Positioning unit for a charging station, and method for making contact

A positioning unit for forming an electrically conductive connection between a stationary charging station and a vehicle, in particular an electric bus or the like, an electric charging contact of the positioning unit being movable in relation to a charging contact surface and being connectable thereto by means of the positioning unit, the positioning unit comprising a positioning device and a drive unit for driving the positioning device, the charging contact being able to be positioned between a contacting position for transmitting current and a retraction position for interrupting current by means of the positioning device, the drive device having a displacement drive for producing a displacing force acting on the positioning device and a spring device mechanically interacting with the displacement drive, the spring device comprising at least one contact spring, a contact force acting on the charging surface being able to be produced by the displacement drive and the contact force,

• wherein
• the positioning device comprises a fixed bearing, an upper segment, which is linearly movable on the fixed bearing in a vertical displacement direction, and a lower segment, which is linearly moveable on the upper segment in the vertical displacement direction, the contact spring being coupled with the fixed bearing and the upper segment, the upper segment being moveable in relation to the lower segment by means of the displacement drive.