Transfer apparatus and battery production system

Abstract

A transfer apparatus (100) and a battery production system. The transfer apparatus (100) is used for transferring an electrode assembly (200). The transfer apparatus (100) comprises a bearing member (10), a covering member (20), and a driving member (30). The bearing member (10) comprises a bearing portion (11) and first wall portions (12), wherein the first wall portions (12) are located at the edges of the bearing portion (11), the bearing portion (11) is used for bearing the electrode assembly (200), the first wall portions (12) extend in a first direction (X), and the first direction (X) is perpendicular to a direction in which the bearing member (10) and the covering member (20) are arranged opposite to each other. The covering member (20) is arranged opposite to the bearing member (10) and is movably connected to the bearing member (10) in the first direction (X), and the covering member (20) is used for covering a part of the electrode assembly (200). The driving member (30) is used for driving the bearing member (10) to move.

Description

Transfer device and battery production system

[0001] Cross-reference to Related Applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202422409372.1, filed on September 30, 2024, entitled “Transfer device and battery production system”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present application relates to the technical field of batteries, in particular to a transfer device and a battery production system. BACKGROUND

[0004] Battery cells are widely used in electronic devices, such as mobile phones, notebook computers, electric vehicles, electric cars, electric planes, electric ships, electric toy cars, electric toy ships, electric toy planes, and electric tools, etc. Battery cells can include cadmium-nickel battery cells, hydrogen-nickel battery cells, lithium-ion battery cells, and secondary alkaline zinc-manganese battery cells, etc.

[0005] In the development of battery technology, how to improve the production yield of battery cells has always been a research direction in battery technology.

[0006] Practical new type content

[0007] In view of the above problems, the present application provides a transfer device and a battery production system, which can improve the production yield of battery cells.

[0008] In a first aspect, the present application provides a transfer device for transferring an electrode assembly, the transfer device comprising a carrier, a cover, and a driving member. The carrier comprises a carrier portion and a first wall portion, the first wall portion being located at an edge of the carrier portion, the carrier portion being configured to carry the electrode assembly, and the first wall portion extending along a first direction, the first direction being perpendicular to a direction in which the carrier and the cover are oppositely arranged. The cover is oppositely arranged with the carrier and movably connected to the carrier, and the cover is configured to cover a portion of the electrode assembly. The driving member is configured to drive the carrier to move.

[0009] In the above scheme, by arranging the cover to cover the electrode assembly, the possibility of impurities produced in the process of preparing the electrode assembly contacting the electrode assembly is reduced, thereby reducing the risk of impurities polluting the electrode assembly and improving the production yield. Moreover, the cover is movably connected to the carrier, which is conducive to improving the automation degree of the transfer device and improving the production efficiency.

[0010] In some embodiments, the first wall portion is provided with a moving channel, and the cover is movably connected to the moving channel, the moving channel extending along the first direction.

[0011] In the scheme, the mobile channel is arranged, which is beneficial to simplify the connection mode of the bearing member and the cover member, so that the cover member can be moved to the predetermined position after being switched from the second state to the first state for multiple times, thereby reducing the alignment accuracy of the cover member and the bearing member and improving the production efficiency.

[0012] In some embodiments, the bearing member further comprises a first slider, the first slider is arranged in the mobile channel and is movably arranged relative to the mobile channel, and the first slider is connected to the cover member.

[0013] In the scheme, the first slider is arranged to reduce the frictional resistance between the cover member and the bearing member when the cover member moves, thereby prolonging the service life of the transfer device and reducing the production cost.

[0014] In some embodiments, the cover member comprises a cover plate and a pressing assembly, the pressing assembly is arranged at the edge of the cover plate, and the pressing assembly is used to apply a pressure to the cover plate in the direction of the bearing member along the cover plate.

[0015] In the scheme, the pressing assembly is arranged to apply a pressure to the cover plate, so that the cover plate can press down the bearing member or the electrode assembly, so that the bearing member and the cover plate clamp the electrode assembly, thereby reducing the possibility of displacement of the electrode assembly during the movement of the transfer device, and simplifying the alignment device in the preparation process, reducing the production cost and improving the production yield.

[0016] In some embodiments, the pressing assembly comprises a first connecting portion, a second connecting portion and an elastic member. The cover plate is connected to the bearing member through the first connecting portion. The second connecting portion is arranged on the side of the first connecting portion away from the bearing member, and part of the second connecting portion protrudes from the cover plate in the direction away from the bearing member. The elastic member is connected to the second connecting portion, and the elastic member is arranged on the side of the cover plate away from the bearing member.

[0017] In the scheme, it is beneficial to simplify the overall structure of the pressing assembly, and the pressing assembly and the cover plate are moved together, thereby reducing the possibility that different electrode assemblies have different relative positions with the transfer device during the preparation process due to different pressing positions of the pressing assembly during multiple uses, and thereby reducing the risk of performance differentiation of different battery cells formed during the manufacturing process.

[0018] In some embodiments, the bearing member comprises a bearing portion and a first wall portion, the first wall portion is arranged at the edge of the bearing portion, and the pressing assembly further comprises a second slider, the cover plate is fixedly connected to the second slider, and the second slider is movably arranged relative to the first wall portion.

[0019] In the scheme, the first slider and the second slider are arranged to make the cover piece include two moving strokes, the first moving stroke is that the cover piece is moved in the first direction as a whole by the first slider, and the second moving stroke is that the cover plate is moved in the first direction by the second slider, so as to facilitate increasing the size of the cover plate in the first direction while reducing the connection size between the cover piece and the bearing piece, thereby reducing the overall size of the moving channel on the bearing piece, improving the overall strength of the bearing piece, and improving the service life of the bearing piece.

[0020] In some embodiments, the first wall portion is provided with a groove recessed from one side of the first wall portion facing the cover plate, and when the cover piece is arranged opposite the bearing piece, at least part of the second slider is located in the groove.

[0021] In the scheme, the groove is arranged to make the cover plate relatively fixed with the pressing assembly when the second slider is in the groove, thereby reducing the possibility of relative displacement between the cover plate and the pressing assembly in the first state.

[0022] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly includes a main body portion and a tab, the tab is arranged to protrude from an edge of the main body portion, and the cover piece is used to cover at least one end of the main body portion close to the tab.

[0023] In the scheme, it is beneficial to adjust the size of the cover piece according to design requirements, thereby improving the application range of the transfer device.

[0024] In some embodiments, the main body portion includes a side wall, and the tab is arranged to protrude from the side wall. The cover piece further includes a cover portion and a first limiting portion, the cover portion is arranged opposite the bearing piece, and the first limiting portion is arranged to protrude from the cover portion in a direction of the cover piece facing the bearing piece, and the first limiting portion is used to abut against the side wall.

[0025] In the scheme, the first limiting portion is arranged to make the cover piece protect the side wall of the electrode assembly, thereby reducing the possibility that impurities produced in the process of preparing the tab and connecting the tab with other components contaminate the active material layer of the electrode assembly, and improving the production yield.

[0026] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly includes a main body portion and a tab, the main body portion includes a side wall, and the tab is arranged to protrude from the side wall. The bearing piece includes a bearing portion and a second limiting portion, the second limiting portion is arranged to protrude from the bearing portion in a direction of the bearing portion facing the cover piece, and the second limiting portion is used to abut against the side wall.

[0027] In the above scheme, when the electrode assembly is transferred into the transfer device by other processes, the position of the electrode assembly needs to be corrected first so as to facilitate the subsequent production processes. When the position of the electrode assembly is corrected, at least part of the side wall of the electrode assembly can abut against the side surface of the second limiting portion facing the electrode assembly, so that the position of the electrode assembly is corrected in a single direction, and then the position of the electrode assembly in other directions can be corrected by other devices so as to make the position of the electrode assembly on the carrier be in a preset position, thereby reducing the steps in the position correction and improving the production efficiency.

[0028] In some embodiments, at least one of the first limiting portion and the second limiting portion comprises an avoiding opening for avoiding the tab.

[0029] In the above scheme, the first limiting portion and the second limiting portion can improve the protection performance of the electrode assembly while reducing the possibility of interference between the first limiting portion, the second limiting portion and the tab.

[0030] In a second aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a battery production system, which comprises the transfer device in any of the foregoing embodiments.

[0031] The above description is only a summary of the technical solutions of the present application. In order to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to better understand the technical means of the present application and implement the same according to the contents of the description, and in order to make the above and other purposes, characteristics and advantages of the present application more apparent and easy to understand, the following specific embodiments of the present application are described. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0032] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following will briefly introduce the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application, and other drawings can also be obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without any creative labor on the basis of these drawings.

[0033] FIG. 1 is an exploded structural schematic diagram of a battery production system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a transfer device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] FIG. 3 is a structural schematic diagram of another transfer device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] FIG. 4 is a structural schematic diagram of a transfer device in a first state according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] FIG. 5 is a structural schematic diagram of a transfer device in a second state according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] Fig. 6 is a structural schematic diagram of another transfer device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] Fig. 7 is a structural schematic diagram of a bearing member according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] Fig. 8 is a structural schematic diagram of a covering member according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0041] Marking description

[0042] 100, transfer device; 200, electrode assembly; 210, main body; 211, side wall; 220, tab;

[0043] 10, bearing member; 11, bearing part; 12, first wall part; 121, moving channel; 122, groove; 13, first sliding block; 14, second limiting part;

[0044] 20, covering member; 21, covering plate; 22, pressing assembly; 221, first connecting part; 222, second connecting part; 223, elastic member; 224, second sliding block; 23, covering part; 24, first limiting part;

[0045] 30, driving member;

[0046] K, avoiding opening;

[0047] X, first direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] The embodiments of the technical solutions of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, and therefore only serve as examples, and cannot limit the protection scope of the present application.

[0049] 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 belongs; the terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present application; the terms "include" and "have" and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of the present application and the above description of drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0050] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the technical terms "first", "second", etc. are only used to distinguish different objects, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number, specific order or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the meaning of "a plurality of" is two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0051] Reference to“an embodiment” herein means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the application. The appearances of the phrase“in an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are they necessarily mutually exclusive of one another. It is expressly understood that any of the embodiments described herein can be incorporated into any other embodiment in a manner known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0052] In the description of the embodiments of the application, the term“and / or” only means an association relationship of the associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B, which can mean that A exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone. In addition, the character“ / ” herein generally means that the front and rear associated objects are in an“or” relationship.

[0053] In the description of the embodiments of the application, the term“a plurality of” means more than two (including two), and similarly, “a plurality of groups” means more than two groups (including two groups), and “a plurality of pieces” means more than two pieces (including two pieces).

[0054] In the description of the embodiments of the application, the technical terms“center”,“longitudinal”,“transverse”,“length”,“width”,“thickness”,“upper”,“lower”,“front”,“rear”,“left”,“right”,“vertical”,“horizontal”,“top”,“bottom”,“inner”,“outer”,“clockwise”,“counterclockwise”,“axial”,“radial”,“circumferential” and the like indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the devices or elements referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the embodiments of the application.

[0055] In the description of the embodiments of the application, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the technical terms“mounting”,“connection”,“connection”,“fixing” and the like should be understood broadly, for example, can be fixedly connected, or can be detachably connected, or can be integrated; can be mechanically connected, or can be electrically connected; can be directly connected, or can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium; can be the internal communication of two elements or the interaction relationship of two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of the application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0056] In the embodiments of the application, the battery cell can be a secondary battery, which refers to a battery cell that can be activated by charging after discharging.

[0057] The battery cell can be a lithium ion battery, a sodium ion battery, a sodium lithium ion battery, a lithium metal battery, a sodium metal battery, a lithium sulfur battery, a magnesium ion battery, a nickel hydrogen battery, a nickel cadmium battery, a lead-acid battery, etc. The embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0058] The battery cell generally includes an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator. During the charging and discharging of the battery cell, active ions (e.g., lithium ions) are inserted and extracted between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The separator is disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and can prevent the positive and negative electrodes from shorting while allowing the active ions to pass through.

[0059] In some embodiments, the positive electrode can be a positive electrode sheet, which can include a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material disposed on at least one surface of the positive electrode current collector.

[0060] As an example, the positive electrode current collector has two opposite surfaces in the thickness direction of itself, and the positive electrode active material is disposed on either one or both of the two opposite surfaces of the positive electrode current collector.

[0061] As an example, the positive electrode current collector can be a metal foil or a composite current collector. For example, as a metal foil, silver surface treated stainless steel, copper, aluminum, nickel, carbon electrode, carbon, nickel, or titanium, etc. can be used. The composite current collector can include a polymer material base layer and a metal layer. The composite current collector can be formed by forming a metal material (aluminum, aluminum alloy, nickel, nickel alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, silver, and silver alloy, etc.) on a polymer material base material (such as polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyethylene, etc.).

[0062] In some embodiments, the negative electrode can be a negative electrode sheet, which can include a negative electrode current collector.

[0063] As an example, the negative electrode current collector can be a metal foil, a conductive polymer material, a carbon material, or a composite current collector. For example, as a metal foil, pure metal, alloy, surface treated metal, including but not limited to stainless steel, copper, aluminum, nickel, titanium, or silver, etc. can be used. The composite current collector can include a polymer material base layer and a metal layer. The composite current collector can be formed by forming a metal material (copper, copper alloy, nickel, nickel alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, silver, and silver alloy, etc.) on a polymer material base material (such as a base material of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyethylene, etc.).

[0064] As an example, the negative electrode sheet can include a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material disposed on at least one surface of the negative electrode current collector.

[0065] As an example, the negative current collector has two surfaces opposite in the thickness direction thereof, and the negative active material is disposed on either one or both of the two surfaces of the negative current collector.

[0066] As an example, the negative active material can employ a negative active material for a battery cell known in the art. As an example, the negative active material can include at least one of artificial graphite, natural graphite, soft carbon, hard carbon, silicon-based material, tin-based material, and lithium titanate, etc.

[0067] In some embodiments, the material of the positive current collector can be aluminum, and the material of the negative current collector can be copper.

[0068] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly further includes a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

[0069] In some embodiments, the separator is a separator film. The type of the separator film is not particularly limited in the present application, and any known porous structure separator film having good chemical stability and mechanical stability can be used.

[0070] As an example, the main material of the separator film can be selected from at least one of glass fiber, non-woven fabric, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinylidene fluoride, and ceramic.

[0071] In some embodiments, the separator is a solid-state electrolyte. The solid-state electrolyte is disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and functions to transport ions and separate the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

[0072] In some embodiments, the battery cell further includes an electrolyte, which functions to conduct ions between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The type of the electrolyte is not particularly limited in the present application, and can be selected as needed. The electrolyte can be in a liquid state, a gel state, or a solid state.

[0073] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly is provided with a tab, which can guide current out of the electrode assembly. The tab includes a positive tab and a negative tab.

[0074] The development of battery technology needs to consider various design factors, such as performance parameters such as energy density, cycle life, discharge capacity, and charge / discharge rate. In addition, the production yield of the battery cell also needs to be considered.

[0075] The battery cell includes a housing and an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly needs to go through different processes before being loaded into the housing. After the electrode assembly is prepared, it is loaded into the housing. During the transfer process between different processes, the electrode assembly needs to be placed and positioned at a predetermined position after being grabbed from different processes, and then the preparation process is carried out. This is not conducive to improving production efficiency.

[0076] In order to improve production efficiency, multiple processes are usually connected together through a production line, and an electrode assembly is moved between different processes by a transfer device. However, impurities are generated during the preparation of some processes, which pollute the electrode assembly and cause the electrode assembly to be unable to be normally used, resulting in a decrease in the production yield of battery cells.

[0077] Based on the above technical problem, a technical solution is provided in the present application. The electrode assembly is covered by the covering member to reduce the possibility of impurities generated during the process preparation contacting the electrode assembly, thereby reducing the risk of impurity pollution of the electrode assembly and improving the production yield. Moreover, the covering member is movably connected with the bearing member, which is conducive to improving the automation degree of the transfer device and improving the production efficiency.

[0078] Embodiments of the present application provide a battery production system. The battery production system comprises a transfer device.

[0079] The battery production system can comprise multiple production processes, such as a connection process of the tab of the electrode assembly and the adapter plate, a connection process of the adapter plate and the electrode terminal, and other processes.

[0080] Optionally, the multiple processes can be arranged on the same production line, and the transfer device is moved to the corresponding process position on the transfer track to improve the production efficiency of the battery cell.

[0081] FIG. 1 is an exploded structural schematic diagram of a battery production system according to an embodiment of the present application. FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a transfer device according to an embodiment of the present application. FIG. 3 is a structural schematic diagram of another transfer device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0082] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a transfer device 100 according to an embodiment of the present application is provided, which is used to transfer an electrode assembly 200. The transfer device 100 comprises a bearing member 10, a covering member 20, and a driving member 30. The bearing member 10 is used to bear the electrode assembly 200. The covering member 20 is arranged opposite to the bearing member 10 and is movably connected to the bearing member 10. The covering member 20 is used to cover a part of the electrode assembly 200. The driving member 30 is used to drive the bearing member 10 to move.

[0083] Exemplarily, the transfer device 100 can be connected to an external production line, and the transfer device 100 can bear the electrode assembly 200 to move at different positions on the production line. Optionally, the different positions on the production line can be different positions of the same process, or can be different processes.

[0084] The transfer device 100 comprises the driving member 30, which drives the bearing member 10 to move, thereby driving the electrode assembly 200 borne on the bearing member 10 to move.

[0085] The transfer device 100 comprises a carrier 10 and a cover 20. The carrier 10 and the cover 20 jointly define a receiving space for receiving the electrode assembly 200. The carrier 10 can be a hollow structure with one end open, and the cover 20 can be a plate-shaped structure covering the open end of the carrier 10. Alternatively, the carrier 10 and the cover 20 can both be hollow structures with one end open, and the open end of the cover 20 covers the open end of the carrier 10.

[0086] Optionally, the cover 20 can be movable in a direction away from the carrier 10. Alternatively, the cover 20 can also be movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction away from the carrier 10. Of course, the cover 20 and the carrier 10 can also be movably connected by a hinged manner.

[0087] Optionally, the transfer device 100 can comprise a first state and a second state. In the first state, the cover 20 and the carrier 10 are oppositely arranged, and the electrode assembly 200 is located between the cover 20 and the carrier 10. In the second state, the carrier 10 is in an empty state, waiting for the electrode assembly 200 to be placed on the carrier 10.

[0088] Optionally, the electrode assembly 200 can comprise a main body 210 and a tab 220, and the cover 20 can cover the main body 210. Of course, the cover 20 can also cover part of the tab 220.

[0089] In the embodiments of the present application, the electrode assembly 200 is covered by the cover 20 to reduce the possibility of impurities produced in the process of preparing the electrode assembly 200 contacting the electrode assembly 200, thereby reducing the risk of impurities polluting the electrode assembly 200 and improving the production yield. Moreover, the cover 20 and the carrier 10 are movably connected, which is conducive to improving the automation degree of the transfer device 100 and improving the production efficiency.

[0090] In some optional embodiments, referring to FIGS. 1-3, the cover 20 is movably arranged along a first direction X, and the first direction X is perpendicular to the direction in which the carrier 10 and the cover 20 are oppositely arranged.

[0091] It can be understood that the direction in which the carrier 10 and the cover 20 are oppositely arranged is the direction in which the carrier 10 and the cover 20 are oppositely arranged when the electrode assembly 200 is clamped between the carrier 10 and the cover 20 in the first state. The cover 20 can be moved along the first direction X to switch between the first state and the second state.

[0092] Optionally, the side-by-side arrangement direction of the main body 210 and the tab 220 of the electrode assembly 200 and the first direction X can be parallel or intersecting.

[0093] In the embodiment of the present application, through the above setting, the electrode assembly 200 can be gripped and placed on the carrier 10 by the mechanical gripper, the cover 20 is moved along the first direction X to reduce the possibility of interference between the cover 20 and the mechanical gripper, improve the automation degree of the transfer device 100, and improve the production efficiency.

[0094] In some optional embodiments, referring to FIGS. 1-3, the carrier 10 includes a carrying portion 11 and a first wall portion 12, the first wall portion 12 is located at the edge of the carrying portion 11, the carrying portion 11 is used for carrying the electrode assembly 200, the first wall portion 12 is provided with a moving channel 121, and the cover 20 is movably connected to the moving channel 121. The moving channel 121 is arranged along the first direction X.

[0095] Optionally, the number of the first wall portions 12 can include two, and the two first wall portions 12 are respectively arranged on both sides of the carrying portion 11 along the second direction. The two first wall portions 12 and the carrying portion 11 jointly enclose a recess, and the two first wall portions 12 form side walls 211 of the recess. Part of the electrode assembly 200 is located in the recess.

[0096] Optionally, the first direction X, the second direction, and the relative arrangement direction of the carrier 10 and the cover 20 are arranged perpendicularly in pairs.

[0097] Optionally, the moving channel 121 can include a groove 122 or a long hole.

[0098] Optionally, part of the cover 20 can be located in the moving channel 121. The part of the cover 20 located in the moving channel 121 can move in the moving channel 121 along the extension direction of the moving channel 121 to move the cover 20 as a whole along the extension direction of the moving channel 121.

[0099] Through the above setting, the moving channel 121 is arranged, which is beneficial to simplify the connection mode of the carrier 10 and the cover 20. After the cover 20 is switched from the second state to the first state for multiple times, the cover 20 can be moved to the predetermined position, thereby reducing the alignment accuracy of the cover 20 and the carrier 10 and improving the production efficiency.

[0100] In some optional embodiments, referring to FIGS. 1-3, the carrier 10 further includes a first sliding block 13, the first sliding block 13 is movably arranged in the moving channel 121 relative to the moving channel 121, and the first sliding block 13 is connected to the cover 20.

[0101] Exemplarily, the first sliding block 13 can reciprocate in the moving channel 121 along the extension direction of the moving channel 121 to move the cover 20 along the first direction X.

[0102] Optionally, the first sliding block 13 can comprise a linear sliding block and a rolling sliding block. For example, the first sliding block 13 comprises a sliding block or a rolling wheel.

[0103] Optionally, the carrier 10 can further comprise a driver, which drives the first sliding block 13 to move.

[0104] Optionally, the cover 20 can be located above the first sliding block 13, and a part of the structure of the cover 20 is in contact with the first sliding block 13, so that the cover 20 can be moved when the first sliding block 13 moves.

[0105] Optionally, the first sliding block 13 can be fixedly connected with the cover 20.

[0106] In the embodiment of the present application, the first sliding block 13 is arranged to reduce the frictional resistance between the cover 20 and the carrier 10 when the cover 20 moves, thereby prolonging the service life of the transfer device 100 and reducing the production cost.

[0107] In some optional embodiments, referring to FIGS. 1-3, the cover 20 comprises a cover plate 21 and a pressing assembly 22, the pressing assembly 22 is located at the edge of the cover plate 21, and the pressing assembly 22 is used to apply a pressure to the cover plate 21 in the direction of the carrier.

[0108] Optionally, the cover plate 21 covers a part of the electrode assembly 200.

[0109] Optionally, the orthographic projection of the pressing assembly 22 on the cover plate 21 and the orthographic projection of the electrode assembly 200 on the cover plate 21 can be arranged in a spaced manner. Of course, the orthographic projection of the pressing assembly 22 on the cover plate 21 and the orthographic projection of the electrode assembly 200 on the cover plate 21 can also be arranged in an overlapping manner.

[0110] Optionally, the pressing assembly 22 can be located only on the side of the cover plate 21 away from the carrier 10. For example, the pressing assembly 22 can be a pressing block with a preset weight.

[0111] In the embodiment of the present application, the pressing assembly 22 is arranged to apply a pressure to the cover plate 21, so that the cover plate 21 can press down the carrier 10 or press down the electrode assembly 200, so that the carrier 10 and the cover plate 21 clamp the electrode assembly 200, thereby reducing the possibility of displacement of the electrode assembly 200 during the movement of the transfer device 100, and simplifying the alignment device in the preparation process, reducing the production cost, and improving the production yield.

[0112] Fig. 4 is a structural schematic view of a transfer device in a first state according to an embodiment of the present application. Fig. 5 is a structural schematic view of a transfer device in a second state according to an embodiment of the present application. It should be noted that the solid line structure in Figs. 4 and 5 is a pressing assembly and a cover plate.

[0113] In some optional embodiments, referring to Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the pressing assembly 22 comprises a first connecting part 221, a second connecting part 222 and an elastic member 223. The cover plate 21 is connected to the carrier 10 through the first connecting part 221. The second connecting part 222 is located on the side of the first connecting part 221 away from the carrier 10, and part of the second connecting part 222 protrudes from the cover plate 21 in a direction away from the carrier 10. The elastic member 223 is connected to the second connecting part 222, and the elastic member 223 is located on the side of the cover plate 21 away from the carrier 10.

[0114] Optionally, the first connecting part 221 and the second connecting part 222 can be an integral structure. Of course, the first connecting part 221 and the second connecting part 222 can also be a split structure. The first connecting part 221 and the second connecting part 222 can be fixedly connected by screwing, riveting, welding or the like.

[0115] Optionally, the first connecting part 221 can be a plate structure, and the first connecting part 221 can have a predetermined thickness. The first connecting part 221 can be fixedly connected to the first sliding block 13. Of course, the first connecting part 221 can also be located above the first sliding block 13, and the first sliding block 13 can drive the first connecting part 221 to move when the first sliding block 13 moves.

[0116] Optionally, the second connecting part 222 can be a rod structure.

[0117] Illustratively, the cover plate 21 can be provided with a through hole, and the second connecting part 222 passes through the through hole. The second connecting part 222 can comprise a first part and a second part. The second part is connected to the first connecting part 221 through the first part. The second part is located on the side of the cover plate 21 away from the carrier 10. The elastic member 223 is arranged in the second part. One end of the elastic member 223 is connected to the end of the second part away from the first part. The other end of the elastic member 223 abuts against the side of the cover plate 21 away from the carrier.

[0118] Illustratively, the second connecting part 222 can comprise a third part and a fourth part. The fourth part is connected to the first connecting part 221 through the third part. The third part extends in the thickness direction of the cover plate 21, and part of the third part is located on the side of the cover plate 21 away from the carrier 10. The fourth part extends in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the cover plate 21. One end of the elastic member 223 is connected to the fourth part. The other end of the elastic member 223 abuts against the side of the cover plate 21 away from the carrier.

[0119] Optionally, the orthographic projection of the elastic member 223 on the cover plate 21 can be arranged to be spaced from the orthographic projection of the electrode assembly 200 on the cover plate 21. Alternatively, the orthographic projection of the elastic member 223 on the cover plate 21 can be arranged to overlap the orthographic projection of the electrode assembly 200 on the cover plate 21.

[0120] By the above arrangement, the overall structure of the pressing assembly 22 can be simplified, and the pressing assembly 22 and the cover plate 21 can be moved together, thereby reducing the possibility that different electrode assemblies 200 have different relative positions with the transfer device 100 during the preparation process due to different pressing positions of the pressing assembly 22 during multiple uses, and further reducing the risk of performance differences between different battery cells formed during the manufacturing process.

[0121] In some alternative embodiments, referring to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the carrier includes a carrier portion and a first wall portion located at the edge of the carrier portion, and the pressing assembly 22 further includes a second sliding block 224, the cover plate 21 is fixedly connected to the second sliding block 224, and the second sliding block 224 is movably arranged relative to the first wall portion.

[0122] Optionally, the second sliding block 224 can include a linear sliding block and a rolling sliding block. For example, the second sliding block 224 includes a sliding block or a roller.

[0123] Optionally, the pressing assembly 22 can further include a driver to drive the second sliding block 224 to move.

[0124] Optionally, the cover plate 21 can be located above the second sliding block 224, and the side of the cover plate 21 facing the carrier 10 is in contact with the first sliding block 13, so that the first sliding block 13 can drive the cover plate 21 to move when the first sliding block 13 moves.

[0125] Optionally, the second sliding block 224 can be located on the side of the cover plate 21.

[0126] In these alternative embodiments, by arranging the first sliding block 13 and the second sliding block 224, the cover 20 can include two moving strokes, the first moving stroke is that the first sliding block 13 drives the cover 20 to move as a whole in the first direction X, and the second moving stroke is that the second sliding block 224 drives the cover plate 21 to move in the first direction X, thereby facilitating increasing the size of the cover plate 21 in the first direction X while reducing the connection size between the cover 20 and the carrier 10, thereby reducing the overall size of the moving channel 121 on the carrier 10, improving the overall strength of the carrier 10, and improving the service life of the carrier 10.

[0127] In some optional embodiments, referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the first wall portion is provided with a groove 122, which is recessed from the side of the first wall portion facing the cover plate 21. When the cover 20 is arranged opposite to the carrier 10, at least part of the second slider 224 is located in the groove 122.

[0128] Optionally, the second state can include a first sub-state and a second sub-state. Optionally, the first state is switched to the first sub-state, and the first sub-state is switched to the second sub-state.

[0129] Exemplarily, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, in the process of switching from the first state to the first sub-state, the second slider 224 drives the cover 20 to move in the first direction X, so that the second slider 224 moves from the groove 122 to the outside of the groove; in the process of switching from the first sub-state to the second sub-state, for example, the side surface of the first wall portion facing the cover plate 21 is further provided with a track, the second slider 224 moves on the track in a direction away from the groove 122 corresponding to the second slider 224, and the first slider 13 drives the cover 20 to move in a direction away from the carrier portion 11. In the process of switching from the second state to the first state, the second slider 224 can move from the track to the groove 122.

[0130] Optionally, the groove 122 can be located at the end of the track.

[0131] Optionally, the groove 122 can also be located at any position of the track.

[0132] Optionally, the track can be arranged extending in the first direction X.

[0133] Optionally, when the cover 20 is arranged opposite to the carrier 10 (that is, in the first state), the entire second slider 224 can be located in the groove 122, of course, part of the second slider 224 can be located in the groove 122.

[0134] In the embodiments of the present application, by providing the groove 122, when the second slider 224 is in the groove 122, the cover plate 21 can be relatively fixed with the pressing assembly 22, thereby reducing the possibility of relative displacement between the cover plate 21 and the pressing assembly 22 in the first state.

[0135] FIG. 6 is a structural schematic diagram of another transfer device provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0136] In some optional embodiments, referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, the electrode assembly 200 includes a main body portion 210 and a tab 220, which is protrudingly arranged from the edge of the main body portion 210, and the cover 20 is used to cover at least one end of the main body portion 210 close to the tab 220.

[0137] In some examples, as shown in FIG. 2, the cover 20 only covers the end of the main body part 210 close to the tab 220, which is beneficial to reduce the overall size of the cover 20, thereby reducing the moving stroke of the cover 20 and improving production efficiency. In other examples, as shown in FIG. 7, the cover 20 covers the entire main body part 210, which is beneficial to increase the protection of the electrode assembly 200 and further reduce the possibility of impurities polluting the active material layer of the electrode assembly 200. It can be understood that the end of the main body part 210 close to the tab 220 refers to the end where the tab is connected to the main body part 210.

[0138] In these optional embodiments, through the above arrangement, it is beneficial to adjust the size of the cover 20 according to design requirements, thereby improving the application range of the transfer device 100.

[0139] In some optional embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, the main body part 210 includes a side wall 211, and the tab 220 protrudes from the side wall. The cover 20 further includes a covering part 23 and a first limiting part 24, the covering part 23 is arranged opposite to the carrier, and the first limiting part 24 protrudes from the covering part 23 in the direction of the cover 20 towards the carrier 10, and the first limiting part 24 is arranged to abut against the side wall 211.

[0140] Optionally, the cover plate 21 can include the covering part 23 and the first limiting part 24.

[0141] Optionally, the electrode assembly 200 can include a tab, the tab includes a current collector and an active material layer on the current collector, the side surface of the current collector and the side surface of the active material layer together form the side wall 211 of the main body part 210, and the tab 220 is connected to the side surface of the current collector. Optionally, the tab 220 is not coated with the active material layer. Optionally, the sub-tabs 220 on the plurality of tabs can be close to and abut against each other to form a tab, and the thickness of the tab is less than the thickness of the main body part 210.

[0142] Optionally, the first limiting part 24 of the cover 20 can cover the entire side wall 211 of the main body part 210. Optionally, the first limiting part 24 of the cover 20 can also cover part of the side wall 211 of the main body part 210.

[0143] In the embodiments of the present application, by arranging the first limiting part 24, the cover 20 can protect the side wall 211 of the electrode assembly 200, thereby reducing the possibility of impurities polluting the active material layer of the electrode assembly 200 during the process of preparing the tab 220 and connecting the tab to other components, and improving the production yield.

[0144] In some optional embodiments, referring to FIG. 6, the electrode assembly 200 includes a main body portion 210 and a tab 220, the main body portion includes a side wall 211, and the tab 220 protrudes from the side wall. The carrier 10 includes a cover portion and a second limiting portion 14, the second limiting portion protrudes from the carrier portion 11 in a direction of the cover portion 20, and the second limiting portion 14 is configured to abut against the side wall 211.

[0145] When the electrode assembly 200 is transferred into the transfer device 100 by other processes, the position of the electrode assembly 200 needs to be corrected first so as to facilitate the subsequent production processes. When the position of the electrode assembly 200 is corrected, at least part of the side wall 211 of the electrode assembly 200 can abut against a side surface of the second limiting portion 14 facing the electrode assembly 200, so as to correct the position of the electrode assembly 200 in a single direction, and then other devices can be used to correct the position of the electrode assembly 200 in other directions so as to make the position of the electrode assembly 200 on the carrier 10 be in a preset position, thereby reducing the steps in the position correction and improving the production efficiency.

[0146] Optionally, the second limiting portion 14 can cover the entire side wall 211 of the main body portion 210. Optionally, the second limiting portion 14 can also cover part of the side wall 211 of the main body portion 210.

[0147] In some embodiments, the tab 220 of the electrode assembly 200 includes a positive tab 220 and a negative tab 220. When the positive tab and the negative tab are located on the same side of the electrode assembly 200, the first limiting portion 24 and the second limiting portion 14 can be arranged on only one side of the electrode assembly 200 having the tab 220. When the positive tab 220 and the negative tab are located on different sides of the electrode assembly 200, the first limiting portion 24 can be arranged on only one side of the electrode assembly 200 having the positive tab 220, the second limiting portion 14 can be arranged on only one side of the electrode assembly 200 having the negative tab 220; or the second limiting portion 14 can be arranged on only one side of the electrode assembly 200 having the positive tab 220, the first limiting portion 24 can be arranged on only one side of the electrode assembly 200 having the negative tab 220; or the first limiting portion 24 and the second limiting portion 14 can be arranged on one side of the electrode assembly 200 having the positive tab 220, and the first limiting portion 24 and the second limiting portion 14 can be arranged on one side of the electrode assembly 200 having the negative tab 220.

[0148] FIG. 7 is a structural schematic diagram of a carrier according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0149] In some optional embodiments, referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, at least one of the first limiting portion 24 and the second limiting portion 14 includes an avoiding opening K configured to avoid the tab 220.

[0150] In some examples, the first limiting part 24 comprises the avoiding opening K. In other examples, the second limiting part 14 comprises the avoiding opening K. In other examples, the first limiting part 24 and the second limiting part 14 both comprise the avoiding opening K.

[0151] In some examples, the first limiting part 24 can only cover the partial side wall 211 of the main body part 210 on the side of the tab 220 away from the carrier part 11, the second limiting part 14 can only cover the partial side wall 211 of the main body part 210 on the side of the tab 220 toward the carrier part 11, the first limiting part 24 and the second limiting part 14 can be abutted, and the avoiding opening K of the first limiting part 24 and the avoiding opening of the second limiting part 14 together form an opening through which the tab 220 can extend.

[0152] In these optional embodiments, through the above arrangement, the protection performance of the first limiting part 24 and the second limiting part 14 on the electrode assembly 200 is improved, and the possibility of interference between the first limiting part 24 and the second limiting part 14 and the tab 220 is reduced.

[0153] In a second aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a battery production system, comprising the transfer device 100 in any of the foregoing embodiments.

[0154] According to some embodiments of the present application, referring to FIGS. 4-8, the transfer device 100 is used to transfer the electrode assembly 200. The transfer device 100 comprises a carrier 10, a cover 20, and a driving member 30. The carrier 10 is used to carry the electrode assembly 200. The cover 20 is arranged opposite to the carrier 10 and is movably connected to the carrier 10, and the cover 20 is used to cover a part of the electrode assembly 200. The driving member 30 is used to drive the carrier 10 to move.

[0155] The cover 20 is movably arranged along a first direction X, and the first direction X is perpendicular to the direction in which the carrier 10 and the cover 20 are arranged opposite to each other. Optionally, the first direction X is parallel to the direction in which the tab 220 and the main body part 210 are arranged side by side.

[0156] The carrier 10 comprises a carrier part 11, a first wall part 12, and a first sliding block 13. The first wall part 12 is located at the edge of the carrier part 11, and the carrier part 11 is used to carry the electrode assembly 200. The first wall part 12 is provided with a moving channel 121 extending along the first direction X. The first sliding block 13 is movably arranged in the moving channel 121 and relative to the moving channel 121, and the first sliding block 13 is connected to the cover 20.

[0157] The cover member 20 comprises a cover plate 21 and a pressing assembly 22, the pressing assembly comprises a first connecting part 221, a second connecting part 222 and an elastic part 223. The cover plate 21 is connected to the carrier 10 through the first connecting part 221. The second connecting part 222 is located on the side of the first connecting part 221 away from the carrier 10, and part of the second connecting part 222 protrudes from the cover plate 21 in a direction away from the carrier 10. The elastic part 223 is connected to the second connecting part 222, and the elastic part 223 is located on the side of the cover plate 21 away from the carrier 10. The pressing assembly 22 further comprises a second sliding block 224, the cover plate 21 is fixedly connected to the second sliding block 224, and the second sliding block 224 is movably arranged relative to the first wall part. The first wall part is provided with a groove 122, the groove is formed by the side of the first wall part away from the cover plate 21, and when the cover member 20 is arranged opposite to the carrier 10, at least part of the second sliding block 224 is located in the groove 122.

[0158] The electrode assembly 200 comprises a main body part 210 and a tab 220, the tab is protrudingly arranged from the edge of the main body part, and the cover member 20 is used to cover one end of the main body part 210 close to the tab 220.

[0159] The cover member 20 further comprises a cover part 23 and a first limiting part 24, the cover part is arranged opposite to the carrier part 11, and the first limiting part 24 is protrudingly arranged from the cover part 23 in a direction of the cover member 20 towards the carrier 10, and the first limiting part 24 is used to abut against the side wall 211. The carrier 10 comprises a second limiting part 14, the second limiting part is protrudingly arranged from the carrier part 11 in a direction of the carrier part 11 towards the cover member 20, and the second limiting part 14 is used to abut against the side wall 211. The first limiting part 24 and the second limiting part 14 both comprise an avoiding opening K, the avoiding opening is used to avoid the tab 220.

[0160] Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, and not to limit them; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that: it can still modify the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing embodiments, or make equivalent replacement for part or all of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and they should be covered in the scope of the claims and the specification of the present application. Especially, as long as there is no structural conflict, each technical feature mentioned in each embodiment can be combined in any way. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed in the text, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A transfer device for transferring an electrode assembly, wherein, The transfer device comprises: a carrier comprising a carrier portion and a first wall portion, the first wall portion being located at an edge of the carrier portion, the carrier portion being configured to carry the electrode assembly, the first wall portion extending in a first direction; a cover configured to cover a portion of the electrode assembly, the cover being movably connected to the carrier in the first direction, the first direction being perpendicular to a direction in which the carrier and the cover are oppositely arranged; a driving member configured to drive the carrier to move.

2. The transfer device of claim 1, wherein, The first wall portion is provided with a moving channel, the cover being movably connected to the moving channel, the moving channel extending in the first direction.

3. The transfer device of claim 2, wherein, The carrier further comprises a first slider, the first slider being movably arranged in the moving channel relative to the moving channel, the first slider being connected to the cover.

4. The transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The cover comprises a cover plate and a pressing assembly, the pressing assembly being located at an edge of the cover plate, the pressing assembly being configured to apply a pressure to the cover plate in a direction in which the cover plate points to the carrier.

5. The transfer device of claim 4, wherein, The pressing assembly comprises: a first connecting portion, the cover plate being connected to the carrier via the first connecting portion; a second connecting portion, the second connecting portion being located at a side of the first connecting portion opposite to the carrier, a portion of the second connecting portion being protruded from the cover plate in a direction away from the carrier; a resilient member connected to the second connecting portion, the resilient member being located at a side of the cover plate opposite to the carrier.

6. The transfer device of claim 5, wherein, The carrier comprises a carrier portion and a first wall portion, the first wall portion being located at an edge of the carrier portion, the pressing assembly further comprising a second slider, the cover plate being fixedly connected to the second slider, the second slider being movably arranged relative to the first wall portion.

7. The transfer device of claim 6, wherein, The first wall portion is provided with a recess, the recess being formed by a side of the first wall portion recessed towards the cover plate, at least a portion of the second slider being located in the recess when the cover is oppositely arranged with the carrier.

8. The transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein The electrode assembly comprises a main body portion and a tab, the tab being protruded from an edge of the main body portion, the cover being configured to cover at least an end of the main body portion close to the tab.

9. The transfer device of claim 8, wherein, The main body portion comprises a side wall, the tab being protruded from the side wall; The cover further comprises a covering portion and a first limiting portion, the covering portion being oppositely arranged with the carrier, the first limiting portion being protruded from the covering portion in a direction in which the cover points to the carrier, the first limiting portion being configured to be abutted with the side wall.

10. The transfer device according to claim 9, wherein: the carrier comprises a carrier portion and a second limiting portion, the second limiting portion being protruded from the carrier portion in a direction in which the carrier portion points to the cover, the second limiting portion being configured to be abutted with the side wall.

11. The transfer device of claim 10, wherein, At least one of the first limiting portion and the second limiting portion comprises an avoiding opening, the avoiding opening being configured to avoid the tab.

12. A battery production system, wherein, The transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 11. ​

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