Article sensor and article transport device having same
First Claim
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1. An article sensor for detecting an article on an article holder, the sensor comprising:
- article detecting portion for detecting presence or absence of an article;
a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly transmit detected information from the article detecting portion, wherein the article detecting portion and the wireless communication unit are assembled into a unit;
a power supplying unit, for providing power to the article detecting portion and the wireless communication unit, is assembled into unit with the article detecting portion and the wireless communication unit; and
wherein the article detecting portion has a movable element that can move between an article-absent position and an article present position that is a depressed position by an article, and a position detector that detects the position of the movable element, the movable element being urged toward its article-absent position.
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Abstract
Article sensor for detecting an article on an article holder has an article detecting portion for detecting the presence or absence of an article and a wireless communication unit capable of wirelessly transmitting detected information from the article detecting portion. The article detecting portion and the wireless communication unit are assembled into a unit.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An article sensor for detecting an article on an article holder, the sensor comprising:
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article detecting portion for detecting presence or absence of an article; a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly transmit detected information from the article detecting portion, wherein the article detecting portion and the wireless communication unit are assembled into a unit; a power supplying unit, for providing power to the article detecting portion and the wireless communication unit, is assembled into unit with the article detecting portion and the wireless communication unit; and wherein the article detecting portion has a movable element that can move between an article-absent position and an article present position that is a depressed position by an article, and a position detector that detects the position of the movable element, the movable element being urged toward its article-absent position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An article transport device configured to move an article between a plurality of article transfer locations, the article transport device comprising:
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a moving body configured to move to an article transfer location; an article transfer device provided to the moving body and configured to transfer an article to the article transfer location; an article holder provided to the article transfer device and configured to project and retract horizontally; at least one article sensor provided to the article holder, the sensor has an article detecting portion and a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly transmit detected information from the article detecting portion, wherein the article detecting portion and a wireless communication unit are assembled into a unit, and wherein the wireless communication unit transmits the detected information from the article detecting portion to a controller that controls the moving body; and a power supplying unit, for providing power to the article detecting portion and the wireless communication unit, is assembled into a unit with the article detecting portion and the wireless communication unit. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Article sensor for detecting an article on an article holder, the sensor comprising:
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a casing adapted to be attached to the article holder at a location near an article holding surface of the article holder; a first arm supported to the casing and movable between a first position and a second position, the first arm having an upper surface configured to contact an article, and the first arm being urged toward the first position; a position sensor supported to the casing and configured to detect the first arm in the second position; and a wireless communication unit supported to the casing and configured to wirelessly transmit detected information from the position sensor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification