Control device for movable body

• US 20070103107A1
• Filed: 11/01/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Original Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Inventors: Hayashi, Takao
• Granted Patent: US 7,408,314 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/466
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/42 Fork lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0038 relating to sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0092 with use of redundant elements for safety purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0421 with control for stacker crane operations
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/063 Automatically guided
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/0755 Position control; Position detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/24 Electrical devices or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2457 Incremental encoders having reference marks
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37422 Distance and attitude detector
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40555 Orientation and distance
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/42215 Stop machine in a predetermined position
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/60 Electric or hybrid propulsion means for production processes

Abstract

An encoder 13 determines the remaining travel distance of a stacker crane to perform deceleration control. When a linear sensor 8 determines an absolute distance from the stop position, the linear sensor 8 performs deceleration control, and when a mark sensor 26 detects a mark 36, the mark sensor 26 performs stop control. Likewise, deceleration control is performed based on the remaining elevation distance determined by an encoder 19. When a linear sensor 9 determines an absolute distance from the stop position, the linear sensor 9 performs deceleration control, and when the mark sensor 26 detects the mark 36, the mark sensor 26 performs stop control.

Claims

1. A control device for determining a position of a movable object relative to a stop position by a sensor to stop the movable object at the stop position, the control device comprising:

an encoder for detecting a movement distance of the movable object;

a linear sensor for outputting a linear output for an absolute distance from a position before the stop position to the stop position; and

a mark sensor for detecting a mark provided at the stop position, wherein as the movable object gets closer to the stop position, a control is switched in an order of the encoder, the linear sensor, and the mark sensor to stop the movable object at the stop position.

2. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising means for correcting the absolute distance to the stop position outputted by the linear sensor, in response to the result of detection of the mark by the mark sensor.

3. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for determining an error in the output of the linear sensor at the stop position in response to the result of detection of the mark by the mark sensor;

means for accumulating the determined error; and

means for requesting a maintenance of the movable object or a maintenance on the stop position side if the accumulated error satisfies a predetermined condition.

4. A transportation apparatus for transferring an article, the transportation apparatus being configured to stop in accordance with data of a target stop position which is stored in advance for a stop position, the transportation apparatus comprising:

means for detecting a mark provided at the stop position, at the time of stopping at the stop position during actual transportation of the article;

means for determining an error in data of the target stop position based on data provided by the detection means; and

means for correcting the data of the target stop position from next time based on the determined error.

5. The transportation apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a linear sensor for detecting an absolute position based on the stop position to stop at the stop position by a fully closed stop control using the linear sensor.

6. The transportation apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising transfer means for transferring the article by moving back and forth from/to the stop position, wherein the transfer means is provided with the detection means for detecting the mark in a state in which the transfer means has moved forward to the stop position.