Overhead walking type unmanned vehicle transporting system

Abstract

An aerial unmanned transport vehicle (UAV) system for conveying vehicles at height includes a track, at least one vehicle body, at least one loading / unloading position, at least one storage position, and at least one high-altitude temporary storage position. The track forms a loop, and the vehicle body can move on the track to transport the vehicle to the loading / unloading position, storage position, or high-altitude temporary storage position. The vehicle body is also equipped with a transmission mechanism to drive its movement. The transport system further includes a track power supply mechanism comprising a conductive track and multiple conductive wheels. These conductive wheels are rotatably mounted on the vehicle body and roll in contact with the conductive parts of the conductive track, thereby transmitting electrical energy from the track power supply mechanism to the vehicle body. This system also reduces friction and dust, improving cleanliness.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to an unmanned transport vehicle (ARTV) system, and more particularly to an aerial unmanned transport vehicle (ARTV) system applicable to ARTVs. [Previous Technology]

[0002] Existing unmanned transport vehicles are equipped with a rail power supply mechanism. When the vehicle moves on the rail, the rail power supply mechanism can provide the power required by the vehicle. In existing unmanned transport vehicles (OHT) used for high-altitude travel, the vehicle body mostly uses brushes to contact the rail. However, the contact between the brushes and the rail is prone to friction, which generates dust, making it difficult to meet the requirements of high cleanliness, and requiring frequent cleaning, resulting in high maintenance costs. [Summary of the Invention]

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an aerial walking unmanned transport vehicle system that addresses the shortcomings of the prior art. The system is equipped with a track power supply mechanism, which can reduce friction and dust, improve cleanliness, and eliminate the need for frequent cleaning, thereby reducing maintenance costs.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides an aerial unmanned transport vehicle system, comprising: a track, which is disposed in the air and forms a loop, the track including two track bodies; at least one vehicle body capable of moving on the track; at least one loading / unloading position, which is disposed below the track; at least one storage position, which is disposed below the track; and at least one high-altitude temporary storage position, which is disposed on one side of the track, the vehicle body capable of transporting a vehicle to the loading / unloading position, the storage position, or the high-altitude temporary storage position. The device includes a track power supply mechanism comprising two conductive tracks, multiple wheel seats, and multiple conductive wheels. Each of the two conductive tracks includes a track body and at least one conductive part, which is disposed on the track body and extends along the length of the track body. The track bodies of the two conductive tracks are respectively connected to the two track bodies. The conductive wheels are conductive components and are rotatably disposed on the wheel seats. The wheel seats are disposed on the vehicle body. The conductive wheels roll in contact with the conductive parts of the two conductive tracks, thereby transmitting electrical energy from the two conductive tracks to the vehicle body.

[0005] The beneficial effects of the present invention are that the aerial unmanned transport vehicle system provided by the present invention includes a track, at least one vehicle body, at least one loading / unloading position, at least one storage position, at least one high-altitude temporary storage position, and a track power supply mechanism. The vehicle body can move on the track. The loading / unloading position and the storage position are located below the track. The high-altitude temporary storage position is located on one side of the track. The vehicle body can transport the vehicle to the loading / unloading position, the storage position, or the high-altitude temporary storage position for placement, thus providing the function of temporary storage of the vehicle. The track power supply mechanism includes two conductive tracks, multiple wheel seats, and multiple conductive wheels. Each of the two conductive tracks includes a track body and at least one conductive part. The conductive part is disposed on the track body. The track bodies of the two conductive tracks are respectively connected to the two track bodies of the track. The conductive wheels are conductive components. The conductive wheels are rotatably disposed on the wheel seats. The wheel seats are disposed on the vehicle body. The conductive wheels roll in contact with the conductive parts of the two conductive tracks, thereby transmitting the electrical energy of the two conductive tracks to the vehicle body. The conductive wheel of this invention makes rolling contact with the conductive part of the conductive track, which can reduce friction and dust, improve cleanliness, and reduce maintenance costs by eliminating the need for frequent cleaning.

[0006] To further understand the features and technical content of the present invention, please refer to the following detailed description and drawings of the present invention. However, the drawings provided are for reference and illustration only and are not intended to limit the present invention.

Implementation Method

[0017] The following describes the embodiments disclosed in this invention through specific examples. Those skilled in the art can understand the advantages and effects of this invention from the content disclosed in this specification. This invention can be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can also be modified and changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the concept of this invention. In addition, the accompanying drawings of this invention are only simple illustrations and are not depictions based on actual dimensions, as stated in advance. The following embodiments will further describe the relevant technical content of this invention in detail, but the disclosed content is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this invention. In addition, the term "or" used herein should be interpreted as possibly including any combination of one or more of the associated listed items, depending on the actual situation.

[0018] [Example]

[0019] Please refer to Figures 1 to 4. The present invention provides an aerial unmanned transport vehicle conveying system for high-altitude operation, including a track 1, at least one vehicle body 2, at least one loading / unloading position 3, at least one storage position 4, at least one high-altitude temporary storage position 5, and a track power supply mechanism 6.

[0020] The track 1 is installed in the air and can be fixed to the ceiling or other locations. The track 1 includes straight and curved rails and can be arranged as needed without limitation. The track 1 forms a loop, and the vehicle body 2 can move on the track 1 to transport the vehicle to the loading / unloading position 3, storage position 4, or high-altitude temporary storage position 5. The number of loading / unloading positions 3, storage positions 4, and high-altitude temporary storage positions 5 is not limited and can be one or more. The loading / unloading positions 3 and storage positions 4 are located below the track 1, and the high-altitude temporary storage position 5 is located on one side of the track 1. The loading / unloading positions 3, storage positions 4, and high-altitude temporary storage positions 5 form a vehicle placement frame and can be used to temporarily store the vehicle. The vehicle can be transported to the loading / unloading position 3, storage position 4, or high-altitude temporary storage position 5 using the vehicle body 2. The track 1 can also have multiple branching points 1a and multiple meeting points 1b (as shown in Figure 9), so that the vehicle body 2 can move in a straight direction or in a branching or meeting direction as needed. The track 1 can be shared to facilitate the transport of wafers and circuit boards.

[0021] In this embodiment, the track 1 includes a first loop 12 and at least one branch segment 14 (as shown in Figures 2 and 9). Preferably, the track 1 may also include a second loop 13, and the track 1 may include two of the branch segments 14. The first loop 12 has two first straight segments 121 and two first curved segments 122. The two first straight segments 121 are spaced apart and can be parallel to each other. The two ends of the two first curved segments 122 are respectively connected to the two ends of the two first straight segments 121, so that the first loop 12 forms a loop shape. The second loop 13 has two second straight segments 131 and a second curved segment 132. The two second straight segments 131 are spaced apart and can be parallel to each other. The two ends of the second curved segment 132 are respectively connected to one end of the two second straight segments 131, and the other end of the two second straight segments 131 are respectively connected to one end of the two first straight segments 121, so that the first loop 12 and the second loop 13 are connected to each other. Two branch segments 14 are respectively disposed at the outer intervals of the two first straight segments 121. The two branch segments 14 are connected to the first loop 12. In this embodiment, the two ends of the two branch segments 14 are bent toward the two first straight segments 121 respectively, and the two ends of the two branch segments 14 can be connected to the two first straight segments 121 respectively. In another embodiment, one end of the branch segment 14 can be connected to the first straight segment 121, and the other end of the branch segment 14 can be connected to the second straight segment 131, so that the branch segment 14 can be connected to the first loop 12 and the second loop 13. The plurality of branching points 1a and the plurality of meeting points 1b can be disposed at the junctions of the first loop 12, the second loop 13 and the two branch segments 14. Thus, the track 1 can form a better arrangement, so that the vehicle body 2 can move to the first loop 12, the second loop 13 and the two branch segments 14 of the track 1 as needed, and can transport the vehicle to the predetermined equipment.

[0022] Please refer to Figures 4 to 6. The vehicle body 2 is also equipped with a transmission mechanism 21 for moving the vehicle body 2. The transmission mechanism 21 is located on the top side of the vehicle body 2. The transmission mechanism 21 has a transmission roller 211 and a support roller 212. The transmission roller 211 can be driven by a power source (such as a motor), so that the transmission roller 211 and the support roller 212 can roll on the track 1 to move the vehicle body 2. The transmission mechanism 21 may also be equipped with a switching mechanism (not shown) for the branching control of the track 1, which can switch between straight-line and branching. Since the transmission mechanism and the switching mechanism are prior art, and the present invention does not limit the structure of the transmission mechanism and the switching mechanism, they will not be described in detail.

[0023] The track power supply mechanism 6 is installed on the track 1 and can supply the power required by the vehicle body 2, enabling the vehicle body 2 to move on the track 1 to transport the vehicle to a predetermined position. The track 1 includes two track bodies 11, which are spaced apart and extend along the traveling direction of the vehicle body 2. The track power supply mechanism 6 includes two conductive rails 61, multiple wheel seats 62, and multiple conductive wheels 63.

[0024] Referring to Figure 7, each of the two conductive tracks 61 includes a track body 611 and at least one conductive part 612. The track bodies 611 of the two conductive tracks 61 are respectively connected to the two track bodies 11 (as shown in Figures 4 to 6), so that the track bodies 611 extend along the length direction of the track bodies 11. The track bodies 611 of the two conductive tracks 61 can be connected to the two track bodies 11 by assembly or integral molding. In this embodiment, the track bodies 611 are fastened to the track bodies 11 with screws 614 to facilitate assembly and maintenance. Preferably, the track bodies 611 are disposed on the inner side of the track bodies 11.

[0025] The conductive part 612 is made of a conductive material and can transmit electricity. The conductive part 612 is disposed on the track body 611, extending along the length of the track body 611. The conductive part 612 is vertically disposed, and the conductive parts 612 of the two conductive tracks 61 are disposed on the side of the two track bodies 611 that are close to each other, that is, the conductive parts 612 are disposed on the inner side of the track body 611, so as to contact the conductive wheels 63 located between the two conductive tracks 61. The vertically disposed conductive parts 612 of the two conductive tracks 61 of the present invention also provide a limiting effect for the conductive wheels 63, limiting the conductive wheels 63 between the conductive parts 612 of the two conductive tracks 61, thereby preventing the vehicle body 2 from swaying left and right during movement and enabling the vehicle body 2 to move more stably.

[0026] In this embodiment, each track body 611 is provided with two conductive parts 612, but this is not limited. For example, each track body 611 may also be provided with one, three, or four conductive parts 612. These conductive parts 612 are provided on one side of the track body 611, that is, these conductive parts 612 are provided on the side of the track body 611. The conductive parts 612 may be provided on the track body 611 by means of interlocking or the like. The conductive parts 612 are arranged in parallel. Preferably, the conductive parts 612 can be first disposed on an assembly base 613, and then the assembly base 613 can be assembled onto the track body 611. The assembly base 613 can be assembled onto the track body 611 using a dovetail or T-shaped structure. In this embodiment, the track body 611 is provided with a first snap-fit ​​part 6111, and the assembly base 613 is provided with a second snap-fit ​​part 6131. ​​The first snap-fit ​​part 6111 and the second snap-fit ​​part 6131 can be corresponding dovetail grooves and dovetail blocks. The first snap-fit ​​part 6111 and the second snap-fit ​​part 6131 can snap into each other, so that the assembly base 613 can be quickly assembled onto the track body 611. The cross-sectional shape of the assembly base 613 is not limited. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the assembly base 613 can be square (as shown in Figure 7) or other arbitrary shapes.

[0027] In this embodiment, the track body 611 may include a horizontal portion 6112 and a vertical portion 6113. The horizontal portion 6112 is horizontally arranged, and the vertical portion 6113 is vertically arranged. The horizontal portion 6112 and the vertical portion 6113 are perpendicular to each other, so that the cross-section of the track body 611 forms a right angle. The horizontal portion 6112 of the track body 611 is locked to the track body 11 with screws 614. The conductive portion 612 is disposed on the vertical portion 6113 of the track body 611, so that the conductive portion 612 can be accurately positioned on the track body 611.

[0028] Please refer to Figure 8. The conductive wheels 63 are made of conductive material, that is, the conductive wheels 63 are conductive components. The conductive wheels 63 are respectively disposed on the wheel seats 62, and the conductive wheels 63 can rotate on the wheel seats 62. The wheel seats 62 are fixed to the vehicle body 2, and the wheel seats 62 can be fixed to the top side of the vehicle body 2. In this embodiment, the wheel seats 62 are fixed to the transmission mechanism 21 on the top side of the vehicle body 2. Preferably, the horizontal height of the conductive wheels 63 is lower than the horizontal height of the transmission rollers 211 of the transmission mechanism 21, so that the conductive wheels 63 are concentrated below the transmission rollers 211 to facilitate the power transmission configuration. The transmission rollers 211 and the support rollers 212 can roll on the track 1, thereby driving the vehicle body 2 to move.

[0029] In this embodiment, the conductive wheel 63 is pivotally connected to the wheel seat 62 via a bearing 64 and a rotating shaft 65. Specifically, the conductive wheel 63 is mounted on the bearing 64, which in turn is mounted on the rotating shaft 65. The rotating shaft 65 is located on the wheel seat 62, allowing the conductive wheel 63 to rotate freely on the wheel seat 62. The bearing 64 and rotating shaft 65 are conductive components, enabling electrical energy to be transmitted through the conductive wheel 63, bearing 64, and rotating shaft 65. The wheel seat 62 can also be made of a conductive material, allowing electrical energy to be transmitted to the vehicle body 2 through the conductive wheel 63, bearing 64, rotating shaft 65, and wheel seat 62. In another embodiment, a conductive element (not shown) can also be used to transmit the electrical energy from the conductive wheel 63 to the vehicle body 2.

[0030] In this embodiment, each conductive section 612 of each conductive track 61 is provided with at least two conductive wheels 63. The at least two conductive wheels 63 provided with each conductive section 612 of each conductive track 61 are located at the same horizontal height. The conductive section 612 contacts multiple conductive wheels 63, enabling stable power transmission. These conductive wheels 63 are respectively arranged in multiple rows, with multiple conductive wheels 63 in each row. These conductive wheels 63 contact the conductive section 612, enabling stable power transmission.

[0031] The conductive wheels 63 roll in contact with the conductive part 612 of the conductive track 61, so that the electrical energy of the conductive track 61 can be transmitted to the vehicle body 2 to provide the power required by the vehicle body 2.

[0032] Please refer to Figure 10. One end (rear end) of the vehicle body 2 can also be connected to at least one towed vehicle body 7. The towed vehicle body 7 has a rolling element 71. The rolling element 71 of the towed vehicle body 7 can roll on the track body 11 of the track 1. The towed vehicle body 7 can also be used to transport vehicles to increase the transport capacity.

[0033] The beneficial effects of the present invention are that the aerial unmanned transport vehicle system provided by the present invention includes a track, at least one vehicle body, at least one loading / unloading position, at least one storage position, at least one high-altitude temporary storage position, and a track power supply mechanism. The vehicle body can move on the track. The loading / unloading position and the storage position are located below the track. The high-altitude temporary storage position is located on one side of the track. The vehicle body can transport the vehicle to the loading / unloading position, the storage position, or the high-altitude temporary storage position for placement, thus providing the function of temporary storage of the vehicle. The track power supply mechanism includes two conductive tracks, multiple wheel seats, and multiple conductive wheels. Each of the two conductive tracks includes a track body and at least one conductive part. The conductive part is disposed on the track body. The track bodies of the two conductive tracks are respectively connected to the two track bodies of the track. The conductive wheels are conductive components. The conductive wheels are rotatably disposed on the wheel seats. The wheel seats are disposed on the vehicle body. The conductive wheels roll in contact with the conductive parts of the two conductive tracks, thereby transmitting the electrical energy of the two conductive tracks to the vehicle body. The conductive wheel of this invention makes rolling contact with the conductive part of the conductive track, which can reduce friction and dust, improve cleanliness, and reduce maintenance costs by eliminating the need for frequent cleaning.

[0034] The content disclosed above is only a preferred and feasible embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the patent application of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent technical changes made using the contents of the present invention specification and drawings are included in the scope of the patent application of the present invention. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0007] Figure 1 is a front view schematic diagram of the aerial walking unmanned transport vehicle system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0008] Figure 2 is a top view of the aerial walking unmanned transport vehicle system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] Figure 3 is a side view schematic diagram of the aerial walking unmanned transport vehicle system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the track power supply mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 5 is a plan view of the track power supply mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 6 is a detailed view of part VI of Figure 5.

[0013] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the conductive track in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the conductive wheel in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 9 is a top view of the track arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle body connected to a towed vehicle body according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An aerial walking unmanned transport vehicle system, comprising: A track, which is set in the air and forms a loop, comprising two track bodies; at least one vehicle body capable of moving on the track; at least one loading / unloading position located below the track; and at least one storage location located below the track. The vehicle body includes at least one high-altitude temporary storage position located on one side of the track, which allows the vehicle to transport the carrier to the loading / unloading position, the storage position, or the high-altitude temporary storage position; and a track power supply mechanism comprising two conductive tracks, multiple wheel seats, and multiple conductive wheels. Each of the two conductive tracks includes a track body and at least one conductive part, which is disposed on the track body and extends along the length of the track body. The track bodies of the two conductive tracks are respectively connected to the two track bodies. The conductive wheels are conductive components and are rotatably disposed on the wheel seats. The wheel seats are disposed on the vehicle body. The conductive wheels roll in contact with the conductive parts of the two conductive tracks, thereby transmitting electrical energy from the two conductive tracks to the vehicle body. The track includes a first loop and at least one branch segment. The first loop has two first straight segments and two first curved segments. The two first straight segments are spaced apart, and the two ends of the two first curved segments are respectively connected to the two ends of the two first straight segments. The branch segment is located at the outer interval of the first straight segments and is connected to the first loop. The track also includes a second loop. The second loop has two second straight segments and a second curved segment. The two second straight segments are spaced apart, and the two ends of the second curved segment are respectively connected to one end of the two second straight segments. The other ends of the two second straight segments are respectively connected to one end of the two first straight segments, so that the first loop and the second loop are interconnected. One end of the branch segment is connected to the first straight segment, and the other end of the branch segment is connected to either the first straight segment or the second straight segment.

2. The aerial unmanned transport vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive wheel is pivotally connected to the wheel seat via a bearing and a shaft, wherein the bearing and the shaft are conductive components.

3. The aerial unmanned transport vehicle system as described in claim 1, wherein the track bodies of the two conductive tracks are respectively connected to the two track bodies by means of assembly or integral molding.

4. The aerial unmanned transport vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive part is disposed on an assembly base, the assembly base is assembled on the track body, the track body is provided with a first locking part, the assembly base is provided with a second locking part, and the first locking part and the second locking part are locked together.

5. The aerial unmanned transport vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the track body is disposed inside the track body.

6. The aerial unmanned transport vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the track bodies is provided with at least two of the conductive parts, the conductive parts being disposed on one side of the track body and arranged in parallel.

7. The aerial unmanned transport vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the track body includes a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, the horizontal portion and the vertical portion being perpendicular to each other, the horizontal portion of the track body being connected to the track body, and the conductive portion being disposed on the vertical portion of the track body.

8. The aerial unmanned transport vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of the vehicle body is connected to at least one towed vehicle body having a rolling element that is capable of rolling on the track body of the track.

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