Automatic transport loading system and method
First Claim
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1. A method for loading a transport having a first and second side with an opening defined between the sides, and the transport having a threshold at the opening, with an automatic guided vehicle (AGV) comprising:
- engaging a load with said AGV;
guiding said AGV with a first guidance system to a first position and wherein said AGV is at the threshold at said first position;
guiding said AGV with a second guidance system from said first position to an intended load position on said transport, said second guidance system including at least one distance measuring sensor, and wherein at said first position said at least one sensor measures the distance to at least one side of said first and second sides of the transport, the AGV using said measured distance to guide the AGV with said second guidance system from said first position to said intended load position;
depositing said load onto said transport at said intended load position; and
guiding said AGV with said second guidance system from said intended load position to a second position.
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Abstract
A method and system for automatically loading and unloading a transport is disclosed. A first guidance system is used to travel near the transport and a second guidance system is used to travel on the transport.
164 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for loading a transport having a first and second side with an opening defined between the sides, and the transport having a threshold at the opening, with an automatic guided vehicle (AGV) comprising:
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engaging a load with said AGV; guiding said AGV with a first guidance system to a first position and wherein said AGV is at the threshold at said first position; guiding said AGV with a second guidance system from said first position to an intended load position on said transport, said second guidance system including at least one distance measuring sensor, and wherein at said first position said at least one sensor measures the distance to at least one side of said first and second sides of the transport, the AGV using said measured distance to guide the AGV with said second guidance system from said first position to said intended load position; depositing said load onto said transport at said intended load position; and guiding said AGV with said second guidance system from said intended load position to a second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for loading a transport having a first and second side with an opening defined between the sides, and the transport having a threshold at the opening, with an automatic guided vehicle (AGV) comprising:
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engaging a load with said AGV; guiding said AGV with a first guidance system to a first position at the threshold of the transport, wherein said first guidance system comprises an inertial guidance system; guiding said AGV with a second guidance system from said first position to an intended load position on said transport, wherein said second guidance system comprises at least one distance measuring device, said at least one distance measuring device determines a first distance to one of the first and second sides of said transport at said first position, whereby said second guidance system uses said first distance to guide said AGV from said first position to said intended load position; depositing said load onto said transport at said intended load position; guiding said AGV with said second guidance system from said intended load position to a second position; and guiding said AGV with said first guidance system from said second position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. An automatic transport loading system for loading a transport having a first and second side and an opening defined between the sides and the transport having a threshold at the opening, said system comprising:
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an automatic guided vehicle (AGV), said AGV comprising a drive mechanism and a steering mechanism; and a first guidance system and a second guidance system, said first and second guidance systems being operatively coupled with said drive and said steering mechanisms of said AGV, said second guidance system including at least one distance measuring device, wherein said first guidance system guides said AGV to a first position at the threshold of said transport, wherein said at least one distance measuring device is capable at said first position of measuring a distance to one of the first and second sides at said first position, said second guidance system uses said distance to guide said AGV from said first position to an intended load position and from said intended load position to a second position, and said first guidance system guides said AGV from said second position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for loading a transport having a first and second side with an opening defined between the sides, and the transport having a threshold at the opening, with an automatic guided vehicle (AGV) comprising:
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engaging a load with said AGV; guiding said AGV with a guidance system having a pair of sensors for measuring distance from a first position to one of the first and second sides and wherein at said first position said AGV is at the threshold of said transport, whereby said guidance system locates an intended load position based on a location of the transport in relation to said first position and wherein as said AGV moves from said first position to the said intended load position, said sensors measure the distance to the sides of the transport; depositing said load onto said transport at said intended load position; and guiding said AGV with said pair of sensors from said intended load position to a second position. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for unloading a transport having a first and second side with an opening defined between the sides, and the transport having a threshold at the opening, with an automatic guided vehicle (AGV) comprising:
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guiding said AGV with a guidance system having a pair of sensors for measuring distance from a first position to one of the first and second sides and wherein at said first position said AGV is at the threshold of said transport, whereby said guidance system locates an approximate load position based on a location of said transport in relation to said first position and as said AGV moves from said first position to said approximate load position, said sensors measure the distance to the sides of the transport; determining a load position; engaging a load with said AGV at said load position; and guiding said AGV with said pair of sensors from said load position to a second position. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for unloading a transport having a first and second side with an opening defined between the sides, and the transport having a threshold at the opening, with an automatic guided vehicle (AGV) comprising:
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guiding said AGV with a first guidance system to a first position at the threshold of the transport; guiding said AGV with a second guidance system from said first position to an expected load position on said transport and wherein said second guidance system includes sensors capable of measuring the distance to one of the first and second side at said first position and as said AGV moves to said expected load position; determining a load position; engaging a load with said AGV at said load position; and guiding said AGV with said second guidance system from said load position to a second position. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification