Article sensor and article transport device having same

• US 20060145882A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daifuku Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Daifuku Company Limited
• Inventors: Murayama, Shigeto
• Granted Patent: US 7,341,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.100
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0421 with control for stacker crane operations
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/0275 Damage on the load carrier
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/042 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/08 Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07 Floor-to-roof stacking devices, e.g. "stacker cranes", "retrievers"
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/0755 Position control; Position detectors

Abstract

Article sensor for detecting an article on an article holder has an article detecting portion for detecting the presence or absence of an article and a wireless communication unit capable of wirelessly transmitting detected information from the article detecting portion. The article detecting portion and the wireless communication unit are assembled into a unit.

Claims

1. An article sensor for detecting an article on an article holder, the sensor comprising:

article detecting portion for detecting presence or absence of an article;

a wireless communication unit capable of wirelessly transmitting detected information from the article detecting portion, wherein the article detecting portion and the wireless communication unit are assembled into a unit.

2. An article sensor as defined in claim 1, wherein

a power supplying unit, for providing power to the article detecting portion and the wireless communication unit, is assembled into unit with the article detecting portion and the wireless communication unit.

3. An article sensor as defined in claim 2, wherein

the article detecting portion has a movable element that can move between an article-absent position and an article-present position that is a depressed position by an article, and a position detector that detects the position of the movable element, the movable element being urged toward its article-absent position.

4. An article sensor as defined in claim 3, wherein

the movable element has a depressed portion including a plate-shaped portion that is adapted to extend along a lower surface of an article placed on the article holder.

5. An article sensor as defined in claim 1, wherein

the article detecting portion and the wireless communication unit are assembled into a unit by virtue of the fact that the article detecting portion and the wireless communication unit are positioned within and are supported by a casing.

6. An article transport device capable of moving an article between a plurality of article transfer locations, the article transport device comprising:

a moving body capable of moving to an article transfer location;

an article transfer device provided to the moving body and capable of transferring an article to the article transfer location;

an article holder provided to the article transfer device and capable of being projected and retracted horizontally;

at least one article sensor provided to the article holder, the sensor has an article detecting portion and a wireless communication unit capable of wirelessly transmitting detected information from the article detecting portion, wherein the article detecting portion and a wireless communication unit are assembled into an unit, and wherein the wireless communication unit transmits the detected information from the article detecting portion to a controller that controls the moving body.

7. An article transfer device as defined in claim 6, wherein

a plurality of article sensors are provided to the article holder.

8. An article transfer device as defined in claim 6, wherein

a power supplying unit, for providing power to the article detecting portion and the wireless communication unit, is assembled into unit with the article detecting portion and the wireless communication unit.

9. An article transfer device as defined in claim 6, wherein

the article detecting portion has a movable element that can move between an article-absent position and an article-present position that is a depressed position by an article, and a position detector that detects the position of the movable element, the movable element being urged toward its article-absent position.

10. An article transfer device as defined in claim 9, wherein

the movable element has a depressed portion including a plate-shaped portion that is adapted to extend along a lower surface of an article placed on the article holder.

11. An article transfer device as defined in claim 6, wherein

the article detecting portion and the wireless communication unit are assembled into a unit by virtue of the fact that the article detecting portion and the wireless communication unit are positioned within and are supported by a casing.

12. Article sensor for detecting an article on an article holder, the sensor comprising:

a casing adapted to be attached to the article holder at a location near an article holding surface of the article holder;

a first arm supported to the casing and movable between a first position and a second position, the first arm having an upper surface capable of contacting an article, and the first arm being urged toward the first position;

a position sensor supported to the casing and capable of detecting the first arm in the second position;

a wireless communication unit supported to the casing and capable of transmitting detected information from the position sensor.

13. An article sensor as defined in claim 12, wherein

the first arm, the position sensor, and the wireless communication unit are positioned inside of the casing.

14. An article sensor as defined in claim 12 further comprising:

a battery that provides power to the position sensor and the wireless communication unit, the battery being supported to the casing.

15. An article sensor as defined in claim 14, wherein

the battery is positioned inside of the casing.

16. An article sensor as defined in claim 12 further comprising:

a second arm connected with the first arm and pivotable in unison with the firs arm, the second arm being capable of abutting against a stopper fixed with respect to the casing to hold the first arm in the first position against an urging force.

17. An article sensor as defined in claim 12, wherein

the sensor is a magnetic sensor that senses magnetic field caused by a magnetic element provided to the first arm.

18. Article sensor for detecting an article located on an article holder, the sensor comprising:

article detecting means for detecting presence or absence of an article and for outputting detected information;

wireless communication means for wirelessly transmitting the detected information;

unit means for attaching the article detecting means and the wireless communication means to the article holder as a unit.

19. An article sensor as defined in claim 18 further comprising:

electric power supply means for supplying electric power to the article detecting means and to the wireless communication means wherein the unit means is capable of attaching the electric power supply means to the article holder together with the article detecting means and the wireless communication means as a unit.