Gearboxes for Automated Guided Vehicles

As a manufacturer of low backlash gearboxes, racks and pinions, Apex Dynamics has developed a series of gearboxes specifically for mobile robots, the GL series, distributed in Italy by Mondial. An AGV is an automatically guided vehicle, a mobile robot that is often used in industrial and logistics applications to transport materials in a factory or warehouse.

In addition to the medium-end PD/PDR and PL/PLR series, Apex Dynamics has developed a high-end version of gearboxes, the GL series, for the mobile robots market. The GL series has helical gears and the backlash is a maximum of 3 arcminutes (1-stage). With this series, the flange and the housing are made from one rotating part, making it ideal for mounting and supporting the wheel against it, without getting a high bending moment.

A version with input shaft is available

In addition to the GL series, there is also a GLS version with a full input shaft (with or without key), especially for those applications where the wheels or pulley are not driven by a motor. The GL series is available in ratio 3:1 up to 90:1. The GL/GLS series is constructed differently from a regular planetary gearbox: what is normally the stationary housing is now the rotating output flange and what is normally the output shaft is now the stationary part which is mounted on the frame. This construction makes it possible to have ratio of 2:1. The series ensures a low noise level and high break resistance
or overload protection due to helical teeth, together with a high efficiency, to convert the electrical energy into kinetic energy as efficiently as possible. Bearings are oversized and can therefore handle higher radial loads and a higher net payload. In addition to the application in AGVs, the GL/GLS series can also be used in other applications, such as (tooth) belt drives, positioning table or wheel drives for e-mobility.