Cell Gripper Mechanism for Slip-Free Battery Cell Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cell transfer devices lack effective means to prevent cells from sliding during transfer, necessitating reduced conveyor speeds and additional positioning operations, which degrade productivity and increase component load.
Innovation Solution
A cell gripper with a housing and grip assembly that includes a cell support, pinion gears, gear frames, and cell fixing members to press and fix cells from both sides, converting vertical linear movement into rotational movement to stabilize cell positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the cell is transferred without a fixing member, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cell slides and separates from the transfer device, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer device is segmented into modular components: the conveyor for transport, the cell support for positioning, and the pair of cell fixing members for stabilization. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, preventing cell slippage without requiring a completely redesigned complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
The cell fixing members are designed to automatically engage with the cell sides during the transfer process. The fixing members move horizontally to press against the cell sides, and the system self-regulates the fixing force through the mechanical interaction between the fixing members and the cell, eliminating the need for external complex control mechanisms.
2Reliability
If the conveyor speed is restricted to prevent cell separation, then the reliability is improved, but the productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cell fixing members perform preliminary action by pressing and fixing the cell sides before the cell reaches the target equipment. This preliminary fixation ensures the cell remains stable throughout the transfer, allowing the conveyor to operate at higher speeds without risking cell separation or requiring post-transfer positioning adjustments.
3Manufacturing precision
If a separate positioning operation is performed, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the productivity deteriorates due to increased time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning function is merged with the transfer function. The cell support and cell fixing members work together during the transfer process to maintain precise cell positioning, eliminating the need for a separate positioning operation after transfer. The fixing members press the cell sides horizontally, ensuring the cell remains aligned with the conveyor direction throughout transfer.
4Productivity
If the conveyor speed is increased to improve productivity, then the productivity is improved, but the cell slides and separates, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The cell fixing members apply preliminary anti-action by pressing against the cell sides in the horizontal direction before slippage can occur. This counteracting force prevents the cell from sliding during high-speed transfer, allowing the conveyor to operate at increased speeds while maintaining reliable cell positioning and preventing separation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents cell slippage, minimizes positioning time, and enhances productivity without increasing device load by stabilizing cell transfer through the gripper's mechanical fixation mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of pinion gears that are provided on both side surfaces of the cell support respectively, and convert vertical linear movement of the cell support into rotational movement
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a cell gripper, which presses and fixes both side surfaces of a cell during cell transfer to prevent the cell from sliding to be separated from a transfer device, minimize a time taken for a separate positioning operation to improve a tact time, and improve productivity even without increasing a load rate of the device, and a cell transfer device including the cell gripper. The cell gripper and the cell transfer device according to the present invention include a housing and a grip assembly mounted in the housing. The grip assembly includes: a cell support in which a cell seating groove having an upper portion into which a cell is introduced to be seated is defined; a pair of pinion gears that are provided on both side surfaces of the cell support and convert vertical linear movement of the cell support into rotational movement; a pair of gear frames that are coupled to the pair of pinion gears, respectively, and transmit the rotational movement of the pinion gears; and a pair of cell fixing members that are provided on end portions of the pair of pinion gears, respectively, and press and fix the cell seated in the cell seating groove from both sides.