US 12,009,678 B2
Opportunistic charging system for an automated storage and retrieval system
Matthew W. Coady, Hollis, NH (US); William J. Fosnight, Windham, NH (US); David A. Lachance, Waltham, MA (US); and David Eiselen, Groton, MA (US)
Assigned to Walmart Apollo, LLC, Bentonville, AR (US)
Filed by Walmart Apollo, LLC, Bentonville, AR (US)
Filed on Feb. 7, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/269,900.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/628,159, filed on Feb. 8, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2019/0245366 A1, Aug. 8, 2019
Int. Cl. H02J 7/00 (2006.01); B65G 1/04 (2006.01); B65G 1/06 (2006.01); B65G 1/137 (2006.01); H02J 7/04 (2006.01)
CPC H02J 7/0013 (2013.01) [B65G 1/0492 (2013.01); B65G 1/065 (2013.01); B65G 1/1373 (2013.01); H02J 7/0042 (2013.01); H02J 7/0044 (2013.01); H02J 7/0045 (2013.01); H02J 7/04 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A power supply system for a plurality of mobile robots in a facility, comprising:
a charge rail mounted in a vertical track along which the plurality of mobile robots travel, the vertical track further comprising a gear rack to enable vertical travel of the plurality of mobile robots while charging on the charge rail;
the charge rail configured to receive an alternating current (AC) charging voltage from the facility;
a plurality of coupling mechanisms comprising a coupling mechanism on each of the plurality of mobile robots, the coupling mechanism on a mobile robot of the plurality of mobile robots configured to be biased horizontally against the charge rail mounted on the vertical track to contact the charge rail and transfer the AC charging voltage from the charge rail to the mobile robot;
a plurality of chargers comprising a charger on each of the plurality of mobile robots, the charger on each of the plurality of mobile robots receiving the AC charging voltage and converting the AC charging voltage from the charge rail to a second voltage smaller than the AC charging voltage; and
a plurality of rechargeable energy storage devices comprising a rechargeable energy storage device on each mobile robot of the plurality of mobile robots, the rechargeable energy storage device on each of the plurality of mobile robots receiving the second voltage from the charger on the mobile robot and being charged using the second voltage.