Welding positioning tool and battery production line

Abstract

Provided are a welding positioning tool and a battery production line. The welding positioning tool comprises: at least one welding carrier (10), comprising a pressing recess (11), a positioning recess (12) and a hollow area (13), the hollow area (13) being positioned between the positioning recess (12) and the pressing recess (11), the positioning recess (12) being used for placing a main body portion of an electrode assembly (124), the pressing recess (11) being used for placing one part of a connection piece (127), and the hollow area (13) being used for placing the other part of the connection piece and a tab of the electrode assembly (124); and a frame (20), comprising a working panel (23) and two trays (21), the two trays (21) being distributed on two sides of the working panel (23), and the two trays (21) and the working panel (23) being all used for placing the welding carrier (10), wherein in the vertical direction, the vertical distance from the trays (21) to the working panel (23) is adjustable. The welding positioning tool and the battery production line have the advantage of being applicable to limited spaces.

Description

Welding positioning fixtures and battery production lines

[0001] Related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application filed on July 9, 2024, with application number 202421606526X, entitled "Welding Positioning Fixture and Battery Production Line", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a welding positioning fixture and a battery production line. Background Technology

[0004] In recent years, the new energy industry has flourished. As an indispensable part of the new energy industry, the quality control of the battery production process is crucial to the battery's performance, safety, cost, and many other aspects.

[0005] A battery contains individual cells and an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly refers to an electrochemical component formed by combining positive electrode plates, negative electrode plates, and separators through methods such as winding and stacking.

[0006] In the production process of battery cells, the electrode tabs of the electrode assembly and the adapter pieces need to be connected by welding. The welding between the two is often positioned by welding positioning fixtures, but the current welding positioning fixtures are often not suitable for operators to carry out production in a limited space.

[0007] Summary of the Invention

[0008] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a welding positioning fixture and a battery production line to address the problem that current welding positioning fixtures are not suitable for operators to carry out production in confined spaces.

[0009] A first aspect of this application provides a welding positioning fixture, comprising: at least one welding carrier, including a pressing groove, a positioning groove, and a hollow area, the hollow area being located between the positioning groove and the pressing groove; the positioning groove being used to place the main body of an electrode assembly; the pressing groove being used to place a portion of an adapter piece; the hollow area being used to place another portion of the adapter piece and the tab of the electrode assembly; and a frame, including a work panel and two trays; the two trays being distributed on both sides of the work panel; both trays and the work panel being used to place the welding carrier; the vertical distance from the trays to the work panel being adjustable in the vertical direction; the welding carrier including a carrier plate and a pressure plate, the pressing groove and the positioning groove being formed on the carrier plate and distributed at both ends along the length direction, a through hole being formed in the middle of the carrier plate as a hollow area; the pressure plate being movably connected to the carrier plate and capable of covering the pressing groove.

[0010] Thus, the pallet for loading and unloading is connected to the work panel on the frame in an integrated structure, making it compact and suitable for operation in various confined spaces. The vertical distance from the pallet to the work panel is adjustable along the vertical direction Z, allowing operators to operate the welding positioning fixture independently for production. The operator can adjust the distance from the pallet to the work panel according to the limited space and their own operating height, making it flexible and convenient. This ensures that operators can complete loading, unloading, positioning between the tabs and adapters, and welding in confined spaces.

[0011] In one embodiment, the welding carrier includes multiple magnetic attractors, with a pressure plate hinged to a carrier plate. The magnetic attractors are respectively arranged on two opposing surfaces of the pressure plate and the carrier plate. Thus, when the pressure plate closes onto the pressing groove, the magnetic attractors attract each other, thereby fixing the adapter piece and facilitating subsequent welding.

[0012] In one embodiment, two pressing grooves are formed on the carrier plate, arranged side by side along the width direction of the carrier plate, and a pressure plate is fitted onto one of the pressing grooves; the width of the hollow area along the width direction of the carrier plate is not less than the sum of the widths of the two pressing grooves. Thus, each pressing groove corresponds to the positive electrode tab and the negative electrode tab of the electrode assembly, respectively. According to the welding position of the current welding process, the pressure plate can be fitted onto one of the pressing grooves; in this welding process, the adapter piece in the pressing groove with the pressure plate can be welded to the corresponding electrode tab on the electrode assembly; at the same time, the pressing groove without the pressure plate is left empty; in the next welding process, the pressure plate can be fitted onto the other pressing groove to achieve pressing and positioning of the other electrode tab and the adapter piece, which facilitates welding.

[0013] In one embodiment, a through-hole is formed on the carrier plate, and the through-hole is located at the bottom of the positioning groove. Thus, after the electrode tabs and adapter pieces of the electrode assembly are welded together, they can be pushed upwards through the through-hole by a push rod, separating the main body of the electrode assembly from the positioning groove. This facilitates the disassembly of the welded electrode assembly by the operator, saving manpower.

[0014] In one embodiment, the carrier plate is made of plastic; and / or, the pressure plate is made of plastic.

[0015] In one embodiment, the frame includes multiple positioning blocks arranged on the work panel to limit the position of the carrier plate on the work panel. This ensures that the operator can accurately place each carrier plate onto the work panel of the frame without needing to manually adjust its position. By limiting the position of the carrier plate on the work panel through the positioning blocks, the relative position of the carrier plate and the work panel remains constant, ensuring precise positioning and guaranteeing successful welding of the adapter plate and the electrode assembly's tabs by the welding equipment.

[0016] In one embodiment, the frame includes a fixing member and multiple support columns; the multiple support columns are supported between the fixing member and the work panel, and the tray is movably supported on the corresponding support columns in the vertical direction.

[0017] In one embodiment, the frame includes multiple clamps, each clamp fitted onto a corresponding support column; the tray is fixedly connected to the clamps. This allows for adjustment of the vertical distance between the tray and the work panel.

[0018] In one embodiment, the frame includes a screw member, a threaded hole is formed on the fixing member, the screw member passes through the threaded hole of the fixing member and is connected to the outside.

[0019] A second aspect of this application provides a battery production line, which includes welding equipment, conveying equipment, and the aforementioned welding positioning fixture; the frame is placed on the conveying equipment, and the welding equipment is used to weld the tabs and adapter pieces in the hollowed-out area.

[0020] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of this application. In order to better understand the technical means of this application and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this application more obvious and understandable, the following are specific embodiments of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments of this application will be briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the drawings without creative effort. In the drawings:

[0022] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0023] Figure 2 is an exploded structural diagram of a battery provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0024] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery module provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0025] Figure 4 is an exploded structural diagram of a battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0026] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the welding positioning fixture provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0027] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a welding carrier provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0028] Figure Labels

[0029] Vehicles -1000;

[0030] Battery-100, Housing-110, First Part-111, Second Part-112, Battery Module-120, Battery Cell-121, End Cap-122, Housing-123, Electrode Assembly-124, Electrode Terminal-125, Adapter Plate-127, Controller-200, Motor-300;

[0031] Welding carrier-10, pressing groove-11, positioning groove-12, hollow area-13, pressure plate-14, magnetic suction component-15, push hole-16, carrier plate-17, frame-20, tray-21, working panel-23, fastener-24, support column-25, clamp-26, connecting plate-27, screw component-28, positioning block-29. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0033] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains; the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application; the terms "comprising" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification, claims and foregoing description of the drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0034] In the description of the embodiments of this application, if the technical terms "first" or "second" appear, these terms are used only for descriptive purposes to distinguish different objects, and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number, specific order, or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features.

[0035] In this document, the reference to "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0036] In the description of the embodiments in this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0037] In the description of the embodiments of this application, if the term "multiple" appears, "multiple" means at least two (including two), such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified. Similarly, if the term "multiple sets" appears, "multiple sets" refers to two or more sets (including two sets), and if the term "multiple pieces" appears, "multiple pieces" refers to two or more pieces (including two pieces).

[0038] In the description of the embodiments of this application, if the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc. appear, these terms indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of this application.

[0039] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the technical terms "installation," "connection," "joining," "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0040] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the use of descriptions such as "above" or "below" the second feature indicates that the first and second features are in direct contact or indirect contact via an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. Similarly, "below," "under," and "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0041] It should be noted that if an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. If an element is considered to be "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. If so, the terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0042] Currently, judging from market trends, the application of power batteries is becoming increasingly widespread. Power batteries are not only used in energy storage systems such as hydropower, thermal power, wind power, and solar power plants, but also widely applied in electric vehicles such as electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and electric cars, as well as in aerospace and other fields. With the continuous expansion of power battery applications, market demand is also constantly increasing.

[0043] In the production process of battery cells, the electrode tabs and adapter pieces of the electrode assembly need to be connected by welding. The welding between the two is often positioned by welding positioning fixtures. However, the current welding positioning fixtures are often customized equipment on the production line and are often only suitable for welding processing of a certain model of electrode assembly. For multiple models of electrode assembly, operators need to operate the welding positioning fixtures individually for production. However, the space on the production line is relatively limited. The parts of the traditional welding positioning fixture are fixed, and the limited space restricts the operator's material handling and loading. Therefore, the welding positioning fixtures are often not suitable for operators to operate and produce in a limited space.

[0044] To alleviate the problem of limited space restricting operators, the design can integrate the loading and unloading trays with the work panel onto the frame, using an integrated structure. The vertical distance between the tray and the work panel is adjustable, allowing operators to operate the welding positioning fixture independently for production. The tray position can be adjusted according to the limited space and the operator's own operating height, making it flexible and convenient. This ensures that operators can complete loading, unloading, positioning of electrode tabs and adapter plates, and welding within a limited space.

[0045] This application provides a welding positioning fixture and a battery production line. The electrical device can be, but is not limited to, mobile phones, tablets, laptops, electric toys, power tools, electric vehicles, electric cars, ships, spacecraft, etc. Electric toys can include stationary or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric ship toys, and electric airplane toys, etc. Spacecraft can include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and spacecraft, etc.

[0046] It should be understood that the technical solutions described in the embodiments of this application are not limited to the batteries and electrical devices described above, but can also be applied to all batteries including housings and electrical devices using batteries. However, for the sake of brevity, an embodiment of this application using a vehicle 1000 as an example will be used for illustration.

[0047] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle 1000 provided in some embodiments of this application. The vehicle 1000 can be a gasoline-powered vehicle, a natural gas-powered vehicle, or a new energy vehicle. New energy vehicles can be pure electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, or range-extended electric vehicles, etc. A battery 100 is disposed inside the vehicle 1000, and the battery 100 can be located at the bottom, front, or rear of the vehicle 1000. The battery 100 can be used to power the vehicle 1000; for example, the battery 100 can serve as the operating power source for the vehicle 1000. The vehicle 1000 may also include a controller 200 and a motor 300. The controller 200 is used to control the battery 100 to supply power to the motor 300, for example, to meet the power needs of the vehicle 1000 during startup, navigation, and driving.

[0048] In some embodiments of this application, the battery 100 can not only serve as the operating power source for the vehicle 1000, but also as the driving power source for the vehicle 1000, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle 1000.

[0049] Figure 2 is an exploded view of a battery 100 provided in some embodiments of this application; Figure 3 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery module provided in some embodiments of this application. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, to meet different power requirements, the battery 100 may include multiple battery cells 121 and a housing 110. A battery cell 121 refers to the smallest unit that makes up the battery module 120 or battery pack. Multiple battery cells 121 may be connected in series and / or in parallel via electrode terminals for various applications. The housing 110 is used to house the battery cells 121 or the battery module 120 to prevent liquids or other foreign matter from affecting the charging or discharging of the battery cells 121.

[0050] The housing 110 can adopt various structures. In some embodiments, the housing 110 may include a first part 111 and a second part 112, which overlap each other, and together define a receiving space for accommodating the battery cell 121. The second part 112 may be a hollow structure with one end open, and the first part 111 may be a plate-like structure, with the first part 111 covering the open side of the second part 112 so that the first part 111 and the second part 112 together define the receiving space; the first part 111 and the second part 112 may also be hollow structures with one side open, with the open side of the first part 111 covering the open side of the second part 112. Of course, the housing 110 formed by the first part 111 and the second part 112 can be of various shapes, such as a simple three-dimensional structure such as a cuboid, cylinder, or sphere, or a complex three-dimensional structure composed of simple three-dimensional structures such as cuboids, cylinders, or spheres. The embodiments of this application are not limited in this respect. The material of the housing 110 can be an alloy material such as aluminum alloy or iron alloy, or a polymer material such as polycarbonate or polyisocyanurate foam, or a composite material such as glass fiber and epoxy resin. The embodiments of this application are not limited to this.

[0051] In the embodiments of this application, multiple battery cells 121 can be directly assembled into a battery pack, or they can first be assembled into a battery module 120, and then the battery modules 120 can be assembled into a battery pack. Specifically, multiple battery cells 121 can be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in a mixed manner to form a whole, and then the whole composed of multiple battery cells 121 can be housed in a housing 110. Alternatively, multiple battery cells 121 can first be connected in series, in parallel, or in a mixed manner to form a battery module 120, and then multiple battery modules 120 can be connected in series, in parallel, or in a mixed manner to form a whole, and housed in a housing 110.

[0052] The battery 100 may also include other structures, for example, the battery 100 may also include a busbar for realizing electrical connection between multiple battery cells 121.

[0053] Each battery cell 121 can be a secondary battery or a primary battery; it can also be a lithium-sulfur battery, a sodium-ion battery, or a magnesium-ion battery, but is not limited to these. The battery cell 121 can be cylindrical, flat, cuboid, or other shapes. Battery cells 121 are generally classified into three types according to their packaging method: cylindrical battery cells, cuboid battery cells, and pouch battery cells; the embodiments of this application are not limited to these. However, for the sake of brevity, the following embodiments will use a cuboid lithium-ion battery cell 121 as an example for description.

[0054] Please refer to Figure 4, which is an exploded structural diagram of a battery cell 121 provided in some embodiments of this application. The battery cell 121 includes an end cap 122, a housing 123, an electrode assembly 124, and other functional components.

[0055] End cap 122 refers to a component that covers the opening of housing 123 to isolate the internal environment of electrode assembly 124 from the external environment. The shape of end cap 122 can be adapted to the shape of housing 123 to fit it. In some embodiments, end cap 122 can be made of a material with certain hardness and strength (such as aluminum alloy), so that end cap 122 is less prone to deformation under pressure and impact, allowing the battery cell 121 to have higher structural strength and improved safety performance. Functional components such as electrode terminals 125 can be provided on end cap 122. Electrode terminals 125 can be used for electrical connection with electrode assembly 124 to output or input electrical energy to battery cell 121. In some embodiments, end cap 122 can also be provided with a pressure relief mechanism for releasing internal pressure when the internal pressure or temperature of battery cell 121 reaches a threshold. The material of end cap 122 can also be various, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc., and this application embodiment does not impose any special limitations on this. In some embodiments, an insulating element may be provided on the inner side of the end cap 122. The insulating element can be used to isolate the electrical connection components within the housing 123 from the end cap 122 to reduce the risk of short circuits. For example, the insulating element may be made of plastic, rubber, etc.

[0056] The housing 123 is an assembly used to cooperate with the end cap 122 to form the internal environment of the battery cell 121, wherein the formed internal environment can accommodate the electrode assembly 124, electrolyte, and other components. The housing 123 and the end cap 122 can be independent components. An opening can be provided on the housing 123, and the end cap 122 closes the opening to form the internal environment of the battery cell 121. Alternatively, the end cap 122 and the housing 123 can be integrated. Specifically, the end cap 122 and the housing 123 can form a common connecting surface before other components are inserted into the housing. When it is necessary to encapsulate the interior of the housing 123, the end cap 122 closes the housing 123. The housing 123 can have various shapes and sizes, such as cuboid, cylindrical, hexagonal prism, etc. Specifically, the shape of the housing 123 can be determined according to the specific shape and size of the electrode assembly 124. The shell 123 can be made of various materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc. This application embodiment does not impose any special restrictions on this.

[0057] Electrode assembly 124 is the component in the battery cell 121 where the electrochemical reaction occurs. The housing 123 may contain one or more electrode assemblies 124. The electrode assembly 124 is mainly formed by winding or stacking positive and negative electrode sheets, and typically a separator is provided between the positive and negative electrode sheets. The battery cell 121 mainly relies on the movement of metal ions between the positive and negative electrode sheets to operate. The positive electrode sheet includes a positive current collector and a positive active material layer. The positive active material layer is coated on the surface of the positive current collector, and the current collector without the positive active material layer protrudes beyond the current collector with the positive active material layer. The current collectors without the positive active material layer are stacked to form the positive electrode tab. Taking a lithium-ion battery as an example, the material of the positive current collector can be aluminum, and the positive active material can be lithium cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium, or lithium manganese oxide, etc. The negative electrode sheet includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer. The negative electrode active material layer is coated on the surface of the negative electrode current collector. The current collector without the negative electrode active material layer protrudes from the current collector with the negative electrode active material layer. The current collectors without the negative electrode active material layer are stacked together to form the negative electrode tabs. The material of the negative electrode current collector can be copper, and the negative electrode active material can be carbon or silicon, etc. The material of the separator can be PP (polypropylene) or PE (polyethylene), etc.

[0058] The portions of the positive and negative electrodes containing active material constitute the main body of the electrode assembly 124, while the portions of the positive and negative electrodes without active material each constitute a tab (not shown). The positive and negative tabs may be located together at one end of the main body or at opposite ends of the main body.

[0059] In related technologies, referring to Figure 4, the battery cell 121 includes a housing 123, an end cap 122, an electrode assembly 124, and an adapter plate 127. The housing 123 has a receiving cavity, in which the electrode assembly 124 and the adapter plate 127 are disposed, and the receiving cavity is filled with electrolyte. One side of the receiving cavity is open, and the end cap 122 is positioned to seal the open portion of the receiving cavity, thus ensuring that the electrode assembly 124 and the adapter plate 127 are in a sealed environment. The adapter plate 127 is located on the side of the electrode assembly 124 facing the end cap 122, and is electrically connected to both the electrode assembly 124 and the electrode terminal 125. During the charging and discharging process of the battery, the positive and negative active materials react with the electrolyte, and the generated electrical energy can be transferred through the tabs of the electrode assembly 124 to the adapter plate 127, and then output from the adapter plate 127 through the electrode terminal 125, ultimately forming a current loop.

[0060] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the welding positioning fixture provided in some embodiments of this application. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the welding carrier provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0061] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, and in conjunction with the structure in Figure 4, a first aspect of this application provides a welding positioning fixture for welding an adapter piece 127 to a tab (not shown) of an electrode assembly 124. The welding positioning fixture includes a frame 20 and at least one welding carrier 10.

[0062] The welding carrier 10 includes a pressing groove 11, a positioning groove 12, and a hollow area 13. The hollow area 13 is located between the positioning groove 12 and the pressing groove 11. The positioning groove 12 is used to place the main body of the electrode assembly 124; the pressing groove 11 is used to place a part of the adapter piece 127; and the hollow area 13 is used to place the other part of the adapter piece 127 and the electrode tab of the electrode assembly 124. The frame 20 includes a work panel 23 and two trays 21; the two trays 21 are distributed on both sides of the work panel 23; both trays 21 and the work panel 23 are used to place the welding carrier 10; the vertical distance from the trays 21 to the work panel 23 along the vertical direction Z is adjustable.

[0063] Two trays 21 are distributed on both sides of the work panel 23 along the width direction X. The welding carrier 10 can be placed on either the work panel 23 or one of the two trays 21. One tray 21 is used to place the welding carrier 10 waiting to be welded, and the other tray 21 is used to place the welding carrier 10 that has been welded. The welding carrier 10 can be manually switched between the work panel 23 and the two trays 21 by the operator to complete the loading, unloading and welding processes.

[0064] When the welding carrier 10 is placed on the work panel 23, it can cooperate with external welding equipment to complete the welding. Specifically, the positioning groove 12 holds the main body of the electrode assembly 124; the pressing groove 11 is used to hold a part of the adapter piece 127; and the hollow area 13 is used to hold the other part of the adapter piece 127 and the electrode tab of the electrode assembly 124. This allows the upper and lower pressing molds of the welding equipment (mentioned below) to approach each other from the upper and lower areas of the hollow area 13 and press onto the adapter piece 127 and the electrode tab of the electrode assembly. Then, the welding of the electrode tab of the electrode assembly 124 and the adapter piece 127 is completed by ultrasonic welding.

[0065] The loading and unloading tray 21 and the working panel 23 are connected together on the frame 20, adopting an integrated structure. The compact mechanism is suitable for operation in various confined spaces. The vertical distance from the tray 21 to the working panel 23 along the vertical direction Z is adjustable. Operators can operate the welding positioning fixture independently for production. The distance between the tray 21 and the working panel 23 can be adjusted according to the limited space and their own operating height, which is flexible and convenient. This ensures that operators can complete loading, unloading, positioning between the electrode tabs and the adapter piece 127, and welding in confined spaces.

[0066] In some possible embodiments, referring to Figures 1 to 6, the welding carrier 10 includes a carrier plate 17 and a pressure plate 14. A pressing groove 11 and a positioning groove 12 are respectively formed on the carrier plate 17 and distributed at both ends along the length direction Y of the carrier plate 17. A through hole is formed in the middle of the carrier plate 17 to serve as a hollow area 13. The pressure plate 14 is movably connected to the carrier plate 17 and can cover the pressing groove 11.

[0067] The plate surface of the carrier plate 17 is recessed inward to a certain depth to form a pressing groove 11 and a positioning groove 12, respectively. The pressing groove 11 and the positioning groove 12 are distributed at both ends along the length Y of the carrier plate 17. A through hole is formed in the middle of the carrier plate 17 to serve as a hollow area 13. The upper and lower pressure molds of the welding equipment (mentioned below) approach each other from the upper and lower areas of the hollow area 13 and press onto the tabs of the adapter piece 127 and the electrode assembly 124, respectively. Then, the welding of the tabs of the electrode assembly 124 and the adapter piece 127 is completed by ultrasonic welding process.

[0068] The pressure plate 14 is movably connected to the carrier plate 17. The pressure plate 14 can cover the pressing groove 11 as needed, thereby cooperating with the pressing groove 11 to fix a part of the adapter piece 127, facilitating subsequent welding. The pressure plate 14 can press against the tab of the electrode assembly 124 to be welded; the surface of the pressure plate 14 can press against the adapter piece, and the side of the pressure plate 14 can abut against the tab of the electrode assembly 124 to be welded, thereby achieving the positioning of the tab and the adapter piece. That is to say, the pressure plate 14 does not directly press against the tab to be welded. This reduces the likelihood of the tabs of the electrode assembly 124, which are not to be welded in the current welding process, being subjected to external pressure. It also reduces the chance of the tabs of the electrode assembly 124 being subjected to pressure before welding, resulting in indentations and damage. Furthermore, it reduces the likelihood of the unwelded tabs being lifted by the upper and lower molds due to static electricity or vacuum adsorption after the upper and lower molds of the welding equipment separate in the vertical direction, which could lead to bending or interlocking of the stacked tabs of the electrode assembly 124. This effectively improves the welding quality of the tabs of the subsequent electrode assembly 124 and the adapter piece 20, thereby contributing to the production quality of the battery cell.

[0069] Once the tabs of the electrode assembly 124 and the adapter piece 127 are welded together, the pressure plate 14 is removed from the pressing groove 11, making it convenient for the operator to remove the welded electrode assembly 124 and adapter piece 127, and to put the adapter piece 127 to be welded back into the empty pressing groove 11 for the next round of welding.

[0070] It is understood that the pressure plate 14 is a flat plate. The pressure plate 14 can be used to press a single adapter piece that is welded to the tab of the electrode assembly 124, or it can be used to press multiple adapter pieces that are welded to the tabs 11 of multiple electrode assemblies 124.

[0071] In some embodiments, the carrier plate 17 and the pressure plate 14 can both be made of plastic; for example, polyoxymethylene (POM); which is not only insulating and corrosion resistant, but also has good structural strength and processability. Alternatively, the carrier plate 17 and the pressure plate 14 can also be made of sheet metal and coated with a corresponding insulating coating layer.

[0072] In some possible embodiments, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the welding carrier 10 includes a plurality of magnetic chucks 15, the pressure plate 14 is hinged to the carrier plate 17, and the plurality of magnetic chucks 15 are respectively arranged on two opposing surfaces of the pressure plate 14 and the carrier plate 17.

[0073] One end of the pressure plate 14 is hinged to the end of the carrier plate 17 by a pin; a magnetic suction element 15 is arranged on the other end of the pressure plate 14 away from the carrier plate 17; a magnetic suction element 15 is also arranged on the carrier plate 17 at the position corresponding to the pressure plate 14; thus, when the pressure plate 14 is closed on the pressing groove 11, the magnetic suction elements 15 attract each other, thereby fixing the adapter piece 127, which facilitates subsequent welding. After the electrode tabs of the electrode assembly 124 and the adapter piece 127 are welded, the operator can remove the pressure plate 14 from the pressing groove 11, which is convenient and quick. The welded electrode assembly 124 and the adapter piece 127 can be removed, and the adapter piece 127 to be welded can be put back into the empty pressing groove 11 for the next round of welding.

[0074] The magnetic attractor 15 can be a permanent magnet, and its shape can be a pancake, a column, or other shapes.

[0075] In some possible embodiments, referring to Figures 5 and 6, two pressing grooves 11 are formed on the carrier plate 17. The two pressing grooves 11 are arranged side by side along the width direction X of the carrier plate 17, and the pressure plate 14 covers one of the pressing grooves 11. Along the width direction X of the carrier plate 17, the width of the hollow area 13 is not less than the sum of the widths of the two pressing grooves 11.

[0076] Typically, an electrode assembly 124 has a positive electrode tab and a negative electrode tab; referring to Figure 4, each electrode tab needs to be connected to an adapter piece 127; therefore, the welding positioning fixture of this application embodiment requires welding of the two electrodes of the general electrode assembly 124 to each adapter piece 127.

[0077] Specifically, two pressing grooves 11 are formed on the carrier plate 17, and the two pressing grooves 11 are arranged side by side along the width direction X of the carrier plate 17. Thus, each pressing groove 11 corresponds to the positive electrode tab and the negative electrode tab of the electrode assembly 124 respectively. According to the welding position of the current welding process, the pressure plate 14 can be covered on one of the pressing grooves 11. In this welding process, the adapter piece 127 in the pressing groove 11 covered by the pressure plate 14 can be welded to the corresponding electrode tab on the electrode assembly 124. At the same time, the pressing groove 11 without the pressure plate 14 is left empty. In the next welding process, the pressure plate 14 can be covered on the other pressing groove 11 to realize the pressing and positioning of the other electrode tab and the adapter piece 127, which facilitates welding.

[0078] It is understood that the welding positioning fixture of this application embodiment can be used in both welding processes. The pressure plate 14 only needs to be installed on the carrier plate 17 and cover the corresponding pressing groove 11, which saves costs and material control.

[0079] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, a positioning groove 12 and two pressing grooves 11 are formed on the carrier plate 17; along the width direction X of the carrier plate 17, the width of the hollow area 13 is not less than the sum of the widths of the two pressing grooves 11. In this way, it can be ensured that no matter which pressing groove 11 the pressure plate 14 covers, it can achieve the function of pressing the tab of the electrode assembly 124 to be welded, so that the upper and lower pressure molds of the welding equipment can approach each other from the upper and lower areas of the hollow area 13 and press on the tab of the adapter piece 127 and the electrode assembly 124 respectively, and then complete the welding of the tab of the electrode assembly 124 and the adapter piece 127 through ultrasonic welding process.

[0080] In some possible embodiments, referring to Figures 5 and 6, a through push hole 16 is formed on the carrier plate 17, and the push hole 16 is located at the bottom of the positioning groove 12. Thus, after the electrode tabs of the electrode assembly 124 are welded to the adapter piece 127, they can be pushed upwards through the push hole 16 by a push rod, separating the main body of the electrode assembly 124 from the positioning groove 12. This facilitates the disassembly of the welded electrode assembly 124 by the operator, saving manpower.

[0081] In some possible embodiments, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the frame 20 includes a plurality of positioning blocks 29 arranged on the work panel 23, the positioning blocks 29 being used to limit the position of the carrier plate 17 on the work panel 23.

[0082] Specifically, at least two positioning blocks 29 are arranged at intervals along the width direction X of the carrier plate 17 on the surface of the work panel 23; one positioning block 29 is arranged on the surface of the work panel 23 and along the length direction Y of the carrier plate 17 at one end of the carrier plate 17. The opening of the two positioning blocks 29 can restrict the positioning of the carrier plate 17 in the length direction Y.

[0083] The carrier plate 17 is placed on the working panel 23. Two positioning blocks 29 are arranged at intervals along the width direction X of the carrier plate 17, so that they press against the two sides of the carrier plate 17 from both ends in the width direction X. At the same time, one end of the carrier plate 17 along the length direction Y abuts against another positioning block 29. In this way, it can be ensured that the operator can accurately place each carrier plate 17 onto the working panel 23 of the frame 20 without deliberately adjusting the position of the carrier plate 17. The positioning blocks 29 restrict the position of the carrier plate 17 on the working panel 23, so that the relative position of the carrier plate 17 and the working panel 23 remains unchanged, accurately positioning and ensuring that the welding equipment can successfully weld the adapter piece 127 and the electrode assembly 124 tab.

[0084] In some embodiments, the positioning block 29 may be made of plastic, such as polyoxymethylene (POM), which is not only insulating and corrosion-resistant but also has good structural strength and processability. Alternatively, the positioning block 29 may be made of sheet metal with a corresponding insulating coating layer applied to its surface.

[0085] In some embodiments, the positioning block 29 is a wedge and has a corresponding guide slope on the side of the positioning block 29 near the carrier plate 17, so that the positioning block 29 can better guide the position of the carrier plate 17 on the working panel 23.

[0086] In some embodiments, the positioning block 29 is bolted to the working panel 23 for easy position adjustment and maintenance.

[0087] In some possible embodiments, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the frame 20 includes a fixing member 24 and multiple support columns 25; the multiple support columns 25 are supported between the fixing member 24 and the work panel 23, and the tray 21 is movably supported on the corresponding support column 25 along the vertical direction Z.

[0088] The fixing member 24 is located at the bottom of the frame 20 and is used to connect with external conveying equipment (mentioned below). Multiple support columns 25 are supported between the fixing member 24 and the work panel 23, forming a three-dimensional support structure for transferring weight. The pallet 21 is movably supported on the corresponding support column 25 along the vertical direction Z; the loading pallet 21 is movably supported on the support column 25 located on the left side of the work panel 23 along the vertical direction Z, and the unloading pallet 22 is movably supported on the support column 25 located on the right side of the work panel 23 along the vertical direction Z. The pallet 21 and the work panel 23 are connected to the frame 20 together through the support columns 25, adopting an integrated structure. The compact mechanism is suitable for operation in various confined spaces. The vertical distance between the tray 21 and the work panel 23 is adjustable, allowing operators to operate the welding positioning fixture independently for production. The distance between the tray 21 and the work panel 23 can be adjusted according to the limited space and the operator's own operating height, making it flexible and convenient. This ensures that operators can complete tasks such as loading, unloading, positioning between the electrode tabs and the adapter piece 127, and welding within a limited space.

[0089] In some embodiments, the fastener 24 may be an aluminum alloy strip or plate, which has good structural strength; the support column 25 may be an aluminum alloy hollow column, and the fastener 24 is fixedly connected to the support column 25 by welding.

[0090] In some possible embodiments, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the frame 20 includes a plurality of clamps 26, each clamp 26 being fitted onto a corresponding support column 25; the tray 21 is fixedly connected to the clamps 26.

[0091] Specifically, each clamp 26 is composed of two semi-circular clamps connected end to end to form a circular piece fitted around the outside of the support column 25. The two semi-circular clamps are connected by bolts, and the length of the bolt engagement can be adjusted to change the size of the inner ring of the clamp 26, thereby adjusting the tightening force between the clamp 26 and the support column 25, and fixing the pallet 21 to one or two clamps 26 to achieve load-bearing support; when it is necessary to change the height of the pallet 21, the bolts on the clamp 26 can be loosened; in this way, the vertical distance from the pallet 21 to the work panel 23 can be adjusted.

[0092] In some possible embodiments, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the frame 20 includes a plurality of connecting plates 27, and each pallet 21 is fixedly connected to the clamp 26 via the connecting plate 27; in this way, the stress between the clamp 26 and the pallet 21 can be improved, deformation can be reduced, and the pallet 21 can be connected to the clamp 26 via the connecting plate 27 with a larger area.

[0093] In some possible embodiments, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the frame 20 includes a screw member 28, and a threaded hole (not shown) is formed on the fixing member 24. The screw member 28 passes through the threaded hole of the fixing member 24 and is connected to the outside.

[0094] Thus, the fixing component 24 is located at the bottom of the frame 20, and the screw component 28 passes through the threaded hole of the fixing component 24 and is connected to the external conveying equipment to realize assembly line production.

[0095] A second aspect of this application provides a battery production line for welding tabs and adapter pieces 127 of electrode assembly 124.

[0096] The battery production line includes welding equipment, conveying equipment, and the aforementioned welding positioning fixtures; the frame 20 is placed on the conveying equipment, and the welding equipment is used to weld the tabs and adapter pieces 127 in the hollowed-out area 13.

[0097] Thus, by using the welding positioning device to press and position the electrode assembly 124 and the adapter piece 20, the welding operation position accuracy of the welding equipment is improved. The loading and unloading tray 21 is connected to the working panel 23 on the frame 20, adopting an integrated structure. The compact mechanism is suitable for operation in various confined spaces. The vertical distance from the tray 21 to the working panel 23 along the vertical direction Z is adjustable. The operator can operate the welding positioning fixture independently for production. The distance between the tray 21 and the working panel 23 can be adjusted according to the limited space and the operator's own operating height, which is flexible and convenient. This ensures that the operator can complete loading, unloading, positioning between the electrode tab and the adapter piece 127, and welding in a confined space.

[0098] In some embodiments, the specific type of welding equipment is not limited, such as an ultrasonic welding apparatus.

[0099] In some embodiments, the specific type of conveying equipment is not limited. For example, the conveying equipment includes a conveyor belt and a drive unit. The conveyor belt is fixedly connected to the frame 20, and the drive unit is driven to the conveyor belt to drive the transmission belt to move, thereby pulling the welding carrier 10 to move.

[0100] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0101] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A welding positioning fixture for welding adapter plates and electrode assembly tabs, characterized in that, The welding positioning fixture includes: At least one welding carrier (10) includes a pressing groove (11), a positioning groove (12), and a hollow area (13), the hollow area (13) being located between the positioning groove (12) and the pressing groove (11), the positioning groove (12) being used to place the main body of the electrode assembly; the pressing groove (11) being used to place a portion of the adapter piece, and the hollow area (13) being used to place another portion of the adapter piece and the tab of the electrode assembly; The frame (20) includes a work panel (23) and two trays (21); the two trays (21) are distributed on both sides of the work panel (23); both trays (21) and the work panel (23) are used to place the welding carrier (10); The vertical distance from the tray (21) to the work panel (23) is adjustable in the vertical direction; The welding carrier (10) includes a carrier plate (17) and a pressure plate (14). The pressing groove (11) and the positioning groove (12) are respectively formed on the carrier plate (17) and distributed at both ends along the length direction. A through hole is formed in the middle of the carrier plate (17) to serve as the hollow area (13). The pressure plate (14) is movably connected to the carrier plate (17) and can cover the pressing groove (11).

2. The welding positioning fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The welding carrier (10) includes a plurality of magnetic suction elements (15), the pressure plate (14) is hinged to the carrier plate (17), and the plurality of magnetic suction elements (15) are respectively arranged on two opposing surfaces of the pressure plate (14) and the carrier plate (17).

3. The welding positioning fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that, Two pressing grooves (11) are formed on the carrier plate (17). The two pressing grooves (11) are arranged side by side along the width direction of the carrier plate (17). The pressing plate (14) covers one of the pressing grooves (11). Along the width direction of the carrier plate (17), the width of the hollow area (13) is not less than the sum of the widths of the two pressing grooves (11).

4. The welding positioning fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that, A through push hole (16) is formed on the carrier plate (17), and the push hole (16) is located at the bottom of the positioning groove (12).

5. The welding positioning fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The carrier plate (17) is made of plastic; And / or, the pressure plate (14) is made of plastic.

6. The welding positioning fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The frame (20) includes a plurality of positioning blocks (29) arranged on the working panel (23), the positioning blocks (29) being used to limit the position of the carrier plate (17) on the working panel (23).

7. The welding positioning fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The frame (20) includes a fixing member (24) and multiple support columns (25); the multiple support columns (25) are supported between the fixing member (24) and the working panel (23), and the tray (21) is movably supported on the corresponding support column (25) along the vertical direction.

8. The welding positioning fixture according to claim 7, characterized in that, The frame (20) includes multiple clamps (26), each clamp (26) being fitted onto the corresponding support column (25); the tray (21) is fixedly connected to the clamps (26).

9. The welding positioning fixture according to claim 7, characterized in that, The frame (20) includes a screw (28), and a threaded hole is formed on the fixing member (24). The screw (28) passes through the threaded hole of the fixing member (24) and is connected to the outside.

10. A battery production line, characterized in that, The battery production line includes welding equipment, conveying equipment, and welding positioning fixtures as described in any one of claims 1-9; the frame (20) is placed on the conveying equipment, and the welding equipment is used to weld the tabs and the adapter pieces in the hollowed-out area (13).

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