Docking stations for automated guided vehicles
First Claim
1. A docking station for an automated guided vehicle, the docking station comprising:
- a station base unit;
a shift unit adapted to move relative to the station base unit between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein movement of the shift unit from the extended position to the retracted position defines a shift unit movement direction;
an actuator coupled to the station base unit and the shift unit, the actuator adapted to move the shift unit between the extended position and the retracted position; and
at least one locator block and/or at least one cam follower coupled to the shift unit;
wherein the docking station stops an automated guided vehicle travelling in the shift unit movement direction when a portion of the automated guided vehicle contacts the at least one locator block and/or the at least one cam follower with the shift unit in the extended position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A docking station for an automated guided vehicle includes a station base unit and a shift unit adapted to move relative to the station base unit between an extended position and a retracted position, where movement of the shift unit from the extended position to the retracted position defines a shift unit movement direction. The docking station further includes an actuator coupled to the station base unit and the shift unit, where the actuator is adapted to move the shift unit between the extended position and the retracted position and at least one locator block coupled to the shift unit. The docking station stops an automated guided vehicle travelling in the shift unit movement direction when a portion of the automated guided vehicle contacts the at least one locator block with the shift unit in the extended position.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A docking station for an automated guided vehicle, the docking station comprising:
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a station base unit; a shift unit adapted to move relative to the station base unit between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein movement of the shift unit from the extended position to the retracted position defines a shift unit movement direction; an actuator coupled to the station base unit and the shift unit, the actuator adapted to move the shift unit between the extended position and the retracted position; and at least one locator block and/or at least one cam follower coupled to the shift unit; wherein the docking station stops an automated guided vehicle travelling in the shift unit movement direction when a portion of the automated guided vehicle contacts the at least one locator block and/or the at least one cam follower with the shift unit in the extended position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An automated guided vehicle system comprising:
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an automated guided vehicle comprising a vehicle frame, a drive mechanism, and a plurality of support casters; and a docking station comprising a station base unit; wherein; one of the docking station or the automated guided vehicle comprises a shift unit adapted to move relative to the station base unit of the docking station or the vehicle frame of the automated guided vehicle between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein movement of the shift unit from the extended position to the retracted position defines a shift unit movement direction; the automated guided vehicle travelling parallel to the shift unit movement direction is stopped by the docking station when a portion of the automated guided vehicle contacts a portion of the docking station when the shift unit is located in the extended position; one of the docking station or the automated guided vehicle comprises at least one cam follower; one of the docking station or the automated guided vehicle comprises at least one locator block; and the automated guided vehicle travelling in the shift unit movement direction is stopped by the docking station when the at least one cam follower contacts the at least one locator block when the shift unit is located in the extended position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An automated guided vehicle system comprising:
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an automated guided vehicle comprising a vehicle frame, a drive mechanism, a plurality of support casters, and at least one cam follower; and a docking station comprising a station base unit, a shift unit adapted to move relative to the station base unit between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein movement of the shift unit from the extended position to the retracted position defines a shift unit movement direction, an actuator coupled to the station base unit and the shift unit, and at least one locator block coupled to the shift unit, wherein the automated guided vehicle travelling in the shift unit movement direction is stopped by the docking station when the at least one cam follower of the automated guided vehicle contacts the at least one locator block when the shift unit is located in the extended position. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification