초록 ▼

A self guided vehicle has a roller deck controllably powered by an electric motor to accept and deliver loads on both the left and right side of the vehicle. An infrared communication system is employed to coordinate the overall transfer of these loads between the vehicle and a docking station. The

A self guided vehicle has a roller deck controllably powered by an electric motor to accept and deliver loads on both the left and right side of the vehicle. An infrared communication system is employed to coordinate the overall transfer of these loads between the vehicle and a docking station. The communication system performs the multiple functions of locating the docking station relative to the left and right side of the vehicle, determining the direction the load is to be transferred, and controlling the direction of motor rotation to effect such a transfer.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for controlling the operation of a powered conveyor of a self guided vehicle in coordination with a powered conveyor of a docking station, the vehicle and docking station conveyors each driven by an electric motor, the apparatus comprising: first and second radiant energy emitting means

An apparatus for controlling the operation of a powered conveyor of a self guided vehicle in coordination with a powered conveyor of a docking station, the vehicle and docking station conveyors each driven by an electric motor, the apparatus comprising: first and second radiant energy emitting means for producing pulsed radiant energy in response to receiving respective pulse control signals, the first and second radiant energy emitting means being mounted on opposing sides of the vehicle and directed generally outward from the vehicle; third radiant energy emitting means for producing pulsed radiant energy in response to receiving a pulse control signal, the third radiant energy emitting means being mounted on the docking station and generally directed outward from the docking station; first and second radiant energy detecting means for producing electrical signals responsive to receiving radiant energy from the third radiant energy emitting means, the first and second radiant energy detecting means being mounted on opposing sides of the vehicle and directed generally outward from the vehicle; third radiant energy detecting means for producing electrical signals responsive to receiving radiant energy from one of the first and second radiant energy emitting means, the third radiant energy detecting means being mounted on the docking station and directed generally outward from the docking station; vehicle control means for delivering pulse control signals to the first and second radiant energy emitting means, monitoring the first and second radiant energy detecting means for a preselected period of time, and controlling the direction of energization of the vehicle electric motor responsive to receiving an electrical signal from one of the first and second radiant energy detecting means; docking station control means for delivering pulse control signals to the third radiant energy emitting means, monitoring the third radiant energy detecting means, and controlling the energization of the docking station electric motor responsive to receiving an electrical signal from the third radiant energy detecting means; and load transfer means for loading onto the vehicle conveyor from the docking station conveyor at either side of the vehicle, and unloading from the vehicle conveyor onto the docking station conveyor at either side of the vehicle.