The biggest cost driver in an electric car is the battery. In recent years, car manufacturers around the world have been exploring ways to develop and manufacture batteries that are not only sustainable, but also cost-efficient and powerful enough for long ranges. In addition to prismatic and pouch cells, major manufacturers are increasingly relying on round cells with a diameter of 46 millimeters. SCHUNK has designed a new tool specifically for handling this type of cell: the RCG round cell gripper. It is freely scalable so that it can be used to handle individual battery cells, but can also be used for automated row arrangement and the precise and fast assembly of entire battery clusters in an uncomplicated and safe manner.

Safety thanks to integrated gripping force maintenance

The RCG round cell gripper has a pneumatically controlled magnet system with which battery cells can be picked up and set down magnetically. The permanent magnet inside each individual gripper ensures that the gripping force is maintained throughout the entire process. Even if energy is lost during an emergency stop, the battery is held by the gripper. The magnet's high holding force of more than 70 newtons is designed for all standard battery lengths and enables high acceleration rates for the robots used. The RCG's workpiece and status sensors also contribute to process reliability. They detect whether a battery is present and enable the piston stroke query. In order to enable the highest possible packing density of the round cells within the battery cluster without interfering contours, the SCHUNK designers have adapted the RCG precisely to battery cells with 46 millimeters. SCHUNK offers the gripper in three versions: without centering, with 2-fold centering or with 4-fold centering for tolerance compensation when picking up the battery cells.

Perfect for series production

The system can be combined with other SCHUNK components for use in a production line: according to Schunk, suitable sensors, compensation and gathering units as well as linear direct axes should enable precise, dynamic and safe processes in the series production of battery packs.

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