JPH065302U - Automatic charging device for automated guided vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] If an automatic guided vehicle goes into the charging position while the current collector is moving forward due to an abnormality in the control of the automatic charger, the current collector may be damaged due to interference. Prevent this. [Structure] Screw shaft 15 rotated by a motor 18
The nut member 17 is screwed onto the nut member 17, and the moving member 14 is attached to the nut member 17.
The movable member 14 is attached with a revolving member 24 which is rotatable about a revolving shaft 23 extending in the vertical direction.
A current collector 4 is attached to the swivel member 24, and a torque limiter 25 that rotates when a constant force is applied to the swivel member 24 is provided.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an automatic charging device for an automated guided vehicle used to charge a battery mounted on the automated guided vehicle.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Since the automated guided vehicle travels using the battery installed in it as an energy source, the battery must be charged every time the vehicle travels a certain distance. An automatic charger is used to charge the battery.

FIG. 3 shows an outline of the automatic charging device. In the figure, 1 is an automated guided vehicle, and 2 is an automatic charging device. The automated guided vehicle 1 is provided with a trolley cable 3 for charging a battery, and the automatic charging device 2 is provided with a current collector 4 for connecting to the trolley cable 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the trolley cable 3 is configured by mounting a pair of conductors 6 made of a copper plate or the like in the concave portion of the insulating sheath 5, and the current collector 4 is rotatable about a support shaft 7 as shown in FIG. It is supported by and is connected with a cable 8 for charging.

In order to surely bring the pair of current collectors 4 into contact with the pair of conductors 6, in the conventional automatic charging device, the free movement of the current collectors 4 in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction via a spring, a linear rail, or the like. The degree is secured.

When the automatic guided vehicle 1 arrives at the charging position for charging, the automatic charging device 2 advances toward the automatic guided vehicle 1 and stops with the current collector 4 in close contact with the conductor 6. After that, the battery of the automatic guided vehicle 1 is charged from the automatic charging device 2.

[0006]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, when an abnormality occurs in the control unit of the automatic charging device 2 and the automatic guided vehicle 1 enters the charging position for charging while the automatic charging device 2 is moving forward, the automatic guided vehicle 1 and the collector 4 are collected. May interfere with each other and damage them.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic charging device for an automatic guided vehicle, which solves such a problem.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The structure of the present invention for attaining such an object is a moving member provided so as to be movable in a horizontal direction, a driving means connected to the moving member in an interlocking manner, and a rotation extending in a vertical direction with respect to the moving member. A swivel member that is rotatable about an axis, and a torque limiter that has a sphere that urges toward a recess formed on one of the facing surfaces of the moving member and the swivel member on the other side. , And a current collector that is provided on the turning member and is brought into contact with and separated from the trolley cable of the automatic guided vehicle.

[0009]

[Action]

 When the current collector is moved forward toward the automatic guided vehicle by moving the moving member by the driving means, the current collector comes into contact with the conductor of the trolley cable to perform charging. When a horizontal force perpendicular to the direction of travel of the current collector is applied to the current collector and the force becomes larger than a certain value, the turning member turns around the turning axis by the action of the torque limiter. Therefore, damage to the current collector or the like is prevented in advance.

[0010]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

The structure of the automatic charging apparatus for the automatic guided vehicle according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, a base 12 is attached to a frame body 11, and as shown in FIG. 2, both ends of a pair of mutually parallel guide rods 13 are supported by the base 12. The moving member 14 is provided movably along the guide rods 13 by inserting the pair of guide rods 13 into guide holes (not shown). A screw shaft 15 parallel to the guide rods 13 is rotatably provided between the pair of guide rods 13 via a bearing 16, and a nut member 17 attached to the moving member 14 via a bolt (not shown) is used. It is screwed onto the shaft 15. In order to drive the screw shaft 15 to rotate, a motor 18 is attached below the base 12 via a bracket 19. A gear 21 attached to the output shaft 20 of the motor 18 and a gear 22 attached to the screw shaft 15 Are in mesh.

A rotating member 24 is provided on the moving member 14 so as to be rotatable around a rotating shaft 23 extending in the vertical direction. Further, the torque limiter 25 is provided so that the turning member 24 rotates about the rotation shaft 23 when a force equal to or larger than a certain force is applied to the turning member 24. A concave portion 26 is formed in the moving member 14 on a surface facing the moving member 14 and the swivel member 24 at a position slightly apart from the rotating shaft 23, while the swivel member 24 is directed toward the concave portion 26. A biased sphere 27 is provided. As shown in the figure, a screw member 28 having a cylindrical shape with a bottom and having a screw 28a formed on the outer peripheral surface is screwed into the swivel member 24, and a sphere 27 is inserted into the screw member 28 via a spring 29. ing.

The turning member 24 is provided with the current collector 4 while being biased in the same direction as the moving direction of the moving member 14. As shown in the figure, the swivel member 24 is formed with projecting portions 24a and 24b that project to the right in the figure, and the projecting portions 24a and 24b are both parallel to the screw shaft 15 and have a pair of left and right guide holes (see FIG. (Not shown) is formed. Then, the pair of guide rods 30 integrally attached to the holder 31 are inserted into the pair of guide holes. A bar 32 surrounding the guide pin 30 is provided between each holder 31 and the protrusions 24a and 24b. Then, in order to adjust the biasing force of the holder 31 by the spring 32, an adjusting plate 40 that can increase or decrease the number of attachments is provided. The current collector 4 is attached to each holder 31 via a support shaft 7, and a cover 35 surrounding the holder 31 is attached to the holder 31. A proximity switch 33, which detects that the current collector 4 is in contact with the conductor of the trolley cable when the cover 35 approaches, is attached to the swivel member 24 via the attachment plate 34 between the protrusions 24a and 24b. To be

In addition, a photoelectric switch 37 is installed inside the frame 11 via a bracket 36. The photoelectric switch 37 is provided to detect that the automatic guided vehicle has reached the charging position for charging. The frame body 11 has an opening 38 through which the current collector 4 and the like pass, and an opening 39 through which the photoelectric switch 37 operates.

Next, the operation of the automatic charging device for such an automatic guided vehicle will be described. If the automated guided vehicle requires battery charging, stop the automated guided vehicle at the designated charging position. When the photoelectric switch 37 detects that the automatic guided vehicle has reached the charging position, the motor 18 operates and the rotation of the output shaft 20 of the motor 18 is transmitted to the screw shaft 15 via the gears 21 and 22. Then, the moving member 14 moves to the right in FIG. 1 together with the nut material 17, whereby the current collector 4 comes into contact with the conductor 6 of the trolley cable 3 of the automatic guided vehicle 1 shown in FIG. At this time, the proximity sensor 33 detects the cover 35 and stops the rotation of the output shaft 20 of the motor 18. A battery of the automatic guided vehicle 1 is charged from a power source (not shown) via the cable 8, the current collector 4, and the conductor 6.

When there are a plurality of automated guided vehicles, there is some variation in the laid size of the trolley cable 3, but the variation can be absorbed by the presence of the spring 32. When the current collector 4 moves forward and interferes with the trolley cable 3 of the automated guided vehicle, and the current collector 4 receives a horizontal force in a direction perpendicular to its traveling direction, the turning member 24 rotates about the rotation shaft 23. Try to move.

When the magnitude of the horizontal force exceeds a certain value, the spherical body 27 is pressed in the direction of compressing the spring 29, whereby the spherical body 27 is pulled out of the recess 26, and the turning member 24 is rotated about the rotating shaft 23. Rotate. As a result, a large force is prevented from being applied to the current collector 4 and the like, and damage is prevented.

In order to adjust the magnitude of the force required to rotate the swivel member 24, the amount of screwing of the screw member 28 with respect to the swivel member 24 may be increased or decreased to adjust the compression amount of the spring 29.

[0019]

[Effect of device]

 As can be seen from the above description, according to the automatic charging apparatus for an automatic guided vehicle according to the present invention, since the turning member having the current collector is rotatably provided on the moving member and the tokul limiter is provided, the current collection is excessive. When a strong force is applied, the swivel member will rotate and damage to the current collector etc. can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of an automatic charging device for an automatic guided vehicle according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a right side view showing an embodiment of an automatic charging device for an automatic guided vehicle according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a conventional automatic charging device for an automated guided vehicle.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a trolley cable according to a conventional automatic charging device for an automated guided vehicle.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a current collector according to a conventional automatic charging device for an automated guided vehicle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 ... Current collector 14 ... Moving member 18 ... Motor 23 ... Rotating shaft 24 ... Rotating member 25 ... Torque limiter 26 ... Recessed portion 27 ... Sphere 29 ... Spring

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A moving member movably provided in a horizontal direction, a drive means interlockingly connected to the moving member, and a rotatably provided centering on a rotating shaft extending in a vertical direction with respect to the moving member. A turning member, a torque limiter having a spherical body for urging toward a concave portion formed on one of the facing surfaces of the moving member and the turning member on the other side, and a trolley for an automatic guided vehicle provided on the turning member. An automatic charging device for an automated guided vehicle, characterized by being configured with a current collector that is brought into and out of contact with a cable.