Vehicle control system for multi-branching track
First Claim
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1. A vehicle control system for a multi-branching track, the system comprising:
- a vehicle (A);
a plurality of stations (ST) at each of which said vehicle (A) is stopped;
a main travelling track (L) for guiding the vehicle (A), said track (L) including a plurality of predetermined branch points (K), across each of said branch points (K) said main travelling track being discontinuously separated by predetermined distances between an upstream line and a plurality of downstream lines, said vehicle including means for sensing said main travelling track whereby said vehicle is adapted to effect guided runs on said upstream line and said downstream lines;
a storage means (T) disposed before each said branch point (K) and storing data for selectively guiding the vehicle to one of said downstream lines;
a mark (M) provided before each said branch point (K) for accurate detection of a branching start position of the vehicle;
wherein said vehicle includes read means for reading the data stored at said storage means and a mark sensor (6) for detecting said mark (M);
wherein said data stored at said storage means (T) includes data of branching directions of said downstream lines and further data of addresses of stations included in the respective downstream lines, said data and said further data being correlated with each other; and
wherein said vehicle effects a self-contained run through said predetermined distances to switch over from said upstream line to one of said downstream lines and then switches to a guided run.
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Abstract
A vehicle control system for a multi-branching track has a main travelling track for guiding a vehicle, a storage unit disposed before a branch point and storing data for selectively guiding the vehicle to one of a plurality of branch tracks, and a data-reading unit mounted on the vehicle and for reading the data stored at the storage unit. The storage unit stores data of branching directions of the branch tracks and further data of addresses of stations included in the respective branch tracks, with the data and further data being correlated with each other.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A vehicle control system for a multi-branching track, the system comprising:
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a vehicle (A); a plurality of stations (ST) at each of which said vehicle (A) is stopped; a main travelling track (L) for guiding the vehicle (A), said track (L) including a plurality of predetermined branch points (K), across each of said branch points (K) said main travelling track being discontinuously separated by predetermined distances between an upstream line and a plurality of downstream lines, said vehicle including means for sensing said main travelling track whereby said vehicle is adapted to effect guided runs on said upstream line and said downstream lines; a storage means (T) disposed before each said branch point (K) and storing data for selectively guiding the vehicle to one of said downstream lines; a mark (M) provided before each said branch point (K) for accurate detection of a branching start position of the vehicle; wherein said vehicle includes read means for reading the data stored at said storage means and a mark sensor (6) for detecting said mark (M); wherein said data stored at said storage means (T) includes data of branching directions of said downstream lines and further data of addresses of stations included in the respective downstream lines, said data and said further data being correlated with each other; and wherein said vehicle effects a self-contained run through said predetermined distances to switch over from said upstream line to one of said downstream lines and then switches to a guided run. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicle control system for a multi-branching track, the system comprising:
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a vehicle (A); a plurality of stations (ST) at each of which said vehicle (A) is stopped; a main travelling track (L) discontinuously separated at predetermined positions (K) by predetermined distances between an upstream line (L1) and a plurality of downstream lines (L2), (L3); a first mark (M1) provided before each said branch point (K) for accurate detection of a branching start position of the vehicle; a second mark (M2) provided at each said station (ST) for accurate detection of a stop position of the vehicle; a first storage means (T1) disposed before each said branch point (K) and storing data for selectively guiding the vehicle to any of the branch tracks (L1) , (L2) , (L3) , travelling control data for allowing said vehicle (A) to effect a self-contained run at each said branch point (K), and address data concerning addresses of stations included in the respective branch tracks; a second storage means (T2) disposed before each said station (ST) and storing data at least concerning a distance from said first mark (M1) to said stop position; said vehicle further including a magnetic sensor (5) for sensing said main travelling track (L); a mark sensor (6) for sensing said first and second marks (M1), (M2); a read means (7) for reading the data stored respectively at said first storage means (T1) and said second storage means (T2); a control unit (9) for causing the vehicle (A) to effect said self-contained run or to make a stop at one of said stations (ST) based on information obtained from said read means (7) and said mark sensor (6), wherein said first storage means (T1) stores address data concerning addresses of stations included in the travelling track after the plurality of branch tracks join together, thereby to determine a proper branch track through which the vehicle reaches each said station (ST) by the shortest distance; wherein said vehicle (A) detects said first mark (M1) by said mark sensor (6) and travels by a predetermined distance from said first mark (M1) and then effects said self-contained run over the section discontinuously separated by predetermined distances in accordance with said travelling control data stored at said first storage means (T1), thereby to switch over from said upstream line (L1) to one of said downstream lines (L2), (L3); wherein said travelling control data includes data at least concerning a distance from said first mark (M1) to a point where the vehicle is to be switched over to said self-contained run; and wherein said magnetic sensor (5) includes a number of magnetic sensing elements provided in said vehicle (A) to sense magnetism from said main travelling track (L), thereby to guide said vehicle (A) to a proper position with respect to said main travelling track (L).
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16. A vehicle control system for a multi-branching track, the system comprising:
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a main travelling track (L) for guiding a vehicle (A), said main travelling track including, at predetermined positions (K), (J), (C), upstream lines and downstream lines with the upstream lines being discontinuously separated by predetermined distances from the downstream lines, such that said vehicle effects a self-contained run through the predetermined distances according to predetermined travelling control data to switch over from one of said upstream lines to one of said downstream lines; a storage means (T) disposed before a branch point and storing data for selectively guiding the vehicle to one or a plurality of branch tracks; a read means (7) mounted on the vehicle (A) and for reading the data stored at said storage means, wherein said storage means (T) stores data of branching directions of the branch tracks and further data of addresses of stations included in the respective branch tracks, said data and further data being correlated with each other; a further storage means provided before each said predetermined positions (K), (J), (C), said further storage means storing data for said self-contained vehicle run; a mark (M) provided as a reference point utilized by the vehicle in switching over to said self-contained run after reading the stored data at said storage means, said vehicle including a mark sensor (6) for detecting said mark (M), said travelling control data stored at said storage means (T) including data at least concerning a distance from said mark (M) to a point where the vehicle is to be switched over to said self-contained run; and a magnetic sensor (5) including a number of magnetic sensing elements provided in the vehicle (A) to sense magnetism from said main travelling track (L), thereby to guide said vehicle (A) to a proper position with respect to said travelling track (L).
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17. A vehicle control system for a multi-branching track, the system comprising:
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a vehicle (A); a plurality of stations (ST) at each of which said vehicle (A) is stopped; a main travelling track (L) for guiding the vehicle (A), said track (L) including a plurality of predetermined branch points (K), across each of said branch points (K) said main travelling track being discontinuously separated by predetermined distances between an upstream line (L1) and a plurality of downstream lines (L2), (L3); a storage means (T) disposed before each said branch point (K) and storing data for selectively guiding the vehicle to one of a plurality of branch tracks (L1), (L2), (L3); a mark (M) provided before each said branch point (K) for accurate detection of a branching start position of the vehicle; wherein said vehicle includes read means for reading the data stored at said storage means and a mark sensor (6) for detecting said mark (M); wherein said data stored at said storage means (T) includes data of branching directions of said branch tracks (L1), (L2), (L3) and further data of addresses of stations included in the respective branch tracks (L1), (L2), (L3), said data and said further data being correlated with each other; wherein said vehicle effects a self-contained run through said predetermined distances to switch over from said upstream line (L1) to one of said downstream lines (L2), (L3); wherein said travelling control data includes at least concerning a distance from said mark to a point where the vehicle is to be switched over to said self-contained run; and wherein said vehicle further includes a magnetic sensor (5) including a number of magnetic sensing elements provided in the vehicle for sensing magnetism from the main travelling track, thereby to guide said vehicle to a proper position with respect to the travelling track.
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Specification