Rotating light source system for detecting an obstruction in a space, for use in a mobile storage system
First Claim
1. A mobile storage system, comprising:
- at least one upright movable storage unit, wherein the storage unit defines one side of a space defining an open end, and wherein the movable storage unit includes a drive arrangement adapted to move the storage unit across the space;
a pivotable light beam emitter located toward a first side of the space, wherein the light beam emitter is configured and arranged to pivot about a generally vertical pivot axis so that pivoting movement of the light beam emitter functions to move the light beam in a generally horizontal plane across the space toward a second side of the space;
a reflector arrangement located toward the second side of the space opposite the light beam emitter, wherein the reflector arrangement reflects the light beam from the second side of the space toward the first side of the space; and
a sensor located toward the first side of the space for sensing the light beam reflected by the reflector arrangement, wherein the presence of an object within the space functions to obstruct passage of the light beam through the space such that the light beam is prevented from reaching the sensor;
wherein the light beam emitter is configured to pivot to a position at which the light beam impinges on the reflector arrangement adjacent the open end of the space without movement of the light beam into the open end of the space.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An object detection system for use in detecting the presence of an object within a space, such as in an aisle of a mobile storage system bounded by at least one mobile storage unit, includes a pair of pivotable light emitter/receiver unit located outwardly of each side of the space and a series of reflectors located outwardly of each side of the space. Each emitter/receiver unit includes a pivotable emitter which emits a beam of light which passes across and through the space and impinges upon the reflectors located outwardly of the opposite side of the space. A receiver associated with each emitter/receiver unit receives reflected light from the reflectors. The presence of an object within the space prevents the light beam from reaching one or more of the reflectors, and the absence of one or more reflected light beams is detected such that operation of the mobile storage unit is prevented until the object exits or is removed from the space.
20 Citations
41 Claims
-
1. A mobile storage system, comprising:
-
at least one upright movable storage unit, wherein the storage unit defines one side of a space defining an open end, and wherein the movable storage unit includes a drive arrangement adapted to move the storage unit across the space;
a pivotable light beam emitter located toward a first side of the space, wherein the light beam emitter is configured and arranged to pivot about a generally vertical pivot axis so that pivoting movement of the light beam emitter functions to move the light beam in a generally horizontal plane across the space toward a second side of the space;
a reflector arrangement located toward the second side of the space opposite the light beam emitter, wherein the reflector arrangement reflects the light beam from the second side of the space toward the first side of the space; and
a sensor located toward the first side of the space for sensing the light beam reflected by the reflector arrangement, wherein the presence of an object within the space functions to obstruct passage of the light beam through the space such that the light beam is prevented from reaching the sensor;
wherein the light beam emitter is configured to pivot to a position at which the light beam impinges on the reflector arrangement adjacent the open end of the space without movement of the light beam into the open end of the space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 7, 40, 41)
-
-
3. An object detection arrangement for a mobile storage system including at least one movable storage unit movable across a space, wherein the movable storage unit includes a drive arrangement, comprising:
-
a first pivotable light beam emitter located toward a first side of the space, wherein pivoting movement of the first light beam emitter functions to move a first light beam in a direction across the space toward a second side of the space;
a first reflector arrangement located toward the second side of the space opposite the first light beam emitter, wherein the first reflector arrangement reflects the first light beam from the second side of the space toward the first side of the space;
a first sensor located toward the first side of the space for sensing the first light beam reflected by the first reflector arrangement;
a second pivotable light beam emitter located toward the second side of the space, wherein pivoting movement of the second light beam emitter functions to move a second light beam in a direction across the space toward the first side of the space;
a second reflector arrangement located toward the first side of the space opposite the second light beam emitter, wherein the second reflector arrangement reflects the second light beam from the second light beam emitter from the first side of the space toward the second side of the space; and
a second sensor located toward the second side of the space for sensing the second light beam reflected by the second reflector arrangement;
wherein the presence of an object within the space functions to obstruct passage of at least one of the first and second light beams through the space such that the light beam is prevented from reaching the reflector arrangement located toward the opposite side of the space. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 13)
-
-
8. An object detection arrangement for a mobile storage system including at least one movable storage unit movable across a space, wherein the movable storage unit includes a drive arrangement, wherein the space defines first and second ends, comprising:
-
a first pivotable light beam emitter located toward a first end of the space, wherein pivoting movement of the first light beam emitter functions to move a first light beam in a direction across the space from the first end of the space toward the second end of the space;
a first reflector arrangement located toward the second end of the space opposite the first light beam emitter, wherein the first reflector arrangement reflects the first light beam from the second end of the space toward the first end of the space;
a first sensor located toward the first end of the space for sensing the first light beam reflected by the first reflector arrangement, wherein the first sensor is located adjacent the first pivotable light beam emitter;
a second light beam emitter, wherein the second light beam emitter is located toward the second end of the space and emits a second light beam across the space from the second end of the space toward the first end of the space;
a second reflector arrangement located toward the first end of the space; and
a second sensor located adjacent the second light beam emitter;
wherein the presence of an object within the space functions to obstruct passage of at least one of the first and second light beams through the space such that the light beam is prevented from reaching the reflector arrangement located toward the opposite side of the space. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
14. A method of detecting the presence of an object in a space, wherein the space defines at least one open end, comprising the steps of:
-
positioning a light beam emitter at a first location outwardly of the space and at a location inwardly of the open end of the space;
rotating the light beam emitter to move the light beam in a generally horizontal plane across the space such that the light beam traverses at least a portion of the space from a location inwardly of the open end of the space toward the open end of the space, wherein the step of rotating the light beam emitter is carried out such that the light beam is not moved into the open end of the space; and
sensing the passage of the light beam across the space, wherein the presence of an object within the space obstructs the passage of the light beam across the space such that the failure of the light beam to pass across the space indicates the presence of an object within the space. - View Dependent Claims (15)
-
-
16. A method of detecting the presence of an object in a space, comprising the steps of:
-
positioning a light beam emitter at a first location outwardly of the space;
rotating the light beam emitter to move the light beam across the space such that the light beam traverses at least a portion of the space;
sensing the passage of the light beam across the space, wherein the presence of an object within the space obstructs the passage of the light beam across the space such that the failure of the light beam to pass across the space indicates the presence of an object within the space, wherein the space defines first and second sides, wherein at least one of the first and second sides is defined by a movable storage unit, and wherein the light beam emitter is located outwardly of the first side of the space;
positioning a second light beam emitter outwardly of the second side of the space; and
preventing movement of the movable storage unit in response to detection of the presence of an object within the space. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. An object detection system for use in connection with a movable member located adjacent a space, comprising:
-
a pair of pivotable emitters, wherein a first one of the emitters is located toward a first side of the space and a second one of the emitters is located toward a second side of the space, wherein each emitter emits a light beam which moves across and through the space upon pivoting movement of the emitter;
a first series of spaced reflectors located toward the first side of the space;
a second series of spaced reflectors located toward the second side of the space;
a first receiver located toward the first side of the space; and
a second receiver located toward the second side of the space;
wherein light from the first emitter is reflected by the second series of reflectors and is received by the first receiver, and wherein light from the second emitter is reflected by the first series of reflectors and is received by the second receiver, wherein the presence of an object within the space blocks the path of light from at least one of the first reflectors to the second receiver or from at least one of the second reflectors to the first receiver, to provide an indication as to the presence of an object within the space. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. An object detection system for use in connection with an upright movable member located adjacent an open-ended space, comprising:
-
at least one emitter located toward a first side of the space, wherein the emitter emits a light beam and is movable so as to move the light beam in a generally horizontal plane across and through the space without moving the light beam into the open end of the space;
at least one receiver located toward a second side of the space, wherein the at least one receiver receives the light beam from the emitter and wherein the presence of an object within the space functions to block the light beam to prevent the light beam from reaching the receiver, to indicate the presence of an object within the space.
-
-
32. An object detection system for use in connection with a movable member located adjacent a space, comprising:
-
at least one emitter located toward a first side of the space, wherein the at least one emitter emits a light beam and is movable so as to move the light beam across and through the space;
at least one receiver located toward a second side of the space, wherein the at least one receiver receives the light beam from the at least one emitter, wherein the space extends between a first end and a second end, wherein a first emitter is located at a first end of the space and emits a first light beam across the space in a first direction, and wherein a second emitter is located at a second end of the space and emits a second light beam across the space in a second direction opposite the first direction;
wherein the presence of an object within the space functions to block at least one of the light beams to prevent the light beam from reaching the receiver, to indicate the presence of an object within the space. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. An object detection system for use in connection with an upright movable member located adjacent a space, wherein the space defines an open end, comprising:
-
at least one emitter located toward a first side of the space, wherein the emitter emits a light beam and is configured so as to be movable so as to move the light beam in a generally horizontal plane across the space toward a second side of the space without movement into the open end of the space;
a series of reflectors located toward the second side of the space, wherein the light beam from the emitter impinges upon the reflectors as the emitter moves so as to reflect the light beam from the second side of the space back toward the first side of the space; and
a receiver located toward the first side of the space, wherein the receiver receives the light beam reflected by the reflectors and wherein the presence of an object within the space functions to block the path of light between the emitter and the receiver.
-
-
37. An object detection system for use in connection with a movable member located adjacent a space, comprising:
-
at least one emitter located toward a first side of the space, wherein the at least one emitter emits a light beam and is movable so as to move the light beam across the space toward a second side of the space;
a first series of reflectors located toward the second side of the space, wherein the light beam from a first emitter impinges upon the first series of reflectors as the first emitter moves so as to reflect the light beam from the second side of the space back toward the first side of the space;
a first receiver located toward the first side of the space, wherein the first receiver receives the light beam reflected by the first series of reflectors;
a second emitter located toward the second side of the space;
a second receiver located toward the second side of the space; and
a second series of reflectors located toward the first side of the space, wherein the light beam from the second emitter impinges upon the second series of reflectors and is reflected back toward the second side of the space and is received by the second receiver wherein the presence of an object within the space functions to block the path of light between the at least one of the emitters and the associated receiver. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
-
Specification