IP Library Granted Patent US 12,472,622
Granted Patent B2
US 12,472,622 · App. 18/487,107 · Granted Nov 18, 2025

Transfer apparatus

Inventor: Weifeng Chen (Ningde, CN)
Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED
B25J9/102B25J9/1697B25J9/0009
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,472,622
App. No.
18/487,107
Granted
Nov 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are a transfer apparatus. The transfer apparatus includes a frame, a positioning assembly, a rotating and adjusting assembly, and a fixture assembly. The positioning assembly is configured to obtain position information of a battery to be transferred. The rotating and adjusting assembly includes a first drive member in signal connection with the positioning assembly, and a first gear and a second gear engaged with each other, where the first gear is connected to the first drive member, and the second gear is rotatably connected to the frame. The fixture assembly is configured to grip or release the battery to be transferred, and the fixture assembly is connected to a side of the second gear away from the frame. The first drive member is configured to drive the first gear to rotate such that the first gear drives the second gear and the fixture assembly to rotate.

Claims (16)

1 . A transfer apparatus for transferring battery, wherein the transfer apparatus comprises:

a frame;

a positioning assembly, configured to obtain position information of a battery to be transferred;

a carrier configured to move along intersecting rails;

a rotating and adjusting assembly, comprising a first drive member in signal connection with the positioning assembly, and a first gear and a second gear engaged with each other, wherein the first gear is connected to the first drive member, and the second gear is rotatably connected to the frame and the carrier, the first gear and the second gear being coaxially arranged as inner and outer gears, the outer gear disposed within a central mounting hole of the inner gear;

at least one fixture assembly configured to grip or release the battery to be transferred, wherein the at least one fixture assembly is connected to a side of the second gear away from the frame, and the first drive member is configured to drive, according to the position information, the first gear to rotate such that the first gear drives the second gear and the at least one fixture assembly to rotate together; and

at least one in-place sensing assembly connected to the at least one fixture assembly and configured to detect when the fixture assembly reaches a vertically aligned position with the battery to be transferred and detect a positional relationship in a vertical direction between the at least one fixture assembly and the battery to be transferred, and to trigger clamping or release of the battery to be transferred based on the detected alignment,

wherein the positioning assembly comprises a camera connected to the frame and disposed in the mounting hole and along a central axis of the mounting hole, the camera being configured to acquire an image of the battery to be transferred, generate the position information according to the image, and send the position information to the rotating and adjusting assembly; and the rotating and adjusting assembly is configured to control the first drive member according to the position information.

2 . The transfer apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one fixture assembly comprises a base connected to the second gear, two clamping members spaced apart, and a drive component disposed on the base, wherein the drive component is configured to drive the two clamping members to approach or leave each other so as to switch between a closed position and a clamping position.

3 . The transfer apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the drive component comprises a second drive member reciprocating along a first direction, each one of the two clamping members comprises a clamping jaw and a connecting rod, and two opposite ends of the connecting rod are rotatably connected to the second drive member and the clamping jaw respectively; and

the second drive member is capable of driving, via the two connecting rods of the two clamping members, the two clamping jaws to approach or leave each other along a second direction; wherein the first direction and the second direction intersect.

4 . The transfer apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the base is provided with a guide slot that extends along the second direction, and the clamping jaw is snapped fit into the guide slot and is capable of moving along the guide slot.

5 . The transfer apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one fixture assembly comprises a plurality of fixture assemblies spaced apart sequentially along the first direction.

6 . The transfer apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one fixture assembly further comprises a plurality of guide members connected to the base, wherein a surface of the guide member away from the center of the at least one fixture assembly is an oblique plane.

7 . The transfer apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a horizontal traveling mechanism and a lifting mechanism, wherein the horizontal traveling mechanism is capable of driving the frame to move in a horizontal direction, and the lifting mechanism is capable of driving the frame to move in a vertical direction.

8 . The transfer apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the in-place sensing assembly further comprises a position sensor and a movable member, the position sensor is disposed on a base and is in signal connection with the at least one fixture assembly, the movable member penetrates through the base in the vertical direction and is capable of moving along the vertical direction to enter or leave a sensing region of the position sensor, the position sensor is configured to detect whether the movable member enters the sensing region and send a detection signal to the at least one fixture assembly, and the at least one fixture assembly is configured to grip or release, based on the detection signal, the battery to be transferred.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2024
From: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
To: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 068338/0402 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 15, 2023
From: CHEN, WEIFENG
To: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
Reel/Frame 065223/0235 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTCN2021124238 · Oct 15, 2021
Related Publication 20240058946A1 · Feb 22, 2024
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