of the rotation process.

[0027] According to one or more embodiments, the cell closing device further comprises a third driving mechanism for driving the holding device. The third driving mechanism is configured to drive the holding device to gradually clamp the body of the bare cell during the flipping operation until the body of the bare cell is completely supported by the holding device in the upright cell closing state.

[0028] Thus, the slow flipping of the cell and the gradual increase in the clamping force minimize damage to the anode (cathode) tabs between the body of the bare cell and the top cover, such as cracking caused by excessive bending of the anode (cathode) tabs.

[0029] According to one or more embodiments, the retaining device includes a clamping portion disposed on a transmission plate. The clamping portion includes two opposing clamping members, with the space between the two clamping members being used to clamp the bare cell. In this structure, the clamping members are disposed on the transmission plate and are capable of moving with the movement of the transmission plate, gripping the bare cell for flipping. The two clamping members, clamping from both sides of the bare cell, improve the clamping force and the stability of the flipping process.

[0030] According to one or more embodiments, the clamping member includes a clamping rod and a cell clamping block. One end of the clamping rod is connected to a transmission plate. The cell clamping block is disposed at the other end of the clamping rod and is used to clamp the bare cell and drive the bare cell to flip. The surface of the cell clamping block facing the bare cell is concave to form a clamping groove, and the shape of the clamping groove matches the shape of the surface of the bare cell.

[0031] In the above structure, the clamping rod applies a clamping force to the bare cell as the transmission plate moves, and this force is transmitted to the bare cell via the cell clamping block. The clamping grooves provided on the cell clamping block reduce deformation caused by the clamping force on the bare cell surface, protecting the surface and improving the structural integrity of the battery under test.

[0032] According to one or more embodiments, the third drive mechanism includes a third drive motor, which is provided on the transmission plate, and the clamping rod is connected to the third drive motor. In the above structure, by providing the third drive motor, the driving force is transmitted to the clamping rod, which drives the clamping rod to move and drives the clamping member to clamp the bare cell. By controlling the third drive motor, the clamping force of the clamping member can be accurately adjusted. As the flipping angle increases, the clamping force on the bare cell is increased, thereby improving the stability of the bare cell flipping process.

[0033] According to one or more embodiments, the retaining device further includes a drive connection plate connected to the third drive motor, and a clamping rod is disposed on the drive connection plate. Two clamping portions are provided, namely an upper clamping portion and a lower clamping portion, which are spaced apart from each other on the drive connection plate. In this structure, the provision of multiple clamping portions increases the number of clamping points for the bare cell, thereby improving clamping stability and enhancing the stability of the cell during flipping.

[0034] According to one or more embodiments, one side surface of the transmission plate facing the driving connecting plate is concave to form a limiting groove, and the limiting groove extends along the arrangement direction of the two clamps. One side surface of the driving connecting plate facing the limiting groove protrudes to form a limiting portion, and the limiting portion is arranged in the limiting groove, and the limiting groove is used to limit the movement of the driving connecting plate relative to the transmission plate. In the above structure, the limiting groove extends along the arrangement direction of the two clamps, which can limit the moving direction of the driving connecting plate to the direction toward the other clamp or away from the other clamp, thereby reducing the damage to the outer surface of the bare cell caused by the movement of the clamp. In addition, by providing the limiting groove and arranging the limiting portion in the limiting groove, the moving path of the limiting portion can be limited, thereby reducing the possibility of the clamping member clamping the bare cell due to excessive movement range. The above structure improves the stability of the detection process and improves the protection of the bare cell being tested.

[0035] According to one or more embodiments, the holding device further includes a buffer pad, which is provided on the side of the transmission plate facing the bare cell. In the above structure, the buffer pad is provided to support the side of the bare cell, thereby improving stability during the flipping process.

[0036] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a detection method that utilizes a detection system to inspect the back of a bare cell's tab during a cell closing operation. The detection system includes a top cover support device, a cell closing device, a first detection device, a second detection device, and a control device. The top cover support device is configured to move between a support position that supports the top cover of the bare cell and a displaced position that abuts but no longer supports the top cover. The method includes: a core closing operation step: using a core closing device to flip the main bodies of two bare battery cells arranged side by side from a lying state to an upright core closing state when the top covers of the bare battery cells are supported by a top cover supporting device in a supporting position, wherein in the upright core closing state, the main bodies of the bare battery cells are completely held by the holding device and the backs of the pole ears face outward; a step of moving the top cover supporting device: a first driving mechanism drives the top cover supporting device to move from the supporting position toward the displacement position under the control of the control device, thereby allowing the anode ear and the cathode ear to stretch and expose the back part of the anode ear and the back part of the cathode ear in the desired range; an image acquisition step: using the first detection device and the second detection device to respectively acquire images of the back part of the anode ear and the back part of the cathode ear from the side; an image processing step: using the control device to receive the images acquired by the first detection device and the second detection device and perform image processing; a judgment step: judging whether there are defects in the back part of the anode ear and the back part of the cathode ear based on the processed images for use in subsequent processes.

[0037] Therefore, the detection method disclosed in the present invention can realize online detection of the back of the anode ear and the back of the cathode ear to obtain more comprehensive information about the quality of the back of the pole ear for use in subsequent processes.

[0038] According to one or more embodiments, a pair of first detection devices are aligned with each other and disposed on opposite sides of the core-closing device. A pair of second detection devices are aligned with each other and disposed on opposite sides of the core-closing device. The method includes the following steps: using the pair of first detection devices to capture images of the anode backs of two bare battery cells arranged side by side; and using the pair of second detection devices to capture images of the cathode backs of the two bare battery cells arranged side by side.

[0039] Therefore, the detection method disclosed in the present invention utilizes the desired focal length and field of view of each detection device to realize online detection of the corresponding tab back parts of two bare battery cells arranged side by side, so as to obtain high-quality images reflecting the quality of the tab back parts.

[0040] According to one or more embodiments, the first detection device and the second detection device each include an image capture mechanism and a light source. The light source includes a coaxial light source disposed coaxially with the image capture mechanism and a first bar light source and a second bar light source disposed on either side of the coaxial light source. The method includes the following steps: utilizing the control device to activate the coaxial light source, thereby causing the image capture mechanism to capture an image having a first exposure level; or utilizing the control device to simultaneously activate the coaxial light source, the first bar light source, and the second bar light source, thereby causing the image capture mechanism to capture an image having a second exposure level.

[0041] Therefore, optional sufficient fill light can be provided to the image acquisition mechanism according to actual needs, so as to acquire high-quality images with desired exposure.

[0042] According to one or more embodiments, the cell closing device includes a cell closing flipping mechanism and a second driving mechanism. The cell closing operation step includes: using the second driving mechanism to drive the cell closing flipping mechanism and drive the holding device to gradually flip the body of the bare cell from a flat state to an upright cell closing state.

[0043] Thus, the cell closing operation step smoothly shifts the main body of the bare cell into an upright cell closing state.

[0044] According to one or more embodiments, the cell closing device further includes a third drive mechanism for driving the retaining device. The cell closing operation step includes: utilizing the third drive mechanism to drive the retaining device to gradually clamp the body of the bare cell during the flipping operation until the body of the bare cell is completely supported by the retaining device in the upright cell-closed state.

[0045] Therefore, the core closing operation step enables the retaining device to gradually clamp the body of the bare cell, thereby reducing the possibility of cracking the tab between the body of the bare cell and the top cover. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] These and various other advantages and benefits of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiments below. The accompanying drawings are for illustration purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The same reference numerals are used throughout the accompanying drawings to represent the same components.

[0047] FIG1 schematically shows a perspective view of a detection system according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0048] FIG2 schematically illustrates a side view of a detection system according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0049] FIG3 schematically shows a three-dimensional view of the detection system shown in FIG1 with part of the structure removed to present the top cover supporting device and the first driving mechanism.

[0050] FIG4 schematically shows a side view of the detection system shown in FIG1 with part of the structure removed to present the top cover supporting device and the first driving mechanism.

[0051] FIG5 schematically shows a three-dimensional view of the detection system shown in FIG1 with part of the structure removed to present a detection device and a bare battery cell.

[0052] FIG6 schematically shows a side view of the detection system shown in FIG1 with part of its structure removed to present a detection device and a bare battery cell.

[0053] FIG7 schematically shows a perspective view of the detection system shown in FIG1 with part of its structure removed to present a cell closing device that has flipped a bare cell to an upright cell closing state.

[0054] FIG8 schematically shows a flow chart of a detection method according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0055] Explanation of the accompanying symbols: detection system 10, platform 20, bare battery cell 100, main body 110, anode ear 112, cathode ear 114, top cover 116, core closing device 200, core closing flipping mechanism 202, second driving mechanism 204, second driving motor 206, fixing seat 208, rotating block 210, rotating bearing 212, transmission plate 214, limiting groove 216, first detection device 300A, second detection device 300B, image acquisition mechanism 310, imaging device 312, imaging lens 314, coaxial light source 320, first strip light source 330, a second strip light source 332, a mounting member 340, a top cover supporting device 400, a support plate 402, a first driving mechanism 404, a limiting fixture 406, an accommodating groove 408, a first driving motor 410, a connecting plate 412, a limiting plate 414, a retaining device 500, a clamping portion 502, a clamping member 504, a clamping rod 506, a battery cell clamping block 508, an upper clamping portion 510, a lower clamping portion 512 and a third driving mechanism 514, a clamping groove 516, a third driving motor 518, a driving connecting plate 520, and a buffer pad 522. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] The following embodiments of the technical solution of the present disclosure are 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 disclosure and are therefore only examples and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0057] 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 the present disclosure pertains. The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. The terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of the present disclosure are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0058] In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, 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 technical features indicated. In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the meaning of "plurality" is more than two, unless otherwise explicitly and specifically defined.

[0059] 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 disclosure. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute a separate 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.

[0060] In the description of the embodiments of this disclosure, 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 at the same time, and B exists alone.

[0061] In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, technical terms indicating orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings are only used to facilitate the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure and to simplify the description, and do not indicate or imply that the devices or elements referred to must have a specific orientation, be configured and operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limitations on the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0062] In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified or limited, technical terms such as "installed," "connected," and "fixed" should be understood broadly. For example, they may refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integrated connections; they may refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediary. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of these terms in the embodiments of the present disclosure based on specific circumstances.

[0063] The term "bare cell" as used herein refers to a single electrochemical cell with a positive electrode and a negative electrode already positioned on its top surface. This bare cell does not yet include a protective circuit board or housing and is not yet ready for immediate use. The surface of the bare cell opposite the top surface is called the bottom surface, the pair of side surfaces with the larger cross-section are called the major side surfaces, and the pair of side surfaces with the smaller cross-section are called the minor side surfaces.

[0064] During the aforementioned joining operation of two bare cells, the body of the bare cell must be "lifted" 90 degrees relative to the welded top cover. This can easily cause the tabs between the body of the bare cell and the top cover to bend and break due to the stress during the 90-degree "lifting" process. The outward-facing back portion of the tab is particularly susceptible to cracking. The prior art does not mention a system or method for performing online inspection of the bare cells after joining to detect defects such as cracks on the back of the tabs.

[0065] Based on the above considerations, it is necessary to detect the cracking condition of the back of the tab online during the core closing operation, so as to provide a quality reference for the subsequent processes. In addition, during the core closing operation, the tab of the bare cell is always in a bent state because the tab and the top cover are still supported by the top cover supporting device when the main body is in the upright core closing state. In this way, it is impossible to detect the cracking condition of the entire back of the tab. In view of this, it is expected that the tab can be at least partially stretched to the desired extent during the inspection so that the tab can be fully and completely inspected online. After the inspection, the subsequent core closing operation can be continued. To this end, the present disclosure provides a detection system and a detection method for detecting the back of the tab of a bare cell in a core closing device.

[0066] The detection system and detection method according to the present disclosure are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0067] Figures 1 and 2 schematically illustrate a perspective view and a side view, respectively, of a detection system according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Figures 3 and 4 schematically illustrate a perspective view and a side view, respectively, of the detection system shown in Figure 1 with portions of the structure removed to reveal the top cover support device and the first drive mechanism.

[0068] According to one or more embodiments, with reference to FIG1 and FIG2 , a detection system 10 for detecting the back of the tabs of a bare cell in a core-closing device 200 is provided. The detection system 10 includes a top cover supporting device 400, a core-closing device 200, a first detection device 300A, a second detection device 300B, and a control device. The top cover supporting device 400 is capable of moving between at least a supporting position supporting the top cover 116 of the bare cell and a displacement position just abutting but no longer supporting the top cover. The top cover 116 of the bare cell has been welded to the anode tab 112 and the cathode tab 114. The core-closing device 200 is configured to shift the main bodies 110 of two bare cells 100 arranged side by side from a lying state to an upright core-closing state when the top covers 116 of the bare cells are supported by the top cover supporting device 400. In the upright core-closing state, the main bodies 110 of the bare cells are completely held by the retaining device 500 and the back of the tabs face outward. The top cover supporting device 400 is configured to be driven by the first driving mechanism 404 to move from the supporting position to the displaced position after the bare cell 100 is in the upright closed state, thereby allowing the anode ear 112 and the cathode ear 114 to stretch and expose the desired range of the anode ear back part and the cathode ear back part. The first detection device 300A and the second detection device 300B both include an image acquisition mechanism 310. The first detection device 300A is configured to capture images of the anode ear back part from the side. The second detection device 300B is configured to capture images of the cathode ear back part from the side. The control device is configured to control the closing device 200 to flip the main body 110 of the bare cell from the lying state to the upright closed state, control the movement of the top cover supporting device 400, control the image acquisition of the first detection device 300A and the second detection device 300B, and receive the captured images and perform image processing to determine whether there are defects in the anode ear back part and the cathode ear back part for use in subsequent processes.

[0069] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, herein, the term "lying flat" refers to the situation where the large side of the bare cell 100 is supported horizontally by the main body of the holding device 500. The term "upright closed state" refers to the situation where the large side of the bare cell 100 is supported vertically relative to the horizontal plane, with the top surface of the bare cell having the anode tab 112 and cathode tab 114 facing downward. In this state, the weight of the bare cell in the upright closed state is entirely supported by the holding device 500. The term "tab back portion" refers to the portion of the outer surface of the tabs of the two bare cells 100 that is used for online testing after the anode (cathode) tabs of the two bare cells 100 are at least partially extended when the two bare cells are placed facing each other in the upright closed state. In this state, the side of the two bare cells facing each other is referred to as the "inner side," and the side facing away from each other is referred to as the "outer side." In this document, the term "longitudinal direction" refers to the direction along which the flip axis of the closing device 200, which is disposed on the platform 20 of the inspection system 10, extends. The direction parallel to the platform 20 and perpendicular to the flip axis is referred to as the "lateral direction." A direction perpendicular to the platform 20 pointing upward and perpendicular to the flip axis is referred to as an “upward direction,” and a direction opposite to the “upward direction” is referred to as a “downward direction.”

[0070] 1 and 2 , the top cover supporting device 400 protrudes upward from the bottom of the platform 20 to the top of the platform, and is used to support the top cover 116 of the bare cell 100 during the core closing operation. It should be noted that in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the structure and arrangement of the top cover supporting device 400 are not limited in detail, as long as its function can be achieved. The core closing device 200, the first detection device 300A and the second detection device 300B are all arranged above the platform 20, and the opposite sides of the core closing device 200 are correspondingly arranged at a certain distance from the bare cell 100, so as to capture images of the back of the anode (cathode) ear of the bare cell 100. It should be noted that in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the structure and arrangement of the core closing device 200, the first detection device 300A and the second detection device 300B are not limited in detail, as long as their functions can be achieved. Before the flipping operation of the bare cell 100 by the closing device 200 shifts the main body of the bare cell 100 from the flat position to the upright closed position, the large side surfaces of the main body 110 of the two bare cells arranged side by side are supported horizontally by the main body of the retaining device 500, thereby being in a flat position. The anode ear 112 and cathode ear 114 of the bare cell are welded to the top cover 116 of the bare cell, and the top cover 116 is supported by the top cover support device 400. In other words, the top cover 116 and the main body 110 of the bare cell 100 are originally two separate components, and the anode ear 112 and cathode ear 114 of the bare cell 100 are welded to the top cover 116 and the main body 110, extending straight between them. During the flipping operation of the bare cell, the top cover 116 is always supported by the top cover support device 400, while the main body 110 is moved from the flat position to the upright closed position. Moreover, during the flipping operation, as the core closing device 200 flips the bare cell, the body 110 of the bare cell held by the retaining device 500 slowly moves in a circular motion so that the two bare cell bodies 110 gradually approach each other and the clamping force of the retaining device 500 gradually increases until the body 110 of the bare cell is in an upright, closed state, and the clamping force of the retaining device is sufficient to bear the entire weight of the bare cell. In other words, at this time, the body of the retaining device 500 is completely in contact with the body of the bare cell and a certain torque exists to prevent the body of the bare cell from tipping over. During the circular motion of the body of the bare cell, because the top cover 116 is always supported by the top cover supporting device 400, the anode ear 112 and cathode ear 114 located between the body 110 of the bare cell and the top cover 116 are bent due to the 90-degree flipping of the body of the bare cell, which may cause the surface layer of the back of the outward-facing tab to be stressed and crack, resulting in a defective bare cell. For this reason, it is necessary to perform online inspection on the bare cell.

[0071] 3 and 4 , the top cover supporting device 400 is movable. Specifically, the top cover supporting device 400 is liftable. The top cover supporting device 400 is configured to be movable at least between a carrying position and a displacement position. In this way, the top cover supporting device 400 can provide an optional and desired range of detection for the anode (cathode) ear. In the carrying position, the support plate 402 of the top cover supporting device 400 supports the top cover 116 of the bare cell 100. In the displacement position, the support plate 402 of the top cover supporting device 400 just abuts but no longer supports the top cover 116, thereby allowing the anode ear 112 and the cathode ear 114 of the bare cell 100 to fully extend, for example, to a naturally extended state. Of course, the top cover supporting device 400 can move beyond the carrying position and the displacement position, as long as it does not affect the online detection. The top cover supporting device 400 can be driven by the first driving mechanism 404 operatively connected thereto to move a distance from the supporting position away from the main body 110 of the bare cell toward the displacement position (for example, moving in the downward direction as shown in the figure) to allow the anode ear 112 and the cathode ear 114 of the bare cell 100 to at least partially extend, thereby providing the desired range to be detected. Since the weight of the bare cell 100 in the upright closed state is completely supported by the retaining device 500, the top cover supporting device 400 against the top cover 116 moves downward a distance to at least partially release the upward support force on the bent anode ear 112 and cathode ear 114 together with the top cover 116, allowing the anode ear 112 and cathode ear 114 to extend downward to expose the desired range of the anode ear back portion and the cathode ear back portion. The desired range of the anode (cathode) ear back portion depends on the desired downward extension amount of the anode (cathode) ear and / or the downward movement amount of the top cover supporting device.

[0072] The first detection device 300A and the second detection device 300B both include an image acquisition mechanism 310, which can be configured to capture images of the anode ear back portion and the cathode ear back portion from a lateral direction. In the embodiment shown, the image acquisition mechanism 310 is set on the platform 20 using a mounting member. The setting of the image acquisition mechanism 310 is suitable for capturing high-quality images of the anode (cathode) ear back portion of the bare cell 100 from a lateral direction. In other words, with particular reference to FIG6 , the vertical distance of the image acquisition mechanism 310 relative to the bare cell 100 is set to be suitable for making the anode (cathode) ear back portion of the bare cell be in the center of the field of view of the image acquisition mechanism 310. The horizontal distance of the image acquisition mechanism 310 relative to the bare cell 100 is suitable for making the bare cell 100 be within the focal length range of the image acquisition mechanism 310 to obtain a clear image.

[0073] The detection system 10 disclosed in the present invention is also provided with a control device (not shown) to control the operation of the core closing device 200, the first detection device 300A, the second detection device 300B and the top cover supporting device 400. Specifically, the control device can be configured to control the core closing device 200 to flip the main body of the bare battery cell 100 from a lying state to an upright core closing state. The control device can be configured to control the first detection device 300A and the second detection device 300B to capture images of the back of the anode ear and the back of the cathode ear, and to receive the images captured by the first detection device 300A and the second detection device 300B and perform image processing to determine whether there are defects in the back of the pole ear for use in subsequent processes. It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, the structure and arrangement of the control device are not limited in detail, as long as its function can be achieved. For subsequent processes, as an example, the bare battery cells determined to be qualified can be transported to the next process, or they can be temporarily stored in the warehouse for use in subsequent production. In addition, unqualified bare cells can be directly removed from the production line as waste, or they can be temporarily marked and left for waste disposal in subsequent processes.

[0074] Therefore, the detection system disclosed in the present invention utilizes the mobility of the top cover supporting device to realize online detection of the back of the anode ear and the back of the cathode ear of the bare battery cell, thereby obtaining more comprehensive information about the quality of the back of the pole ear.

[0075] According to one or more embodiments, referring to Figures 1 and 2, a pair of first detection devices 300A are aligned and arranged on opposite sides of the core-closing device 200, so as to be used to respectively capture images of the back of the anode ears of the two bare battery cells arranged side by side. A pair of second detection devices 300B are aligned and arranged on opposite sides of the core-closing device, so as to respectively capture images of the back of the cathode ears of the two bare battery cells arranged side by side. In this way, high-quality images can be captured from the back of each pole ear. In other words, the four pole ears of the two bare battery cells arranged side by side are each equipped with its own detection device. As needed, the control device can control the image acquisition operations of the pair of first detection devices 300A and the pair of second detection devices 300B simultaneously or separately.

[0076] Therefore, the detection system disclosed in the present invention can realize online detection of all the back parts of the tabs of two bare battery cells arranged side by side, so as to obtain high-quality images respectively, thereby obtaining more comprehensive information about the quality of the back parts of the tabs.

[0077] According to one or more embodiments, the top cover supporting device 400 includes a support plate 402 and a first drive mechanism 404. The support plate 402 is used to support the top cover of the bare cell, and the first drive mechanism 404 is disposed on the platform 20. The first drive mechanism 404 is connected to the support plate 402 and is capable of driving the support plate 402 to move along the bare cell 100 toward the platform 20, thereby extending the anode tab 112 and the cathode tab 114.

[0078] In the above structure, the first drive mechanism 404 can provide driving force for the movement of the support plate 402, and the support plate 402 can transmit the driving force of the first drive mechanism 404 to the top cover of the bare cell 100. By adjusting the movement distance of the support plate 402, the top cover of the bare cell 100 can be moved between the top cover supporting position and the displacement position to adjust the extension state of the anode and cathode tabs.

[0079] Optionally, the distance between the top cover of the bare cell 100 and the first driving mechanism 404 can be controlled by adjusting the length of the support plate 402, which can effectively improve the adaptability of the first driving mechanism 404 to different bare cells.

[0080] According to one or more embodiments, the first driving mechanism 404 also includes a limiting jig 406, which is arranged at one end of the support plate 402 facing the bare battery cell 100. The side surface of the limiting jig 406 facing the bare battery cell is concave to form a receiving groove 408, and the shape of the receiving groove 408 matches the top cover of the bare battery cell.

[0081] In the above structure, the setting of the limiting fixture 406 can guide the movement direction of the top cover of the bare battery cell, reduce the risk of deformation and displacement of the top cover of the bare battery cell during the flipping process, improve the accuracy of detection, and improve the structural integrity of the bare battery cell.

[0082] According to one or more embodiments, the first drive mechanism 404 further includes a first drive motor 410 and a limit assembly, which includes a connecting plate 412 and two limit plates 414. The connecting plate 412 is connected to the first drive motor 410, and the two limit plates 414 are connected to the connecting plate 412. The surfaces of the two limit plates 414 facing away from the first drive motor 410 are concave to form a limit groove, which is used to accommodate a portion of the support plate 401 to limit the movement of the support plate 401 relative to the connecting plate 412.

[0083] In the above structure, the connecting plate 412 is provided to connect the two limit plates 414 to the first drive motor 410, and the limit grooves are provided on the limit plates 414 to limit the position of the support plate 402, thereby reducing the risk of displacement of the support plate 402 during movement, and improving the stability of the detection process and the accuracy of the detection results.

[0084] FIG5 and FIG6 schematically show the detection system shown in FIG1 with part of its structure removed to present a three-dimensional view and a side view of the first detection device, the second detection device and the bare battery cell, respectively.

[0085] According to one or more embodiments, referring to Figures 5 and 6, the first detection device 300A and the second detection device 300B each further include a light source. The light source includes a coaxial light source 320 coaxially arranged with the image acquisition mechanism 310, and a first bar light source 330 and a second bar light source 332 disposed on either side of the coaxial light source. The control device can control the coaxial light source 320 to be turned on, thereby causing the image acquisition mechanism 310 to capture an image with a first exposure level. Alternatively, the control device can control the coaxial light source 320, the first bar light source 330, and the second bar light source 332 to be turned on simultaneously, thereby causing the image acquisition mechanism 310 to capture an image with a second exposure level.

[0086] 1 , 5 and 6 , the first detection device 300A and the second detection device 300B each include an image acquisition mechanism 310 , a coaxial light source 320 , a first bar light source 330 and a second bar light source 332 .

[0087] The light source may include a coaxial light source 320, a first bar light source 330, and a second bar light source 332. Referring to Figure 5, the coaxial light source 320 is arranged between the image acquisition mechanism 310 and the bare cell 100. It should be noted that in the embodiment of the present application, the specific structure of the coaxial light source 320 is not limited, as long as the central axis of the coaxial light source 320 and the optical axis of the image acquisition mechanism 310 are arranged on the same axis. The coaxial light source 320 can provide flat and uniform fill light for the image acquisition mechanism 310. The two bar light sources 330 are arranged between the image acquisition mechanism 310 and the bare cell 100 and on both sides of the coaxial light source 320. The two bar light sources 330 can provide fill light converging from two sides for the image acquisition mechanism 310. It should be noted that in the embodiment of the present application, the specific structure of the bar light source 330 is not limited, and a light source with any geometric shape can be used.

[0088] The control device can control the activation of the light source to provide fill light for the image capture mechanism 310 to obtain high-quality images. When the image capture mechanism 310 is capturing images, the control device can selectively control the illumination of the light source, so that only the coaxial light source 320 is illuminated, thereby allowing the image capture mechanism to capture images with a first exposure; or the coaxial light source and two bar light sources 330 are illuminated simultaneously, thereby allowing the image capture mechanism to capture images with a second exposure. Thus, the arrangement and illumination combination of the coaxial light source and the bar light source can provide the image capture mechanism with optional and sufficient fill light, allowing the image capture mechanism to capture high-quality images with a desired exposure according to actual needs.

[0089] According to one or more embodiments, the first detection device 300A further includes a mounting member 340 disposed on the platform 20. The image acquisition mechanism includes an imaging device 312 and an imaging lens 314. The imaging device 312 and the imaging lens 314 are disposed on the mounting member 340. The imaging lens 314 is disposed between the imaging device 312 and the coaxial light source 320. For example, the imaging device 312 may be a digital camera or a video camera. The imaging lens 314 may be a lens that matches the imaging device 312 and is used for focusing or improving shooting accuracy.

[0090] In the above structure, image acquisition is achieved by providing an imaging device 312 to capture images of the cathode lug 114 and the back of the anode lug 112. Imaging lens 314 is provided to collect light from the object, thereby improving the imaging effect of imaging device 312 and enhancing detection accuracy.

[0091] FIG7 schematically shows a perspective view of the detection system shown in FIG1 with part of its structure removed to present a cell closing device that has flipped a bare cell to an upright cell closing state.

[0092] 1 and 7 , the cell closing device 200 includes a cell closing flipping mechanism 202 and a second driving mechanism 204. The cell closing flipping mechanism 202 is configured to be driven by the second driving mechanism 204 to gradually flip the body of the bare cell 100 from a flat state to an upright cell closing state.

[0093] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, the specific structure of the cell-closing device 200 is not limited, as long as its function is achieved. Referring to Figures 1 and 7 , the cell-closing device 200, under the control of the control device, can be driven by the second drive mechanism 204 to flip the bare cell 100, causing the main body of the bare cell to gradually flip 90 degrees along a circular path from a flat position to an upright, closed position.

[0094] Therefore, the core closing device can easily realize smooth and stable flipping of the bare battery cell.

[0095] According to one or more embodiments, the second drive mechanism 204 includes a second drive motor 206, a fixed base 208, a rotating block 210, and a rotating bearing 212. The second drive motor 206 and the fixed base 208 are disposed on the platform 20, and the rotating block 210 is disposed on a side of the fixed base 208 facing away from the second drive motor 206. The output shaft of the second drive motor 206 passes through the fixed base 208 and is connected to the rotating block 210. The second drive motor 206 drives the rotating block 201 to rotate around the output shaft of the second drive motor, and the retaining device is connected to the rotating block. The rotating bearing 212 is disposed between the rotating block 210 and the fixed base 208 to rotatably connect the rotating block 210 and the fixed base 208.

[0096] In the above structure, the second drive motor 206 is provided to drive the rotating block 210 to rotate, and the fixed base 208 can support the output shaft of the second drive motor 206 and the rotating block 210. The rotating block 210 is used to drive the retaining device 500 to rotate, and the rotating bearing 212 rotatably connects the rotating block 210 to the fixed base 208, reducing the resistance and friction during the rotation of the rotating block 210, improving the stability of the rotation process to improve the accuracy of detection, and reducing the structural damage to the bare battery cell 100 during the rotation process to maintain the structural integrity of the bare battery cell 100.

[0097] According to one or more embodiments, there are two fixed seats 208, and there are two rotating blocks 210 and two rotating bearings 212 respectively. The core flipping mechanism 202 also includes a transmission plate 214, which is connected between the two rotating blocks 210, and the retaining device 500 is arranged on the transmission plate 214.

[0098] In the above structure, two fixing seats 208 and two rotating blocks 210 are provided to connect the two ends of the transmission plate 214, thereby improving the balance of force on the transmission plate 214 and improving the stability of the rotation process.

[0099] According to one or more embodiments, referring to Figures 1 and 7, the cell closing device 200 further includes a third driving mechanism 514 for driving the holding device 500. The third driving mechanism is configured to drive the holding device 500 to gradually clamp the body 110 of the bare cell during the flipping operation until the body of the bare cell is completely supported by the holding device 500 in the upright cell closing state.

[0100] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, the specific structures of the holding device 500 and the third drive mechanism 514 are not limited, as long as their functions can be achieved. Referring to Figure 7, the holding device 500 may include a pair of upper clamping parts 510 and a pair of lower clamping parts 512. In the process of the body of the bare cell flipping from the flat state to the upright closed state, the body of the bare cell slowly makes a circular motion so that the bodies 110 of the two bare cells gradually approach each other, and the clamping force provided by the upper clamping part 510 and the lower clamping part 512 of the holding device 500 gradually increases until the body of the bare cell is in the upright closed state, and the clamping force is large enough to bear the entire weight of the bare cell. At this time, the body of the holding device is completely in contact with the body of the bare cell, and the upper clamping part 510 and the lower clamping part 512 clamp the body of the bare cell 100 at the upper and lower parts from the small side respectively and provide a certain torque to the bare cell to prevent the bare cell 100 from tipping over.

[0101] Thus, the slow flipping of the cell and the gradual increase in the clamping force minimize damage to the anode (cathode) tabs between the body of the bare cell and the top cover, such as cracking caused by excessive bending of the anode (cathode) tabs.

[0102] According to one or more embodiments, the retaining device 500 includes a clamping portion 502 disposed on a transmission plate. The clamping portion 502 includes two opposing clamping members 504. The space between the two clamping members 504 is used to clamp the bare cell. In this structure, the clamping members 504 are disposed on the transmission plate 214 and can move with the movement of the transmission plate 214, clamping the bare cell 100 for flipping. The two clamping members 504 clamp the bare cell 100 from both sides, improving the clamping force and stability during the flipping process.

[0103] According to one or more embodiments, the clamping member 504 includes a clamping rod 506 and a cell clamping block 508. One end of the clamping rod 506 is connected to the transmission plate 214. The cell clamping block 508 is provided at the other end of the clamping rod 506. The cell clamping block 508 is used to clamp the bare cell 100 and drive the bare cell 100 to flip. The cell clamping block 508 is concave toward the surface of the bare cell 100 to form a clamping groove 516. The shape of the clamping groove 516 matches the shape of the surface of the bare cell 100.

[0104] In the above structure, the clamping rod 506 is provided to apply a clamping force to the bare cell 100 as the transmission plate 214 moves, and the clamping force is transmitted to the bare cell 100 through the cell clamping block 508. The cell clamping block 508 is provided with a clamping groove 516 to reduce the deformation of the surface of the bare cell 100 caused by the clamping force, provide protection for the surface of the bare cell 100, and improve the structural integrity of the battery under test.

[0105] According to one or more embodiments, the third drive mechanism 514 includes a third drive motor 518, which is provided on the transmission plate 214, and the clamping rod 506 is connected to the third drive motor 518. In the above structure, by providing the third drive motor 518, the driving force is transmitted to the holding device 500, driving the clamping rod 506 to move, and driving the clamping member 504 to clamp the bare cell. By controlling the third drive motor 518, the clamping force of the clamping member 504 can be accurately adjusted, and the clamping force of the bare cell 100 is increased as the flipping angle increases, so as to improve the stability of the flipping process of the bare cell 100.

[0106] According to one or more embodiments, the holding device 500 further includes a drive connecting plate 520, which is connected to the third drive motor 518. The clamping rod 506 is disposed on the drive connecting plate 520. There are two clamping portions 502, namely an upper clamping portion 510 and a lower clamping portion 512. The upper clamping portion 510 and the lower clamping portion 512 are spaced apart from each other on the drive connecting plate 520.

[0107] In the above structure, by providing a plurality of clamping portions 502 , the clamping points of the bare battery cell 100 are increased, thereby improving the clamping stability and simultaneously improving the clamping stability of the battery cell during the flipping process.

[0108] According to one or more embodiments, a side surface of the transmission plate 214 facing the drive connecting plate 520 is concave to form a limiting groove 216, and the limiting groove 216 extends along the arrangement direction of the two clamping members 504. It is understood that the two clamping members 504 here refer to two clamping members 504 provided on both sides of the bare cell 100 in the same clamping portion 502, and a space is formed between the two clamping members 504 to clamp the bare cell 100. A side surface of the drive connecting plate 520 facing the limiting groove 216 protrudes to form a limiting portion, which is provided in the limiting groove 216. The limiting portion is used to limit the movement of the drive connecting plate 520 relative to the transmission plate 214. In the above structure, the limiting groove 216 extends along the arrangement direction of the two clamping members 504, which can limit the movement direction of the drive connecting plate 520 to the direction toward the other clamping member 504 or away from the other clamping member 504, thereby reducing damage to the outer surface of the bare cell 100 caused by the movement of the clamping member 504. Furthermore, by providing the limiting groove 216 and positioning the limiting portion within the limiting groove 216, the movement path of the limiting portion can be restricted, thereby reducing the risk of the clamping member 504 moving too far and damaging the bare cell 100. The above structure improves the stability of the detection process and enhances the protection of the bare cell 100 being tested.

[0109] According to one or more embodiments, the retaining device 500 further includes a cushioning block 522, which is disposed on the side of the transmission plate 214 facing the bare cell 100. In the above structure, the cushioning block 522 provides support for the side of the bare cell 100, improving stability during the flipping process. Optionally, the thickness of the cushioning block 522 can be adjusted to accommodate the different thicknesses of the bare cell 100 to accommodate the testing of cells of different specifications.

[0110] According to one or more embodiments, referring to FIG8 , a detection method is provided that utilizes an inspection system 10 to inspect the back portion of the tabs of bare cells 100 during a cell-closing operation. The inspection system includes a top cover support device 400, a cell-closing device 200, a first detection device 300A, a second detection device 300B, and a control device. The top cover support device 400 is configured to move between a supporting position that supports the top cover of the bare cell and a displaced position that abuts but no longer supports the top cover. The method includes a cell-closing operation step S1, a step S2 of moving the top cover support device, an image acquisition step S3, an image processing step S4, and a determination step S5. In the cell-closing operation step S1, the cell-closing device 200, with the top covers of the bare cells supported by the top cover support device 400, flips the bodies of two bare cells 100 arranged side by side from a flat position to an upright, closed position. In the upright, closed position, the bodies of the bare cells are fully supported by the retaining device 500, with the back portion of the tabs facing outward. Step S2 of moving the top cover supporting device: The first driving mechanism 404 drives the top cover supporting device 400 to move from the supporting position toward the displacement position under the control of the control device, thereby allowing the anode ear and the cathode ear to stretch and expose the desired range of the back part of the anode ear and the back part of the cathode ear. In the image acquisition step S3, the first detection device 300A and the second detection device 300B respectively capture images of the back part of the anode ear and the back part of the cathode ear from the side. In the image processing step S4, the control device receives the images captured by the first detection device 300A and the second detection device 300B and performs image processing. In the judgment step, it is determined whether there is a defect in the back part of the pole ear based on the processed image for use in subsequent processes.

[0111] Figure 8 shows a flow chart of the inspection method according to the present disclosure. The inspection method according to the present disclosure can be performed using the inspection system 10 according to the present disclosure. The inspection method includes the following steps: a core closing operation step S1, a step S2 of moving the top cover support device, an image acquisition step S3, an image processing step S4, and a determination step S5. After the inspection is completed, the core closing device 200 can continue with subsequent core closing operations.

[0112] Therefore, the detection method disclosed in the present invention can realize online detection of the back of the anode ear and the back of the cathode ear to obtain more comprehensive information about the quality of the back of the pole ear, thereby facilitating the use of the collected and processed images for subsequent processes.

[0113] According to one or more embodiments, a pair of first detection devices 300A are aligned with each other and disposed on opposite sides of the core-closing device. A pair of second detection devices 300B are aligned with each other and disposed on opposite sides of the core-closing device. The method includes the following steps: using the pair of first detection devices to respectively capture images of the anode backs of two bare battery cells arranged side by side. Using the pair of second detection devices to respectively capture images of the cathode backs of two bare battery cells arranged side by side.

[0114] Specifically, a detection device is provided for each of the four tabs of two bare cells arranged side by side. Furthermore, the horizontal and vertical distances of each image capture mechanism relative to the bare cell 100 are set to achieve a desired focal length and field of view, enabling high-quality image capture of the back of the anode tab or cathode tab of the corresponding bare cell 100.

[0115] The detection method disclosed herein utilizes the desired focal length and field of view of each detection device to realize online detection of the corresponding tab back portions of two bare battery cells arranged side by side, so as to obtain high-quality images reflecting the quality of the tab back portions.

[0116] According to one or more embodiments, the first detection device 300A and the second detection device 300B each include an image capture mechanism 310 and a light source. The light source includes a coaxial light source 320 coaxially disposed with the image capture mechanism 310, and a first bar light source 330 and a second bar light source 332 disposed on either side of the coaxial light source. The method includes the following steps: using the control device to turn on the coaxial light source 320, thereby causing the image capture mechanism 310 to capture an image with a first exposure level; or using the control device to simultaneously turn on the coaxial light source 320, the first bar light source 330, and the second bar light source 332, thereby causing the image capture mechanism 310 to capture an image with a second exposure level.

[0117] Therefore, optional sufficient fill light can be provided to the image acquisition mechanism according to actual needs, so as to acquire high-quality images with desired exposure.

[0118] According to one or more embodiments, the core closing device 200 includes a core closing flipping mechanism 202 and a second driving mechanism 204. A core closing operation step S1 includes: utilizing the second driving mechanism 204 to drive the core closing flipping mechanism 202 and drive the holding device 500 to gradually flip the body of the bare cell 100 from a flat position to an upright core closing position.

[0119] Specifically, by using the detection system according to the present disclosure, the second driving mechanism 204 drives the core flipping mechanism 202, so that the main body of the bare cell held by the holding device 500 can be slowly moved in a circular motion from a lying state to an upright core state.

[0120] Thus, the cell closing operation step smoothly shifts the main body of the bare cell into an upright cell closing state.

[0121] According to one or more embodiments, the cell closing device 200 further includes a third driving mechanism 514 for driving the holding device 500. The cell closing operation step S1 includes: using the third driving mechanism 514 to drive the holding device 500 to gradually clamp the bare cell 100 during the flipping operation until the main body of the bare cell is completely supported by the holding device in the upright cell closing state.

[0122] Specifically, using the detection system according to the present disclosure, the holding device 500 is driven by the third driving mechanism 514 to gradually increase the clamping force of the holding device 500 during the flipping operation until the main body of the bare battery cell is in an upright closed state, and the clamping force of the holding device is sufficient to bear the entire weight of the bare battery cell 100.

[0123] Therefore, the core closing operation step enables the retaining device to gradually clamp the body of the bare cell, thereby reducing the possibility of cracking the tab between the body of the bare cell and the top cover.

[0124] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present disclosure, rather than to limit them. Although the present disclosure 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 disclosure, and they should all be included in the scope of the claims and description of the present disclosure. 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 disclosure 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 detection system for detecting the back of a bare cell tab in a cell assembly device, the detection system comprising: a top cover supporting device configured to be movable between at least a supporting position for supporting a top cover of a bare battery cell and a displaced position for just abutting against but no longer supporting the top cover, wherein the top cover of the bare battery cell is welded to the anode tab and the cathode tab; a core closing device configured to shift the bodies of two bare battery cells arranged side by side from a lying state to an upright closed state when the top cover is supported by the top cover supporting device, wherein the bodies of the bare battery cells are completely held by the holding device and the backs of the tabs face outward; The top cover supporting device is configured to be driven by the first driving mechanism to move from the supporting position to the displaced position after the bare battery cell is in the upright and closed state, thereby allowing the anode ear and the cathode ear to extend to expose the desired range of the back portion of the anode ear and the back portion of the cathode ear; A first detection device and a second detection device, each of the first detection device and the second detection device comprises an image acquisition mechanism, the first detection device is configured to acquire an image of the anode back of the ear from the side, and the second detection device is configured to acquire an image of the cathode back of the ear from the side; and A control device is configured to control the core closing device to flip the main body of the bare battery cell from a lying state to an upright core closing state, control the movement of the top cover supporting device, control the image acquisition of the first detection device and the second detection device, and receive the acquired images and perform image processing to determine whether there are defects in the back of the anode ear and the back of the cathode ear for use in subsequent processes.

2. The detection system according to claim 1, wherein: The top cover bearing device includes: A support plate, used to support the top cover of the bare battery cell; and The first driving mechanism is provided on the platform and connected to the support plate. The first driving mechanism can drive the support plate to move along the bare cell toward the platform so that the anode ear and the cathode ear are extended.

3. The detection system according to claim 2, wherein: The first driving mechanism also includes a limiting fixture, which is arranged at one end of the support plate facing the bare battery cell. The side surface of the limiting fixture facing the bare battery cell is concave to form a receiving groove, and the shape of the receiving groove matches the top cover of the bare battery cell.

4. The detection system according to claim 3, wherein: The first driving mechanism further includes a first driving motor and a limiting assembly, and the limiting assembly includes: a connecting plate connected to the first driving motor; Two limiting plates are connected to the connecting plate. The surfaces of the two limiting plates on one side facing away from the first drive motor are concave to form limiting grooves. The limiting grooves are used to accommodate part of the support plate to limit the movement of the support plate relative to the connecting plate.

5. The detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: A pair of first detection devices are aligned with each other and arranged on opposite sides of the core-closing device to respectively capture images of the back of the anode ears of the two bare battery cells arranged side by side; a pair of second detection devices are aligned with each other and arranged on opposite sides of the core-closing device to respectively capture images of the back of the cathode ears of the two bare battery cells arranged side by side.

6. The detection system according to claim 5, wherein: The first detection device and the second detection device further include a light source, wherein the light source includes a coaxial light source coaxially arranged with the image acquisition mechanism and a first strip light source and a second strip light source arranged on both sides of the coaxial light source; The control device can be controlled to turn on the coaxial light source, so that the image acquisition mechanism acquires an image with a first exposure level; or The control device can control the coaxial light source, the first strip light source and the second strip light source to be turned on simultaneously, so that the image acquisition mechanism acquires an image with a second exposure level.

7. The detection system according to claim 6, wherein: The first detection device also includes a mounting member provided on the platform. The image acquisition mechanism includes an imaging device and an imaging lens. The imaging device and the imaging lens are provided on the mounting member. The imaging lens is provided between the imaging device and the coaxial light source.

8. The detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The cell closing device includes a cell closing flipping mechanism and a second driving mechanism. The cell closing flipping mechanism is configured to be driven by the second driving mechanism to gradually flip the main body of the bare cell from a lying state to an upright cell closing state.

9. The detection system according to claim 8, wherein: The second driving mechanism comprises: a second driving motor, disposed on the platform; A fixed seat, provided on the platform; The rotating block is provided on a side of the fixed seat away from the second drive motor, the output shaft of the second drive motor passes through the fixed seat and is connected to the rotating block, the second drive motor drives the rotating block to rotate around the output shaft of the second drive motor, and the holding device is connected to the rotating block. The rotating bearing is provided between the rotating block and the fixing seat to rotatably connect the rotating block and the fixing seat.

10. The detection system according to claim 9, wherein: There are two fixed seats, two rotating blocks and two rotating bearings are provided respectively, and the core flipping mechanism further includes a transmission plate, which is connected between the two rotating blocks, and the retaining device is provided on the transmission plate.

11. The detection system according to claim 10, wherein: The core closing device also includes a third driving mechanism for driving the holding device, which is configured to drive the holding device to gradually clamp the body of the bare battery cell during the flipping operation until the body of the bare battery cell is completely supported by the holding device in the upright core closing state.

12. The detection system according to claim 11, wherein: The holding device includes a clamping portion provided on the transmission plate, the clamping portion includes two clamping members arranged opposite to each other, and the space between the two clamping members is used to clamp the bare battery cell.

13. The detection system according to claim 12, wherein: The clamping member comprises: a clamping rod, one end of which is connected to the transmission plate; The battery cell clamping block is provided at the other end of the clamping rod, and the battery cell clamping block is used to clamp the The bare battery cell drives the bare battery cell to flip over, and the battery cell clamping block is concave toward the surface of the bare battery cell to form a clamping groove, and the shape of the clamping groove matches the shape of the surface of the bare battery cell.

14. The detection system according to claim 13, wherein: The third driving mechanism includes a third driving motor, the third driving motor is arranged on the transmission plate, and the clamping rod is connected to the third driving motor.

15. The detection system according to claim 14, wherein: The holding device further includes a driving connecting plate, the driving connecting plate is connected to the third driving motor, and the clamping rod is provided on the driving connecting plate. There are two clamping parts, namely an upper clamping part and a lower clamping part, and the upper clamping part and the lower clamping part are arranged at intervals on the driving connecting plate.

16. The detection system according to claim 12, wherein: The transmission plate is concave on one side of the surface facing the driving connecting plate to form a limiting groove, and the limiting groove extends along the arrangement direction of the two clamping members. A surface of one side of the driving connecting plate protrudes toward the limiting groove to form a limiting portion, and the limiting portion is arranged in the limiting groove. The limiting groove is used to limit the movement of the driving connecting plate relative to the transmission plate.

17. The detection system according to any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein: The retaining device further includes a buffer pad, which is arranged on a side of the transmission plate facing the bare battery core.

18. A detection method, wherein the detection method uses a detection system to detect the back of the tab of a bare cell during the cell closing operation, the detection system comprising a top cover supporting device, a cell closing device, a first detection device, a second detection device, and a control device, wherein the top cover supporting device is configured to be movable between a supporting position supporting the top cover of the bare cell and a displacement position just abutting but no longer supporting the top cover, wherein: The detection method comprises: Cell closing operation steps: using the cell closing device, with the top cover of the bare cell supported by the top cover supporting device in the supporting position, flipping the main bodies of the two bare cells arranged side by side from a lying state to an upright cell closing state, wherein the main bodies of the bare cells are completely held by the holding device and the backs of the tabs face outwards; The step of moving the top cover supporting device: the first driving mechanism drives the top cover supporting device to move from the supporting position toward the displacement position under the control of the control device, thereby allowing the anode ear and the cathode ear to extend to expose the back of the anode ear and the back of the cathode ear in a desired range; Image acquisition step: using the first detection device and the second detection device to respectively acquire images of the anode ear back portion and the cathode ear back portion from the side; Image processing step: using a control device to receive the images collected by the first detection device and the second detection device and perform image processing; Determination step: Determine whether there are defects in the anode ear back part and the cathode ear back part based on the processed image for use in subsequent processes.

19. The detection method according to claim 18, wherein A pair of first detection devices are aligned with each other and arranged on opposite sides of the core closing device, and a pair of second detection devices are aligned with each other and arranged on opposite sides of the core closing device. The method includes the following steps: Using the pair of first detection devices to respectively capture images of the anode ear back areas of the two bare cells arranged side by side; and The pair of second detection devices are used to respectively capture images of the cathode ear back areas of the two bare cells arranged side by side.

20. The detection method according to claim 19, wherein The first detection device and the second detection device both include an image acquisition mechanism and a light source, wherein the light source includes a coaxial light source coaxially arranged with the image acquisition mechanism and a first strip light source and a second strip light source arranged on both sides of the coaxial light source; the method includes the following steps: Using the control device to turn on the coaxial light source, so that the image acquisition mechanism acquires an image with a first exposure level; or The control device is used to turn on the coaxial light source, the first strip light source and the second strip light source at the same time, so that the image acquisition mechanism acquires an image with a second exposure level.

21. The detection method according to any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein The core closing device includes a core closing flip mechanism and a second driving mechanism, and the core closing operation steps include: The second driving mechanism is used to drive the core-closing flipping mechanism and drive the holding device to gradually flip so that the main body of the bare cell shifts from a flat state to an upright core-closing state.

22. The detection method according to claim 21, wherein The core closing device further includes a third driving mechanism for driving the holding device, and the core closing operation steps include: The third driving mechanism is used to drive the holding device to gradually clamp the body of the bare cell during the flipping operation until the body of the bare cell is completely supported by the holding device in an upright closed state.

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