Battery charger with mechanism to automatically load and unload batteries

• US 7,800,341 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2007
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Duracell U.S. Operations, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Stone, Matthew R., Pinnell, Leslie J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Diao; M'Baye
• Application Number:
  US11/775,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20080238360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/107, 320/109, 320/112, 320/114, 320/116, 439/500
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/267 having means for adapting to batteries or cells of different types or different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A mechanism is disclosed for loading/unloading one or more rechargeable batteries. The mechanism includes one or more charging compartments configured to receive one or more rechargeable batteries and a first actuator configured to cause the one or more rechargeable batteries to be displaced from a first position to a second position.

Claims

1. A mechanism for loading/unloading one or more rechargeable batteries, the mechanism comprising:

one or more charging compartments configured to receive one or more rechargeable batteries;

a first actuator configured to cause at least a portion of the one or more charging compartments to be displaced from a first position to permit insertion or removal of a battery or batteries into or out of the one or more charging compartments, to a second position in which a charging operation can be initiated;

one or more displaceable contacts configured to be displaced between a contact position with the one or more rechargeable batteries and a non-contact position with the one or more rechargeable batteries; and

a second actuator configured to cause the one or more contacts to be displaced between the contact and the non-contact positions.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first actuator includes a first cam mechanically coupled to a first set of one or more displaceable arms, and wherein the second actuator includes a second cam coupled to a second set of one or more displaceable arms.

3. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein the one or more charging compartments are in mechanical communication with the first set of one or more displaceable arms, and wherein the one or more charging compartments are configured to be displaced in response to displacement of the first set of the one or more displaceable arms.

4. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein the first cam includes a first oblong-shaped disc.

5. The mechanism claim 2, wherein the one or more displaceable contacts are in mechanical communication with the second set of one or more arms, and wherein the one or more displaceable contacts are configured to be displaced in response to displacement of the second set of the one or more displaceable arms.

6. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein the second cam includes an annular disc and a second oblong-shaped disc disposed substantially in the space defined by the annular disc, the annular disc and the second oblong-shaped disc defining a channel configured to receive a cam follower.

7. The mechanism of claim 2, further comprising:

a motor;

a spur gear, on which the first cam and the second cam are mounted; and

a worm gear mechanically connected to the motor and in mechanical contact with the spur gear, with the worm gear configured to transfer rotational motion from the motor when the motor is operating on the spur gear.

8. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are configured to perform an ordered sequence of actuation operations.

9. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising:

a charging module configured to apply charging current to the one or more displaceable contacts.

10. The mechanism of claim 7, further comprising:

a first limit switch configured to cause the motor to stop actuation when the one or more batteries reaches the second position.

11. The mechanism of claim 7, further comprising:

a second limit switch configured to cause the motor to stop actuation when the one or more batteries returns to the first position.

12. A charger device configured to charge one or more rechargeable batteries, the device comprising:

a load/unload mechanism comprising;

one or more charging compartments configured to receive one or more rechargeable batteries; and

a first actuator configured to cause at least a portion of the one or more charging compartments to be displaced from a first position to permit insertion or removal of a battery or batteries to a second position in which a charging operation can be initiated; and

a controller configured to;

determine a current level to apply to the one or more rechargeable batteries; and

a circuit to apply the determined current level to the one or more rechargeable batteries.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising:

one or more displaceable contacts configured to be displaced between a contact position with the one or more rechargeable batteries and a non-contact position with the one or more rechargeable batteries; and

a second actuator configured to cause the one or more contacts to be displaced between the contact and the non-contact positions.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the first actuator includes a first cam mechanically coupled to a first set of one or more displaceable arms, and wherein the second actuator includes a second cam coupled to a second set of one or more displaceable arms.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein one or more charging compartments are in mechanical communication with the first set of one or more displaceable arms, and wherein the one or more charging compartments are configured to be displaced in response to displacement of the first set of the one or more displaceable arms.

16. The device claim 14, wherein the one or more displaceable contacts are in mechanical communication with the second set of one or more arms, and wherein the one or more displaceable contacts are configured to be displaced in response to displacement of the second set of the one or more displaceable arms.

17. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

a motor;

a spur gear, the first cam and the second cam being mounted on the spur gear; and

a worm gear mechanically connected to the motor and in mechanical contact with the spur gear, with the worm gear configured to transfer rotational motion from the motor when the motor is operating on the spur gear.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are configured to perform an ordered sequence of actuation operations.

19. A mechanism for loading/unloading one or more rechargeable batteries, the mechanism comprising:

one or more charging compartments configured to receive the one or more rechargeable batteries;

one or more displaceable contacts configured to be displaced between a contact position with the one or more rechargeable batteries and a non-contact position with the one or more rechargeable batteries;

a motor; and

an actuator coupled to the motor, the actuator configured to cause the one or more contacts to be displaced between the contact and the non-contact positions.

20. The mechanism of claim 19, further comprising:

a second actuator coupled to the motor, the second actuator configured to cause at least a portion of the one or more charging compartments to be displaced from a first position to permit insertion or removal of a battery or batteries to a second position in which a charging operation is initiated.

21. A method for charging one or more rechargeable batteries, the method comprising:

receiving the one or more batteries in corresponding one or more charging compartments such that the one or more batteries are located in a first position;

causing the one or more batteries to be displaced from the first position to a second position, with causing the one or more batteries to be displaced further includes;

actuating a first set of displaceable arms that are in mechanical communication with the one or more charging compartments using a first actuator;

determining a current level to apply to the one or more batteries; and

applying a charging current having substantially the determined current level to the battery.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising displacing charger contacts configured to electrically couple to terminals of the one or more rechargeable batteries to a position substantially over the one or more charging compartments.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein displacing the charger contacts comprises:

actuating a second set of displaceable arms that are in mechanical communication with the charger contacts using a second actuator.