Battery helium leak detection system and method

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of battery testing, and discloses a battery helium leak detection system and method. By providing both a first helium leak detection cavity and a second helium leak detection cavity for helium leak detection, helium leak detection can be performed on a greater number of batteries simultaneously, improving the detection efficiency and alleviating the problem of battery accumulation caused by the inability to perform helium leak detection on the batteries in time under an accelerated detection cycle. Moreover, a first buffer mechanism and a second buffer mechanism can temporarily store the plurality of batteries on a first conveying device, and in this way, when the detection cycle of the entire battery helium leak detection line is accelerated, the first buffer mechanism and the second buffer mechanism can mitigate the problem of disordered battery accumulation on the first conveying device caused by the accelerated detection cycle, avoiding material blockage at a station where the first helium leak detection cavity or the second helium leak detection cavity is located due to disordered battery accumulation. Moreover, using the existing first conveying device as a buffering zone eliminates the need to provide a separate buffer rack, resulting in lower costs.

Description

Battery helium detection system and method

[0001] Related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202410160880.2 filed on February 5, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of battery detection technology, and in particular to a battery helium detection system and method. Background Art

[0004] Testing the seal of batteries is an essential step in the battery production process. Currently, the helium test method is generally used to test the seal of larger batteries. This method involves filling the battery with helium before sealing. The concentration of helium leaked from the battery is then measured in a negative pressure environment to determine the battery's seal.

[0005] The overall inspection rhythm of the battery helium inspection line currently used for battery helium inspection is slow. If the inspection rhythm of the entire battery helium inspection line is accelerated, it will easily cause blockage at the work station.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of the above problems, the present application provides a battery helium inspection system and method, which aims to solve the problem that speeding up the inspection rhythm of the entire battery helium inspection line easily leads to workstation blockage.

[0008] In a first aspect, the present application provides a battery helium inspection system, the battery helium inspection system comprising: a first controller, at least one battery helium inspection line communicatively connected to the first controller, the first controller being used to control the battery helium inspection line to perform helium inspection; the battery helium inspection line comprising: a first conveying device, a cache mechanism, a cavity feeding mechanism and a helium inspection cavity; the cache mechanism at least comprises: a first cache mechanism and a second cache mechanism arranged along the moving direction of the first conveying device; the helium inspection cavity at least comprises: a first helium inspection cavity and a second helium inspection cavity arranged along the moving direction of the first conveying device; the first cache mechanism and the first helium inspection cavity are arranged opposite to each other, and the second cache mechanism and the second helium inspection cavity are arranged opposite to each other; the cavity feeding mechanism comprises a first cavity feeding mechanism and a second cavity feeding mechanism. Two cavity feeding mechanisms; the first conveying device is used to convey batteries downstream; the first buffer mechanism and the second buffer mechanism are used to intercept the batteries and buffer multiple batteries on the first conveying device; the first cavity feeding mechanism is used to send the multiple batteries buffered by the first buffer mechanism into the first helium inspection chamber when the first controller detects that the first helium inspection chamber is in an idle state; the second cavity feeding mechanism is used to send the multiple batteries buffered by the second buffer mechanism into the second helium inspection chamber when the first controller detects that the second helium inspection chamber is in an idle state; the first helium inspection chamber and the second helium inspection chamber are used to perform helium inspection on the multiple batteries to determine whether the multiple batteries include unqualified batteries.

[0009] In the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, a battery helium inspection system includes a first controller and at least one battery helium inspection line communicatively connected to the first controller. The first controller controls the battery helium inspection line to perform helium inspection. In the battery helium inspection line, a first buffer mechanism and a second buffer mechanism form a buffer area on a first conveyor to buffer multiple batteries. The first buffer mechanism is disposed opposite the first helium inspection chamber, and the second buffer mechanism is disposed opposite the second helium inspection chamber. In this embodiment, the first and second helium inspection chambers are provided simultaneously for helium inspection, which enables helium inspection of a larger number of batteries simultaneously, improving inspection efficiency and alleviating the problem of battery accumulation caused by the accelerated inspection cycle. The first and second buffer mechanisms can buffer multiple batteries on the first conveyor. In this way, when the inspection cycle of the entire battery helium inspection line is accelerated, the first and second buffer mechanisms can alleviate the disordered accumulation of batteries on the first conveyor due to the accelerated inspection cycle, thereby preventing the disordered accumulation of batteries from causing blockage in the workstations of the first or second helium inspection chambers. In addition, the existing first conveyor is used as a buffer area, eliminating the need for a separate buffer rack, resulting in lower costs.

[0010] In some embodiments, the first buffer mechanism includes a first blocking cylinder and a second blocking cylinder, and an area on the first conveying device located between the first blocking cylinder and the second blocking cylinder faces the entrance of the first helium detection chamber; and / or, the second buffer mechanism includes a third blocking cylinder and a fourth blocking cylinder, and an area on the first conveying device located between the third blocking cylinder and the fourth blocking cylinder faces the entrance of the second helium detection chamber.

[0011] In this embodiment, since the area between the first blocking cylinder and the second blocking cylinder on the first conveyor is opposite to the entrance of the first helium inspection chamber, the first blocking cylinder and the second blocking cylinder buffer the batteries in the area on the first conveyor that is opposite to the entrance of the first helium inspection chamber. The first blocking cylinder and the second blocking cylinder are placed in the blocking position and are located on both sides of the battery. The first blocking cylinder and the second blocking cylinder can play a positioning role, thereby preventing the battery from being offset when the first cavity feeding mechanism pushes the battery into the first helium inspection chamber, thereby improving the reliability of the battery helium inspection line.

[0012] For the same reason, the third blocking cylinder and the fourth blocking cylinder can also play a positioning role to prevent the battery from shifting when the second cavity feeding mechanism pushes the battery into the second helium detection cavity, thereby improving the reliability of the battery helium detection line.

[0013] In some embodiments, the first helium detection chamber or the second helium detection chamber includes: a lifting cylinder, a vacuum detection chamber, and a helium detection mechanism located in the vacuum detection chamber; the multiple batteries entering the first helium detection chamber or the second helium detection chamber are located on the lifting cylinder, and the lifting cylinder is used to lift and drive the multiple batteries into the vacuum detection chamber; the helium detection mechanism is used to perform helium detection on the multiple batteries in the vacuum detection chamber; the lifting cylinder is also used to reset and drive the multiple batteries to reset after the helium detection is completed.

[0014] This embodiment provides a specific structural style of the first helium detection cavity or the second helium detection cavity.

[0015] In some embodiments, a liftable baffle is provided on a side of the first conveying device close to the first helium detection chamber and / or the second helium detection chamber, and the liftable baffle faces the entrance of the first helium detection chamber and / or the second helium detection chamber; when the liftable baffle is lowered, the entrance of the first helium detection chamber and / or the second helium detection chamber is connected to the first conveying device.

[0016] In this embodiment, a liftable baffle is provided on the side of the first conveyor device close to the first helium detection chamber and / or the second helium detection chamber, facing the entrance of the first helium detection chamber and / or the second helium detection chamber. This not only facilitates the entry of the battery into the first helium detection chamber and / or the second helium detection chamber, but also prevents the battery from shifting during the conveyance process.

[0017] In some embodiments, the battery helium inspection line further includes: a dust removal mechanism and a blocking mechanism. Along the moving direction of the first conveying device, the dust removal mechanism is arranged upstream of the first cache mechanism, and the blocking mechanism is arranged upstream of the dust removal mechanism; the first conveying device passes through the dust removal mechanism, and the dust removal mechanism is used to remove dust from the batteries on the first conveying device passing through the dust removal mechanism; the blocking mechanism is used to be placed in a blocking position to intercept the batteries from entering the dust removal mechanism when the first cache mechanism and the second cache mechanism cache multiple batteries.

[0018] In this embodiment, since the helium detection chamber is in an occupied state and the cache mechanism is full when multiple batteries are cached in the first cache mechanism and the second cache mechanism, the blocking mechanism is placed in the blocking position to prevent more batteries from entering the dust removal mechanism and then being unable to enter the cache mechanism, thereby causing blockage in the dust removal mechanism station.

[0019] In some embodiments, the battery helium inspection line further includes: a cavity discharge mechanism and a second conveying device, the outlet of the first helium inspection chamber and / or the second helium inspection chamber is connected to the second conveying device, and the cavity discharge mechanism includes a first cavity discharge mechanism and a second cavity discharge mechanism; the first cavity discharge mechanism is used to convey the multiple batteries after inspection to the second conveying device after the inspection of the first helium inspection chamber and / or the second helium inspection chamber is completed; the second cavity discharge mechanism is used to convey the multiple batteries after inspection to the second conveying device after the inspection of the second helium inspection chamber is completed.

[0020] In this embodiment, the retest cavity is used to retest a plurality of batteries to determine whether each of the plurality of batteries is a qualified battery or a failed battery.

[0021] In some embodiments, the battery helium inspection line further includes: a first sorting mechanism and a third conveying device, wherein the third conveying device is connected to the second conveying device; the first sorting mechanism is used to convey the plurality of batteries from the second conveying device to the third conveying device when the plurality of batteries include unqualified batteries.

[0022] In this embodiment, the first sorting mechanism separates batteries that are all qualified after testing and batteries that are not all qualified after testing. Batteries that are all qualified after testing move with the second conveyor; batteries that are not all qualified after testing are separated to the third conveyor and move with the third conveyor.

[0023] In some embodiments, the battery helium inspection line further includes: a retest chamber and a retest chamber feeding mechanism, the entrance of the retest chamber is connected to the third conveying device; the retest chamber feeding mechanism is used to feed the multiple batteries on the third conveying device into the retest chamber; the retest chamber is used to retest the multiple batteries to determine whether each of the multiple batteries is a qualified battery or an unqualified battery.

[0024] In some embodiments, the battery helium inspection line further includes: a retest chamber discharge mechanism, a second sorting mechanism and a fourth conveying device, the outlet of the retest chamber is connected to the third conveying device, and the fourth conveying device is connected to the third conveying device; the retest chamber discharge mechanism is used to send the multiple batteries after retesting to the third conveying device; the second sorting mechanism is used to send the unqualified batteries from the third conveying device to the fourth conveying device when the first controller detects that the batteries are unqualified batteries.

[0025] In this embodiment, the second sorting mechanism is used to transfer the batteries from the third conveying device to the fourth conveying device when the batteries are unqualified batteries, thereby separating qualified batteries from unqualified batteries.

[0026] In some embodiments, the second sorting mechanism includes: a front interceptor and a rear interceptor arranged along the moving direction of the third conveyor, and a sorter located between the front interceptor and the rear interceptor; the front interceptor and the rear interceptor cooperate to confine each battery after re-inspection between the front interceptor and the rear interceptor in turn; the sorter is used to send the unqualified battery to the fourth conveyor when the first controller detects that the battery is an unqualified battery; when the first controller detects that the battery is a qualified battery, the rear interceptor is placed in the release position, and the qualified battery is sent to the second conveyor by the third conveyor.

[0027] The second sorting mechanism in this embodiment can transfer each battery in the stacked multiple batteries to a different conveying device according to the detection result, thereby realizing the diversion of the stacked multiple batteries.

[0028] In some embodiments, the battery helium inspection line further includes: a retest blocker; the retest blocker is used to cache the multiple batteries to be retested on the third conveying device; the retest cavity feeding mechanism is used to send the multiple batteries to be retested from the third conveying device to the retest cavity after the multiple batteries to be retested are cached in the retest blocker.

[0029] In this embodiment, after the retest blocker buffers multiple batteries to be retested, the retest cavity feeding mechanism delivers the multiple batteries to be retested from the third conveying device into the retest cavity, thereby achieving simultaneous retesting of multiple batteries.

[0030] In some embodiments, the battery helium inspection system further includes: a plurality of the first controllers, a plurality of the battery helium inspection detection lines, one of the first controllers being used to control one of the battery helium inspection detection lines to perform helium inspection; and a second controller being communicatively connected to the plurality of the battery helium inspection detection lines and being used to allocate batteries to the plurality of the battery helium inspection detection lines.

[0031] In a second aspect, the present application provides a battery helium inspection system method, including: placing a battery on a first conveying device, which drives the battery to move downstream; a first cache mechanism intercepts the battery and caches multiple batteries on the first conveying device; when the first controller detects that the first helium inspection chamber is in an idle state, the first controller controls the first cavity feeding mechanism to send the multiple batteries cached by the first cache mechanism into the first helium inspection chamber for helium inspection to determine whether the multiple batteries include unqualified batteries; when the first controller detects that the first helium inspection chamber is in an occupied state, the first controller controls the second cache mechanism to cache the batteries; when the first controller detects that the second helium inspection chamber is in an idle state, the first controller sends the multiple batteries cached by the second cache mechanism into the second helium inspection chamber for helium inspection to determine whether the multiple batteries include unqualified batteries.

[0032] In the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, a first helium inspection chamber and a second helium inspection chamber are set up at the same time to perform helium inspection, so that a larger number of batteries can be inspected at the same time, thereby speeding up the inspection efficiency and alleviating the problem of battery accumulation caused by not being able to perform helium inspection on the batteries in time due to the accelerated inspection rhythm; and the first cache mechanism and the second cache mechanism can cache multiple batteries on the first conveyor device. In this way, when the inspection rhythm of the entire battery helium inspection line is accelerated, the first cache mechanism and the second cache mechanism can alleviate the disordered accumulation of batteries on the first conveyor device after the inspection rhythm is accelerated, and avoid the blockage of the first helium inspection chamber or the second helium inspection chamber due to disordered accumulation of batteries. In addition, the existing first conveyor device is used as a cache area, and there is no need to set up an independent cache rack, which is low in cost.

[0033] In some embodiments, before the first cache mechanism intercepts the batteries and caches the multiple batteries on the first conveying device, the method further includes: a dust removal mechanism that removes dust from the batteries that are driven by the first conveying device to move downstream.

[0034] In this embodiment, the dust removal mechanism first performs dust removal on the battery and then performs helium inspection.

[0035] In some embodiments, when the first controller detects that the first helium inspection chamber is in an idle state, the first controller controls the first chamber feeding mechanism to feed the multiple batteries cached by the first cache mechanism into the first helium inspection chamber for helium inspection to determine whether the multiple batteries include unqualified batteries. The method further includes: after the first helium inspection chamber inspection is completed, the first chamber discharging mechanism conveys the multiple batteries after inspection to a second conveying device connected to the outlet of the first helium inspection chamber; when the multiple batteries include unqualified batteries, the first sorting mechanism conveys the multiple batteries to a third conveying device connected to the second conveying device.

[0036] and / or

[0037] When the first controller detects that the second helium inspection chamber is in an idle state, the first controller sends the multiple batteries cached by the second cache mechanism into the second helium inspection chamber for helium inspection to determine whether the multiple batteries include unqualified batteries. The method also includes: after the second helium inspection chamber inspection is completed, the second cavity discharge mechanism sends the multiple batteries after inspection to a second conveying device connected to the outlet of the second helium inspection chamber; when the multiple batteries include unqualified batteries, the first sorting mechanism sends the multiple batteries to a third conveying device connected to the second conveying device.

[0038] In some embodiments, after the helium inspection chamber performs helium inspection on the plurality of batteries to determine whether the plurality of batteries include unqualified batteries, the method further includes: after the inspection in the helium inspection chamber is completed, transferring the plurality of inspected batteries to a second conveying device connected to an outlet of the helium inspection chamber; if the plurality of batteries include unqualified batteries, the first sorting mechanism transfers the plurality of batteries to the third conveying device connected to the second conveying device.

[0039] In this embodiment, the first sorting mechanism separates batteries that are all qualified after testing and batteries that are not all qualified after testing. Batteries that are all qualified after testing move with the second conveyor; batteries that are not all qualified after testing are separated to the third conveyor and move with the third conveyor.

[0040] In some embodiments, when the plurality of batteries include unqualified batteries, after the first sorting mechanism transfers the plurality of batteries to a third conveying device connected to the second conveying device, it also includes: a retest cavity feeding mechanism feeds the plurality of batteries on the third conveying device into a retest cavity; the retest cavity re-inspects the plurality of batteries to determine whether each of the plurality of batteries is a qualified battery or an unqualified battery.

[0041] In this embodiment, the retest chamber retests the multiple batteries to determine whether each of the multiple batteries is a qualified battery or an unqualified battery.

[0042] In some embodiments, after the retest chamber retests the plurality of batteries to determine whether each of the plurality of batteries is a qualified battery or an unqualified battery, the process further includes: after the retest chamber completes the retest of the plurality of batteries, the retest chamber discharge mechanism sends the plurality of batteries that have completed the retest to a third conveying device; if the battery is an unqualified battery, the second sorting mechanism sends the battery from the third conveying device to the fourth conveying device, and the qualified batteries on the third conveying device are transferred from the third conveying device to the second conveying device.

[0043] In this embodiment, after the retest is completed, if the battery is an unqualified battery, the second sorting mechanism sends the battery from the third conveying device to the fourth conveying device, thereby separating the qualified batteries from the unqualified batteries.

[0044] In some embodiments, before the retest cavity feeding mechanism feeds the plurality of batteries on the third conveying device into the retest cavity, the method further comprises: a retest blocker buffering the plurality of batteries to be retested on the third conveying device.

[0045] In this embodiment, the retest blocker can cache multiple batteries to be retested on the third conveyor, forming a cache area for caching the batteries on the third conveyor. While speeding up the entire battery helium inspection line, it is not easy to cause blockage in the retest cavity station.

[0046] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of the present application. In order to more clearly understand the technical means of the present application, it can be implemented in accordance with the contents of the specification. In order to make the above and other purposes, features and advantages of the present application more obvious and easy to understand, the specific implementation methods of the present application are listed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a battery helium inspection system according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0048] FIG2 is a top view of a battery helium inspection line according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0049] FIG3 is a flowchart of a plurality of helium inspection chambers in a battery helium inspection line according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0050] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a helium detection chamber according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0051] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a helium detection chamber according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0052] FIG6 is a top view of a battery helium inspection line according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0053] FIG7 is a flowchart of a dust removal mechanism in a battery helium inspection line according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0054] FIG8 is a top view of a battery helium inspection line according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0055] FIG9 is a top view of a battery helium inspection line according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0056] FIG10 is a flowchart of the working process of the first helium test chamber in the battery helium test line in some embodiments of the present application;

[0057] FIG11 is a top view of a battery helium inspection line according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0058] FIG12 is a flowchart of a retest chamber in a battery helium test line according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0059] FIG13 is a flowchart of a workflow of multiple retest cavities in a battery helium test line according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0060] FIG14 is a diagram illustrating the overall workflow of the battery helium inspection line shown in FIG13 according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0061] FIG15 is a schematic flow chart of a battery helium inspection method according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0062] FIG16 is a schematic flow chart of a battery helium inspection method according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0063] FIG17 is a schematic flow chart of a battery helium inspection method according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0064] FIG18 is a schematic flow chart of a battery helium inspection method according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0065] FIG19 is a flow chart of a battery helium inspection method according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0066] The reference numerals in the specific embodiment are as follows: first controller 1001, second controller 1002, computer host 1003; battery 10, battery helium inspection line 1; first conveyor 101, buffer mechanism 201, first buffer mechanism 201-1, second buffer mechanism 201-2, cavity feeding mechanism 301, first cavity feeding mechanism 301-1, second cavity feeding mechanism 301-2, helium inspection cavity 401, first helium inspection cavity 401-1, second helium inspection cavity 401-2, wherein the first buffer mechanism 201-1 includes: a first blocking cylinder 2011 and a second blocking cylinder 2012; the second buffer mechanism 201-2 includes: a third blocking cylinder 2013 and a fourth blocking cylinder 2014; the helium inspection cavity 401 includes: a protective cover 4010, a lifting cylinder 4011, a vacuum inspection cavity 4012, and a helium inspection mechanism 4013; Dust removal mechanism 501, blocking mechanism 202, wherein the blocking mechanism 202 includes: a fifth blocking cylinder 2021, a sixth blocking cylinder 2022; a first sorting mechanism 601, a second conveying device 102, a third conveying device 103; a re-measurement cavity 402, a re-measurement cavity feeding mechanism 302, a second sorting mechanism 602, a fourth conveying device 104, wherein the second sorting mechanism 602 includes: a front interceptor 6021, a rear interceptor 6022, a sorter 6023; the re-measurement blocker 203 includes: a seventh blocking cylinder 2031, an eighth blocking cylinder 2032. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] The following embodiments of the technical solution of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present application and are therefore only examples and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application.

[0068] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs; the terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application; the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of this application and the above-mentioned figure descriptions are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0069] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the technical terms "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish different objects and should not be understood to indicate or imply relative importance or implicitly specify the quantity, specific order, or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of this application, the meaning of "plurality" is more than two, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0070] References herein to "embodiments" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0071] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "and / or" is simply a description of the association relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent the following three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0072] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the term "multiple" refers to more than two (including two). Similarly, "multiple groups" refers to more than two groups (including two groups), and "multiple pieces" refers to more than two pieces (including two pieces).

[0073] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the technical terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0074] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, technical terms such as "installed", "connected", "connected", and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present application can be understood according to specific circumstances. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described here are only used to explain the present application and are not used to limit the present application.

[0075] With the promotion and application of new energy sources, the market demand for batteries is growing. Testing the seal of batteries is an essential step in the battery production process. Currently, the helium test method is generally used to test the seal of larger batteries. This method involves filling the battery with helium before sealing. The concentration of helium leaked from the battery is then measured in a negative pressure environment to determine the battery's seal.

[0076] At present, the battery helium inspection line used for battery helium inspection directly places the batteries to be tested into the helium inspection chamber for inspection. When speeding up the inspection rhythm of the entire battery helium inspection line, it is easy to cause blockage at the workstation. For example, if multiple batteries are piled up on the conveyor, some batteries may be squeezed into the helium inspection chamber, which may cause blockage at the helium inspection cavity workstation.

[0077] In order to solve the problem that speeding up the inspection rhythm of the entire battery helium inspection line easily leads to station blockage, the battery helium inspection system of this embodiment includes a first controller and at least one battery helium inspection line communicatively connected to the first controller. The first controller controls the battery helium inspection line to perform helium inspection. The first cache mechanism and the second cache mechanism in the battery helium inspection line form a cache area on the first conveyor to cache multiple batteries. The first cache mechanism is arranged opposite to the first helium inspection cavity, and the second cache mechanism is arranged opposite to the second helium inspection cavity. In this embodiment, the first helium inspection cavity and the second helium inspection cavity are simultaneously provided for helium inspection, which can simultaneously inspect more batteries. Helium inspection can speed up the inspection efficiency and alleviate the problem of battery accumulation caused by not being able to conduct helium inspection on the batteries in time after speeding up the inspection cycle. The first cache mechanism and the second cache mechanism can cache multiple batteries on the first conveyor. In this way, when the inspection cycle of the entire battery helium inspection line is accelerated, the first cache mechanism and the second cache mechanism can alleviate the disordered accumulation of batteries on the first conveyor after speeding up the inspection cycle, and avoid the blockage of the first helium inspection chamber or the second helium inspection chamber due to disordered accumulation of batteries. In addition, the existing first conveyor is used as a cache area, and there is no need to set up an independent cache rack, which is low in cost.

[0078] It should be noted in advance that the battery described in this embodiment can be a lithium-ion battery or other battery that requires helium inspection. The shape of the battery can be cylindrical, square, flat, or irregular. The battery helium inspection system in this embodiment can perform helium inspection on batteries of various shapes.

[0079] First, as shown in Figure 1, the battery helium inspection system includes: multiple first controllers 1001 and multiple battery helium inspection lines 1. One first controller 1001 is used to control one battery helium inspection line 1 to perform helium inspection; the second controller 1002 is communicatively connected with the multiple battery helium inspection lines 1 and is used to allocate batteries 10 to the multiple battery helium inspection lines 1.

[0080] Exemplarily, the battery helium inspection system further includes: a computer host 1003, which is in communication with multiple first controllers 1001 and second controllers 1002, and is used to obtain helium inspection status information of multiple battery helium inspection lines 1, as well as battery distribution information. Operators can monitor the helium inspection status of multiple battery helium inspection lines 1 and battery distribution information through the computer host 1003 without having to go to the site.

[0081] To address the issue of workstation blockage caused by accelerating the inspection cycle of the entire battery helium inspection line 1, the present embodiment proposes a battery helium inspection system, comprising a first controller 1001 and at least one battery helium inspection line 1 in communication with the first controller 1001. The first controller 1001 is configured to control the battery helium inspection line 1 to perform helium inspection. As shown in FIG2 , the battery helium inspection line 1 includes a first conveyor 101, a buffer mechanism 201, a cavity feeding mechanism 301, and a helium inspection cavity 401. The cache mechanism 201 includes at least a first cache mechanism 201-1 and a second cache mechanism 201-2 arranged along the moving direction of the first conveyor 101 (the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1); the helium detection chamber 401 includes at least: a first helium detection chamber 401-1 and a second helium detection chamber 401-2 arranged along the moving direction of the first conveyor 101; the first cache mechanism 201-1 and the first helium detection chamber 401-1 are arranged opposite to each other, and the second cache mechanism 201-2 and the second helium detection chamber 401-2 are arranged opposite to each other; the cavity feeding mechanism 301 includes a first cavity feeding mechanism 301-1 and a second cavity feeding mechanism 301-2.

[0082] The first conveyor 101 is used to convey batteries 10 downstream. The direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2 is the direction of movement of the first conveyor 101, with the direction in front of the arrow being downstream and the direction behind the arrow being upstream. The batteries 10 are placed on the first conveyor 101 and move downstream along with the first conveyor 101.

[0083] It is practicable that the battery 10 can be placed on a support cup (not shown in the figure), and the support cup is placed on the first conveying device 101 and moves along with the first conveying device 101. In this embodiment, the first conveying device 101 can be a conveyor belt.

[0084] The first cache mechanism 201-1 and the second cache mechanism 201-2 are used to intercept batteries 10 moving along the first conveyor 101 and cache multiple batteries 10 on the first conveyor 101. The first cache mechanism 201-1 and the second cache mechanism 201-2 can intercept batteries 10 moving along the first conveyor 101. As the first conveyor 101 moves, more and more batteries 10 are cached on the first conveyor 101, forming a cache area on the first conveyor 101 for caching batteries 10. In this embodiment, the existing area on the first conveyor 101 is used as the cache area for caching batteries 10, eliminating the need for a separate cache rack and reducing costs.

[0085] It is practicable that the first buffer mechanism 201-1, the second buffer mechanism 201-2, the first cavity feeding mechanism 301-1, and the second cavity feeding mechanism 301-2 can be disposed on one side of the first conveyor 101, and the first helium detection cavity 401-1 and the second helium detection cavity 401-2 can be disposed on the other side of the first conveyor 101. Furthermore, the first buffer mechanism 201-1 and the first helium detection cavity 401-1 are disposed opposite each other, and the second buffer mechanism 201-2 and the second helium detection cavity 401-2 are disposed opposite each other.

[0086] The first chamber feeding mechanism 301 - 1 is used to feed the multiple batteries 10 buffered in the first buffer mechanism 201 - 1 into the first helium test chamber 401 - 1 when the first controller 1001 detects that the first helium test chamber 401 - 1 is in an idle state.

[0087] The second cavity feeding mechanism 301 - 2 is used to feed the multiple batteries 10 buffered in the second buffer mechanism 201 - 2 into the second helium test cavity 401 - 2 when the first controller 1001 detects that the second helium test cavity 401 - 2 is in an idle state.

[0088] The first helium inspection chamber 401 - 1 and the second helium inspection chamber 401 - 2 are respectively used to perform helium inspection on a plurality of batteries 10 simultaneously to determine whether the plurality of batteries 10 include unqualified batteries 10 .

[0089] It is feasible that the first cavity feeding mechanism 301 - 1 and the second cavity feeding mechanism 301 - 2 can be cylinders.

[0090] Taking a battery helium inspection system including two helium inspection chambers 401 and two buffer mechanisms 201 as an example, assuming that in the initial state, neither of the two buffer mechanisms 201 has buffered any battery 10, the workflow of the multiple helium inspection chambers 401 is shown in FIG3, including: the first conveying device 101 drives the battery 10 to move.

[0091] The first controller 1001 determines whether the first helium detection chamber 401-1 (i.e., helium detection chamber No. 1) is in an idle state. If the first helium detection chamber 401-1 (i.e., helium detection chamber No. 1) is in an idle state, the first controller 1001 controls the first buffer mechanism 201-1 to buffer a plurality of batteries 10, and then controls the first cavity feeding mechanism 301-1 to feed the plurality of batteries 10 buffered in the first buffer mechanism 201-1 into the first helium detection chamber 401-1 (i.e., helium detection chamber No. 1). If the first helium detection chamber 401-1 is in an occupied state, the first controller 1001 controls the second buffer mechanism 201-2 (i.e., 2 helium test chamber) caches multiple batteries 10, and determines whether the second helium test chamber 401-2 (i.e., helium test chamber No. 2) is idle. If the second helium test chamber 401-2 (i.e., helium test chamber No. 2) is idle, the second cavity feeding mechanism 301-2 is controlled to deliver the multiple batteries 10 cached by the second cache mechanism 201-2 into the second helium test chamber 401-2 (i.e., helium test chamber No. 2); if the second helium test chamber 401-2 is occupied, the battery caching is stopped, and the process returns to determine whether the first helium test chamber 401-1 is idle.

[0092] In some embodiments, assuming that one helium detection chamber 401 can simultaneously detect 8 batteries 10, two helium detection chambers 401 can simultaneously detect 16 batteries 10. The drawings of this embodiment illustrate two helium detection chambers 401, but it should be understood that in actual applications, the number of helium detection chambers 401 can be set as needed.

[0093] In this embodiment, a first helium inspection chamber 401-1 and a second helium inspection chamber 401-2 are simultaneously provided for helium inspection, so that a larger number of batteries 10 can be inspected at the same time, thereby improving inspection efficiency and alleviating the problem of battery 10 accumulation caused by not being able to inspect the batteries 10 in time due to the accelerated inspection cycle. In addition, the first buffer mechanism 201-1 and the second buffer mechanism 201-2 can cache multiple batteries 10 on the first conveyor 101. In this way, when the inspection cycle of the entire battery helium inspection line 1 is accelerated, the first buffer mechanism 201-1 and the second buffer mechanism 201-2 can alleviate the disordered accumulation of batteries 10 on the first conveyor 101 due to the accelerated inspection cycle, and avoid the problem of material blockage at the workstation where the first helium inspection chamber 401-1 or the second helium inspection chamber 401-2 is located due to the disordered accumulation of batteries 10. In addition, the existing first conveyor 101 is used as a buffer area, and there is no need to set up an independent buffer rack, which is low in cost.

[0094] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG2 , the first buffer mechanism 201 - 1 includes a first blocking cylinder 2011 and a second blocking cylinder 2012 , and the area between the first blocking cylinder 2011 and the second blocking cylinder 2012 on the first conveying device 101 faces the entrance of the first helium detection chamber 401 - 1 .

[0095] In this embodiment, the first buffer mechanism 201-1 includes two blocking cylinders, a first blocking cylinder 2011 and a second blocking cylinder 2012. The first blocking cylinder 2011 is arranged downstream of the second blocking cylinder 2012 along the moving direction of the first conveying device 101 (the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2). The first blocking cylinder 2011 can be called a rear blocking cylinder, and the second blocking cylinder 2012 can be called a front blocking cylinder.

[0096] When the first buffer mechanism 201-1 is caching batteries 10, the first blocking cylinder 2011 is in the blocking position, i.e., it is in the intercepting state; the second blocking cylinder 2012 is in the releasing position, i.e., it is in the releasing state. Batteries 10 are moving on the first conveyor 101, intercepted by the first blocking cylinder 2011, and cached between the first blocking cylinder 2011 and the second blocking cylinder 2012. If multiple batteries 10 are cached, the second blocking cylinder 2012 is placed in the blocking position to prevent excessive accumulation of batteries 10.

[0097] Since the area between the first blocking cylinder 2011 and the second blocking cylinder 2012 on the first conveying device 101 is opposite to the entrance of the helium inspection chamber 401, the first blocking cylinder 2011 and the second blocking cylinder 2012 cache the battery 10 in the area on the first conveying device 101 that is opposite to the entrance of the helium inspection chamber 401. The first blocking cylinder 2011 and the second blocking cylinder 2012 are placed in the blocking position and are located on both sides of the battery 10. The first blocking cylinder 2011 and the second blocking cylinder 2012 can play a positioning role to prevent the battery 10 from being offset when the first cavity feeding mechanism 301-1 pushes the battery 10 into the helium inspection chamber 401, thereby improving the reliability of the battery helium inspection line 1.

[0098] The number of batteries 10 that can be buffered between the first blocking cylinder 2011 and the second blocking cylinder 2012 can be determined based on actual needs. For example, the number of batteries 10 that can be tested in one go in the helium detection chamber 401 can be determined based on the number of batteries 10 that can be tested in one go in the helium detection chamber 401. Assuming that the first helium detection chamber 401-1 can test eight batteries 10 at a time, the number of batteries 10 that can be buffered between the first blocking cylinder 2011 and the second blocking cylinder 2012 can also be set to eight.

[0099] In this embodiment, different numbers of batteries 10 can be buffered by adjusting the distance between the first blocking cylinder 2011 and the second blocking cylinder 2012 .

[0100] Optionally, the first buffer mechanism 201-1 further includes a first counting sensor (not shown). The first counting sensor can be disposed upstream of the second blocking cylinder 2012, or on the second blocking cylinder 2012, or in front of and immediately adjacent to the second blocking cylinder 2012. If the first counting sensor detects a plurality of batteries 10, for example, eight batteries, the first controller 1001 controls the second blocking cylinder 2012 to be placed in a blocking position to prevent excessive accumulation of batteries 10.

[0101] It is worth noting that the second buffer mechanism 201-2 includes a third blocking cylinder 2013 and a fourth blocking cylinder 2014. The area between the third blocking cylinder 2013 and the fourth blocking cylinder 2014 on the first conveyor 101 directly faces the entrance of the second helium detection chamber 401-2. In this embodiment, the third blocking cylinder 2013 of the second buffer mechanism 201-2 has the same structure as the first blocking cylinder 2011, and the fourth blocking cylinder 2014 has the same structure as the second blocking cylinder. Furthermore, the functions of the second buffer mechanism 201-2 are substantially the same as those of the first buffer mechanism 201-1. The detailed description of the above embodiment is provided and will not be repeated here.

[0102] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG4 , the first helium inspection chamber 401 - 1 includes a lifting cylinder 4011 , a vacuum inspection chamber 4012 , and a helium inspection mechanism 4013 located within the vacuum inspection chamber 4012 . Multiple batteries 10 entering the first helium inspection chamber 401 - 1 are positioned on the lifting cylinder 4011 . As shown in FIG5 , the lifting cylinder 4011 is configured to lift and drive the multiple batteries 10 into the vacuum inspection chamber 4012 . The helium inspection mechanism 4013 is configured to perform helium inspection on the multiple batteries 10 within the vacuum inspection chamber 4012 . The lifting cylinder 4011 is also configured to reset and return the multiple batteries 10 to their original positions after the helium inspection is complete.

[0103] The first helium inspection chamber 401-1 can be implemented by further comprising a protective cover 4010 having a first opening at its bottom and a second opening on a sidewall of the protective cover 4010 facing the first conveyor 101. A lifting cylinder 4011 is disposed at the first opening of the protective cover 4010, and the first chamber feeding mechanism 301-1 delivers the plurality of batteries 10 buffered in the first buffer mechanism 201-1 into the first helium inspection chamber 401-1 through the second opening.

[0104] In this embodiment, a specific structural style of the first helium inspection chamber 401 - 1 is provided. It is understandable that the first helium inspection chamber 401 - 1 may also adopt other structural styles as long as it can implement helium inspection of multiple batteries 10 at the same time.

[0105] It is worth noting that the specific structure of the second helium detection chamber 401 - 2 in this embodiment is the same as that of the first helium detection chamber 401 - 1 , and the specific description thereof can be referred to in the above embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0106] In some embodiments, a liftable baffle (not shown) is provided on a side of the first conveying device 101 close to the first helium detection chamber 401-1 and / or the second helium detection chamber 401-2. The liftable baffle faces the entrance of the first helium detection chamber 401-1 and / or the second helium detection chamber 401-2. When the liftable baffle is lowered, the entrance of the first helium detection chamber 401-1 and / or the second helium detection chamber 401-2 is connected to the first conveying device 101.

[0107] It is feasible that baffles may be provided on both sides of the first conveying device 101 to prevent the battery 10 from being offset during the movement of the first conveying device 101 .

[0108] A notch facing the helium detection chamber 401 is provided on a baffle plate on the side of the first conveying device 101 close to the first helium detection chamber 401-1 and / or the second helium detection chamber 401-2. A liftable baffle is provided at the notch. The liftable baffle faces the entrance of the first helium detection chamber 401-1 and / or the second helium detection chamber 401-2. When the liftable baffle is raised, the entrance of the first helium detection chamber 401-1 and / or the second helium detection chamber 401-2 is aligned with the first conveying device 101. 1 and 1, respectively. The first helium inspection chamber 401-1 and / or the second helium inspection chamber 401-2 are separated by a liftable baffle, which prevents the battery 10 from shifting during transport. When the liftable baffle is lowered, the entrances of the first helium inspection chamber 401-1 and / or the second helium inspection chamber 401-2 communicate with the first conveyor 101, and the first chamber feeding mechanism 301-1 can push the battery 10 into the first helium inspection chamber 401-1, or the second chamber feeding mechanism 301-2 can push the battery 10 into the second helium inspection chamber 401-2. In this embodiment, a liftable baffle is provided on the side of the first conveyor 101 near the first helium inspection chamber 401-1 and / or the second helium inspection chamber 401-2, facing the entrances of the first helium inspection chamber 401-1 and / or the second helium inspection chamber 401-2. This facilitates the entry of the battery 10 into the first helium inspection chamber 401-1 and / or the second helium inspection chamber 401-2 and prevents the battery 10 from shifting during transport.

[0109] The length of the liftable baffle can be the same as the length of the entrance to the first helium detection chamber 401-1 and / or the second helium detection chamber 401-2, or the length of the liftable baffle can be greater than the length of the entrance to the first helium detection chamber 401-1 and / or the second helium detection chamber 401-2. The above liftable baffle lengths are merely examples; any liftable baffle length that ensures that the multiple batteries 10 buffered on the first conveyor 101 can enter the entrance to the first helium detection chamber 401-1 and / or the second helium detection chamber 401-2 is within the scope of this embodiment.

[0110] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 6, the battery helium inspection line 1 also includes: a dust removal mechanism 501 and a blocking mechanism 202. Along the moving direction of the first conveying device 101, the dust removal mechanism 501 is arranged upstream of the first cache mechanism 201-1, and the blocking mechanism 202 is arranged upstream of the dust removal mechanism 501; the first conveying device 101 passes through the dust removal mechanism 501, and the dust removal mechanism 501 is used to remove dust from the batteries 10 passing through the dust removal mechanism 501 on the first conveying device 101; the blocking mechanism 202 is used to be placed in a blocking position to intercept the batteries 10 from entering the dust removal mechanism 501 when a preset number of batteries 10 are cached in the first cache mechanism 201-1 and the second cache mechanism 201-2.

[0111] In this embodiment, a positioning mechanism (not shown) is provided within the dust removal mechanism 501 to position the battery 10 after passing through the dust removal mechanism 501 before the dust removal operation is performed. After the dust removal operation is completed, the positioning mechanism is released, and the dust-removed battery 10 is moved to the downstream buffer mechanism 201 along the first conveyor 101. The positioning mechanism can be a clamp or a blocking cylinder. In this embodiment, the positioning mechanism is not limited, as long as it can position the battery 10 within the dust removal mechanism 501.

[0112] The blocking mechanism 202, disposed upstream of the dust removal mechanism 501, is controlled by the first controller 1001 to be in a blocking position when both the first buffer mechanism 201-1 and the second buffer mechanism 201-2 have buffered multiple batteries 10, thereby preventing the batteries 10 from entering the dust removal mechanism 501. Since both the first buffer mechanism 201-1 and the second buffer mechanism 201-2 have buffered multiple batteries 10, the first helium detection chamber 401-1 and the second helium detection chamber 401-2 are both occupied, and the first buffer mechanism 201-1 and the second buffer mechanism 201-2 are already full of batteries, in this embodiment, the blocking mechanism 202 is placed in the blocking position to prevent more batteries 10 from entering the dust removal mechanism 501 and being unable to enter the buffer mechanism 201, thereby causing a blockage in the dust removal mechanism 501.

[0113] It is feasible that, when the dust removal mechanism 501 can remove dust from multiple batteries 10 at the same time, the blocking mechanism 202 intercepts the batteries 10 on the first conveying device 101, and when multiple batteries 10 are cached, the cached multiple batteries 10 are released, and the multiple batteries 10 enter the dust removal mechanism 501. After the dust removal mechanism 501 positions and removes dust from the multiple batteries 10, the multiple batteries 10 after dust removal enter the cache mechanism 201 as the first conveying device 101 moves.

[0114] The number of batteries 10 that can be removed from the dust removal mechanism 501 at one time can be the same as the number of batteries 10 that can be removed from the first helium detection chamber 401-1 and the second helium detection chamber 401-2 at one time, and the number of batteries 10 that can be buffered by the blocking mechanism 202 can also be the same as the number of batteries 10 that can be removed from the first helium detection chamber 401-1 and the second helium detection chamber 401-2 at one time. For example, if the number of batteries 10 that can be removed from the first helium detection chamber 401-1 and the second helium detection chamber 401-2 at one time is 8, the number of batteries 10 that can be removed from the dust removal mechanism 501 at one time is also 8. Accordingly, the number of batteries 10 that can be buffered by the blocking mechanism 202 is also 8.

[0115] Exemplarily, the blocking mechanism 202 may include a fifth blocking cylinder 2021 and a sixth blocking cylinder 2022. Along the moving direction of the first conveying device 101, the fifth blocking cylinder 2021 is arranged upstream of the sixth blocking cylinder 2022. The fifth blocking cylinder 2021 can be called a front blocking cylinder, and the sixth blocking cylinder 2022 can be called a rear blocking cylinder.

[0116] When the dust removal mechanism 501 can remove dust from multiple batteries 10 at the same time, the fifth blocking cylinder 2021 is placed in the blocking position, the sixth blocking cylinder 2022 is placed in the release position, and the batteries 10 enter between the fifth blocking cylinder 2021 and the sixth blocking cylinder 2022 as the first conveying device 101 moves, and the batteries 10 are cached on the first conveying device 101. When multiple batteries 10 are to be cached, the sixth blocking cylinder 2022 is placed in the blocking position. If the dust removal mechanism 501 is in an idle state, the fifth blocking cylinder 2021 is placed in the release position, and the multiple batteries 10 cached between the fifth blocking cylinder 2021 and the sixth blocking cylinder 2022 enter the dust removal mechanism 501 as the first conveying device 101 moves. After multiple batteries 10 enter the dust removal mechanism 501, the fifth blocking cylinder 2021 is reset to the blocking position, and the sixth blocking cylinder 2022 is placed in the release position.

[0117] In one example, when multiple batteries 10 are cached in both the first cache mechanism 201-1 and the second cache mechanism 201-2, the fifth and sixth blocking cylinders 2021, 2022 can be placed in the blocking position, regardless of whether multiple batteries 10 are cached between the fifth and sixth blocking cylinders 2021, 2022. This prevents more batteries 10 from entering the dust removal mechanism 501 and then being unable to enter the cache mechanism 201, thereby causing a blockage in the dust removal mechanism 501. When at least one cache mechanism 201 does not cache any batteries 10, the sixth blocking cylinder 2022 can be placed in the release position, allowing the batteries 10 to continue to enter between the fifth and sixth blocking cylinders 2021, 2022 as the first conveyor 101 moves.

[0118] In another example, when multiple batteries 10 are cached in the first cache mechanism 201-1 and the second cache mechanism 201-2, the fifth and sixth blocking cylinders 2021, 2022 are placed in the blocking position after multiple batteries 10 are cached between the fifth blocking cylinder 2021 and the sixth blocking cylinder 2022, to prevent more batteries 10 from entering the dust removal mechanism 501 and then being unable to enter the cache mechanism 201, thereby causing a blockage in the dust removal mechanism 501. When at least one cache mechanism 201 does not cache any batteries 10 and the dust removal mechanism 501 is in an idle state, the fifth blocking cylinder 2021 can be placed in the release position, and the multiple batteries 10 cached between the fifth and sixth blocking cylinders 2021, 2022 enter the dust removal mechanism 501.

[0119] The following describes the workflow of the dust removal mechanism 501, taking the example of a blocking mechanism 202 that may include a fifth blocking cylinder 2021 and a sixth blocking cylinder 2022. The workflow of the dust removal mechanism 501 is shown in FIG7 , including: the first conveyor 101 drives the batteries 10 to move, the fifth blocking cylinder 2021 (front blocking cylinder) is placed in the release position, and after multiple batteries 10 are buffered between the fifth blocking cylinder 2021 and the sixth blocking cylinder 2022, the sixth blocking cylinder 2022 (rear blocking cylinder) is placed in the blocking position. Multiple batteries 10 enter the dust removal mechanism 501, the dust removal mechanism 501 is full, and the fifth blocking cylinder 2021 (front blocking cylinder) is placed in the blocking position. After the positioning mechanism within the dust removal mechanism 501 positions the multiple batteries 10, the multiple batteries 10 are dusted. After the dust removal is completed, the positioning mechanism is released, and the sixth blocking cylinder 2022 (rear blocking cylinder) is placed in the release position. The dust-cleaned batteries 10 flow out as the first conveyor 101 moves.

[0120] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the battery helium inspection line 1 further includes: a cavity discharge mechanism (not shown in the figures) and a second conveying device 102, and the outlet of the first helium inspection cavity 401-1 and / or the second helium inspection cavity 401-2 is connected to the second conveying device 102; the cavity discharge mechanism includes a first cavity discharge mechanism and a second cavity discharge mechanism.

[0121] The first cavity discharge mechanism is used to transfer the tested batteries 10 to the second conveying device 102 after the first helium inspection cavity 401 - 1 completes the inspection.

[0122] The second cavity discharge mechanism is used to transfer the tested batteries 10 to the second conveying device 102 after the first helium inspection cavity 401 - 1 completes the inspection.

[0123] Specifically, the exit and entrance of the first helium inspection chamber 401-1 and / or the second helium inspection chamber 401-2 are located on different sides of the helium inspection chamber 401. The first conveyor 101 and the second conveyor 102 are also located on different sides of the first helium inspection chamber 401-1 and / or the second helium inspection chamber 401-2. After the first helium inspection chamber 401-1 and the second helium inspection chamber 401-2 complete testing of multiple batteries 10, the first chamber discharge mechanism transfers the tested batteries 10 to the second conveyor 102 connected to the exit of the first helium inspection chamber 401-1. The second chamber discharge mechanism transfers the tested batteries 10 to the second conveyor 102 connected to the exit of the second helium inspection chamber 401-2. The batteries 10 on the second conveyor 102 may all be qualified batteries 10 or may include unqualified batteries 10.

[0124] In one example, the first cavity discharge mechanism may be disposed in the first helium detection cavity 401 - 1 , and the second cavity discharge mechanism may be disposed in the second helium detection cavity 401 - 2 . The outlets of the first helium detection cavity 401 - 1 and the second helium detection cavity 401 - 2 are connected to the second conveying device 102 .

[0125] It is practicable that a pre-stored position for qualified batteries 10 may be provided at the exit of the second conveying device 102 , and the qualified batteries 10 are moved to the pre-stored position for qualified batteries 10 along with the second conveying device 102 .

[0126] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the battery helium inspection line 1 also includes: a first sorting mechanism 601 and a third conveying device 103, and the third conveying device 103 is connected to the second conveying device 102; the first sorting mechanism 601 is used to transfer the multiple batteries 10 including unqualified batteries 10 from the second conveying device 102 to the third conveying device 103 when the multiple batteries 10 include unqualified batteries 10.

[0127] Specifically, the third conveyor 103 is connected to the second conveyor 102. The batteries 10 on the second conveyor 102 can be moved to the third conveyor 103 under the action of an external force. For example, the third conveyor 103 and the second conveyor 102 can be arranged in parallel. The first sorting mechanism 601 can be arranged on one side of the second conveyor 102. When the first helium inspection chamber 401-1 and / or the second helium inspection chamber 401-2 detect that the plurality of batteries 10 are all qualified batteries 10, the first sorting mechanism 601 is placed in the release position (as shown in FIG8 ). The plurality of batteries 10 are moved along with the second conveyor 102. The movement direction of the second conveyor 102 is the same as the direction of the arrow on the second conveyor 102 in FIG9 . When the first helium inspection chamber 401-1 and / or the second helium inspection chamber 401-2 detect multiple batteries 10, including unqualified batteries 10, the first sorting mechanism 601 is placed in a blocking position (as shown in FIG9 ). The multiple batteries 10 are blocked by the first sorting mechanism 601 and deviate from their original movement path, entering the third conveyor 103. The multiple batteries 10 move along the third conveyor 103, and the movement direction of the third conveyor 103 is the same as the arrow on the third conveyor 103 in FIG9 . It can be seen that the first sorting mechanism 601 separates batteries 10 that have passed all inspections from batteries 10 that have not passed all inspections. The batteries 10 that have passed all inspections move along the second conveyor 102, while the batteries 10 that have not passed all inspections are diverted to the third conveyor 103 and move along the third conveyor 103.

[0128] The first sorting mechanism 601 can be implemented as comprising two first sorting mechanisms 601: one first sorting mechanism 601 is disposed downstream of the first helium detection chamber 401-1 and between the first helium detection chamber 401-1 and the second helium detection chamber 401-2; the other first sorting mechanism 601 is disposed downstream of the second helium detection chamber 401-2. If the test result of the first helium detection chamber 401-1 indicates that multiple batteries 10 include unqualified batteries 10, the first controller 1001 places the first sorting mechanism 601 in the blocking position. If the test result indicates that all batteries 10 are qualified, the first sorting mechanism 601 is inactive. The other first sorting mechanism 601 is controlled to operate based on the test result of the second helium detection chamber 401-2.

[0129] Optionally, baffles (not shown) are provided on both sides of the second conveyor 102 and the third conveyor 103 to prevent the batteries 10 from shifting during the movement of the second conveyor 102 or the third conveyor 103. The second conveyor 102 and the third conveyor 103 can share the same baffle to separate the batteries 10 on the two conveyor devices.

[0130] It is feasible that the first sorting mechanism 601 includes a sorting cylinder (not shown in the figure) and a baffle (not shown in the figure). A notch is provided on the baffle between the second conveying device 102 and the third conveying device 103. The baffle is arranged at the notch. One end of the baffle can be movably connected to the baffle. When the baffle rotates, the second conveying device 102 and the third conveying device 103 are connected.

[0131] As shown in FIG8 , when the first helium inspection chamber 401 - 1 and / or the second helium inspection chamber 401 - 2 detect that all of the multiple batteries 10 are qualified batteries 10, the baffle bar does not move, and the extension direction of the baffle bar is the same as the extension direction of the baffle plate. As shown in FIG9 , when the first helium inspection chamber 401 - 1 and / or the second helium inspection chamber 401 - 2 detects that the multiple batteries 10 include unqualified batteries 10, the sorting cylinder drives the baffle bar to rotate, and the other end of the baffle bar extends to the second conveyor 102. As shown in FIG9 , the multiple batteries 10 moving along the second conveyor 102 are diverted to the third conveyor 103 when they encounter the inclined baffle bar.

[0132] The following describes the helium inspection process of the first helium inspection chamber 401-1, taking the cache mechanism 201 including the first blocking cylinder 2011 and the second blocking cylinder 2012 as an example. The helium inspection process of the first helium inspection chamber 401-1 is shown in Figure 10, including: the cache mechanism 201 caches multiple batteries 10. At this time, the first blocking cylinder 2011 and the second blocking cylinder 2012 are both placed in the blocking position, and the multiple batteries 10 are located between the first blocking cylinder 2011 and the second blocking cylinder 2012. The first chamber feeding mechanism 301-1 pushes multiple batteries 10 into the first helium test chamber 401-1. The lifting cylinder 4011 in the first helium test chamber 401-1 lifts the batteries 10 and enters the vacuum test chamber 4012. The batteries 10 in the vacuum test chamber 4012 undergo helium testing. After the helium testing is completed, the lifting cylinder 4011 in the first helium test chamber 401-1 is reset. The liftable baffle of the second conveyor 102 facing the outlet of the first helium test chamber 401-1 is lowered, and the outlet of the first helium test chamber 401-1 is connected to the second conveyor 102. The first chamber discharging mechanism located on one side of the first helium test chamber 401-1 delivers the batteries 10 in the first helium test chamber 401-1 to the second conveyor 102. Afterwards, the liftable baffle of the second conveyor 102 facing the outlet of the first helium test chamber 401-1 is reset.

[0133] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG11 , the battery helium inspection line 1 further includes: a retest chamber 402 and a retest chamber feeding mechanism 302 , wherein the entrance of the retest chamber 402 is connected to the third conveying device 103 ; the retest chamber feeding mechanism 302 is used to feed the plurality of batteries 10 on the third conveying device 103 into the retest chamber 402 ; the retest chamber 402 is used to retest the plurality of batteries 10 to determine whether each of the plurality of batteries 10 is a qualified battery 10 or an unqualified battery 10 .

[0134] In this embodiment, the battery helium inspection line 1 is further provided with a retest chamber 402. The retest chamber 402 is provided on one side of the third conveyor 103 and is located downstream of the first sorting mechanism 601. The entrance of the retest chamber 402 is connected to the third conveyor 103. The retest chamber feeding mechanism 302 can be provided on the third conveyor 103 to feed the multiple batteries 10 on the third conveyor 103 into the retest chamber 402. The retest chamber 402 is used to retest the multiple batteries 10 to determine whether each battery 10 in the multiple batteries 10 is a qualified battery 10 or an unqualified battery 10. In this embodiment, the retest chamber 402 and the helium inspection chamber 401 are provided separately. While the retest chamber 402 is retesting, it does not affect the use of the helium inspection chamber 401, which is beneficial to improving the detection efficiency of the entire battery helium inspection line 1.

[0135] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 11, the battery helium inspection line 1 also includes: a re-test chamber discharge mechanism (not shown in the figure), a second sorting mechanism 602 and a fourth conveyor 104, the outlet of the re-test chamber 402 is connected to the third conveyor 103, and the fourth conveyor 104 is connected to the third conveyor 103; the re-test chamber discharge mechanism is used to send multiple batteries 10 after the re-inspection is completed to the third conveyor 103; the second sorting mechanism 602 is used to send the unqualified battery 10 from the third conveyor 103 to the fourth conveyor 104 when the first controller 1001 detects that the battery 10 is an unqualified battery 10.

[0136] In this embodiment, after the retest cavity 402 completes the inspection, the retest cavity discharge mechanism delivers the retested batteries 10 to the third conveyor 103. If the first controller 1001 detects that the battery 10 is unqualified, it controls the second sorting mechanism 602 to deliver the unqualified battery 10 to the fourth conveyor 104 connected to the third conveyor 103, thereby separating the qualified batteries 10 from the unqualified batteries 10.

[0137] The retest cavity feeding mechanism 302 can be realized as a cylinder, which can be provided on the third conveying device 103 and used for pushing the multiple batteries 10 on the third conveying device 103 into the retest cavity 402 .

[0138] It is feasible that the retest cavity discharging mechanism may be a cylinder, which may be disposed in the retest cavity 402 .

[0139] In some examples, the entrance and exit of the re-measurement chamber 402 may be the same, and a notch is provided on the baffle of the third conveying device 103 close to the side of the re-measurement chamber 402, and a liftable baffle (not shown in the figure) is provided at the notch. When the liftable baffle is lowered, the third conveying device 103 is connected to the exit / entrance of the re-measurement chamber 402.

[0140] In other examples, the entrance and exit of the re-measurement chamber 402 may be different. In this case, the third conveyor 103 may be arranged in a U-shape, with the re-measurement chamber 402 located at the opening of the U-shaped third conveyor 103. A baffle on the side of the third conveyor 103 near the re-measurement chamber 402 is provided with two notches, the first notch facing the entrance of the re-measurement chamber 402, and the second notch facing the exit of the re-measurement chamber 402. Both notches are provided with liftable baffles. When the liftable baffle at the first notch is lowered, the third conveyor 103 communicates with the entrance of the re-measurement chamber 402; when the liftable baffle at the second notch is lowered, the third conveyor 103 communicates with the exit of the re-measurement chamber 402.

[0141] In this embodiment, the third conveyor 103 is connected to the fourth conveyor 104. The batteries 10 on the third conveyor 103 can be moved to the fourth conveyor 104 under the action of an external force. For example, the third conveyor 103 and the fourth conveyor 104 can be arranged in parallel. The second sorting mechanism 602 can be arranged on one side of the third conveyor 103. When the retest chamber 402 detects that the battery 10 is a qualified battery 10, the first sorting mechanism 601 is placed in the release position, and the qualified battery 10 moves with the third conveyor 103. When the retest chamber 402 detects that the battery 10 is an unqualified battery 10, the second sorting mechanism 602 is placed in the blocking position. The unqualified battery 10 is blocked by the second sorting mechanism 602 and deviates from its original movement path and enters the fourth conveyor 104. The unqualified battery 10 moves with the fourth conveyor 104. It can be seen that the second sorting mechanism 602 separates qualified batteries 10 from unqualified batteries 10 , the qualified batteries 10 move along the third conveying device 103 , and the unqualified batteries 10 move along the fourth conveying device 104 .

[0142] It is feasible that the outlet of the third conveyor 103 docks with the inlet of the second conveyor 102 , and the qualified battery 10 moves with the third conveyor 103 to the second conveyor 102 , and moves with the second conveyor 102 to the pre-stored position of the qualified battery 10 .

[0143] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 11, the second sorting mechanism 602 includes: a front interceptor 6021 and a rear interceptor 6022 arranged along the moving direction of the third conveyor 103, and a sorter 6023 located between the front interceptor 6021 and the rear interceptor 6022; the front interceptor 6021 and the rear interceptor 6022 cooperate to restrict each battery 10 after re-inspection between the front interceptor 6021 and the rear interceptor 6022 in turn; the sorter 6023 is used to send the unqualified battery 10 to the fourth conveyor 104 when the first controller 1001 detects that the battery 10 is an unqualified battery 10; when the first controller 1001 detects that the battery 10 is a qualified battery 10, the rear interceptor 6022 is placed in the release position, and the qualified battery 10 is conveyed to the second conveyor 102 by the third conveyor 103.

[0144] In this embodiment, the second sorting mechanism 602 is disposed on one side of the third conveyor 103 and downstream of the first cavity discharge mechanism. The second sorting mechanism 602 includes a front interceptor 6021 and a rear interceptor 6022 disposed along the moving direction of the third conveyor 103, and a sorter 6023 located between the front interceptor 6021 and the rear interceptor 6022. The front interceptor 6021, the rear interceptor 6022, and the sorter 6023 can all be pneumatic cylinders. The front interceptor 6021 is placed in the blocking position and the rear interceptor 6022 is placed in the release position. After the first controller 1001 detects that a battery 10 on the third conveying device 103 enters between the front interceptor 6021 and the rear interceptor 6022, if the retest result of the battery 10 is a qualified battery 10, the front interceptor 6021 is controlled to be placed in the release position, and the battery 10 moves with the third conveying device 103; after the first controller 1001 detects that the battery 10 leaves between the front interceptor 6021 and the rear interceptor 6022, the front interceptor 6021 is controlled to be placed in the blocking position and the rear interceptor 6022 is placed in the release position to allow the next battery 10 to enter between the front interceptor 6021 and the rear interceptor 6022.

[0145] After the first controller 1001 detects that a battery 10 on the third conveyor 103 enters between the front interceptor 6021 and the rear interceptor 6022, if the retest result of the battery 10 is an unqualified battery 10, the sorter 6023 is controlled to push the battery 10 into the fourth conveyor 104. After it is detected that the battery 10 leaves between the front interceptor 6021 and the rear interceptor 6022, the rear interceptor 6022 is controlled to be placed in the release position, allowing the next battery 10 to enter between the front interceptor 6021 and the rear interceptor 6022.

[0146] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG11 , the battery helium inspection line 1 further includes: a retest blocker 203 , the retest blocker 203 being used to cache the multiple batteries 10 to be retested on the third conveyor 103 ; and a retest cavity feeding mechanism 302 being used to deliver the multiple batteries 10 to be retested from the third conveyor 103 to the retest cavity 402 after the multiple batteries 10 to be retested are cached in the retest blocker 203 .

[0147] In this embodiment, the battery helium inspection line 1 further includes a retest blocker 203, which is disposed on one side of the third conveyor 103 and upstream of the second sorting mechanism 602. The retest blocker 203 buffers multiple batteries 10 to be retested on the third conveyor 103. After the retest blocker 203 buffers the multiple batteries 10 to be retested, the retest cavity feed mechanism 302 delivers the multiple batteries 10 to be retested from the third conveyor 103 to the retest cavity 402. For example, if the retest cavity 402 can retest eight batteries 10 simultaneously, then after the retest blocker 203 buffers the eight batteries 10, the retest cavity feed mechanism 302 delivers these eight batteries 10 into the retest cavity 402.

[0148] It is feasible that the retest blocker 203 includes a seventh blocking cylinder 2031 and an eighth blocking cylinder 2032. Along the moving direction of the third transmission device, the seventh blocking cylinder 2031 is arranged upstream of the eighth blocking cylinder 2032. The seventh blocking cylinder 2031 is also called the front blocking cylinder, and the eighth blocking cylinder 2032 is also called the rear blocking cylinder.

[0149] When the retest chamber 402 can retest multiple batteries 10 at the same time, the seventh blocking cylinder 2031 is placed in the blocking position and the eighth blocking cylinder 2032 is placed in the release position, allowing the battery 10 to enter between the seventh blocking cylinder 2031 and the eighth blocking cylinder 2032 as the third transmission device moves. When multiple batteries 10 are cached on the third conveying device 103, the eighth blocking cylinder 2032 is placed in the blocking position. If the retest chamber 402 is in an idle state, the retest chamber feeding mechanism 302 pushes the multiple batteries 10 into the retest chamber 402.

[0150] In this embodiment, the retest cavity feeding mechanism 302 can be arranged between the seventh blocking cylinder 2031 and the eighth blocking cylinder 2032. Since the seventh blocking cylinder 2031 and the eighth blocking cylinder 2032 limit the feeding path, the retest cavity feeding mechanism 302 is not easy to deviate when pushing multiple batteries 10 into the retest cavity 402, thereby improving the reliability of the battery helium detection line 1.

[0151] The following describes the retesting process of the battery 10, taking the second sorting mechanism 602 including the front interceptor 6021, the rear interceptor 6022, and the sorter 6023, and the retesting blocker 203 including the seventh blocking cylinder 2031 and the eighth blocking cylinder 2032 as an example. The retesting process of the battery 10 is shown in FIG12 and includes:

[0152] Multiple batteries 10 enter between the seventh blocking cylinder 2031 and the eighth blocking cylinder 2032 along with the third conveying device 103. At this time, the seventh blocking cylinder 2031 and the eighth blocking cylinder 2032 are placed in the blocking position. The re-testing cavity feeding mechanism 302 sends the multiple batteries 10 located between the seventh blocking cylinder 2031 and the eighth blocking cylinder 2032 into the re-testing cavity 402. The lifting cylinder in the re-testing cavity 402 drives the battery 10 into the vacuum detection cavity. The re-testing cavity 402 re-tests the battery 10 in the vacuum detection cavity. After the re-testing is completed, the lifting cylinder in the re-testing cavity 402 is reset. The third conveying device 103 descends against the liftable baffle of the re-testing cavity 402. The outlet of the re-testing cavity 402 is connected to the third conveying device 103. The cavity discharging mechanism pushes the multiple batteries 10 after the re-testing is completed into the third conveying device 103, and the battery 10 leaves the re-testing cavity 402. The front interceptor 6021 is placed in the blocking position and the rear interceptor 6022 is placed in the releasing position. When a battery 10 enters between the front interceptor 6021 and the rear interceptor 6022, if the retest result of the battery 10 is a qualified battery 10, the sorter 6023 does not operate, and the third conveyor 103 drives the qualified battery 10 to move; if the retest result of the battery 10 is an unqualified battery 10, the sorter 6023 operates to push the battery 10 onto the fourth conveyor 104, and the fourth conveyor 104 drives the unqualified battery 10 to move.

[0153] In some embodiments, the first controller 1001 in this embodiment is based on a programmable logic controller (PLC) control. By designing a PLC control program, the battery helium inspection line 1 can be automatically controlled to automatically complete the helium inspection process. The second controller 1002 can also be implemented based on a programmable logic controller (PLC) control. In this embodiment, the first controller 1001 can detect and obtain status information of each component, such as whether the helium inspection chamber 401 is in an idle or occupied state, whether the cache mechanism 201 is in a full or not full state, the test results of the helium inspection chamber 401 for the battery 10, whether the retest chamber 402 is in an idle or occupied state, the test results of the retest chamber 402 for each battery 10, and whether the first sorting mechanism 601 and the second sorting mechanism 602 are in a release position or a blocking position. The first controller 1001 can summarize the status of each component and control each component to implement the functions in the above embodiments.

[0154] This embodiment provides a specific embodiment of a battery helium inspection line 1. As shown in FIG13 , the battery helium inspection line 1 includes a first conveyor 101, three helium inspection chambers 401, three buffer mechanisms 201, three chamber feeding mechanisms 301, three chamber discharging mechanisms (not shown), three first sorting mechanisms 601, a second conveyor 102, a third conveyor 103, a retest chamber 402, a retest chamber feeding mechanism 302, a retest chamber discharging mechanism (not shown), a second sorting mechanism 602, and a fourth conveyor 104. The first conveyor 101, the second conveyor 102, the third conveyor 103, and the fourth conveyor 104 can be conveyor belts.

[0155] The helium detection chambers 401 and the buffer mechanisms 201 are respectively disposed on either side of the first conveyor 101. Helium detection chambers 401, 401, and 401 are sequentially disposed on one side of the first conveyor 101 along the direction of movement of the first conveyor 101. Buffer mechanisms 201, 201, and 3 are sequentially disposed on the other side of the first conveyor 101 along the direction of movement of the first conveyor 101.

[0156] There are three cavity feeding mechanisms 301, cavity feeding mechanism No. 1 301 and cache mechanism No. 1 201 are located on the same side of the first conveying device 101, cavity feeding mechanism No. 2 301 and cache mechanism No. 2 201 are located on the same side of the first conveying device 101, and cavity feeding mechanism No. 3 301 and cache mechanism No. 3 201 are located on the same side of the first conveying device 101.

[0157] There are three cavity discharge mechanisms: cavity discharge mechanism No. 1 is disposed in helium detection cavity 401 No. 1, cavity discharge mechanism No. 2 is disposed in helium detection cavity 401 No. 2, and cavity discharge mechanism No. 3 is disposed in helium detection cavity 401 No. 3.

[0158] There are three first sorting mechanisms 601. The first sorting mechanism 601 No. 1 is set on one side of the second conveying device 102 and is located downstream of the helium detection chamber 401 No. 1. The first sorting mechanism 601 No. 2 is set on one side of the second conveying device 102 and is located downstream of the helium detection chamber 401 No. 2. The first sorting mechanism 601 No. 3 is set on one side of the second conveying device 102 and is located downstream of the helium detection chamber 401 No. 3.

[0159] The second conveyor 102 and the first conveyor 101 are located on different sides of the helium detection chamber 401. The third conveyor 103 and the second conveyor 102 are located in parallel on the same side of the helium detection chamber 401. The retest chamber 402 is located on one side of the third conveyor 103 and downstream of the helium detection chamber 401.

[0160] The retest chamber infeed mechanism 302 and the helium detection chamber 401 are located on different sides of the third conveyor 103. The retest chamber infeed mechanism 302 can be positioned directly opposite the helium detection chamber 401. The retest chamber outfeed mechanism can be positioned within the helium detection chamber 401. The fourth conveyor 104 is positioned parallel to the third conveyor 103, and batteries 10 on the third conveyor 103 can be transferred to the fourth conveyor 104 under external force. A second sorting mechanism 602 is positioned downstream of the helium detection chamber 401 and determines whether to transfer the battery 10 to the fourth conveyor 104 based on the helium detection results.

[0161] The helium inspection method provided in this embodiment is shown in FIG14 . Batteries 10 flow into the first conveyor 101 and are first dust-removed by the dust removal mechanism 501 . The cache mechanism 201 then caches the dust-removed batteries 10. The cavity feeding mechanism 301, based on the idle state of the helium inspection cavity 401, delivers the batteries 10 cached in the cache mechanism 201 to the idle helium inspection cavity 401 for helium inspection testing. Specifically, the method includes: first determining whether helium inspection cavity 401 No. 1 is idle. If helium inspection cavity 401 No. 1 is idle, cavity feeding mechanism 301 No. 1 delivers the multiple batteries cached in cache mechanism 201 No. 1 into helium inspection cavity 401 No. 1; if helium inspection cavity 401 No. 1 is occupied, the batteries are moved to cache mechanism 201 No. 2 along with the first conveyor 101. The No. 2 helium inspection chamber 401 is determined to be idle. If so, the No. 2 chamber feeding mechanism 301 delivers the multiple batteries cached in the No. 2 buffer mechanism 201 into the No. 2 helium inspection chamber 401. If the No. 2 helium inspection chamber 401 is occupied, the batteries are moved to the No. 3 buffer mechanism 201 via the first conveyor 101. The No. 3 helium inspection chamber 401 is determined to be idle. If so, the No. 3 chamber feeding mechanism 301 delivers the multiple batteries cached in the No. 3 buffer mechanism 201 into the No. 3 helium inspection chamber 401. If the No. 3 helium inspection chamber 401 is occupied, the multiple batteries are cached in the No. 3 buffer mechanism 201.

[0162] After the battery helium test is complete, the first sorting mechanism 601 diverts the helium-tested batteries 10 to either the second conveyor 102 or the third conveyor 103 based on the test results. If all batteries pass the test, the batteries 10 that pass the test are transferred to the second conveyor 102. If not all batteries pass the test, the first sorting mechanism 601 transfers the batteries 10 that do not pass the test to the third conveyor 103.

[0163] The retest chamber infeed mechanism 302 delivers the batteries 10 from the third conveyor 103 to the retest chamber 402 for retesting. The retest chamber outfeed mechanism delivers the retested batteries 10 to the third conveyor 103. The second sorting mechanism 602 diverts the retested batteries 10 to either the third conveyor 103 or the fourth conveyor 104 based on the test results. Passing batteries 10 flow into the second conveyor 102, which is connected to the third conveyor 103. The second sorting mechanism 602 delivers unqualified batteries 10 to the fourth conveyor 104.

[0164] The battery helium inspection line 1 employs multiple buffer mechanisms 201 and multiple helium inspection chambers 401 operating simultaneously, meeting higher testing cycle requirements and improving the efficiency of the battery helium inspection line 1. Furthermore, the feed mechanism, discharge mechanism, and buffer mechanism 201 can utilize pneumatic cylinders as their power source, resulting in greater operational stability compared to linear motors.

[0165] Referring to FIG15 , FIG15 is a flow chart of a battery helium inspection method provided in an embodiment of the present application. The battery helium inspection method is applied to the aforementioned battery helium inspection system for performing helium inspection on a battery 10. The components included in the battery helium inspection system can be seen in the examples of FIG1 to FIG5 , FIG7 , FIG9 and FIG12 , and will not be described in detail here. The battery helium inspection method includes the following steps:

[0166] S10: placing the battery on a first conveying device, which drives the battery to move downstream.

[0167] S20: The first buffer mechanism intercepts the batteries and buffers the plurality of batteries on the first conveying device.

[0168] S30: Detect whether the first helium detection chamber is in an idle state. If the detection result is yes, proceed to step S40; if the detection result is no, proceed to step S50.

[0169] Step S40: controlling the first cavity feeding mechanism to deliver the plurality of batteries buffered by the first buffer mechanism into the first helium inspection cavity for helium inspection to determine whether the plurality of batteries include unqualified batteries.

[0170] Step S50: Control the second cache mechanism to cache the battery.

[0171] Step S60: Detect whether the second helium detection chamber is in an idle state. If the detection result is yes, proceed to step S70; if the detection result is no, proceed to step S80 to stop caching the battery.

[0172] Step S70: sending the plurality of batteries cached by the second cache mechanism into the second helium inspection chamber for helium inspection to determine whether the plurality of batteries include any unqualified batteries.

[0173] Step S90: The battery helium inspection is completed.

[0174] Specifically, the first conveyor 101 moves the batteries 10, and the first controller 1001 determines whether the No. 1 helium inspection chamber 401 (i.e., the first helium inspection chamber) is idle. If the No. 1 helium inspection chamber 401 is idle, the No. 1 buffer mechanism 201 (i.e., the first buffer mechanism) buffers multiple batteries 10 and then transfers them to the No. 1 helium inspection chamber 401. If the No. 1 helium inspection chamber 401 is occupied, the batteries 10 are moved by the first conveyor 101 to the No. 2 buffer mechanism 201 (i.e., the second buffer mechanism). The No. 2 helium inspection chamber 401 (i.e., the second helium inspection chamber) is then determined to be idle. If the No. 2 helium inspection chamber 401 is idle, the multiple batteries 10 buffered in the No. 2 buffer mechanism 201 are transferred to the No. 2 helium inspection chamber 401. If the No. 2 helium inspection chamber 401 is occupied, the buffering of batteries 10 ceases.

[0175] Alternatively, the battery 10 may be placed on a tray, which is placed on the first conveyor 101 and moves along with the first conveyor 101. In this embodiment, the first conveyor 101 may be a conveyor belt. Alternatively, the first cavity feeding mechanism 301-1 and the second cavity feeding mechanism 301-2 may be cylinders.

[0176] In this embodiment, a first helium inspection chamber 401-1 and a second helium inspection chamber 401-2 are simultaneously provided for helium inspection, so that a larger number of batteries 10 can be inspected at the same time, thereby improving inspection efficiency and alleviating the problem of battery 10 accumulation caused by not being able to inspect the batteries 10 in time due to the accelerated inspection cycle. In addition, the first buffer mechanism 201-1 and the second buffer mechanism 201-2 can cache multiple batteries 10 on the first conveyor 101. In this way, when the inspection cycle of the entire battery helium inspection line 1 is accelerated, the first buffer mechanism 201-1 and the second buffer mechanism 201-2 can alleviate the disordered accumulation of batteries 10 on the first conveyor 101 due to the accelerated inspection cycle, and avoid the problem of material blockage at the workstation where the first helium inspection chamber 401-1 or the second helium inspection chamber 401-2 is located due to the disordered accumulation of batteries 10. In addition, the existing first conveyor 101 is used as a buffer area, and there is no need to set up an independent buffer rack, which is low in cost.

[0177] In some embodiments, before the first cache mechanism 201 - 1 intercepts the batteries 10 and caches the multiple batteries 10 on the first conveyor 101 , it further includes: a dust removal mechanism 501 removes dust from the batteries 10 that are driven by the first conveyor 101 to move downstream.

[0178] In this embodiment, the battery helium inspection line 1 further includes a dust removal mechanism 501, which is positioned upstream of the first buffer mechanism 201-1. The first conveyor 101 passes through the dust removal mechanism 501, and the batteries 10 pass through the dust removal mechanism 501 as the first conveyor 101 moves. The dust removal mechanism 501 removes dust from the batteries 10 passing through the dust removal mechanism 501 on the first conveyor 101.

[0179] It is feasible that the battery helium inspection line 1 also includes a blocking mechanism 202, which is arranged upstream of the dust removal mechanism 501. When the first cache mechanism 201-1 and the second cache mechanism 201-2 both cache multiple batteries 10, the blocking mechanism 202 is placed in a blocking position to intercept the battery 10 from entering the dust removal mechanism 501.

[0180] The blocking mechanism 202 disposed upstream of the dust removal mechanism 501 is placed in a blocking position to intercept the batteries 10 from entering the dust removal mechanism 501 when both the first buffer mechanism 201-1 and the second buffer mechanism 201-2 have cached a plurality of batteries 10. Since both the first buffer mechanism 201-1 and the second buffer mechanism 201-2 are occupied and full when both the first buffer mechanism 201-1 and the second buffer mechanism 201-2 have cached a plurality of batteries 10, the blocking mechanism 202 is placed in a blocking position in this embodiment to prevent more batteries 10 from entering the dust removal mechanism 501 and being unable to enter the first buffer mechanism 201-1 and the second buffer mechanism 201-2, thereby preventing the dust removal mechanism 501 from being blocked.

[0181] 16 , which is a flow chart of a battery helium inspection method according to some embodiments of the present application, after S40 , the battery helium inspection method further includes the following steps:

[0182] S41: After the first helium inspection chamber has completed the inspection, the first chamber discharge mechanism transfers the plurality of batteries after the inspection to a second conveying device connected to the outlet of the first helium inspection chamber.

[0183] S42: When the plurality of batteries include unqualified batteries, the first sorting mechanism transfers the plurality of batteries to a third conveyor connected to the second conveyor.

[0184] Specifically, the first cavity discharge mechanism can be disposed within the first helium inspection chamber 401-1. The outlet of the first helium inspection chamber 401-1 is connected to the second conveyor 102. The outlet and inlet of the first helium inspection chamber 401-1 are located on different sides of the first helium inspection chamber 401-1. The first conveyor 101 and the second conveyor 102 are also disposed on different sides of the first helium inspection chamber 401-1. After the first helium inspection chamber 401-1 completes testing of the plurality of batteries 10, the first cavity discharge mechanism transfers the tested batteries 10 to the second conveyor 102. The plurality of batteries 10 on the second conveyor 102 may all be qualified batteries 10 or may include unqualified batteries 10.

[0185] The third conveyor 103 is connected to the second conveyor 102. The batteries 10 on the second conveyor 102 can be moved to the third conveyor 103 under the action of an external force. For example, the third conveyor 103 and the second conveyor 102 can be arranged in parallel. The first sorting mechanism 601 can be arranged on one side of the second conveyor 102. If the first helium inspection chamber 401-1 detects that all of the batteries 10 are qualified, the first sorting mechanism 601 is placed in a release position, and the batteries 10 are moved along the second conveyor 102. If the first helium inspection chamber 401-1 detects that the batteries 10 include unqualified batteries 10, the first sorting mechanism 601 is placed in a blocking position. The batteries 10 are blocked by the first sorting mechanism 601 and deviate from their original movement path to enter the third conveyor 103, where they are moved along the third conveyor 103. It can be seen that the first sorting mechanism 601 separates the batteries 10 that are all qualified after testing and the batteries 10 that are not all qualified after testing. The batteries 10 that are all qualified after testing move with the second conveying device 102; the batteries 10 that are not all qualified after testing are separated onto the third conveying device 103 and move with the third conveying device 103.

[0186] 17 , which is a flow chart of a battery helium inspection method according to some embodiments of the present application, after S70 , the battery helium inspection method further includes the following steps:

[0187] S71: After the second helium inspection chamber has completed the inspection, the second chamber discharge mechanism transfers the plurality of batteries after the inspection to a second conveying device connected to the outlet of the second helium inspection chamber.

[0188] S72: When the plurality of batteries include unqualified batteries, the first sorting mechanism transfers the plurality of batteries to a third conveyor connected to the second conveyor.

[0189] The method in this embodiment is substantially the same as the method in FIG. 17 , with the difference being that FIG. 16 shows the first helium detection cavity and the first cavity discharge mechanism, while FIG. 17 shows the second helium detection cavity and the second cavity discharge mechanism. To avoid repetition, details will not be given here.

[0190] 18 , which is a flow chart of a battery helium inspection method according to some embodiments of the present application, after S42 and S70 , the battery helium inspection method further includes the following steps:

[0191] S101: The retest cavity feeding mechanism feeds a plurality of batteries on the third conveying device into the retest cavity, and the retest cavity retests the plurality of batteries to determine whether each of the plurality of batteries is a qualified battery or an unqualified battery.

[0192] In this embodiment, the battery helium inspection line 1 is further provided with a retest chamber 402. The retest chamber 402 is disposed on one side of the third conveyor 103 and downstream of the first sorting mechanism 601. The inlet and outlet of the retest chamber 402 are both connected to the third conveyor 103. The retest chamber feeding mechanism 302 can be disposed on the third conveyor 103 to feed multiple batteries 10 on the third conveyor 103 into the retest chamber 402. The retest chamber 402 is used to retest the multiple batteries 10 to determine whether each of the multiple batteries 10 is a qualified battery 10 or a failed battery 10.

[0193] 19 , which is a flow chart of a battery helium inspection method according to some embodiments of the present application, after S101 , the battery helium inspection method further includes the following steps:

[0194] S102: After the retesting chamber completes retesting of the multiple batteries, the retesting chamber discharge mechanism delivers the multiple batteries that have completed retesting to a third conveying device.

[0195] S103: If the battery is unqualified, the second sorting mechanism transfers the battery from the third conveyor to the fourth conveyor, and the qualified battery on the third conveyor is transferred from the third conveyor to the second conveyor.

[0196] In this embodiment, after the retest chamber 402 completes the inspection, the retest chamber discharge mechanism delivers the retested batteries 10 to the third conveyor 103. If the battery 10 is unqualified, the second sorting mechanism 602 delivers the battery 10 from the third conveyor 103 to the fourth conveyor 104 connected to the third conveyor 103.

[0197] In this embodiment, the third conveyor 103 is connected to the fourth conveyor 104. The batteries 10 on the third conveyor 103 can be moved to the fourth conveyor 104 under the action of an external force. For example, the third conveyor 103 and the fourth conveyor 104 can be arranged in parallel. The second sorting mechanism 602 can be arranged on one side of the third conveyor 103. When the retest chamber 402 detects that the battery 10 is a qualified battery 10, the first sorting mechanism 601 is placed in the release position, and the qualified battery 10 moves with the third conveyor 103. When the retest chamber 402 detects that the battery 10 is an unqualified battery 10, the second sorting mechanism 602 is placed in the blocking position. The unqualified battery 10 is blocked by the second sorting mechanism 602 and deviates from its original movement path and enters the fourth conveyor 104. The unqualified battery 10 moves with the fourth conveyor 104. It can be seen that the second sorting mechanism 602 separates qualified batteries 10 from unqualified batteries 10 , the qualified batteries 10 move along the third conveying device 103 , and the unqualified batteries 10 move along the fourth conveying device 104 .

[0198] In some embodiments, before the retest cavity feeding mechanism 302 delivers the multiple batteries 10 on the third conveyor 103 into the retest cavity 402 , the retest blocker 203 buffers the multiple batteries 10 to be retested on the third conveyor 103 .

[0199] The battery helium inspection line 1 also includes a retest blocker 203, which is located on one side of the third conveyor 103 and upstream of the second sorting mechanism 602. The retest blocker 203 buffers multiple batteries 10 to be retested on the third conveyor 103. After the retest blocker 203 buffers the multiple batteries 10 to be retested, the retest cavity feeding mechanism 302 delivers the multiple batteries 10 to be retested from the third conveyor 103 to the retest cavity 402. For example, if the retest cavity 402 can retest eight batteries 10 simultaneously, then after the retest blocker 203 buffers eight batteries 10, the retest cavity feeding mechanism 302 delivers these eight batteries 10 into the retest cavity 402.

[0200] In this embodiment, the retest blocker 203 can cache multiple batteries 10 to be retested on the third conveyor 103, and a cache area for caching the batteries 10 is formed on the third conveyor 103. While speeding up the entire battery helium inspection line 1, it is not easy to cause blockage in the retest cavity 402 station.

[0201] In some embodiments, the battery helium inspection method is implemented based on a programmable logic controller (PLC). In this embodiment, a PLC control program can be designed for the battery helium inspection method to automatically control the battery helium inspection line 1 and automatically complete the helium inspection process.

[0202] It is understood that the specific structure of the battery helium inspection system involved in the method embodiments of this application, as well as the detailed implementation of each structure, can be referenced with the relevant content described in the battery helium inspection system. Similar content between different embodiments can be referenced to each other, and the technical solutions of different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments, and this application does not limit this.

[0203] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and they should all be included in the scope of the claims and specification of the present application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the various embodiments can be combined in any way. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions that fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A battery helium inspection system, wherein: include: a first controller, and at least one battery helium detection line communicatively connected to the first controller, wherein the first controller is used to control the battery helium detection line to perform helium detection; The battery helium inspection line includes: a first conveying device, a buffer mechanism, a cavity feeding mechanism and a helium inspection cavity; The buffer mechanism at least includes: a first buffer mechanism and a second buffer mechanism arranged along the moving direction of the first conveyor; the helium detection cavity at least includes: a first helium detection cavity and a second helium detection cavity arranged along the moving direction of the first conveyor; the first buffer mechanism and the first helium detection cavity are arranged opposite to each other, and the second buffer mechanism and the second helium detection cavity are arranged opposite to each other; the cavity feeding mechanism includes a first cavity feeding mechanism and a second cavity feeding mechanism; The first conveying device is used to convey the battery downstream; The first cache mechanism and the second cache mechanism are used to intercept the batteries and cache a plurality of the batteries on the first conveying device; The first cavity feeding mechanism is configured to feed the plurality of batteries buffered by the first buffer mechanism into the first helium detection cavity when the first controller detects that the first helium detection cavity is in an idle state; The second cavity feeding mechanism is configured to feed the plurality of batteries buffered by the second buffer mechanism into the second helium detection cavity when the first controller detects that the second helium detection cavity is in an idle state; The first helium inspection chamber and the second helium inspection chamber are used to perform helium inspection on the plurality of batteries to determine whether the plurality of batteries include unqualified batteries.

2. The battery helium inspection system according to claim 1, wherein: The first buffer mechanism includes a first blocking cylinder and a second blocking cylinder, and the area between the first blocking cylinder and the second blocking cylinder on the first conveying device faces the entrance of the first helium detection chamber; and / or, The second buffer mechanism includes a third blocking cylinder and a fourth blocking cylinder, and an area between the third blocking cylinder and the fourth blocking cylinder on the first conveying device faces the entrance of the second helium detection chamber.

3. The battery helium inspection system according to claim 1, wherein: The first helium detection chamber or the second helium detection chamber comprises: a lifting cylinder, a vacuum detection chamber, and a helium detection mechanism located in the vacuum detection chamber; The plurality of batteries entering the first helium detection chamber or the second helium detection chamber are located on the lifting cylinder, and the lifting cylinder is used to lift and drive the plurality of batteries into the vacuum detection chamber; The helium inspection mechanism is used to perform helium inspection on the plurality of batteries in the vacuum inspection chamber; The lifting cylinder is also used to reset and drive the multiple batteries to reset after the helium inspection is completed.

4. The battery helium inspection system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: A liftable baffle is provided on a side of the first conveying device close to the first helium detection cavity and / or the second helium detection cavity, and the liftable baffle faces the entrance of the first helium detection cavity and / or the second helium detection cavity; When the liftable baffle is lowered, the inlet of the first helium detection chamber and / or the second helium detection chamber is communicated with the first conveying device.

5. The battery helium inspection system according to claim 1, wherein: The battery helium inspection line further includes: a dust removal mechanism and a blocking mechanism, wherein along the moving direction of the first conveying device, the dust removal mechanism is arranged upstream of the first buffer mechanism, and the blocking mechanism is arranged upstream of the dust removal mechanism; The first conveying device passes through the dust removal mechanism, and the dust removal mechanism is used to remove dust from the batteries on the first conveying device passing through the dust removal mechanism; The blocking mechanism is used to be placed in a blocking position to intercept the batteries from entering the dust removal mechanism when the first cache mechanism and the second cache mechanism cache a plurality of the batteries.

6. The battery helium inspection system according to claim 1, wherein: The battery helium inspection line further includes: a cavity discharge mechanism and a second conveying device, the outlet of the first helium inspection cavity and / or the second helium inspection cavity is connected to the second conveying device, and the cavity discharge mechanism includes a first cavity discharge mechanism and a second cavity discharge mechanism; The first cavity discharge mechanism is used to transfer the multiple batteries after the first helium detection cavity detection is completed to the second conveying device; the second cavity discharge mechanism is used to transfer the multiple batteries after the second helium detection cavity detection is completed to the second conveying device.

7. The battery helium inspection system according to claim 6, wherein: The battery helium inspection line further includes: a first sorting mechanism and a third conveying device, wherein the third conveying device is connected to the second conveying device; The first sorting mechanism is used to transfer the plurality of batteries from the second conveying device to the third conveying device when the plurality of batteries include unqualified batteries.

8. The battery helium inspection system according to claim 7, wherein: The battery helium test line further includes: a retest cavity and a retest cavity feeding mechanism, wherein the inlet of the retest cavity is connected to the third conveying device; The retest cavity feeding mechanism is used to feed the multiple batteries on the third conveying device into the retest cavity; The retest chamber is used to retest the plurality of batteries to determine whether each of the plurality of batteries is a qualified battery or a failed battery.

9. The battery helium inspection system according to claim 8, wherein: The battery helium test line further includes: a retest cavity discharging mechanism, a second sorting mechanism and a fourth conveying device, the outlet of the retest cavity is connected to the third conveying device, and the fourth conveying device is connected to the third conveying device; The retest cavity discharging mechanism is used to deliver the multiple batteries after retesting to the third conveying device; The second sorting mechanism is used to transfer the unqualified batteries from the third conveying device to the fourth conveying device when the first controller detects that the batteries are unqualified batteries.

10. The battery helium inspection system according to claim 9, wherein: The second sorting mechanism includes: a front interceptor and a rear interceptor arranged along the moving direction of the third conveying device, and a sorter located between the front interceptor and the rear interceptor; The front interceptor and the rear interceptor cooperate to sequentially confine each battery after re-inspection between the front interceptor and the rear interceptor; The sorter is used to send the unqualified battery to the fourth conveying device when the first controller detects that the battery is an unqualified battery; when the first controller detects that the battery is a qualified battery, the rear interceptor is placed in the release position, and the qualified battery is transferred to the second conveying device by the third conveying device.

11. The battery helium inspection system according to claim 8, wherein: The battery helium test line further comprises: a retest blocker; The retest blocker is used to buffer the plurality of batteries to be retested on the third conveying device; The retest cavity feeding mechanism is used to deliver the multiple batteries to be retested from the third conveying device into the retest cavity after the multiple batteries to be retested are buffered in the retest blocker.

12. The battery helium inspection system according to claim 1, wherein: The battery helium inspection system further includes: a plurality of the first controllers and a plurality of the battery helium inspection lines, wherein one of the first controllers is used to control one of the battery helium inspection lines to perform helium inspection; A second controller is communicatively connected to the plurality of battery helium detection lines and is configured to allocate batteries to the plurality of battery helium detection lines.

13. A battery helium inspection method, wherein: include: placing the battery on a first conveyor, wherein the first conveyor drives the battery to move downstream; A first buffer mechanism intercepts the batteries and buffers a plurality of the batteries on the first conveying device; When the first controller detects that the first helium inspection chamber is in an idle state, the first controller controls the first chamber feeding mechanism to feed the plurality of batteries buffered by the first buffer mechanism into the first helium inspection chamber for helium inspection to determine whether the plurality of batteries include unqualified batteries; When the first controller detects that the first helium detection chamber is in an occupied state, the first controller controls the second buffer mechanism to buffer the battery; When the first controller detects that the second helium inspection chamber is in an idle state, the first controller sends the multiple batteries cached by the second cache mechanism into the second helium inspection chamber for helium inspection to determine whether the multiple batteries include unqualified batteries.

14. The battery helium inspection method according to claim 13, wherein: Before the first buffer mechanism intercepts the batteries and buffers the plurality of batteries on the first conveying device, the method further includes: The dust removal mechanism removes dust from the batteries that are driven by the first conveying device to move downstream.

15. The battery helium inspection method according to claim 13, wherein: When the first controller detects that the first helium inspection chamber is in an idle state, the first controller controls the first chamber feeding mechanism to feed the plurality of batteries buffered by the first buffer mechanism into the first helium inspection chamber for helium inspection to determine whether the plurality of batteries include unqualified batteries. After the first helium detection chamber completes the detection, the first cavity discharge mechanism transfers the plurality of batteries after the detection to a second conveying device connected to the outlet of the first helium detection chamber; In the case where the plurality of batteries include unqualified batteries, the first sorting mechanism transfers the plurality of batteries to a third conveyor connected to the second conveyor; and / or When the first controller detects that the second helium inspection chamber is in an idle state, the first controller sends the plurality of batteries cached by the second cache mechanism into the second helium inspection chamber for helium inspection to determine whether the plurality of batteries include unqualified batteries. After the second helium detection chamber completes the detection, the second cavity discharge mechanism transfers the multiple batteries after the detection to a second conveying device connected to the outlet of the second helium detection chamber; In the case that the plurality of batteries include defective batteries, the first sorting mechanism transfers the plurality of batteries to a third conveyor connected to the second conveyor.

16. The battery helium inspection method according to claim 15, wherein: In the case where the plurality of batteries include unqualified batteries, after the first sorting mechanism transfers the plurality of batteries to a third conveying device connected to the second conveying device, the method further includes: The retest cavity feeding mechanism delivers the plurality of batteries on the third conveying device into the retest cavity; The retest chamber retests the plurality of batteries to determine whether each of the plurality of batteries is a qualified battery or a failed battery.

17. The battery helium inspection method according to claim 16, wherein: After the retest chamber retests the plurality of batteries to determine whether each of the plurality of batteries is a qualified battery or an unqualified battery, the method further includes: After the retesting chamber completes retesting of the plurality of batteries, the retesting chamber discharge mechanism delivers the plurality of batteries that have completed retesting to a third conveying device; In the case that the battery is an unqualified battery, the second sorting mechanism transfers the battery from the third conveyor to the fourth conveyor, and the qualified battery on the third conveyor is transferred from the third conveyor to the second conveyor.

18. The battery helium inspection method according to claim 16, wherein: Before the retest cavity feeding mechanism feeds the plurality of batteries on the third conveying device into the retest cavity, the method further comprises: The retest blocker buffers the plurality of batteries to be retested on the third conveying device.

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