Charging system and charging apparatus thereof

• US 8,253,372 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2009
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lai, Jin-Shi
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US12/485,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20090315511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/109, 320/110, 320/111, 320/115
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/005 using batteries, e.g. as a back-up power source
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A charging system includes a robot and a charging apparatus. The robot includes a rechargeable battery, a power receiving terminal electrically connecting with the rechargeable battery, and a detector for detecting a voltage of the battery. The charging apparatus for charging the robot includes a base comprising a receiving portion defining a sliding slot, a power supplying terminal disposed in the receiving portion and configured for electrically contacting with the power receiving terminal, a positioning board docked in the receiving portion for loading the robot, and a driving device including an inclined surface contacting with the positioning board via the sliding slot. The detector may send a control signal to the driving device to push the positioning board with the robot up from the receiving portion.

Claims

1. A charging system comprising:

a robot comprising;

a rechargeable battery;

a power receiving terminal electrically connecting with the rechargeable battery; and

a detector for detecting a voltage of the rechargeable battery; and

a charging apparatus for charging the robot, comprising;

a base comprising a receiving portion defining a sliding slot;

a power supplying terminal disposed in the receiving portion and configured for electrically contacting with the power receiving terminal;

a positioning board docked in the receiving portion for loading the robot; and

a driving device comprising an inclined surface contacting with the positioning board via the sliding slot and for pushing the positioning board out from the receiving portion;

wherein when the detected voltage of the rechargeable battery reaches a predetermined level, the detector generates a control signal and sends the control signal to the driving device to push the positioning board with the robot up from the receiving portion.

2. The charging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the driving device comprises a pushing member capable of pushing the positioning board and a driver capable of driving the pushing member; and

the inclined surface is disposed on the pushing member.

3. The charging system as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

the driver comprises a motor and a gear driven by the motor; and

the pushing member comprises a rack engaging with the gear to drive the pushing member to move.

4. The charging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving portion is formed inward from a top surface of the base.

5. The charging system as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

a fixing slot is defined in a side wall of the receiving portion; and

the positioning board comprises a fixing portion insertable through the fixing slot.

6. The charging system as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

the sliding slot is defined in the side wall and a bottom of the receiving portion; and

the driving device is disposed at the bottom of the base.

7. The charging system as claimed in claim 5, wherein a flexible member elastically connects the fixing portion of the positioning board and the receiving portion, and is configured for providing a force to draw the positioning board away while the positioning board is pushed out from the receiving portion.

8. The charging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the base comprises a flat portion and two inclined portions connected to the flat portion; and

the receiving portion is disposed on the flat portion.

9. The charging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the power receiving terminal is disposed at the bottom of the robot;

the power supplying terminal is disposed at the bottom of the receiving portion; and

a through hole corresponding to the power supplying terminal is defined in the positioning board for allowing the power supplying terminal to protrude therethrough to electrically contact the power receiving terminal.

10. A charging apparatus for a robot, the robot comprising a detector for detecting a voltage of a battery of the robot and generating a control signal when the detected voltage reaches a predetermined value, the charging apparatus comprising:

a receiving portion defining a slide slot in a side wall thereof;

a power supplying terminal disposed in the receiving portion;

a positioning board accommodated in the receiving portion; and

a driving device comprising an inclined surface resisting the positioning board through the slide slot and for pushing the positioning board out from the receiving portion;

wherein when the detected voltage of the battery reaches the predetermined level and the detector generates a control signal and sends the control signal to the driving device, the driving device pushes the positioning board with the robot up from the receiving portion.

11. The charging apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the charging apparatus further includes a flexible member connecting the positioning board to the receiving portion.

12. The charging apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

the side wall of the receiving portion defines a fixing slot; and

the positioning board comprises a fixing portion received in the fixing slot.

13. The charging apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

the driving device comprises a pushing member capable of pushing the positioning board and a driver capable of driving the pushing member; and

the inclined surface is disposed on the pushing member.

14. The charging apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the pushing member driven by the driver moves in a first direction to push the positioning board move in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

15. A charging apparatus for a robot, the robot comprising a detector for detecting a voltage of a battery of the robot and generating a control signal when the detected the voltage reaches a predetermined value, the charging apparatus comprising:

a base forming a recessed receiving portion defining a sliding slot;

a power supplying terminal mounted in the receiving portion;

a positioning board for loading the robot, the positioning board movably received in the receiving portion and switchable between the receiving portion and out of the receiving portion; and

a driving device comprising an inclined surface contacting with the poisoning board via the sliding slot and for pushing the position board out from the receiving portion;

wherein when the detected voltage of the battery reaches the predetermined level and the detector generates a control signal and sends the control signal to the driving device, the driving device pushes the positioning board with the robot up from the reeving portion.

16. The charging apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein:

the driving device comprises a motor and a pushing member driven by the motor to move along a first direction; and

the pushing member cooperates the positioning board to move the positioning board along a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction.

17. The charging apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the pushing member comprises the inclined surface contacting with the positioning board.