Travel control system for travel vehicle

• US 20070225906A1
• Filed: 03/26/2007
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
• Inventors: Ikeda, Tomoaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,778,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0234 using optical markers or beacons optical beacons per se G01S1/70
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0236 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0263 using magnetic strips

Abstract

A travel control system for controlling a first travel vehicle which travels on a first travel course toward a junction between the first travel course and a second travel course and a second travel vehicle which travels on the second travel course toward the junction in a travel course network comprising the junction, includes counting means for counting a number of the first travel vehicle which exists in a predetermined junction area comprising the junction, and regulator means for stopping the second travel vehicle before the junction area when the counted number of the first travel vehicle is one or more. The regulator means advances the second travel vehicle into the junction area when the counted number of the first travel vehicle is zero.

Claims

1. A travel control system for controlling a first travel vehicle which travels on a first travel course toward a junction between the first travel course and a second travel course and a second travel vehicle which travels on the second travel course toward the junction in a travel course network comprising the junction, the travel control system comprising:

counting means for counting a number of the first travel vehicle which exists in a predetermined junction area comprising the junction; and

regulator means for stopping the second travel vehicle before the junction area when the counted number of the first travel vehicle is one or more, the regulator means advancing the second travel vehicle into the junction area when the counted number of the first travel vehicle is zero.

2. The travel control system according to claim 1, wherein the regulator means keeps the second travel vehicle stopped when the counted number of the first travel vehicle is one or more after once stopping the second travel vehicle before the junction area, and the regulator means advances the second travel vehicle into the junction area when the counted number of the first travel vehicle is zero after once stopping the second travel vehicle before the junction area.

3. The travel control system according to claim 1, wherein the second travel course joins the first travel course at the junction.

4. The travel control system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second travel courses cross at the junction.

5. The travel control system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second travel vehicles each comprise an automated guided vehicle operable to travel automatically.

6. The travel control system according to claim 1, wherein the counting means comprises a counter and a plurality of limit switches.

7. The travel control system according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of limit switches comprises:

a first limit switch for increasing a value of the counter by one each time the first travel vehicle enters the junction area,

a second limit switch for increasing the value of the counter by one each time the second the vehicle enters the junction area, and

a third limit switch for decreasing the value of the counter by one each time any of the first and second travel vehicles exits from the junction area.

8. The travel control system according to claim 1, wherein the regulator means comprises a stop marker and an infrared projector.

9. The travel control system according to claim 8, wherein the infrared projector sends out an infrared signal to the second travel vehicle when the counted number of the first travel vehicle is zero.

10. The travel control system according to claim 8, wherein the stop marker is formed on a floor surface of a factory by magnetic tape.

11. A travel control system for managing traffic on a travel course network comprising at least two travel courses and at least one junction between the two travel courses, the system comprising:

at least two travel vehicles adapted to travel along the travel courses;

a detector configured to detect one or more first travel vehicles within a predetermined area comprising the junction;

a signal sender adapted to send a detection signal when one or more first travel vehicles are detected and one or more second travel vehicles traveling toward the predetermined area, and an advancement signal when one or more first travel vehicles are not detected;

a signal receiver in communication with one or more second travel vehicles and configured to receive the detection and advancement signals from the signal sender; and

an actuator adapted in response to the detection signal received by the signal receiver to stop the second travel vehicle before the predetermined area when one or more first travel vehicles are in the predetermined area, and adapted in response to the advancement signal received by the signal receiver to advance the second travel vehicle into the predetermined area when the one or more first travel vehicles are not longer detected in the predetermined area.

12. A system for controlling at least two travel vehicles which travel on at least two travel courses in a travel course network comprising at least one junction, the system comprising:

a counter configured to count a number of a first one of the travel vehicles which exists in a predetermined junction area comprising the junction; and

a travel regulator configured to stop a second one of the travel vehicles before the predetermined junction area when the counted number of the first one of the travel vehicles is one of more and configured to advance the second one of the travel vehicles into the predetermined junction area when the counted number of the first one of the travel vehicles is zero.