Arrival
MOBILE ROBOTS HAVING MECHANICAL AND DATA COUPLING MECHANISMS

Abstract:

Automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) have couplings which allow multiple AGVs to be coupled to each other so that the AGV assembly can move in a coordinated manner. Each side of the AGV can have physical couplings which each have a convex coupling and a concave coupling. The AGVs move next to each other so the concave couplings are aligned with the convex couplings and the AGVs move towards each other. The convex couplings are inserted into the concave couplings. The concave couplings have T bars and when the couplings are connected, the distal ends of the T bars are inserted through the horizontal slots in the convex couplings. Once fully inserted, the T bars are rotated so that the elongated distal ends are out of alignment with the slots, locking the convex couplings to the concave couplings.