Patent Description:
In the production process of power batteries, a plurality of poles of a plurality of battery cells and a bus assembly in a battery need to be welded together to achieve the electrical connection of the plurality of battery cells. If welding deviations of the bus assembly and the poles occur, the safety performance of the battery will be affected. In related arts, there are many studies on how to improve the accuracy of welding positions, but there are few studies on welding quality detection. Therefore, a welding deviation detection device is urgently needed to detect welding deviation situations of the bus assembly and the poles, so as to achieve welding quality monitoring. For example, <CIT> discloses a positioning method/welding line for a busbar of a battery module using relative positioning by feature marks. Further, <CIT> discloses a soft-pack battery module tab welding quality inspection system and a detection method for such a system.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a welding deviation detection device according to claim <NUM>, a welding deviation detection method according to claim <NUM>, a battery configured to detect welding deviation situations according to claim <NUM> and a power utilization device comprising such a battery. By the present invention, a bus assembly and a plurality of poles can be welded accurately through a welding mechanism, and welding deviation situations can be detected simply, conveniently and in a timely manner through a post-welding detection mechanism.

According to a first aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, a welding deviation detection device is provided. The welding deviation detection device includes a pre-welding addressing mechanism, a welding mechanism and a post-welding detection mechanism. The pre-welding addressing mechanism is configured to determine relative position relations between location holes and a plurality of poles in a battery, and to send the relative position relations to a welding mechanism and a post-welding detection mechanism, where the location holes are disposed on end plates of the battery along a first direction. The welding mechanism is configured to detect first positions of the location holes, to determine first positions of the plurality of poles based on the first positions of the location holes and the received relative position relations, and to weld a bus assembly to the plurality of poles based on the first positions of the plurality of poles to form a plurality of welds. The post-welding detection mechanism is configured to detect second positions of the location holes and positions of the plurality of welds, and to detect welding deviation situations of the bus assembly and the poles based on the second positions of the location holes, the positions of the plurality of welds and the received relative position relations.

Through the above-mentioned solution, the pre-welding addressing mechanism can determine the relative position relations between the location holes and the plurality of poles in the battery, and send the relative position relations to the welding mechanism and the post-welding detection mechanism. The welding mechanism can detect the first positions of the location holes, and determine the first positions of the plurality of poles based on the first positions of the location holes and the received relative position relations, so the welding mechanism can accurately weld the bus assembly to the plurality of poles based on the first positions of the plurality of poles to form a plurality of welds. The post-welding detection mechanism can detect the second positions of the location holes and positions of the plurality of welds, and detect welding deviation situations of the bus assembly and the plurality of poles based on the second positions of the location holes, the positions of the plurality of welds and the received relative position relations. According to the embodiments of the present application, the bus assembly and the plurality of poles can be welded accurately through the welding mechanism, and the welding deviation situations can be detected simply, conveniently and in a timely manner through the post-welding detection mechanism.

In some embodiments, the pre-welding addressing mechanism includes a first visual photographing device configured to detect the positions of the location holes and the positions of the plurality of poles, to determine the relative position relations based on the positions of the location holes and the positions of the plurality of poles, and to send the relative position relations to the welding mechanism and the post-welding detection mechanism.

Through the above-mentioned solution, the accurate determination of the position of each pole by the welding mechanism and the post-welding detection mechanism may be facilitated.

In some embodiments, the welding mechanism includes a second visual photographing device and a welding device. The second visual photographing device is configured to detect the first positions of the location holes and receive the relative position relations, to determine the first positions of the plurality of poles based on the first positions of the location holes and the relative position relations, and to send the first positions of the plurality of poles to the welding device. The welding device is configured to receive the first positions of the plurality of poles, and to weld the bus assembly to the plurality of poles based on the first positions of the plurality of poles.

Through the above-mentioned solution, the second visual photographing device can accurately determine the first positions of the plurality of poles in the welding mechanism, and the welding device can accurately weld the bus assembly to the plurality of poles based on the first positions of the poles sent by the second visual photographing device, so that the welding accuracy is improved.

In some embodiments, the post-welding detection mechanism includes a third visual photographing device configured to detect the second positions of the location holes and the positions of the plurality of welds, to receive the relative position relations, to determine second positions of the plurality of poles based on the second positions of the location holes and the relative position relations, and to detect welding deviation situations of the bus assembly and the poles based on the second positions of the plurality of poles and the positions of the plurality of welds.

Through the above-mentioned solution, the third visual photographing device can accurately determine the second positions of the plurality of poles in the post-welding mechanism, and can detect the welding deviation situations of the bus assembly and the poles based on the detected positions of the plurality of welds and the second positions of the plurality of poles, so as to achieve good welding quality monitoring.

In some embodiments, the post-welding detection mechanism may further include an electronic measuring instrument configured to detect fitting gaps between the poles and the bus assembly.

Through the above-mentioned solution, the welding quality of each pole and the bus assembly can be evaluated based on the fitting gap, so as to achieve good welding quality monitoring.

According to a second aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a welding deviation detection method which can be applied to the welding deviation detection device in the first aspect. The welding deviation detection method includes: determining relative position relations between location holes and a plurality of poles in a battery, and sending the relative position relations to a welding mechanism and a post-welding detection mechanism by a pre-welding addressing mechanism; detecting first positions of the location holes, determining first positions of the plurality of poles based on the first positions of the location holes and the received relative position relations, and welding a bus assembly to the plurality of poles based on the first positions of the plurality of poles to form a plurality of welds by the welding mechanism; and detecting second positions of the location holes and positions of the plurality of welds, and detecting welding deviation situations of the bus assembly and the poles based on the second positions of the location holes, the positions of the plurality of welds and the received relative position relations by the post-welding detection mechanism.

In some embodiments, the welding deviation detection method may include: detecting the positions of the location holes and the positions of the plurality of poles, determining the relative position relations based on the positions of the location holes and the positions of the plurality of poles, and sending the relative position relations to the welding mechanism and the post-welding detection mechanism by a first visual photographing device.

In some embodiments, the welding deviation detection method may include: detecting the first positions of the location holes, receiving the relative position relations, determining the first positions of the plurality of poles based on the first positions of the location holes and the relative position relations, and sending the first positions of the plurality of poles to a welding device by a second visual photographing device; and receiving the first positions of the plurality of poles, and welding the bus assembly to the plurality of poles based on the first positions of the plurality of poles by the welding device.

In some embodiments, the welding deviation detection method may include: detecting the second positions of the location holes and the positions of the plurality of welds, receiving the relative position relations, determining second positions of the plurality of poles based on the second positions of the location holes and the relative position relations, and detecting welding deviation situations of the bus assembly and the poles based on the second positions of the plurality of poles and the positions of the plurality of welds by a third visual photographing device.

In some embodiments, the welding deviation detection method may include: detecting fitting gaps between the poles and the bus assembly by an electronic measuring instrument.

According to a third aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a battery including end plates and a bus assembly. Location holes are provided on the end plates along a first direction, and configured to localize poles of a plurality of battery cells. The bus assembly is welded to the poles based on the localization of the location holes, and configured to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells.

Because the location holes are provided on the end plates, even if the bus assembly covers the plurality of poles, the plurality of poles can be accurately localized via the location holes, so that a location reference can be provided for the welding of a busbar and the poles, which facilitates the accurate welding of the bus assembly and the poles. The location holes can also provide a position reference for the detection of welding deviation situations of the bus assembly and the poles subsequent.

In some embodiments, the number of the location hole is two, the two location holes are distributed in a staggered manner along a second direction and a third direction, and the second direction and the third direction are perpendicular to the first direction.

Through the above-mentioned solution, the two location holes can localize the poles from different orientations, which improves the accuracy of location of the poles.

In some embodiments, portions of the bus assembly corresponding to the poles are provided with detection holes configured to allow detection of the fitting gaps between the poles and the bus assembly, and an aperture of the detection hole is <NUM>-<NUM>.

Through the above-mentioned solution, it is convenient for a detector to detect the fitting gaps between the poles and the bus assembly through the detection hole. The aperture of the detection hole is set to be <NUM>-<NUM>, which not only can meet the detection requirements of the detector, but also will not cause the negative effects of the welding quality associated with having a too large aperture of the detection hole.

According to a fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a power utilization device including the battery that is provided in the third aspect and configured to provide electrical energy for the power utilization device.

The above description is only an overview of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention. To understand the technical means of the embodiments of the present invention more clearly, the embodiments can be implemented according to the contents of the Specification; and to make the above and other objectives, features and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more comprehensible, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

To illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention more clearly, the following briefly introduces the accompanying drawings required to be used in the description of the embodiments. It will be apparent that the accompanying drawings in the following description are some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other accompanying drawings can also be obtained from these accompanying drawings without creative efforts.

<NUM>-vehicle, <NUM>-battery, <NUM>-box, 11a-first box part, 11b-second box part, 11c-inner space, <NUM>-battery cell, <NUM>-end cap, 121a-pole, <NUM> -case, <NUM>-electrode assembly, <NUM>-end plate, <NUM>-location hole, <NUM>-bus assembly, <NUM>-detection hole, <NUM>-controller, <NUM>-motor, <NUM>-pre-welding addressing mechanism, <NUM>-first visual photographing device, <NUM>-welding mechanism, <NUM>-second visual photographing device, <NUM>-welding device, <NUM>-post-welding detection mechanism, <NUM>-third visual photographing device, <NUM>-electronic measuring instrument, <NUM>-assembly line, X-first direction, Y-second direction, Z-third direction.

In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the accompanying diagrams in the embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent that the described embodiments are merely a part rather than all of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments in the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

The terms "comprising" and "having" and any variations thereof in the Specification and Claims of the present application as well as the brief description of the drawings are intended to cover but not exclude other contents. The word "a" or "an" does not exclude the presence of a plurality.

Reference herein to "embodiment" means that particular features, structures, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The phrase "embodiment" appearing in various places in the Specification is not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It is explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

The term "and/or" herein is only an association relation to describe associated objects, indicating that there can be three kinds of relations, for example, A and/or B, which may mean that A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" herein generally indicates that fore-and-aft related objects are in an "or" relation.

Orientation words appearing in the following description are all directions shown in the figures, and not intended to limit the specific structures of the battery, the power utilization device and the welding deviation detection device of the present application. For example, in the description of the present application, the orientation or positional relations indicated by the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc. are orientation or positional relations shown based on the accompanying drawings, only for convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that indicated device or element must have a particular orientation, and be constructed and operative in a particular orientation, and thus may not be construed as limitations to the present application.

In addition, the expressions of indication directions such as X direction, Y direction, and Z direction for explaining the operation and configuration of respective components of the battery, the power utilization device, and the welding deviation detection device of the present embodiment are not absolute but relative, and although these indications are appropriate when components of a battery pack are in the positions shown in the figures, when these positions are changed, the directions should be interpreted differently to correspond to the changes.

In addition, the terms "first", "second", etc. in the Specification and Claims of the present application or the above accompanying drawings are used to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order, and may expressly or implicitly include one or more of the features.

In the description of the present application, unless otherwise stated, the meaning of "a plurality of "refers to two or more (including two), and similarly, "a plurality of sets" refers to two or more sets (including two sets).

In the description of the present application, it will be appreciated that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation", "linkage" and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, the "linkage" or "connection" of mechanical structures may refer to a physical connection, for example, the physical connection may be a fixed connection, such as a fixed connection through fasteners, and a fixed connection through screws, bolts or other fasteners; the physical connection may also be a detachable connection, such as mutual fastening or snap-in connection; and the physical connection may further be an integral connection, such as a connection formed by welding, bonding or integral molding. The "linkage" or "connection" of circuit structures may refer not only to the physical connection, but also to an electrical connection or a signal connection, for example, it may be a direct connection, that is, the physical connection, or an indirect connection through at least one intermediate element as long as the circuit is connected, it may also be an internal connection of two elements; the signal connection may also refer to a signal connection implemented through a media medium, such as radio waves, in addition to a signal connection implemented through a circuit. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

In the production process of power batteries, a plurality of battery cells are often assembled into a battery pack, then a bus assembly is attached to poles of the plurality of battery cells in the battery pack, and the bus assembly and the poles are welded together according to a predetermined design to conduct a plurality of poles through the bus assembly, so as to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells.

In related arts, a battery pack is placed on a battery module welding localization device, so that the battery pack is localized at a welding position by the battery module welding localization device. Then, a cover plate covers a bus assembly of the battery pack at the welding position, so that end alignment of a pressing cylinder on the cover plate and poles is achieved, and a pressing force is exerted on the bus assembly through the pressing cylinder to press the bus assembly and the pole tightly. Then, the bus assembly and the poles are welded in the pressing cylinder.

Inventors found that the precise alignment of the pressing cylinder and the poles can be improved by the battery module welding locating device in related arts, so that the bus assembly and the poles are closely attached, thereby reducing the probability of occurrence of welding deviation and pseudo soldering when the bus assembly and the poles are welded. However, since the pressing cylinder on the cover plate and the poles cannot be well aligned due to factors such as manufacturing errors, assembly errors and the like of each workpiece in the battery module welding localization device, the localization accuracy is not high, and problems such as welding deviation and pseudo soldering and the like will also be caused. Thus, it can be seen that in related arts, the accuracy of welding positions can be improved only from the locating device, but the occurrence of welding deviation situations cannot be avoided, and the welding situations cannot be detected.

Based on this, the embodiments of the present invention provide a welding deviation detection device including a pre-welding addressing mechanism, a welding mechanism and a post-welding detection mechanism. The pre-welding addressing mechanism can determine relative position relations between location holes and a plurality of poles in a battery, and send the relative position relations to the welding mechanism and the post-welding detection mechanism. The welding mechanism can detect first positions of the location holes, and determine first positions of the plurality of poles based on the first positions of the location holes and the received relative position relations, so that the welding mechanism can accurately weld a bus assembly to the plurality of poles based on the first positions of the plurality of poles to form a plurality of welds. The post-welding detection mechanism can detect second positions of the location holes and positions of the plurality of welds, and detect welding deviation situations of the bus assembly and the poles based on the second positions of the location holes, the positions of the plurality of welds and the received relative position relations. According to the embodiments of the present application, the bus assembly and the plurality of poles can be accurately welded through the welding mechanism, and welding deviation situations can be detected simply, conveniently and in a timely manner through the post-welding detection mechanism.

The welding deviation detection device described in the embodiments of the present invention can detect the welding deviation situations of the poles and the bus assembly in the battery, and is therefore applicable to the battery and a power utilization device using the battery.

The battery refers to a single physical module that includes one or more battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. For example, the battery mentioned in the present application may include a battery module or a battery pack, or the like. Moreover, the battery mentioned in in the present application may be a cylindrical battery. The battery typically includes a battery box for packaging one or more battery cells. The battery box can prevent liquids or other foreign objects from affecting the charging or discharging of the battery cells.

The power utilization device may be a vehicle, a mobile phone, a portable device, a notebook computer, a steamship, a spacecraft, an electric toy and an electric tool, and the like. The vehicles may be a fuel vehicle, a gas vehicle or a new energy vehicle, the new energy vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or a range extended vehicle, etc.; the spacecraft may be an airplane, a rocket, a space shuttle, or a spacecraft, etc.; the electric toy includes fixed or movable electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric ship toys and electric airplane toys, etc.; the electric tool includes metal cutting electric tools, grinding electric tools, assembling electric tools and railway electric tools, such as electric drills, electric grinders, electric wrenches, electric screwdrivers, electric hammers, electric impact drills, concrete vibrators and electric planers, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not impose special restrictions on the above-mentioned power utilization device.

In the following embodiments, for the convenience of description, description is made with an example of taking a vehicle as the power utilization device.

Please refer to <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the vehicle <NUM> may be a fuel vehicle, a gas vehicle or a new energy vehicle, and the new energy vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a range extended vehicle, or the like. The vehicle <NUM> includes a battery <NUM>, a controller <NUM> and a motor <NUM>. The battery <NUM> is configured to supply power to the controller <NUM> and the motor <NUM>, the power being used as an operating power source and a driving power source of the vehicle <NUM>. For example, the battery <NUM> is used for the working power demands of starting, navigation and running of the vehicle <NUM>. For example, the battery <NUM> supplies power to the controller <NUM>, the controller <NUM> controls the battery <NUM> to supply power to the motor <NUM>, and the motor <NUM> receives and uses the power of the battery <NUM> as the driving power source of the vehicle <NUM>, and the power replaces or partially replaces fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle <NUM>.

Please refer to <FIG> is a schematic diagram of explosion of a battery <NUM> provided by some embodiments of the present invention.

As shown in <FIG>, the battery <NUM> includes a box <NUM> and battery cells <NUM>. The box <NUM> is configured to accommodate the battery cells <NUM>, and the box <NUM> may be of various structures. In some embodiments, the box <NUM> may include a first box part 11a and a second box part 11b, the first box part 11a and the second box part 11b cover each other, and the first box part 11a and the second box part 11b define an inner space 11c for accommodating the battery cells <NUM>. The second box part 11b may be of a hollow structure with one open end, the first box part 11a is of a plate-like structure, and the first box part 11a covers the open side of the second box part 11b to form the box <NUM> with the inner space 11c; and the first box part 11a and the second box part 11b can also be of a hollow structure with one open side respectively, and the open side of the first box part 11a covers the open side of the second box part 11b to form the box <NUM> with the inner space 11c. Of course, the first box part 11a and the second box part 11b may be in various shapes, such as a cylinder, a cuboid, and the like.

It is assumed that the first box part 11a covers the top of the second box part 11b, the first box part 11a may also be referred to as an upper box cover, and the second box part 11b may also be referred to as a lower box.

In <FIG>, there are a plurality of battery cells <NUM>. The plurality of battery cells <NUM> may be connected in series, in parallel, or in parallel and series, and connection in parallel and series means that the plurality of battery cells <NUM> are both connected in series and in parallel. The plurality of battery cells <NUM> can be directly connected together in series, in parallel, or in parallel and series, and then a whole formed by the plurality of battery cells <NUM> is accommodated in the box <NUM>; of course, the plurality of battery cells <NUM> can also be connected in series, in parallel, or in parallel and series to form battery modules first, then a plurality of battery modules are connected in series, in parallel, or in parallel and series to form a whole, and the whole is accommodated in the box <NUM>. In some embodiments, there are a plurality of battery cells <NUM>, and the plurality of battery cells <NUM> are connected in series, in parallel, or in parallel and series to form battery modules first. Then, a plurality of battery modules are connected in series, in parallel, or in parallel and series to form a whole, and the whole is accommodated in the box <NUM>.

Please refer to <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a battery cell <NUM> provided by some embodiments of the present invention.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a breakdown structure of a battery cell <NUM> provided by some embodiments of the present invention. The battery cell <NUM> refers to a smallest unit constituting the battery. As shown in <FIG>, the battery cell <NUM> includes an end cap <NUM>, a case <NUM> and an electrode assembly <NUM>.

The end cap <NUM> refers to a component that covers an opening of the case <NUM> to isolate an internal environment of the battery cell <NUM> from an external environment. Unrestrictedly, the shape of the end cap <NUM> may be adapted to the shape of the case <NUM> to fit the case <NUM>. Optionally, the end cap121 may be made of a material with certain hardness and strength (such as aluminum alloy), in such a way, the end cap <NUM> is uneasily deformed when it is squeezed and collided, so that the battery cell <NUM> may have a higher structural strength, and the safety performance may also be improved. Functional components such as poles 121a and the like may be provided on the end cap <NUM>. The poles 121a may be configured to be electrically connected to the electrode assembly <NUM> to output or input electrical energy of the battery cells <NUM>. In some embodiments, a pressure relief mechanism for releasing internal pressure when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell <NUM> reaches a threshold value may also be provided on the end cap <NUM>. The material of the end cap <NUM> may also be various, for example, copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc., which is not particularly limited in the embodiments of the present application. In some embodiments, an insulating member may also be provided on the inner side of the end cap <NUM>, and the insulating member may be configured to isolate electrical connection components in the case <NUM> from the end cap <NUM> to reduce the risk of short circuits. Illustratively, the insulating member may be plastic, rubber, or the like.

The case <NUM> is an assembly for mating with the end cap <NUM> to form an internal environment of the battery cells <NUM>, where the formed internal environment can be used to accommodate the electrode assembly <NUM>, electrolyte (not shown in the figure) and other components. The case <NUM> and the end cap <NUM> may be independent components, an opening may be provided on the case <NUM>, and the end cap <NUM> is allowed to cover the opening at the opening to form the internal environment of the battery cell <NUM>. Unrestrictedly, the end cap <NUM> and the case <NUM> can also be integrated, specifically, the end cap <NUM> and the case <NUM> can define a common connection surface before other components are put into the case; and when the inside of the case <NUM> needs to be packaged, the end cap <NUM> covers the case <NUM>. The case <NUM> may be of various shapes and sizes, such as be cuboid-shaped, cylindrical, hexagonal, and the like. Specifically, the shape of the case <NUM> may be determined according to the specific shape and size of the electrode assembly <NUM>. The material of the housing <NUM> may be various, for example, copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc., which is not particularly limited in the embodiments of the present application.

The electrode assembly <NUM> is a component that undergoes an electrochemical reaction in a battery cell <NUM>. One or more electrode assemblies <NUM> may be contained within the case <NUM>. The electrode assembly <NUM> is mainly formed by winding or stacking a positive plate and a negative plate, and a separator is usually provided between the positive plate and the negative plate. The parts of the positive plate and the negative plate with active materials constitute a main body part of a cell assembly, and the parts of the positive plate and the negative plate without active materials separately constitute a tab (not shown in the figure). A positive tab and a negative tab can be located at one end of the main body part together or at both ends of the main body part respectively. During the charging and discharging processes of the battery, a positive active material and a negative active material react with the electrolyte, and the tabs are connected to the poles 121a to form a current loop.

In order to facilitate the description of the welding deviation detection device, the battery <NUM> provided by the embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings first, and then the welding deviation detection device provided by the present invention will be explained in combination with the structure of the battery <NUM>. It should be noted here that the welding deviation situations of the poles 121a and the bus assembly <NUM> in the battery <NUM> provided by the embodiments of the present invention can be detected by means of the welding deviation detection device and the welding deviation detection method in the following embodiments.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a battery <NUM> provided by the embodiments of the present invention, and <FIG> is a structural schematic diagram of another battery <NUM> provided by the embodiments of the present invention, where a bus assembly <NUM> is not shown in <FIG>, but shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the battery <NUM> includes end plates <NUM> and a bus assembly <NUM>. Location holes <NUM> are provided on the end plates <NUM> along a first direction X, and configured to localize poles 121a of a plurality of battery cells <NUM>. The bus assembly <NUM> is welded to the poles 121a based on the localization of the location holes <NUM>, and configured to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells <NUM>.

The battery <NUM> provided by the embodiments of the present invention includes two end plates <NUM> located opposite to each other, and the structures of the two end plates <NUM> may be the same or different. After the plurality of battery cells <NUM> are stacked along the length direction of the battery <NUM>, the two end plates <NUM> are located at both ends of the plurality of battery cells <NUM> along the length direction of the battery <NUM> to limit the plurality of battery cells <NUM> along the length direction of the battery <NUM>. After the plurality of battery cells <NUM> are limited by the two end plates <NUM>, a relative position between the location hole <NUM> on the end plate <NUM> and the pole 121a of each battery cell <NUM> is fixed, so the poles 121a of the plurality of battery cells <NUM> can be localized by the location holes <NUM>, in other words, the positions of the plurality of poles 121a are determined based on the positions of the location holes <NUM>. Where, the location hole <NUM> may be a round hole, a square hole, etc.; and the location hole <NUM> may be a through hole provided on the end plate <NUM> along the first direction X or a blind hole provided on the end plate <NUM> along the first direction X. The position of the location hole <NUM> may be position coordinates of the location hole <NUM> in a plane coordinate system, the position of the pole 121a may be position coordinates of the pole 121a in the same plane coordinate system, and the plane coordinate system may be a coordinate system established by taking the length direction of the battery <NUM> as a horizontal axis/vertical axis, taking the width direction of the battery <NUM> as a vertical axis/horizontal axis, and taking any point in a plane where the end of the battery <NUM> facing the bus assembly <NUM> is located as an origin.

At least one of the two end plates <NUM> may be provided with the location holes <NUM> along the first direction X, and the poles 121a of the plurality of battery cells <NUM> may be localized through any location hole <NUM>. As an example, the location holes <NUM> may be provided on the first end plate <NUM> only along the first direction X, and then the plurality of poles 121a are localized through the location holes <NUM> on the first end plate <NUM>; alternatively, the location holes <NUM> may be provided on the second end plate <NUM> only along the first direction X, and then the plurality of poles 121a are localized through the location holes <NUM> on the second end plate <NUM>; alternatively, the location holes <NUM> may be provided both on the two end plates <NUM> through the first direction X, and then the plurality of poles 121a are localized through the location holes <NUM> on the two end plates <NUM>. Where, the first direction X is the height direction of the battery <NUM>, and a label of the first direction X may refer to <FIG>.

The bus assembly <NUM> is in a substantially rectangular plate shape. After the plurality of battery cells <NUM> are stacked, the poles 121a of the plurality of battery cells <NUM> are not connected to each other. If the bus assembly <NUM> and the poles 121a are welded together, the poles 121a of the plurality of adjacent battery cells <NUM> can be communicated, so that the plurality of adjacent battery cells <NUM> are electrically connected. When the bus assembly <NUM> and the poles 121a are welded, the bus assembly <NUM> covers the plurality of poles 121a, so that it is difficult for the welding device <NUM> to find the positions of the poles 121a. However, since the bus assembly <NUM> only covers the poles 121a and does not cover the end plates <NUM>, the covered poles 121a can be localized based on the location holes <NUM> on the end plates <NUM>, thereby facilitating the welding device <NUM> to accurately weld the bus assembly <NUM> and the plurality of poles together.

In the embodiments of the present invention, the location holes <NUM> are provided on the end plates <NUM>. Since the relative positions of the end plates <NUM> and the plurality of battery cells <NUM> limited are fixed, the relative positions of the location holes <NUM> on the end plate <NUM> and the poles 121a in the plurality of battery cells <NUM> are fixed, so the poles 121a of the plurality of battery cells <NUM> can be localized through the location holes <NUM>. Even if the bus assembly <NUM> covers the plurality of poles 121a, the plurality of poles 121a can be accurately localized through the location holes <NUM>, so that a location reference can be provided for welding a busbar and the poles 121a, which facilitates accurate welding of the bus assembly <NUM> and the poles 121a. The location hole <NUM> can also provide a position reference for detecting welding deviation situations between the bus assembly <NUM> and the poles 121a subsequently. In addition, due to the arrangement of the location holes <NUM>, holes are not required to be provided on the poles 121a, so that the surfaces of the poles 121a are complete, and a larger weldable area can be provided.

Generally, the battery <NUM> flows from a previous station to a next station on a conveyor belt of an assembly line <NUM>. In the process of conveying by the conveyor belt, the battery <NUM> inevitably rotates on the conveyor belt due to vibration and other reasons. In order to avoid that the location holes <NUM> are provided on only one end plate <NUM> and only one location hole <NUM> is provided, so when the battery <NUM> rotates before flowing to a welding station, the plurality of poles 121a cannot be accurately localized through one location hole <NUM>, in some embodiments, the number of the location hole <NUM> may be two, and the two location holes <NUM> are distributed in a staggered manner along the second direction Y and the third direction Z, and the second direction Y and the third direction Z are perpendicular to the first direction X mutually.

It should be noted here that the second direction Y and the third direction Z may be the length direction and width direction of the battery <NUM> respectively. For example, the second direction Y is the length direction of the battery <NUM>, and the third direction Z is the width direction of the battery <NUM>.

For any one end plate <NUM>, the number of the location hole <NUM> provided on the end plate <NUM> may be two.

When only one end plate <NUM> is provided with two location holes <NUM>, the two location holes <NUM> can be distributed in a staggered manner along the second direction Y and the third direction Z. In this case, in a same plane coordinate system established by taking the second direction Y and the third direction Z as coordinate axes, the two location holes <NUM> are different in x-coordinate and y-coordinate.

When two location holes <NUM> are provided on both end plates <NUM> respectively, the two location holes <NUM> on the first end plate <NUM> may be distributed in a staggered manner along the second direction Y and the third direction Z, and the two location holes <NUM> on the second end plate <NUM> may also be distributed in a staggered manner along the second direction Y and the third direction Z. Further, the four location holes <NUM> on the two end plates <NUM> may be distributed in a staggered manner along the second direction Y and the third direction Z. In this case, in a same plane coordinate system established by taking the second direction Y and the third direction Z as coordinate axes, the four location holes <NUM> are different in x-coordinate and y-coordinate. In this way, the poles 121a may be localized from four directions, which improves the location accuracy of the poles 121a.

It is understood that, for any end plate <NUM>, the number of the location hole <NUM> provided on the end plate <NUM> may be more than three, and the number of the location hole <NUM> on the end plate <NUM> is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. However, once there are too many location holes <NUM> provided on the end plate <NUM>, the structural strength of the end plate <NUM> may be easily affected, and the workload of position determination of the poles 121a based on the positions of the location holes <NUM> will be increased, therefore, the number of the location hole <NUM> may be reasonably set according to the strength requirements of the end plate <NUM> and other actual situations. For example, preferably, the number of the location hole <NUM> on one end plate <NUM> may be two.

The number of the location hole <NUM> is set to be two, and the two location holes <NUM> are distributed in a staggered manner along the second direction Y and the third direction Z, in this way, the two location holes <NUM> may localize the poles 121a from different directions, which improves the location accuracy of the poles 121a.

In some embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, a detection hole <NUM> is provided at a portion of the bus assembly <NUM> corresponding to the pole 121a, the detection of a fitting gap between the pole 121a and the bus assembly <NUM> is allowed through the detection hole <NUM>, and an aperture of the detection hole <NUM> is <NUM>-<NUM>.

The bus assembly <NUM> covers the poles 121a along the first direction X. After the bus assembly <NUM> and the poles 121a are welded along the first direction X, there may be gaps between the bus assembly <NUM> and the poles 121a, that is, the fitting gaps. If the size of the gap exceeds a certain range, it is considered that the welding quality does not meet the requirements. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the fitting gaps between the poles 121a and the bus assembly <NUM>.

The detection hole <NUM> may be a round hole, a square hole, or the like. The detection holes <NUM> are arranged at the positions of the bus assembly <NUM> corresponding to the poles 121a. The number of the detection hole <NUM> is the same as that of the pole 121a, and the detection holes <NUM> are in one-to-one correspondence with the positions of the poles 121a. The aperture of the detection hole <NUM> may be set according to the detection requirements of a detector. For example, the aperture of the detection hole <NUM> may be <NUM>-<NUM>. However, it is worth pointing out that the larger the aperture of the detection hole <NUM> is, the smaller a contact surface between the bus assembly <NUM> and the pole 121a is, the smaller the area of a weld zone during welding is, and the worse the welding quality is. Therefore, the aperture of the detection hole <NUM> should not be too large. On the premise of ensuring the detection requirements, the aperture of the detection hole <NUM> may be smaller.

The detection holes <NUM> are provided at the portions of the bus assembly <NUM> corresponding to the pole 121a, which facilitates the detector to detect the fitting gaps between the poles 121a and the bus assembly <NUM> through the detection hole <NUM>. The aperture of the detection hole <NUM> is set to be <NUM>-<NUM>, which not only can meet the detection requirements of the detector, but also will not cause the negative effects of the welding quality associated with having a too large aperture of the detection hole <NUM>.

A welding deviation detection device provided by the embodiments of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a welding deviation detection device provided by the embodiments of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, the welding deviation detection device includes a pre-welding addressing mechanism <NUM>, a welding mechanism <NUM> and a post-welding detection mechanism <NUM>. The pre-welding addressing mechanism <NUM> is configured to determine relative position relations between location holes <NUM> and a plurality of poles 121a in a battery <NUM>, and to send the relative position relations to the welding mechanism <NUM> and the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM>, where the location holes <NUM> are disposed on end plates <NUM> of the battery <NUM> along a first direction. The welding mechanism <NUM> is configured to detect first positions of the location holes <NUM>, to determine first positions of the plurality of poles 121a based on the first positions of the location holes <NUM> and the received relative position relations, and to weld a bus assembly <NUM> to the plurality of poles 121a based on the first positions of the plurality of poles 121a to form a plurality of welds. The post-welding detection mechanism <NUM> is configured to detect second positions of the location holes <NUM> and positions of the plurality of welds, and to detect welding deviation situations of the bus assembly <NUM> and the plurality of poles 121a based on the second positions of the location holes <NUM>, the positions of the plurality of welds and the received relative position relations.

The pre-welding addressing mechanism <NUM> is located upstream of the welding mechanism <NUM> on an assembly line <NUM>, and the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM> is located downstream of the welding mechanism <NUM> on the assembly line <NUM>. The pre-welding addressing mechanism <NUM>, the welding mechanism <NUM> and the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM> are equivalent to three stations on the assembly line <NUM> from upstream to downstream. The poles 121a in the pre-welding addressing mechanism <NUM> are not covered with the bus assembly <NUM>, the poles 121a and the end plates <NUM> are all exposed, so the pre-welding detection mechanism can determine the relative position relations between the location holes <NUM> and the plurality of poles 121a. The poles 121a in the welding mechanism <NUM> and the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM> are covered with the bus assembly <NUM>, and in the poles 121a and the end plates <NUM>, only the end plates <NUM> are exposed, so the welding mechanism <NUM> and the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM> can only detect the positions of the location holes <NUM> on the end plates <NUM>, and cannot directly detect the position of each pole 121a. When the welding mechanism <NUM> receives the relative position relations sent by the pre-welding addressing mechanism <NUM>, the position of each pole 121a in the welding mechanism <NUM> can be determined according to the detected positions of the location holes <NUM> and the received relative position relations. When the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM> receives the relative position relations sent by the pre-welding addressing mechanism <NUM>, the position of each pole 121a in the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM> can be determined according to the detected positions of the location holes <NUM> and the received relative position relation.

For the convenience of description, the position of the location hole <NUM> in the welding mechanism <NUM> is marked as a first position of the location hole <NUM>, and the position of the pole 121a in the welding mechanism <NUM> is marked as a first position of the pole 121a; the position of the location hole <NUM> in the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM> is marked as a second position of the location hole <NUM>, and the position of the pole 121a in the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM> is marked as a second position of the pole 121a.

Based on the description of the above embodiments, it can be seen that location holes <NUM> may be provided on at least one end plate <NUM> in the battery <NUM>, and at least one location hole <NUM> may be provided on one end plate <NUM>. In this embodiment, the pre-welding addressing mechanism <NUM> can determine the relative position relations between any location hole <NUM> on each end plate <NUM> and the plurality of poles 121a. For example, when one location hole <NUM> is provided on the first end plate <NUM>, two location holes <NUM> are provided on the second end plate <NUM>, and the number of the pole 121a is six, the pre-welding addressing mechanism <NUM> may determine the relative position relations between the location hole <NUM> on the first end plate <NUM> and the six poles 121a, the relative position relations between the first location hole <NUM> on the second end plate <NUM> and the six pole poles 121a, and the relative position relations between the second location hole <NUM> on the second end plate <NUM> and the six poles 121a. Then, the pre-welding addressing mechanism <NUM> may send the determined relative position relations between each location hole <NUM> and each pole 121a to the welding mechanism <NUM> and the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM>.

The welding mechanism <NUM> can detect a first position of each location hole <NUM> on each end plate <NUM> in the welding mechanism <NUM>, and determine a first position of each pole 121a based on the first position of each location hole <NUM> and the received relative position relation so as to accurately weld the bus assembly <NUM> to each pole 121a based on the determined first position of each pole 121a. Each time the bus assembly <NUM> is welded to one pole 121a, a weld may be obtained, accordingly, the number of the weld is the same as that of the pole 121a, and the position of the weld corresponds to that of the pole 121a.

Once in the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM>, the bus assembly <NUM> has been welded to all the poles 121a, the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM> can detect a second position of each location hole <NUM> on each end plate <NUM> in the post-welding mechanism, and determine a second position of each pole 121a based on the second position of each location hole <NUM> and the received relative position relation. The post-welding detection mechanism <NUM> may also detect the position of each weld. Then, the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM> may detect welding deviation situations between the bus assembly <NUM> and the poles 121a based on the second position of each pole 121a and the position of each weld.

In the embodiments of the present invention, the pre-welding addressing mechanism <NUM> can determine the relative position relations between the location holes <NUM> and the plurality of poles 121a in the battery <NUM>, and send the relative position relations to the welding mechanism <NUM> and the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM>. The welding mechanism <NUM> can detect the first positions of the location holes <NUM>, and determine the first positions of the plurality of poles 121a based on the first positions of the location holes <NUM> and the received relative position relations, so that the welding mechanism <NUM> can accurately weld the bus assembly <NUM> to the plurality of poles based on the first positions of the plurality of poles 121a to form a plurality of welds. The post-welding detection mechanism <NUM> can detect the second positions of the location holes <NUM> and the positions of the plurality of welds, and detect the welding deviation situations of the bus assembly <NUM> and the poles 121a based on the second positions of the location holes <NUM>, the positions of the plurality of welds and the received relative position relations. According to the embodiments of the present invention, the bus assembly <NUM> and the plurality of poles 121a can be welded accurately through the welding mechanism <NUM>, and the welding deviation situations can be detected simply, conveniently and in a timely manner through the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM>.

In some embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, the pre-welding addressing mechanism <NUM> includes a first visual photographing device <NUM> configured to detect the positions of the location holes <NUM> and the positions of the plurality of poles 121a, to determine the relative position relations based on the positions of the location holes <NUM> and the positions of the plurality of poles 121a, and to send the relative position relations to the welding mechanism <NUM> and the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM>.

The first visual photographing device <NUM> may be any device that can perform visual photographing and localization, for example, it may be a CCD (charge coupled device) camera. When an assembled battery pack enters the pre-welding addressing mechanism <NUM>, the first visual photographing device <NUM> may take pictures of the location holes <NUM> and the poles 121a on the end plates <NUM>, and detect the position of each location hole <NUM> on each end plate <NUM> and the position of each pole 121a. When the number of the location hole <NUM> is m and the number of the poles 121a is n, the first visual photographing device <NUM> can detect the positions of the m location holes <NUM> and the positions of the n poles 121a, and can determine m*n relative position relations based on the positions of the m location holes <NUM> and the positions of the n poles 121a. Then, the m*n relative position relations may be sent to the welding mechanism <NUM> and the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM>.

The first visual photographing device <NUM> can establish a plane coordinate system by taking the second direction Y as a horizontal axis/vertical axis, tacking the third direction Z as a vertical axis/horizontal axis, and taking any point in a plane where the end of the battery <NUM> facing the bus assembly <NUM> is located as an origin. Then, in the pre-welding addressing mechanism <NUM>, position coordinates of the location holes <NUM> in the plane coordinate system and position coordinates of each pole 121a in the plane coordinate system are detected; and a distance between each pole 121a and the location hole <NUM> in the second direction Y and the third direction Z is calculated. The relative position relations between the location holes <NUM> and the plurality of poles 121a include the distances between the location holes <NUM> and the poles 121a in the second direction Y and the third direction Z.

With the localization of two poles 121a by two location holes <NUM> as an example, it is assumed that a plane coordinate system is established by taking a certain point on the end plate <NUM> as a coordinate origin, taking the second direction Y as a horizontal axis and taking the third direction Z as a vertical axis. In the established coordinate system, the position coordinates of the first location hole <NUM> are (X1, Y1), the position coordinates of the second location hole <NUM> are (X2, Y2), and the position coordinates of the first pole 121a are (M1, N1), the position coordinates of the second pole 121a are (M2, N2).

So, the position relation between the first location hole <NUM> and the first pole 121a includes: a distance between the first location hole <NUM> and the first pole 121a in the second direction Y is M1-X1, and a distance between the first location hole <NUM> and the first pole 121a in the third direction Z is N1-Y1. The position relation between the first location hole <NUM> and the second pole 121a includes: a distance between the first location hole <NUM> and the second pole 121a in the second direction Y is M2-X1, and a distance between the first location hole <NUM> and the second pole 121a in the third direction Z is N2-Y1.

The position relation between the second location hole <NUM> and the first pole 121a includes: a distance between the second location hole <NUM> and the first pole 121a in the second direction Y is M1-X2, and a distance between the second location hole <NUM> and the first pole 121a in the third direction Z is N1-Y2. The position relation between the second location hole <NUM> and the second pole 121a includes: a distance between the second location hole <NUM> and the second pole 121a in the second direction Y is M2-X2, and a distance between the second location hole <NUM> and the first pole 121a in the third direction Z is N2-Y2.

Through the first visual photographing device <NUM>, the positions of the location holes <NUM> and the positions of the plurality of poles 121a can be detected in the pre-welding addressing mechanism <NUM>, relative position relations can be determined based on the positions of the location holes <NUM> and the positions of the plurality of poles 121a, and the relative position relations can be sent to the welding mechanism <NUM> and the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM>, which can facilitate the welding mechanism <NUM> and the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM> to accurately determine the position of each pole 121a.

In some embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, the welding mechanism <NUM> includes a second visual photographing device <NUM> and a welding device <NUM>. The second visual photographing device <NUM> is configured to detect the first positions of the location holes <NUM> and receive the relative position relations, to determine the first positions of the plurality of poles 121a based on the first positions of the location holes <NUM> and the relative position relations, and to send the first positions of the plurality of poles 121a to the welding device <NUM>. The welding device <NUM> is configured to receive the first positions of the plurality of poles 121a, and to weld the bus assembly <NUM> to the plurality of poles 121a based on the first positions of the plurality of poles 121a.

The structure of the second visual photographing device <NUM> may be the same as that of the first visual photographing device <NUM>. The second visual photographing device <NUM> may be electrically connected to the first visual photographing device <NUM> so as to receive the relative position relations sent by the first visual photographing device <NUM>.

The second visual photographing device <NUM> can establish a plane coordinate system by taking the second direction Y as a horizontal axis/vertical axis, taking the third direction Z as a vertical axis/horizontal axis, and taking any point in a plane where the end of the battery <NUM> facing the bus assembly <NUM> is located as an origin. When the battery pack enters the welding mechanism <NUM> along with the assembly line <NUM>, the second visual photographing device <NUM> can take pictures of the location holes <NUM> on the end plates <NUM>, and detect the position coordinates of each location hole <NUM> in the plane coordinate system in the welding mechanism <NUM>, that is, the first positions of the location holes <NUM>. Then, based on the first positions of the location holes <NUM> and the received relative position relations, the position coordinates of each pole 121a in the plane coordinate system, that is, the first positions of the poles 121a, are calculated. The second visual photographing device <NUM> may also be electrically connected to the welding device <NUM> so as to send the first position of each pole 121a to the welding device <NUM>. Where, the welding device <NUM> may be a laser welding vibration lens configured to realize the collimation and focusing of laser, and to realize the welding of the poles 121a and the bus assembly <NUM>.

When the number of the location hole <NUM> is m and the number of the pole 121a is n, the second visual photographing device <NUM> can detect the first positions of the m location holes <NUM>, and can determine the first positions of the n poles 121a based on the first positions of the m location holes <NUM> and m*n relative position relations. Then, the first positions of the n poles 121a may be sent to the welding device <NUM>.

Through the second visual photographing device <NUM>, in the welding mechanism <NUM>, the first positions of the location holes <NUM> can be detected, the relative position relations sent by the first visual photographing device <NUM> can be received, the first positions of the plurality of poles 121a can be determined based on the first positions of the location holes <NUM> and the relative position relations, and the first positions of the plurality of poles 121a are sent to the welding device <NUM>. Correspondingly, the welding device <NUM> can receive the first positions of the plurality of poles 121a, and weld the bus assembly <NUM> to the plurality of poles 121a based on the first positions of the plurality of poles 121a, and the bus assembly <NUM> and the plurality of poles 121a can be accurately welded through the welding device <NUM>.

In some embodiments, as shown in <FIG> , the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM> includes a third visual photographing device <NUM> configured to detect the second positions of the location holes <NUM> and the positions of the plurality of welds, to receive the relative position relations, to determine the second positions of the plurality of poles 121a based on the second positions of the location holes <NUM> and the relative position relations, and to detect welding deviation situations of the bus assembly <NUM> and the poles 121a based on the second positions of the plurality of poles 121a and the positions of the plurality of welds,.

The structure of the third visual photographing device <NUM> may be the same as the structure of the first visual photographing device <NUM> and the structure of the second visual photographing device <NUM>. The third visual photographing device <NUM> may be electrically connected to the first visual photographing device <NUM> so as to receive the relative position relations sent by the first visual photographing device <NUM>.

The third visual photographing device <NUM> can establish a plane coordinate system by taking the second direction Y as a horizontal axis/vertical axis, taking the third direction Z as a vertical axis/horizontal axis, and taking any point in a plane where the end of the battery <NUM> facing the bus assembly <NUM> is located as an origin. After the poles 121a are welded to the bus assembly <NUM> in the welding mechanism <NUM>, a battery pack enters the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM> along with the assembly line <NUM>. In the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM>, the third visual photographing device <NUM> can take pictures of the location holes <NUM> on the end plates <NUM>, and detect the position coordinates of each location hole <NUM> in the plane coordinate system in the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM>, that is, the second position of the location hole <NUM>. Then, based on the second positions of the location holes <NUM> and the received relative position relations, the position coordinates of each pole 121a in the plane coordinate system, that is, the second position of the pole 121a, are calculated. The third visual photographing device <NUM> can also detect the position of each weld in the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM>, and then compare the second position of each pole 121a with the position of the corresponding weld to detect the welding deviation situations of the bus assembly <NUM> and the poles 121a. Where, when the weld is circular, the position of a certain weld may be the position coordinates of a circle center of the weld.

As an example, when the number of the location hole <NUM> is m and the number of the pole 121a is n, the third visual photographing device <NUM> can detect the second positions of the m location holes <NUM>, and can determine the second positions of the n poles 121a based on the second positions of the m location holes <NUM> and m*n relative position relations. The third visual photographing device <NUM> can also detect the positions of n welds in the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM>, and then detect the welding deviation situations of the bus assembly <NUM> and the n poles 121a based on the second positions of the n poles 121a and the positions of the n welds.

A first distance threshold of the positions of the poles 121a and the positions of the welds in the second direction Y and a second distance threshold of the positions of the poles 121a and the positions of the welds in the third direction Z may be pre-stored in the photographing device <NUM>. When the third visual photographing device <NUM> compares the second position of each pole 121a with the position of the corresponding weld to detect the welding deviation situation of the bus assembly <NUM> and the pole 121a, with a certain pole 121a and its corresponding weld as an example, a first distance between the second position of the pole 121a and the position of the corresponding weld in the second direction Y can be determined, and a second distance between the second position of the pole 121a and the position of the corresponding weld in the third direction Z can be determined. If the first distance exceeds the first distance threshold, and/or, the second distance exceeds the second distance threshold, it is determined that the pole 121a deviates from the corresponding weld, so that it can be determined that there is a welding deviation between the bus assembly <NUM> and the pole 121a. On the contrary, it can be determined that there is no welding deviation between the bus assembly <NUM> and the pole 121a.

Through the third visual photographing device <NUM>, in the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM>, the second positions of the location holes <NUM> and the positions of the plurality of welds can be detected, the relative position relations sent by the first visual photographing device <NUM> can be received, the second positions of the plurality of poles 121a can be determined based on the second positions of the location holes <NUM> and the relative position relations, and the welding deviation situations of the bus assembly <NUM> and the poles 121a can be detected based on the second positions of the plurality of poles 121a and the positions of the welds, so as to achieve good welding quality monitoring.

In some embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM> may further include an electronic measuring instrument <NUM> configured to detect fitting gaps between the poles 121a and the bus assembly <NUM> through the detection holes <NUM>.

The electronic measuring instrument <NUM> may be a three-dimensional profiler or the like. With the three-dimensional profiler as an example, the three-dimensional profiler has a signal transmitting end and a signal receiving end, a certain included angle exists between the signal transmitting end and the signal receiving end, and the signal transmitting end of the three-dimensional profiler can send a signal to the signal receiving end through the detection hole <NUM>, and then determine the fitting gaps between the poles 121a and the bus assembly <NUM> through feedback from the signal receiving end. Where, the fitting gap refers to a distance between the pole 121a and the bus assembly <NUM> in the first direction X. A fitting gap exists between each of the poles 121a and the bus assembly <NUM> in the first direction X, so the number of the fitting gap is the same as that of the pole 121a.

As an example, when the number of the pole 121a is n, there are n fitting gaps between the n poles 121a and the bus assembly <NUM>. The electronic measuring instrument <NUM> can respectively detect the n fitting gaps between the n poles 121a and the bus assembly <NUM> through the n detection holes <NUM> on the bus assembly <NUM>. Then, the n fitting gaps can be evaluated, and the welding quality of the n poles 121a and the bus assembly <NUM> can be evaluated.

A gap threshold between the pole 121a and the bus assembly <NUM> may be pre-stored in the electronic measuring instrument <NUM>. When the electronic measuring instrument <NUM> detects the n fitting gaps between the n poles 121a and the bus assembly <NUM> through the n detection holes <NUM> on the bus assembly <NUM>, with a certain pole 121a and the bus assembly <NUM> as an example, the fitting gap between the pole 121a and the bus assembly <NUM> can be compared with the gap threshold. If the fitting gap between the pole 121a and the bus assembly <NUM> is greater than the gap threshold, it is considered that the fitting gap between the pole 121a and the bus assembly <NUM> is larger, so it can be determined that the welding quality of the pole 121a and the bus assembly <NUM> is not good. On the contrary, it can be determined that the welding quality of the pole 121a and the bus assembly <NUM> is good.

The electronic measuring instrument <NUM> can detect the fitting gap between each pole 121a and the bus assembly <NUM> through the detection hole <NUM> in the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM>, and then the welding quality of each pole 121a and the bus assembly <NUM> can be evaluated based on the fitting gap so as to achieve good welding quality monitoring.

The embodiments of the present invention also provide a welding deviation detection method, which can be applied to the welding deviation detection device in the foregoing embodiments. As shown in <FIG>, the method includes:.

In the embodiments of the present invention, the relative position relations between the location holes <NUM> and the plurality of poles 121a in the battery <NUM> can be determined, and the relative position relations can be sent to the welding mechanism <NUM> and the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM> by the pre-welding addressing mechanism <NUM>. The first positions of the location holes <NUM> can be detected, and the first positions of the plurality of poles 121a can be determined based on the first positions of the location holes <NUM> and the received relative position relations by the welding mechanism <NUM>, so that the welding mechanism <NUM> can accurately weld the bus assembly <NUM> to the plurality of poles based on the first positions of the plurality of poles 121a to form a plurality of welds. The second positions of the location holes <NUM> and the positions of the plurality of welds can be detected, and the welding deviation situations of the bus assembly <NUM> and the poles 121a can be detected based on the second positions of the location holes <NUM>, the positions of the plurality of welds and the received relative position relations by the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM>. According to the embodiments of the present application, the bus assembly <NUM> and the plurality of poles 121a can be accurately welded through the welding mechanism <NUM>, and the welding deviation situations can be detected simply, conveniently and in a timely manner through the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM>.

In some embodiments, when the pre-welding addressing mechanism <NUM> includes a first visual photographing device <NUM>, the welding deviation detection method further includes: the positions of the location holes <NUM> and the positions of the plurality of poles 121a are detected, the relative position relations are determined based on the positions of the location holes <NUM> and the positions of the plurality of poles 121a, and the relative position relations are sent to the welding mechanism <NUM> and the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM> by the first visual photographing device <NUM>.

In some embodiments, when the welding mechanism <NUM> includes a second visual photographing device <NUM> and a welding device <NUM>, the welding deviation detection method further includes: the first positions of the location holes <NUM> are detected, the relative position relations are received, the first positions of the plurality of poles 121a are determined based on the first positions of the location holes <NUM> and the relative position relations, and the first positions of the plurality of poles 121a are sent to the welding device <NUM> by the second visual photographing device <NUM>; and the first positions of the plurality of poles 121a are received, and the bus assembly <NUM> is welded to the plurality of poles 121a based on the first positions of the plurality of poles 121a by the welding device <NUM>.

In some embodiments, when the welding mechanism <NUM> includes a third visual photographing device <NUM>, the welding deviation detection method further includes: the second positions of the location holes <NUM> and the positions of the plurality of welds are detected, the relative position relations are received, second positions of the plurality of poles 121a are determined based on the second positions of the location holes <NUM> and the relative position relations, and welding deviation situations of the bus assembly <NUM> and the poles 121a are detected based on the second positions of the plurality of poles 121a and the positions of the plurality of welds by the third visual photographing device <NUM>.

In some embodiments, when the welding mechanism <NUM> includes an electronic measuring instrument <NUM>, the welding deviation detection method further includes: fitting gaps between the poles 121a and the bus assembly <NUM> are detected through detection holes <NUM> by the electronic measuring instrument <NUM>.

The above-mentioned welding deviation detection method corresponds to the welding deviation detection device in the foregoing embodiments. The details of each step in the welding deviation detection method have been described in detail in the embodiments of the corresponding welding deviation detection device, so for explanation of each step in the welding deviation detection method, reference may be made to the relevant description in the embodiments of the welding deviation detection device, which will not be repeated here.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the embodiments of the present invention further provide a power utilization device including the battery <NUM> that is provided in the foregoing embodiments and configured to provide electrical energy for the power utilization device.

The power utilization device may be any of the aforementioned apparatuses or systems using the battery <NUM>. In addition, the power utilization device can detect welding deviation situations between poles 121a and a bus assembly <NUM> in the battery <NUM> by using the welding deviation detection device and the welding deviation detection method in the foregoing embodiments.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, referring to <FIG>, the present application provides a welding deviation detection device including a pre-welding addressing mechanism <NUM>, a welding mechanism <NUM> and a post-welding detection mechanism <NUM>. The pre-welding addressing mechanism <NUM> includes a first visual photographing device <NUM>, the welding mechanism <NUM> includes a second visual photographing device <NUM> and a welding device <NUM>, and the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM> includes a third visual photographing device <NUM> and an electronic measuring instrument <NUM>. Both the second visual photographing device <NUM> and the third visual photographing device <NUM> are electrically connected to the first visual photographing device <NUM>, and the second visual photographing device <NUM> is electrically connected to the welding device <NUM>.

The first visual photographing device <NUM> may detect the positions of the location holes <NUM> and the positions of the plurality of poles 121a, determine the relative position relations based on the positions of the location holes <NUM> and the positions of the plurality of poles 121a, and send the relative position relations to the welding mechanism <NUM> and the post-welding detection mechanism <NUM>.

The second visual photographing device <NUM> may detect the first positions of the location holes <NUM>, receive the relative position relations, determine the first positions of the plurality of poles 121a based on the first position of the location hole <NUM> and the relative position relations, and send the first positions of the plurality of poles 121a to the welding device <NUM>. The welding device <NUM> may receive the first positions of the plurality of poles 121a, and weld the bus assembly <NUM> to the plurality of poles 121a based on the first positions of the plurality of poles 121a.

Claim 1:
A welding deviation detection device, characterized by:
a pre-welding addressing mechanism (<NUM>), configured to determine relative position relations between location holes (<NUM>) and a plurality of poles (121a) in a battery (<NUM>), and to send the relative position relations to a welding mechanism (<NUM>) and a post-welding detection mechanism (<NUM>), wherein the location holes (<NUM>) are disposed on end plates (<NUM>) of the battery (<NUM>) along a first direction (X);
the welding mechanism (<NUM>), configured to detect first positions of the location holes (<NUM>), to determine first positions of the plurality of poles (121a) based on the first positions of the location holes (<NUM>) and the received relative position relations, and to weld a bus assembly (<NUM>) to the plurality of poles (121a) based on the first positions of the plurality of poles (121a) to form a plurality of welds; and
the post-welding detection mechanism (<NUM>), configured to detect second positions of the location holes (<NUM>) and positions of the plurality of welds, and to detect welding deviation situations of the bus assembly (<NUM>) and the poles (121a) based on the second positions of the location holes, the positions of the plurality of welds and the received relative position relations.