CN114552033B

CN114552033B - Battery clamp with variable spacing and battery formation equipment with same

Info

Publication number: CN114552033B
Application number: CN202011335428.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 邱志贤; 翁瑞鸿; 马健豪; 谢承志
Original assignee: Chroma ATE Suzhou Co Ltd
Current assignee: Chroma ATE Suzhou Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-11-25
Filing date: 2020-11-25
Publication date: 2023-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2040-11-25
Also published as: CN114552033A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery clamp with a variable pitch and a battery forming apparatus having the same, wherein the battery clamp with the variable pitch is inserted into a plurality of compartments of a battery bracket after the pitch of clamping plates of a plurality of clamping blocks is first pulled apart by a sliding actuator. The slipping actuator in turn drives the clamping plate to clamp the battery. Accordingly, the invention mainly uses the battery bracket to store the battery and applies pressure when the formation process is carried out so as to shape the battery; in addition, the battery clamp with variable spacing is used for clamping the batteries, so that the application range of the thicknesses of the batteries can be expanded, and most importantly, the thickness of each battery after the battery is formed can be shaped according to the actual thickness of each battery. Therefore, the invention can clamp a plurality of batteries with different thicknesses at the same time, and the thickness range of the loadable batteries is larger.

Description

Battery clamp with variable spacing and battery formation equipment with same

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a battery clamp with a variable pitch and a battery forming apparatus having the same, and more particularly, to a battery clamp suitable for forming a soft-pack lithium battery, and for clamping and charging/discharging the battery during the forming process.

Background

The lithium battery must be subjected to formation before being manufactured into a finished product; the term "formation" refers to the application of electricity to the electrodes of a soft-pack lithium battery (i.e., a semi-finished lithium battery) to gradually solidify the chemical components of the soft-pack lithium battery that are in a fluid state to store electric energy. Further, the soft pack lithium battery (pack-type battery) refers to a chemical composition having a fluid state inside and is filled in the soft pack, so that the soft pack lithium battery expands during formation, and thus a uniform shaping external force is required to be continuously applied to maintain the shape.

In addition, the conventional formation equipment of soft-pack lithium batteries refers to taiwan patent publication No. I424603 "TRAY (TRAY)", which discloses that a bag-type battery is placed by using a receiving space between a fixed plate and a movable plate, and the battery is clamped by moving the movable plate. In addition, each fixed plate is provided with a limit bump for uniformly propping and limiting the distance between each movable plate and each fixed plate. Accordingly, although the prior art drives the movable plate to clamp the pouch-shaped battery through the coupling shaft, the spacing between the movable plate and the fixed plate is preset due to the spacing protruding blocks, so that the shaping space given to each pouch-shaped battery is fixed, and the prior art cannot be applied to batteries with large thickness differences (for example, 5-7 mm).

In addition, in the existing soft-package lithium battery formation equipment, the electrode clamp with variable distance is not damaged, but the defects of the prior art are overcome, namely the thickness of a applicable battery is limited, the whole distance-changing mechanism is complex, the service life is not long, and the electrode clamp is driven by a connecting rod or a chain more commonly; these prior art mechanisms are complex to assemble and difficult to maintain, and the chain is extended and lengthened after a period of use to cause chain disengagement, requiring periodic readjustment of tension, resulting in significant cost costs.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention mainly aims to provide a battery clamp with variable spacing and battery forming equipment with the battery clamp, so that a plurality of batteries with different thicknesses can be clamped automatically at the same time, and the battery clamp can be suitable for batteries with a large range of thicknesses.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a battery clamp with a variable space for matching with a battery bracket, wherein the battery bracket comprises a plurality of accommodating chambers for accommodating a plurality of batteries respectively, the battery clamp mainly comprises a guide frame, a plurality of clamping blocks and a sliding actuator; each clamping block comprises a body, a clamping plate, at least one charge and discharge electrode, a coupling piece and a coupling part; the body is coupled with the guide frame and can slide relatively, and the clamping plate, the charge-discharge electrode, the coupling piece and the coupling part are arranged on the body; the coupling piece is used for being coupled to the coupling part of the adjacent clamping block; in addition, the sliding actuator is assembled on the guide frame and is coupled with the clamping blocks. When the clamping plates of the clamping blocks are at least partially accommodated in the plurality of accommodation chambers of the battery bracket, the sliding actuator drives the clamping blocks, so that the clamping plates of the clamping blocks push the plurality of batteries, and the charge and discharge electrodes of the clamping blocks contact with the electrodes of the plurality of batteries.

On the other hand, the battery clamp with variable spacing of the invention uses the sliding actuator to drive the clamping plates of the clamping blocks to push the plurality of batteries, and the clamping plates of the clamping blocks can adaptively adjust and clamp the batteries according to the actual thicknesses of the batteries by virtue of the coupling pieces and the coupling mechanisms of the coupling parts which are arranged among the clamping blocks, namely, the thicknesses of the batteries in the battery formation process are adjusted and fixed. Therefore, the invention can clamp a plurality of batteries with different thicknesses at the same time, and the thickness range of the loadable batteries is larger.

Preferably, the variable-pitch battery clamp of the present invention may further comprise a push block that may be coupled to the guide frame and interposed between the sliding actuator and the plurality of clamp blocks; the sliding actuator can apply pulling force to drive the pushing block to pull the clamping blocks, so that the clamping blocks are restrained by the coupling piece and the coupling part to be separated by a specific distance; when the clamping plates and the charge and discharge electrodes of the clamping blocks are at least partially accommodated in the plurality of accommodating chambers of the battery bracket, the sliding actuator can cancel the pulling force and drive the pushing block to push the clamping blocks. In other words, before the clamping plates of the clamping blocks enter the plurality of containers respectively, the sliding actuator drives the pushing blocks to pull the clamping blocks apart so as to enlarge the interval between the clamping blocks, namely, the application range of the thickness of the battery is enlarged; after the clamping plates of the clamping blocks enter the plurality of accommodating chambers respectively, the sliding actuator drives the pushing blocks to push the clamping blocks, so that the clamping blocks clamp the batteries according to the actual thickness of the individual batteries.

Furthermore, in the present invention, the coupling member of the clamping block may include a hook portion, and the coupling portion may be a groove, the hook portion may be inserted into the groove of the adjacent clamping block, and the hook portion may freely slide in the groove; in other words, the recess as the coupling part provides a margin for the movement of the hook part as the coupling member, in particular a horizontal slip, and thus provides a range of the spacing between the clamping blocks, while also increasing the range of application of the battery thickness.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a battery forming apparatus comprising a battery bracket and a battery clamp with a variable spacing as described in the previous paragraph, wherein the battery bracket mainly comprises two slide bars, a plurality of partition plates, and a pushing plate; the two sliding rods are respectively arranged at two sides of the battery bracket; the plurality of partition boards are arranged on the two slide bars; and a plurality of partition plates spaced apart from each other by a specific distance and defining the plurality of compartments; the pushing plate is coupled with the plurality of separation plates; when the batteries are respectively accommodated in the plurality of accommodation chambers, the battery clamp with the variable interval approaches the battery bracket, so that clamping plates of the clamping blocks are respectively inserted into the plurality of accommodation chambers and are arranged between the batteries and the partition plates.

Accordingly, the battery formation equipment mainly comprises a battery bracket and a battery clamp with variable spacing; the battery bracket is mainly used for placing batteries and applying pressure during the formation process so as to shape the batteries; in addition, the battery clamp with variable spacing is used for clamping the batteries, and most importantly, the thickness of each battery after being formed can be shaped according to the actual thickness of each battery.

In addition, in the battery forming apparatus of the present invention, when the clamping plates of the battery clamp with variable spacing are at least partially accommodated in the plurality of accommodation chambers of the battery bracket, the sliding actuator of the battery clamp with variable spacing drives the plurality of clamping blocks to clamp the plurality of batteries; and the pushing plate pressurizes the batteries and then starts to be formed. That is, when the clamping plate of the battery clamp with variable spacing enters the accommodating cabin, the clamping plate starts to clamp the battery according to the thickness of the actual battery; the cell is pressurized and formation begins after clamping is completed.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the battery formation apparatus of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the battery carrier of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a variable pitch battery clamp of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the battery formation apparatus of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Before the present invention is described in detail in this embodiment, it should be noted that similar components will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the following description. Furthermore, the figures of the present invention are merely schematic illustrations that are not necessarily to scale, and all details are not necessarily presented in the figures.

Referring first to fig. 1, fig. 1 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the battery formation apparatus of the present invention; as shown in the figure, the battery forming apparatus of the present embodiment mainly includes a battery bracket 3, and two battery holders 2 of variable pitch, the two battery holders 2 of variable pitch being provided separately on both sides of the battery bracket 3. It should be noted that, although not shown in fig. 1, the battery forming apparatus of the present embodiment should further include a transfer module for moving the two battery holders 2 with variable spacing toward or away from the battery carrier 3, and a pressurizing module for pressurizing the battery forming process, wherein the transfer module may be a pneumatic cylinder, a motor and a screw, or other equivalent components capable of driving the two battery holders 2 with variable spacing to displace, and the pressurizing module may be a pneumatic cylinder, a motor and a screw, or other equivalent components capable of pressurizing the battery 4, and the specific operation of these modules will be described in detail later.

Referring to fig. 2 together, fig. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the battery carrier 3 of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the battery bracket 3 of the present embodiment mainly includes two slide bars 32, two positioning bars 5, a plurality of partition plates 33, and a pushing plate 34. Wherein, the two slide bars 32 and the two positioning bars 5 are respectively arranged at two sides of the battery bracket 3 and are arranged up and down; the corresponding end of the upper edge of each partition plate 33 is provided with an ear 331, so that the partition plates 33 are mounted on the sliding rods 32 at two sides through the ears 331. In addition, the battery 4 is hung on the pin 332 at the top end of the partition plate 33 by the upper opening 41, but the battery 4 is not locked to the pin 332, that is, the battery 4 is still free to slide on the pin 332 to a limited extent.

In addition, each of the positioning rods 5 includes a plurality of dividing blocks 51, and a push block 52, and adjacent dividing blocks 51 are spaced apart from each other by a certain distance. However, each of the partition blocks 51 is interposed between two of the partition plates 33, that is, between adjacent partition plates 33, the compartment 31 for accommodating the battery 4 is partitioned through the partition block 51. In this regard, the pushing plate 34 is disposed at one side of the plurality of dividing blocks 51 and connected to a pressurizing module (not shown), so that the pressurizing module can apply pressure to the dividing blocks 51 and the battery 4 through the pushing plate 34.

Referring again to fig. 3, fig. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the variable spacing battery clamp 2 of the present invention; as shown in the drawings, the battery clamp 2 of the present embodiment, which is variable in pitch, mainly includes a guide frame 21, a plurality of clamp blocks 22, push blocks 28, a slide actuator 29, and a jack 6. The guide frame 21 of the present embodiment includes a guide rail 211 and a guide rod 212.

Furthermore, the clamping block 22 of the present embodiment includes a body 23, a clamping plate 24, two charge and discharge electrodes 25, a coupling member 26, and a coupling portion 27; the body 23 includes a guiding slot 231 and a through hole 232, wherein the guiding slot 231 is used for being coupled to the guiding rail 211 of the guiding frame 21, and the through hole 232 is used for being sleeved on the guiding rod 212; thereby, the body 23 can be coupled to the guide frame 21 and can slide relatively.

On the other hand, the clamping plate 24, the charge and discharge electrode 25, the coupling piece 26, and the coupling portion 27 are all disposed on the body 23, wherein the clamping plate 24 is disposed on the body 23 and protrudes toward one side of the battery bracket 3; the two charge and discharge electrodes 25 are disposed on two sides of the bottom of the body 23 and also protrude toward one side of the battery bracket 3. Furthermore, the coupling member 26 of the present embodiment includes a hook 261, and the coupling portion 27 of the present embodiment is recessed, and the hook 261 is inserted into the recess of the adjacent clamping block 22. It should be noted that, the specific dimensions (length, width, and depth) of the groove in this embodiment are larger than the specific dimensions (length, width, and height) of the hook 261, so that the hook 261 can slide freely in the groove (i.e. the coupling portion 27). That is, the design of the coupling member 26 and the coupling portion 27 of the present embodiment allows the space between the adjacent clamping plates 24 to be variable.

Referring to fig. 1, 2 and 3, the operation of the battery forming apparatus of the present embodiment is described below. Firstly, the sliding actuator 29 applies a pulling force to drive the pushing block 28 to pull the plurality of clamping blocks 22, so that the plurality of clamping blocks 22 are constrained by the coupling piece 26 and the coupling portion 27 to be spaced apart from each other by a specific distance, that is, the spacing between the clamping blocks 22 is increased; the main purpose is to enlarge the distance between the clamping plates 24 and the charge and discharge electrodes 25 of two adjacent clamping blocks 22 to adapt to batteries 4 with different thicknesses, and simultaneously enlarge the applicable thickness range of the batteries 4.

Referring also to fig. 4, there is shown an enlarged partial perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the battery formation apparatus of the present invention. Then, the two cell holders 2 with variable pitches are driven by a transfer module (not shown) to move toward the cell holders 3, respectively; when the ejector rod 6 pushes the pushing block 52, the ejector rod 6 will push the positioning rod 5 to rotate, so that the plurality of separation blocks 51 move out between the plurality of separation plates 33 along with the rotation of the positioning rod 5, which means that the spacing between the adjacent clamping blocks 22 will not be limited by the separation blocks 51, but can be adjusted. Further, the two battery holders 2 with variable intervals continue to move, and the clamping plates 24 are gradually inserted into the accommodating chambers 31 of the battery brackets 3, and are inserted between the separating plates 33 and the batteries 4, and after positioning is completed, the charge and discharge electrodes 25 are also contacted with the battery electrodes 42.

On the other hand, when the clamping plates 24 of the clamping block 22 are positioned in the compartment 31, the sliding actuator 29 then cancels the pulling force, since the distance between the clamping plates 24 is sufficient to accommodate the vast majority of the batteries 4; simultaneously, the sliding actuator 29 is changed to drive the pushing block 28 to push the clamping block 22, so that the clamping plate 24 of the clamping block 22 cooperates with the partition plate 33 to clamp the battery 4; that is, the clamping plate 24 starts clamping the battery 4 according to the actual thickness of the individual battery 4.

Next, the pressurizing module (not shown) drives the pushing plate 34 to pressurize the plurality of batteries 4 and then start to form, that is, charge and discharge the batteries 4 through the charge and discharge electrodes 25 on the battery holder 2 with a variable pitch. Finally, after the formation is finished, the pressurizing module is firstly canceled, the two battery clamps 2 with variable intervals respectively move towards the direction deviating from the battery bracket 3, and after the clamping plates 24 of the clamping blocks 22 are completely separated from the accommodating cabin 31, the batteries 4 can be taken out.

In summary, in the present invention, before the clamping plates 24 of the clamping blocks 22 of the battery clamp 2 with variable spacing enter the accommodating chambers 31, the sliding actuator 29 will pull the spacing of the clamping blocks 22 apart, i.e. the application range of the battery thickness is widened; then, when the clamping plate 24 is inserted into the accommodating chamber 31, the sliding actuator 29 drives the clamping plate 24 to clamp the batteries, so that the batteries 4 can be clamped according to the actual thickness of each battery; in the case of the present embodiment, the applicable thickness range of the battery is 5mm to 7mm, however, in the case of the prior art, the battery 4 of such a large thickness range cannot be applied.

The above embodiments are merely illustrative, and the scope of the invention is defined by the claims and not limited to the above embodiments.

Symbol description

2 Battery clamp with variable spacing

3 Battery bracket

4 Battery cell

5 locating lever

6, push rod

21 guide frame

22 clamping block

23 body

24 splint

25 charge-discharge electrode

26 coupling element

27 coupling part

28 push block

29 slip actuator

31 cabin

32 slide bar

33 separation plate

34 push plate

41 open pore

42 Battery electrode

51 dividing block

52 push block

211 guide rail

212 guide bar

231 guide groove

232 through hole

261 hook portion

331 ear portion

332, plug pins.

Claims

1. The utility model provides a battery formation equipment, includes battery bracket and interval changeable battery anchor clamps, and this interval changeable battery anchor clamps are used for collocating this battery bracket, and this battery bracket includes a plurality of holds the cabin, and this a plurality of holds the cabin and is used for holding a plurality of batteries respectively, and this interval changeable battery anchor clamps include:

a guide frame;

each clamping block comprises a body, a clamping plate, at least one charge and discharge electrode, a coupling piece and a coupling part; the body is coupled with the guide frame and can slide relatively, and the clamping plate, the at least one charge and discharge electrode, the coupling piece and the coupling part are arranged on the body; the coupling piece is used for being coupled to the coupling part of the adjacent clamping block; and

the sliding actuator is assembled on the guide frame and is coupled with the clamping blocks;

when the clamping plates of the clamping blocks are at least partially accommodated in the plurality of accommodation chambers of the battery bracket, the sliding actuator drives the clamping blocks to enable the clamping plates of the clamping blocks to respectively push the plurality of batteries, and the charge and discharge electrodes of the clamping blocks are in contact with the electrodes of the plurality of batteries;

wherein, this battery bracket includes:

two slide bars which are respectively arranged at two sides of the battery bracket;

a plurality of separation plates arranged on the two sliding bars; the plurality of partition plates are spaced apart from each other by a specific distance and define the plurality of compartments; and

a pushing plate coupled to the plurality of partition plates;

when the batteries are respectively accommodated in the plurality of accommodation chambers, the battery clamp with the variable interval approaches the battery bracket, so that the clamping plates of the clamping blocks are respectively inserted into the plurality of accommodation chambers and are arranged between the batteries and the separation plates;

the battery bracket also comprises two positioning rods which are respectively arranged at two sides of the battery bracket; each positioning rod comprises a plurality of separation blocks, and the plurality of separation blocks respectively correspond to the plurality of cabins;

wherein each positioning rod further comprises a push block, and the battery clamp with variable spacing further comprises a push rod; when the battery clamp with the variable spacing approaches the battery bracket, the ejector rod pushes the pushing block to enable the positioning rod to rotate, so that the plurality of separation blocks are moved between the plurality of separation plates.

2. The battery chemical-mechanical device of claim 1, wherein the variable-pitch battery clamp further comprises a push block coupled to the guide frame and interposed between the sliding actuator and the plurality of clamp blocks; the sliding actuator firstly applies pulling force to drive the pushing block to pull the clamping blocks, so that the clamping blocks are restrained by the coupling piece and the coupling part to be separated from each other by a specific distance; when the clamping plates and the charge and discharge electrodes of the clamping blocks are at least partially accommodated in the plurality of cabins of the battery bracket, the sliding actuator drives the pushing block to push the clamping blocks.

3. The battery forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling member of the clamping block includes a hook portion, the coupling portion is a groove, the hook portion is inserted into the groove of the adjacent clamping block, and the hook portion is freely slidable in the groove.

4. The battery formation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide frame includes a guide rail, and a guide bar; the body of the clamp splice comprises a guide groove and a through hole; the guide groove of the clamping block is coupled with the guide rail of the guide frame, and the through hole of the clamping block is sleeved on the guide rod.

5. The battery forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the clamping blocks includes two charge and discharge electrodes, which are disposed at both sides of the bottom of the body.

6. The battery formation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sliding actuator of the variable-pitch battery clamp drives the plurality of clamping blocks to clamp the plurality of batteries when the clamping plate of the variable-pitch battery clamp is at least partially received in the plurality of pockets of the battery bracket; and the pushing plate pressurizes the batteries and then starts to be formed.

7. The battery forming apparatus of claim 1, comprising two of said variable-pitch battery holders, which are provided separately on both sides of the battery carrier; when the batteries are respectively accommodated in the plurality of accommodation chambers, the two battery clamps with variable intervals approach the battery bracket at the same time, so that the clamping plates of the plurality of clamping blocks are respectively inserted into the two corresponding sides of the plurality of accommodation chambers and are arranged between the batteries and the separation plates.