Arrangement and method for charging an accumulator of a transporting device comprising an individual electric drive
First Claim
1. An arrangement for charging an accumulator of a transporting device having electric drive means and being movable from one station to another in a controlled manner at an external charging station having a machining station, the arrangement comprisinga power coupling for coupling the accumulator in the transport device to a charging means when the transport device is at said external charging station;
- external control means for controlling the machining station and the charging, said external control means not being located in the transporting device and including means for detecting occurrence and termination of machining at said machining station;
charge regulating means located in the transporting device and containing a processor, at least one storage unit connected with said processor, means for determining an actual charge of the accumulator, and charging current changing means for changing a charging current passing through the accumulator during charging connected to said processor, wherein said processor is structured to compare an actual charge in the accumulator with at least one charge reference value stored in said at least one storage unit and to act on said charging current changing means so that said charging current changing means changes said charging current so that the accumulator receives at least one of the at least one charge reference values stored in said storage unit; and
a signal processing arrangement connected with the power coupling and located in said external charging station, said signal processing arrangement containing a pulse recognition means connected to the power coupling, and to said charge current changing means when the transporting device is in the external charge station, and signal shaping means connected to the pulse recognition means, said pulse recognition means having means for generating a trigger signal in response to a change in said charging current and said signal shaping means having means for receiving said trigger signal, means for producing a reference pulse from each of said trigger signals and means for producing status signals for said external control means indicative of the charge state of the accumulator from said reference pulses.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The arrangement for charging an accumulator of a transporting device having its own electric drive at an external charging station having a machining station includes an external control unit for controlling the machining station and the charging, a charge regulating device located in the transporting device and containing a processor with a storage unit, a device for determining an actual charge in the accumulator, and a charging current changing device connected to the processor. The processor is structured to compare the actual charge with at least one charge reference value stored in the storage unit and to act on the charging current changing device so that it changes the charging current so that the accumulator receives at least one of the at least one charge reference values stored in the storage unit; and a signal processing arrangement located in the external charging station and having a device for detecting an action of the charging current changing device on the charging and a device for sending a status signal to the external control unit for each of the at least one charge reference values. In a preferred embodiment two charge reference values are provided, a minimum charge for moving the transporting device to the next charging station and a maximum allowed charge.
15 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An arrangement for charging an accumulator of a transporting device having electric drive means and being movable from one station to another in a controlled manner at an external charging station having a machining station, the arrangement comprising
a power coupling for coupling the accumulator in the transport device to a charging means when the transport device is at said external charging station; -
external control means for controlling the machining station and the charging, said external control means not being located in the transporting device and including means for detecting occurrence and termination of machining at said machining station; charge regulating means located in the transporting device and containing a processor, at least one storage unit connected with said processor, means for determining an actual charge of the accumulator, and charging current changing means for changing a charging current passing through the accumulator during charging connected to said processor, wherein said processor is structured to compare an actual charge in the accumulator with at least one charge reference value stored in said at least one storage unit and to act on said charging current changing means so that said charging current changing means changes said charging current so that the accumulator receives at least one of the at least one charge reference values stored in said storage unit; and a signal processing arrangement connected with the power coupling and located in said external charging station, said signal processing arrangement containing a pulse recognition means connected to the power coupling, and to said charge current changing means when the transporting device is in the external charge station, and signal shaping means connected to the pulse recognition means, said pulse recognition means having means for generating a trigger signal in response to a change in said charging current and said signal shaping means having means for receiving said trigger signal, means for producing a reference pulse from each of said trigger signals and means for producing status signals for said external control means indicative of the charge state of the accumulator from said reference pulses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Method of charging an accumulator of a transporting device having electric drive means and being movable from one station to another in a controlled manner by an external charging station having an associated machining station, said method comprising the steps of charging the accumulator by the external charging station when the transporting device is located in the external charging station;
- comparing an actual charge in the accumulator with a charge reference value in a processor provided in the transporting device to form a comparison result, said charge reference value being at least a minimum charge necessary for the transporting device to reach a next charging station but less than a maximum charge receivable by the accumulator without overcharging;
changing said charging according to said comparison result so that, when said actual charge reaches said charge reference value and if a predetermined machining time at said machining station associated with said charging station has then elapsed, said charging is terminated. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- comparing an actual charge in the accumulator with a charge reference value in a processor provided in the transporting device to form a comparison result, said charge reference value being at least a minimum charge necessary for the transporting device to reach a next charging station but less than a maximum charge receivable by the accumulator without overcharging;
Specification