Accessory Modular Device For AGV
AssigneeComau S.p.A.
InventorsUgo Ghirardi, Andrea Ascheri, Maurizio Pollano
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Abstract
An accessory device for use with an automated guided vehicle (AGV) to assist loading and unloading of components onto the AGV for transport by the AGV. In one example, an electric motor, two lifting devices and an inverted omega-shaped upper platform are used to selectively raise and lower the component. In another example an accessory is positioned on a central portion of the upper platform to engage a pallet to further assist loading, unloading and positioning of the pallet relative to the AGV.
Claims13
An accessory device for use onboard an automated guided vehicle (AGV) to facilitate loading and unloading of a pallet onto and from the AGV for transport by said AGV, said accessory device comprising:
- two lifting units arranged to be mounted above a base surface of said AGV, said lifting units selectively movable in a substantially vertical direction by actuation of at least one first electric motor;
- an upper platform positioned above said two lifting units and having end portions each respectively positioned above and rigidly connected to one of said two lifting units, in such a way that that said upper platform can selectively be raised or lowered by said lifting units along the substantially vertical direction,
- wherein said upper platform is substantially shaped like an inverted omega, comprising a central portion connected to said end positions, said central portion lying in a plane that is positioned vertically lower with respect to said end portions.
An accessory device for use onboard an automated guided vehicle (AGV) to facilitate loading and unloading of a component onto and from the AGV for transport by said AGV, said accessory device comprising:
- an electric motor supported by a base surface of an AGV;
- two lifting units supported by the base surface of the AGV, each of the two lifting units further comprising:
- an elongate threaded screw threadably engaged with a nut and a first support element, the threaded screw further engaged with the electric motor;
- a pantograph structure comprising two pairs of rods each pair comprising a first rod and a second rod, wherein said first rod includes a lower end rotatably connected to a second support element and an upper end slidably engaged in a slot defined by an upper portion of said pantograph structure, and wherein said second rod includes a lower end rotatably connected to the nut engaged with the threaded screw and an upper end rotatably connected to an end of said upper portion of said pantograph structure, the pantograph structure upper portion selectively operable to move along a vertical direction on rotation of the threaded screw by the electric motor;
- an upper platform having a central portion and opposing end portions positioned vertically above the central portion, each opposing end portion connected to a respective one of the two lifting units, the central portion operable to support a component accessible by an operator, the lifting units operable to selectively position the component at a desired height in the vertical direction for the operator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.