Load Handling Bumper For Material Handling Device

• US 20110056760A1
• Filed: 09/10/2009
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daifuku Company Limited, Jervis B Webb Company (Daifuku Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Jervis B Webb Company (Daifuku Company Limited)
• Inventors: Schendel, David Lawrence, Chilson, Gerald Edward, Kiyokawa, Wataru, Emond, Daniel T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,146,702 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/274
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

A material handling device includes an automated guided vehicle configured for use with a carrier. Both the vehicle and the carrier include a bumper having a reflective target mounted thereon. The automated guided vehicle includes a sensor having a light source and a scanner for receiving a reflection from the light source. The light source directs a first light beam at the vehicle reflective target and a second light beam at the carrier reflective target. When the vehicle bumper is moved toward the sensor, the vehicle reflective target moves into a reflective position and when the carrier bumper is moved toward the sensor, the carrier reflective target moves into a reflective position. The movement of the either bumper into the reflective position generates a signal from the sensor to a controller to control the movement of the automated guided vehicle in response to movement of either bumper.

Claims

1. A material handling device having an automated guided vehicle configured for use with a carrier comprising:

a vehicle bumper, mounted to the automated guided vehicle, including a vehicle reflective target secured to said bumper;

a sensor, mounted on the automated guided vehicle, having a light source capable of transmitting a first and a second light beam and a scanner for receiving a reflection from said first and said second light beam;

said first light beam directed toward the vehicle reflective target;

said vehicle reflective target being moveable in response to deflection of said vehicle bumper from a non-reflective position to a reflective position when said vehicle bumper is moved toward said sensor;

a carrier bumper, mounted to the carrier, including a carrier reflective target secured to said carrier bumper;

said second light beam directed to the carrier reflective target;

said carrier reflective target being moveable in response to deflection of said carrier bumper from a non-reflective position to a reflective position when said carrier bumper is moved toward said sensor; and

a controller for controlling the automated guided vehicle in response to a signal from said sensor.

2. A material handling device according to claim 1 wherein said carrier bumper is mounted to a front portion of said carrier.

3. A material handling device according to claim 1 wherein said carrier bumper is pivotably mounted to at least one side of said carrier about a horizontal axis.

4. A material handling device according to claim 1 wherein said carrier bumper is mounted to at least two sides of said carrier.

5. A material handling device according to claim 3 wherein said carrier bumper is pivotably mounted to a front portion of said carrier.

6. A material handling device according to claim 3 wherein said carrier bumper is pivotably mounted to a lateral side of said carrier.

7. A material handling device according to claim 3 wherein the automated guided vehicle includes a ramp surface for contacting said carrier bumper.

8. A material handling device according to claim 1 wherein said carrier includes at least four carrier bumpers mounted to at least a portion of a front, rear and a first and second lateral side of said carrier.

9. A material handling device according to claim 1 wherein said light source includes a first and a second light source for sending said first and said second light beams, respectively.

10. A material handling device according to claim 1 wherein said scanner includes a first and a second scanner for receiving said reflection from said first and said second light beams, respectively.

11. A material handling device according to claim 1 wherein said carrier bumper includes at least two bumpers mounted in a predetermined spaced manner.

12. A material handling device comprising:

a carrier having a front, rear and first and second lateral sides;

an automated guided vehicle configured for driving under said carrier, engaging and disengaging said carrier at a predetermined position, and driving-out from under said carrier;

a vehicle bumper, mounted on said automated guided vehicle, including a vehicle reflective target secured to said vehicle bumper;

a sensor, mounted on the automated guided vehicle, having a light source capable of transmitting a first and a second light beam and a scanner for receiving a reflection from said first and said second light beam;

said first light beam directed toward the vehicle reflective target;

said vehicle reflective target being moveable in response to deflection of said vehicle bumper from a non-reflective position to a reflective position when said vehicle bumper is moved toward said sensor;

a carrier bumper, mounted to the carrier, including a carrier reflective target secured to said carrier bumper;

said second light beam directed to the carrier reflective target;

said carrier reflective target being moveable in response to deflection of said carrier bumper from a non-reflective position to a reflective position when said carrier bumper is moved toward said sensor; and

a controller for controlling the automated guided vehicle in response to a signal from said sensor.

13. A material handling device according to claim 12 wherein said carrier bumper is mounted to a front portion of said carrier.

14. A material handling device according to claim 12 wherein said carrier bumper is pivotably mounted to at least one side of said carrier about a horizontal axis.

15. A material handling device according to claim 12 wherein said carrier bumper is mounted to at least two sides of said carrier.

16. A material handling device according to claim 14 wherein said carrier bumper is pivotably mounted to a front of said carrier.

17. A material handling device according to claim 14 wherein said carrier bumper is pivotably mounted to one of said first and second lateral sides of said carrier.

18. A material handling device according to claim 14 wherein the automated guided vehicle includes a ramp surface for contacting said carrier bumper.

19. A material handling device according to claim 12 wherein said carrier includes at least four carrier bumpers mounted to at least a portion of a front, rear and first and second lateral sides of said carrier.

20. A material handling device according to claim 12 wherein said light source includes a first and a second light source for sending said first and said second light beams, respectively.

21. A material handling device according to claim 12 wherein said scanner includes a first and a second scanner for receiving said reflection from said first and said second light beams, respectively.

22. A material handling device according to claim 12 wherein said automated guided vehicle is configured for driving under said rear of said carrier, engaging and disengaging said carrier at a predetermined position, and driving-out from under said front of carrier.

23. A material handling device according to claim 12 wherein said automated guided vehicle is configured for driving under said carrier, engaging and disengaging said carrier at a predetermined position, and driving-out from under said one of said first and second lateral sides of said carrier.

24. A material handling device having an automated guided vehicle, configured for releasably attaching to a carrier, including a sensor, mounted on the automated guided vehicle, having a light source capable of transmitting a light beam and a scanner capable of receiving a reflection of the light beam, comprising:

a carrier bumper, mounted to the carrier, including a carrier reflective target secured to said carrier bumper wherein the light source is directed toward the carrier reflective target;

said carrier reflective target positioned to reflect the light beam transmitted by the light source to the scanner; and

a controller is provided for use with the automated guided vehicle and connected to the sensor for controlling the movement of the automated guided vehicle in response to a signal from the sensor.

25. A material handling device according to claim 24 wherein said carrier reflective target being moveable in response to deflection of said carrier bumper from a non-reflective position to a reflective position when said carrier bumper is moved into the light beam transmitted by the light source thereby causing the scanner to receive the reflection of the light beam.

26. A material handling device according to claim 24 wherein said signal from the sensor is used to stop the movement of the automated guided vehicle.

27. A material handling device according to claim 24 wherein said signal from the sensor is used to position the carrier with respect to the automated guided vehicle.

28. A material handling device comprising:

a carrier having a front, rear and first and second lateral sides;

an automated guided vehicle configured for driving under said carrier, engaging and disengaging said carrier at a predetermined position, and driving-out from under said carrier;

a vehicle bumper, mounted on said automated guided vehicle;

a first sensor, mounted on the automated guided vehicle, having a light source capable of transmitting a first light beam and a scanner for receiving a reflection from said first light beam;

a second sensor, mounted on the automated guided vehicle, capable of detecting an object in front of the automated guided vehicle;

a carrier bumper, mounted to the carrier, including a carrier reflective target secured to said carrier bumper;

said first light beam directed to the carrier reflector target;

said carrier reflective target being moveable in response to deflection of said carrier bumper from a non-reflective position to a reflective position when said carrier bumper is moved toward said sensor; and

a controller for controlling the automated guided vehicle in response to a signal from said sensor.