Safe and precise handling of cylindrical battery cells

Precision, safety and efficiency are crucial in the production of battery cells. The exact positioning and handling of the cells, the avoidance of short circuits and process-safe automation are essential for the high performance and reliability of the batteries.

Schmalz has developed the new SGM-SV-BY magnetic gripper especially for handling cylindrical battery cells. Thanks to its high holding forces, it ensures reliable handling even in fast pick-and-place processes. The bistable permanent magnet retains the gripper or deposit magnet position even in the event of a power failure. This minimizes the risk of cell loss and significantly increases operational safety.

The magnetic gripper is designed for handling cylindrical cells with a diameter of 46 millimetres and different heights. It can pick up the workpieces from both the top and the bottom. This makes it flexible to use in cell production and module assembly.

The gripping elements of the SGM-SV-BY are made of a special insulating plastics. This allows for touch-safe contact and significantly reduces the risk of short circuits when handling charged cells. Guiding pinnacles ensure exact positioning of the cells. This high level of precision when gripping is particularly important in order to be able to process the components correctly in subsequent production steps. The gripping elements are easy to replace and are available with a different number of guiding pinnacles.

To further increase process reliability, the magnetic gripper is equipped with sensors that monitor the presence of parts and the switching state. The application is therefore always in control of the handling process and can minimize errors and interruptions.