An AGV with quick battery loading and unloading function

Abstract

This application discloses an AGV with a quick battery loading and unloading function, including: an AGV body, a battery compartment, and a battery box assembly; the battery compartment is located at both ends of the AGV body; the battery box assembly includes a battery pack, a tray, a pressure plate, a rubber pad, a fixing plate, a latch, a flat spring lock, a handle, and rollers. The fixing plate and tray provide positioning for the battery pack, the rubber pad, the pressure plate, and the latch provide locking force between the battery pack and the tray and the fixing plate, and the latch facilitates the loading and unloading of the battery assembly; the battery box assembly is connected to the battery compartment via the spring lock, providing axial locking force, and the battery box assembly also elastically contacts the door of the battery compartment, providing circumferential locking force. This application utilizes latches and flat spring locks to lock the battery pack and battery box, providing convenient operation for battery loading and unloading, solving the inefficient working mode of existing AGVs where fixing the battery pack requires standby charging or cumbersome battery replacement, and greatly improving the operating efficiency of the AGV.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of AGV technology, specifically to an AGV with a rapid battery loading and unloading function. Background Technology

[0002] Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) are transport vehicles equipped with electromagnetic or optical automatic navigation devices, capable of traveling along a predetermined navigation path, and possessing safety protection and various transfer functions. In industrial applications, they are driverless transport vehicles powered by rechargeable batteries.

[0003] Current AGVs primarily rely on self-charging. However, the batteries carried by AGVs have limited capacity. When the battery is low, the AGV autonomously navigates to a charging area to recharge itself. During charging, the AGV pauses its tasks, making charging time a significant pain point in AGV applications. Battery swapping is a good solution. However, existing rechargeable batteries are mostly connected to AGVs via bolts, which is cumbersome and inconvenient for users to install and remove battery packs, reducing the AGV's continuous operating capability.

[0004] The patent (application number: 202021760330.8) proposes a method to loosen the battery by rotating a lever, allowing the battery body to be removed from the vehicle body, attempting to solve the cumbersome battery loading and unloading process. However, this patent requires the user to step on the bottom lever, pull the top lever, and press the battery body with the other hand during operation. This method is suitable for situations where the AGV body is relatively tall, and the battery pack fixing devices are installed on both sides of the AGV body, which can easily interfere with objects on site, increasing the design, manufacturing, and usage requirements of the AGV.

[0005] This application proposes an AGV with a rapid battery loading and unloading function, which can effectively solve or alleviate the shortcomings of the prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application provides an AGV with a rapid battery loading and unloading function to solve or alleviate one or more technical problems in the prior art.

[0007] As one aspect of the technical solution of this application, the AGV with quick battery loading and unloading function provided in the embodiments of this application includes: an AGV body, the AGV body having AGV autonomous navigation, positioning and driving functions, and the AGV body being provided with a battery compartment and a battery box.

[0008] The battery compartment includes a base plate, a baffle, and a door. The base plate provides support for the battery box, the baffle provides positioning for the battery box, and the door is located on the end face of the AGV shell. The left, right, and upper edges of the door are bent inward to form a bend, which provides locking force to the battery box to the left, right, and downward. The base plate of the battery compartment has a lock hole, called the compartment lock hole.

[0009] The battery box includes battery packs, a tray, a pressure plate, rubber pads, a fixing plate, latches, a flat spring lock, a handle, and rollers. The battery packs are arranged regularly on the tray, which is a one-piece molded frame including a front panel, a rear panel, and a bottom panel. The fixing plate is fixedly installed on the bottom panel of the tray, providing positioning for the battery packs. One end of the pressure plate is connected to the front panel of the tray, and the other end of the pressure plate is provided with a latch. The rear panel of the tray is provided with a hook. The tray, pressure plate, latches, and hooks form a closed enclosure to hold the battery packs. The rubber pads include an upper rubber pad and side rubber pads. The upper surface of the rubber pad contacts the pressure plate, the lower surface of the upper rubber pad contacts the battery pack, one side of the side rubber pad contacts the battery pack, and the side of the side rubber pad away from the battery pack contacts the tray. The rubber pad is elastic and can provide sufficient elastic pressure to lock the battery pack on the tray for battery packs of different sizes. The rollers are located at the lower part of the rear end plate of the tray to facilitate the removal of the battery box from the battery compartment. The handle is located at the upper part of the front end plate of the tray to facilitate the pulling of the battery box. The flat spring lock is located at the lower part of the front end plate of the tray. The flat spring lock is connected to the lock hole of the battery compartment in the locked state.

[0010] As a further improvement to the technical solution of this application, the number of battery compartments and battery boxes is two, symmetrically arranged within the AGV body.

[0011] As a further improvement to the technical solution of this application, the rubber pad is an insulating rubber pad, and its material is rubber or silicone.

[0012] As a further improvement to the technical solution of this application, after the battery box is inserted into the battery compartment, the surface of the front end plate of the battery box tray is flush with the door of the battery compartment, and the bent part of the door has a certain locking force on the battery box.

[0013] As a further improvement to the technical solution of this application, the battery pack is electrically connected to the AGV body via a cable.

[0014] As a further improvement to the technical solution of this application, the bolt of the spring lock is inserted into the lock hole of the battery compartment when the lock is locked. After the unlock switch is pressed, the bolt rotates and moves out of the lock hole of the battery compartment, and the battery box is separated from the battery compartment.

[0015] As a further improvement to the technical solution of this application, the buckle is an anti-bounce type buckle with a self-locking function in the locked state.

[0016] Compared with existing technologies, the beneficial effects of this application's technical solution are as follows: This application utilizes an independent battery box structure design, allowing the AGV to directly replace the battery pack when its capacity decreases and it needs to recharge. The AGV can continue working without waiting for the battery to fully charge, thus improving its continuous operational efficiency. The battery packs in the battery box can be easily replaced to adapt to different power requirements of the AGV. The symmetrical layout of the battery box within the AGV body helps balance its center of gravity. This application utilizes a simple combination of components such as latches, spring locks, handles, and rollers, making operation convenient. When replacing battery packs and the battery box, it avoids cumbersome manual and bolt-operated processes, saving time for lean production and improving enterprise production efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of an embodiment of this application.

[0018] Figure 2 The diagram shown is a schematic diagram of the battery compartment structure according to an embodiment of this application.

[0019] Figure 3 The image shown is one of the schematic diagrams of the battery box structure according to an embodiment of this application.

[0020] Figure 4 The diagram shown is a second schematic diagram of the battery box structure according to an embodiment of this application.

[0021] Figure 5 The diagram shown is a schematic representation of the pressure plate and the hook and latch in an embodiment of this application.

[0022] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures 1. AGV body; 2. Battery compartment; 21. Base plate; 22. Baffle; 23. Door; 231. Bending section; 232. Lock hole; 3. Battery box; 31. Pallet; 311. Front end plate; 312. Rear end plate; 313. Bottom end plate; 314. Hook; 315. Pallet lock hole; 32. Battery pack; 33. Pressure plate; 34. Buckle; 341. Ring; 342. Unlock switch; 35. Roller; 36. Top rubber pad; 361. Side rubber pad; 37. Handle; 38. Flat spring lock; 381. Lock tongue; 39. Fixing plate. Implementation

[0023] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0024] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "side", "upper half", "lower part", "front", "rear", "upper", "left", "right", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0025] Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0026] The embodiments of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific examples.

[0027] refer to Figure 1 This application provides an AGV with a quick battery loading and unloading function, including an AGV body 1. The AGV body has the functions of autonomous navigation, positioning and driving. The AGV body 1 is provided with a battery compartment 2 and a battery box 3. The battery box 3 cooperates with the battery compartment 2. There are two battery boxes 3, which are symmetrically distributed at the front and rear ends of the AGV body 1, and can play the role of counterweight and adjusting the center of gravity of the AGV.

[0028] refer to Figure 2 The battery compartment 2 on the AGV body 1 includes a base plate 21, a baffle 22, and a compartment door 23. The upper, left, and lower edges of the compartment door 23 are all bent inward to form a bending part 231. The bending part 231 has a certain elasticity. When the battery box is inserted into or loaded into the battery compartment 2, the bending part 231 exerts elastic pressure on the battery box, forming a certain fastening effect, preventing the battery box from easily moving relative to the battery compartment during AGV operation, which could cause battery fires or other hazards. The baffle 22 positions the battery box, limiting its position within the battery compartment, which can also prevent the battery box from easily moving relative to the battery compartment during AGV operation. The battery compartment lock hole 232 connects to the locking tongue of the battery compartment's planar spring lock after the battery box is inserted into the battery compartment, serving as a locking function to prevent the battery box from detaching from the battery compartment under a large impact.

[0029] refer to Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5The battery box 3 includes a tray 31, a battery pack 32, a pressure plate 33, a latch 34, a roller 35, an upper rubber pad 36 and a side rubber pad 361, a handle 37, and a flat spring-loaded lock 38. The tray 31 is formed from a thin sheet metal through sheet metal processing to form a front plate 311, a rear plate 312, and a bottom plate 313. The upper part of the rear plate 312 is provided with a hook 314 that matches the latch 34. The latch 34 has an anti-spring-load function and can only be opened by triggering the unlocking switch, and has a self-locking property. The bottom plate 313 of the tray 31 has small holes for connecting a fixing plate 39. The bottom plate 313 also has a lock hole 315, and the front plate 311 is equipped with a planar spring lock 38. When the planar spring lock 38 is locked, the bolt 381 is inserted into the lock hole 315 and connected to the compartment lock hole 232, thereby preventing the battery box 3 from moving relative to the battery compartment 2. During the unlocking process, the bolt 381 rotates around the lock axis and exits from the compartment lock hole 232 and the lock hole 315, releasing the battery compartment from locking the battery box. The upper part of the front plate 311 also has a small hole for connecting the pressure plate 33. The end of the pressure plate 33 away from the front plate 311 is provided with a latch. Buckle 34; clamp 33, buckle 34, hook 314, and tray 31 form a closed loop to secure the battery pack 32. To accommodate battery packs of different sizes and capacities, a rubber pad 36 is used to separate the clamp 33 from the battery pack 32. The elasticity of the rubber pad 36 provides deformation and elastic force, further securing the battery pack 32 to the tray 31. The positioning of the battery pack 32 on the bottom plate of the tray is provided by a fixing plate 39. To provide lateral fastening force and accommodate battery packs of different sizes and capacities, elastic side rubber pads 361 are filled between the battery pack 32 and the side edge of the tray. After the battery pack is loaded into the tray 31 of the battery box 3, one end of the pressure plate 33 is inserted into the small hole of the front plate 311, and the buckle 34 at the other end of the pressure plate 34 is quickly connected to the hook 314 to achieve the purpose of quickly loading the battery pack. When disassembling the battery pack 32, the unlocking switch of the buckle 34 is triggered to release the connection between the buckle 341 and the hook 314, remove the pressure plate 33, and take out the battery pack 32. The process is simple and clear and the operation is convenient. The rollers 35 are symmetrically installed on both sides of the rear plate 312 of the tray 31, and the handle 37 is installed on the upper part of the outer side of the front plate 311 of the tray 31.

[0030] When loading the battery box 3, the battery pack 32 is fixed and locked onto the tray 31 in advance. The flat spring lock is in the unlocked state at this time, and the lock tongue has not extended out of the lock hole of the tray. First, connect the cable interface between the battery pack and the AGV body. Then, the operator holds the handle 37 with one hand and supports the bottom of the battery box tray with the other hand. Tilt it at a certain angle and first let the roller 35 contact the bottom plate 21 of the battery compartment 2. The hand supporting the bottom of the battery box tray can be released or the hand holding the handle 37 can be used to push the battery box 3 into the battery compartment 2 until the roller 35 touches the battery compartment baffle. At this time, the front plate of the tray where the handle 37 of the battery box 3 is located is flush with the surface of the compartment door. Lock the flat spring lock to complete the loading of the battery box.

[0031] When disassembling battery box 3, the switch of planar spring lock 38 is triggered, and the locking tongue 381 rotates out of the lock hole 232. The operator holds the handle 37 with one hand and pulls out battery box 3. When battery box 3 is about to leave battery compartment 2, the other hand supports battery box 3 and gently places it on the ground. The cable interface between battery pack 32 and AGV body is then disconnected, completing the battery box disassembly task. When the AGV battery pack is depleted, the AGV does not need to autonomously navigate to the charging area and wait for the battery to be fully charged before continuing to work. Instead, it is quickly replaced with another fully charged battery box, allowing the AGV to continue working as soon as possible with a full charge. The depleted battery box is then moved to the charging area for charging. Charging and working can be done simultaneously, improving the continuous working efficiency of the AGV.

[0032] The embodiments of this application have a simple structure and are easy to operate, effectively solving some of the problems of the prior art. This application utilizes an independent battery box structure design, allowing the AGV to directly replace the battery pack when its capacity decreases and it needs to recharge itself. The AGV can continue working without waiting for the battery to fully charge, improving its continuous operational efficiency. The battery packs in the battery box can be easily replaced to adapt to different power requirements of the AGV. The symmetrical layout of the battery box within the AGV body helps balance the AGV's center of gravity. This application uses a simple combination of components such as buckles, spring locks, handles, and rollers, making operation convenient. When replacing battery packs and the battery box, it avoids cumbersome manual and bolt-operated tasks, saving time for lean production and improving enterprise production efficiency.

[0033] For those skilled in the art, the specific embodiments are merely illustrative descriptions of this application. Obviously, the specific implementation of the embodiments of this application is not limited to the above-described manner. Any non-substantial improvements made using the inventive concept and technical solution of this application, or the direct application of the inventive concept and technical solution of this application to other situations without modification, are all within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. An AGV with a rapid battery loading and unloading function, characterized in that, include: The AGV body has autonomous navigation, positioning, and driving functions, and is equipped with a battery compartment and a battery box. The battery compartment includes a base plate, a baffle, and a door. The base plate provides support for the battery box, the baffle provides positioning for the battery box, and the door is located on the front and rear ends of the AGV shell. The left, right, and upper edges of the door are bent inward to form a bend, which provides locking force to the battery box to the left, right, and downward. The base plate of the battery compartment has a lock hole. The battery box includes battery packs, a tray, a pressure plate, rubber pads, a fixing plate, latches, a flat spring lock, handles, and casters. The battery packs are arranged regularly on the tray, which is a one-piece molded frame including a front panel, a rear panel, and a bottom panel. The fixing plate is fixedly installed on the bottom panel of the tray, providing positioning for the battery packs. One end of the pressure plate connects to the front panel of the tray, and the other end has a latch. The rear panel of the tray has hooks. The tray, pressure plate, latches, and hooks form a closed clamp to hold the battery packs. The rubber pads include a top rubber pad and side rubber pads. The upper surface of the pad contacts the pressure plate, the lower surface of the upper rubber pad contacts the battery pack, one side of the side rubber pad contacts the battery pack, and the side of the side rubber pad away from the battery pack contacts the tray. The rubber pad is elastic and can provide sufficient elastic pressure to lock the battery pack on the tray for battery packs of different sizes and capacities. The rollers are located on both sides of the lower part of the rear end plate of the tray to facilitate the removal of the battery box from the battery compartment. The handle is located on the upper part of the front end plate of the tray to facilitate the pulling of the battery box. The flat spring lock is located on the lower part of the front end plate of the tray. The flat spring lock is connected to the lock hole of the battery compartment in the locked state.

2. The AGV with rapid battery loading and unloading function according to claim 1, characterized in that, There are two battery compartments and battery boxes, symmetrically arranged within the AGV body.

3. The AGV with rapid battery loading and unloading function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rubber pad is an insulating rubber pad, and its material is rubber or silicone.

4. An AGV with rapid battery loading and unloading function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The battery pack is electrically connected to the AGV body via a cable interface.

5. An AGV with rapid battery loading and unloading function according to claim 1, characterized in that, After the battery box is inserted into the battery compartment, the surface of the front end plate of the battery box tray is flush with the door of the battery compartment, and there is a certain locking force between the tray and the door.

6. An AGV with rapid battery loading and unloading function according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the spring lock is in the locked state, the bolt is inserted into the lock hole of the battery compartment. After the unlock switch is pressed, the bolt rotates and moves out of the lock hole of the battery compartment, and the battery box is separated from the battery compartment.

7. An AGV with rapid battery loading and unloading function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The buckle is an anti-bounce type buckle with a self-locking function when locked.

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