Automatic transport system

• US 6,443,400 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Original Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Company Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Murata, Masanao, Kyutoku, Senzo, Onishi, Hisashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Mark T.
• Application Number:
  US09/741,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20010003958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 180/167, 180/168, 180/169, 340/901, 340/425.5, 340/435, 340/436, 356/141.1, 356/141.4, 356/141.5, 246/1.R, 246/1.C, 246/167.R, 246/122.R
• US Class Current: 246/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/005 Automatic control or safety means for points for operator-less railway, e.g. transportation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/041 Obstacle detection

Abstract

The present invention improves the transportation efficiency of an automatic transport system for transporting and article to attain the above object, the automatic transport system includes a front detecting device which detects an obstruction in a non-contact state in an area through which an automatic transport vehicle passes and a projection surface of the automatic transport vehicle. When the front detecting device detects the obstruction in the area, the running speed of the automatic transport vehicle is reduced or the automatic transport vehicle is stopped.

Claims

1. An automatic transport system for transporting articles, comprising

a front detecting device which detects an obstruction in a non-contact state in an area through which an automatic transport vehicle passes, said front detecting device emitting a plurality of beams such that the respective sides of said beams are connected to one another, and a projection surface of said automatic transport vehicle, and when said front detecting device detects an obstruction in said area, the running speed of said automatic transport vehicle is reduced or said automatic transport vehicle is stopped.

2. The automatic transport system according to claim 1, wherein said front detecting device is an optical sensor, which emits an optical beam so as to irradiate an entire outer periphery of a projection surface of said automatic transport vehicle, and said optical sensor detects an obstruction in said area.

3. The automatic transport system according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of said optical sensors are provided near the outer periphery of a front surface of said automatic transport vehicle, said optical sensors respectively emit the optical beams that irradiate an area covering of an entire outer periphery of the projection surface of said automatic transport vehicle, and said optical beams are fan-shaped.

4. The automatic transport system according to claim 3, wherein the area irradiated by said optical beams lies partially outside of the outer periphery of said projection surface.

5. The automatic transport system according to claim 4, wherein said automatic transport vehicle is any one of an Overhead Hoist Transport vehicle that runs on a ceiling rail, an Automatic Guided Vehicle that runs on a floor, or a Rail Guided Vehicle that runs on a rail on a floor.