An automatic tarp system and motion control method

Abstract

The application provides an automatic tarpaulin system and a motion control method. The automatic tarpaulin system comprises a tarpaulin frame, a tarpaulin cover connected with the tarpaulin frame, a driving member for driving the tarpaulin cover to move along the outer contour of the tarpaulin frame, and a controller electrically connected with the driving member. The tarpaulin frame comprises a top beam and a side beam connected with the top beam. The controller is configured to: in response to a preset first control instruction, control the driving member to drive the tarpaulin cover to vertically move along the side beam at a first power; in response to a preset second control instruction, control the driving member to switch from the first power to a second power and drive the tarpaulin cover to switch between vertical movement and horizontal movement at the second power; and in response to a preset third control instruction, control the driving member to switch from the second power to a third power and drive the tarpaulin cover to horizontally move along the top beam at the third power. The application can make the automatic tarpaulin system have good environmental adaptability and improve user experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of transportation machinery technology, specifically relating to an automatic tarpaulin system and motion control method. Background Technology

[0002] During cargo transportation or storage, tarpaulins are typically used to cover and wrap goods to prevent them from being blown away by the wind or to prevent dust and other pollutants from entering the air and causing environmental pollution, or simply to protect the goods. Traditionally, tarpaulins are laid manually, which is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and often requires multiple people, making it very inefficient and unable to meet the increasing demands of freight transport. Furthermore, sometimes workers need to climb onto the cargo compartment to do this, which not only increases their workload but is also very dangerous, increasing the risk of injury.

[0003] Based on this, automatic tarpaulin covering devices have emerged on the market, capable of automatically covering goods with tarpaulins to replace manual covering. Specifically, the automatic tarpaulin covering device uses a motor to drive the tarpaulin cover to move along the contour of the tarpaulin frame, thereby realizing the opening and closing of the tarpaulin on the top of the carriage. In addition, since the movement path of the tarpaulin cover is along the outer contour of the carriage, the actual power of the motor will also change during horizontal and vertical winding; furthermore, complex external environments (such as strong winds, rain, snow, etc.) and the structure of the tarpaulin itself will also affect the actual tarpaulin winding process, thus affecting the actual power of the motor.

[0004] However, the motors in existing automatic tarpaulin devices can generally only operate at constant power or constant speed, without taking into account the complex and ever-changing movement of the tarpaulin cover and the external environment. This not only makes them unsuitable for practical application and fails to meet the actual needs of users, but also easily damages the motors themselves due to excessive actual power, which is detrimental to the safety and stability of the equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the above problems, embodiments of the present invention provide an automatic tarpaulin system and motion control method to solve the problem that when the automatic tarpaulin device in the prior art is driven by a constant power or constant speed motor, the motor cannot be adapted to the actual movement process of the tarpaulin cover or the complex external environment.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide an automatic tarpaulin system, including a tarpaulin frame, a tarpaulin cover connected to the tarpaulin frame, a drive component for driving the tarpaulin cover to move along the outer contour of the tarpaulin frame, and a controller electrically connected to the drive component. The tarpaulin frame includes a top beam and a side beam connected to the top beam.

[0007] The controller is configured as follows:

[0008] In response to a preset first control command, the control drive unit drives the tarpaulin cover to move vertically along the side beam with a first power;

[0009] In response to a preset second control command, the control drive unit switches from the first power to the second power, and drives the tarpaulin cover to switch between vertical and horizontal movement with the second power, thereby causing the tarpaulin cover to flip over and pass through the connection between the top beam and the side beam;

[0010] In response to a preset third control command, the control drive unit switches from the second power to the third power, and drives the tarpaulin cover to move horizontally along the top beam with the third power.

[0011] In one feasible approach, the drive element has an output shaft, and the controller is further configured to determine the number of rotations or rotation time of the output shaft based on the height of the side beam and the size of the output shaft, in order to generate a first control command.

[0012] In one feasible approach, the controller is also configured to determine the number of rotations or rotation time of the output shaft based on the length of the tarpaulin cover and the size of the output shaft, in order to generate a second control command.

[0013] In one feasible approach, the controller is also configured to determine the number of rotations or rotation time of the output shaft based on the width of the top beam and the dimensions of the output shaft, in order to generate a third control command.

[0014] In one feasible manner, the first power is greater than or equal to the second power, and the second power is greater than or equal to the third power; or, the first power is less than or equal to the second power, and the second power is less than or equal to the third power.

[0015] In one feasible embodiment, the controller is further configured to: control the drive unit to stop working when the drive unit performs vertical movement and the drive unit operates at a power greater than a first power for a duration exceeding a preset first threshold; or control the drive unit to stop working when the drive unit switches between vertical and horizontal movement and the drive unit operates at a power greater than a second power for a duration exceeding a preset second threshold; or control the drive unit to stop working when the drive unit performs horizontal movement and the drive unit operates at a power greater than a third power for a duration exceeding a preset third threshold.

[0016] In one feasible approach, the automated tarpaulin system also includes detectors mounted on the tarpaulin frame, which detect obstacles protruding from the side beams and top beams and send detection signals to the controller; the controller is further configured to receive the detection signals from the detectors and control the drive components to stop operating.

[0017] In one feasible approach, the detector can be any one of a limit switch, an infrared sensor, a laser sensor, or an inductor.

[0018] In one feasible approach, there are multiple detectors, and these detectors are evenly distributed on the side beams and the top beam.

[0019] Secondly, embodiments of the present invention also provide a motion control method, which is applied to the above-mentioned automatic tarpaulin system and includes the following steps:

[0020] In response to a preset first control command, the drive unit drives the tarpaulin cover to move vertically along the side beam with a first power;

[0021] In response to a preset second control command, the drive unit switches from the first power to the second power, and drives the tarpaulin cover to switch between vertical and horizontal movement using the second power;

[0022] In response to a preset third control command, the drive unit switches from the second power to the third power and drives the tarpaulin cover to move horizontally along the top beam using the third power.

[0023] Due to the adoption of the above technical solution, the technical effects achieved by this invention are as follows:

[0024] First, the automatic tarpaulin system provided by this invention includes a tarpaulin frame, a tarpaulin cover, a drive component, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the drive component to move the tarpaulin cover along the side beams and top beam of the tarpaulin frame with different power according to different preset control commands, thereby making the movement of the tarpaulin cover smoother. For example, when the tarpaulin cover moves from the side beam to the top beam, in the vertical direction, the drive component needs to overcome the friction between the tarpaulin cover and the tarpaulin frame, as well as the weight of the tarpaulin cover itself; at the connection between the side beam and the top beam, the drive component needs to overcome the friction and the weight component of the tarpaulin cover; in the horizontal direction, the drive component only needs to overcome the friction. Therefore, this invention adjusts the operating power of the drive component in real time according to the different states of the tarpaulin cover, enabling the drive component to adapt to the actual movement of the tarpaulin cover. Specifically, when the tarpaulin cover requires different power levels, the controller can control the drive component to switch between a first power, a second power, and a third power, thereby not only saving energy to a certain extent but also protecting the drive component from malfunctions due to prolonged high-power operation. This, in turn, ensures better safety and stability of the automatic tarpaulin system. Furthermore, when encountering complex external environments (such as rain, snow, strong winds, etc.), the drive component needs to overcome not only friction and the weight of the tarpaulin cover but also external forces (such as wind). The controller in this invention can also control the drive component to operate at an appropriate power level according to changes in the external environment, thus giving the automatic tarpaulin system good environmental adaptability and improving the user experience.

[0025] Secondly, the present invention also provides a motion control method, which is applied to an automatic tarpaulin system to achieve smooth control of the movement of the tarpaulin cover, thereby improving the automation and intelligence level of the automatic tarpaulin system.

[0026] The above description is merely an overview of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention. In order to better understand the technical means of the embodiments of the present invention and to implement them in accordance with the contents of the specification, and to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention are described below. Attached Figure Description

[0027] The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, the same reference numerals denote the same parts throughout the drawings. In the drawings:

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an automatic tarpaulin system provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the movement process of a tarpaulin cover provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another tarpaulin cover movement process provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 4 This is a structural schematic diagram of another tarpaulin cover movement process provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating a motion control method provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] In the picture:

[0034] 100 tarpaulin frame, 110 top beam, 120 side beam, 200 tarpaulin cover, 300 drive unit, 400 detector. Detailed Implementation

[0035] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the invention can be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0036] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an automatic tarpaulin system provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Reference Figure 1As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides an automatic tarpaulin system, including a tarpaulin frame 100, a tarpaulin cover 200 connected to the tarpaulin frame 100, a drive member 300 for driving the tarpaulin cover 200 to move along the outer contour of the tarpaulin frame 100, and a controller (not shown) electrically connected to the drive member 300. The tarpaulin frame 100 includes a top beam 110 and a side beam 120 connected to the top beam 110.

[0038] It should be noted that in the automatic tarpaulin system provided by the present invention, the tarpaulin frame 100 is disposed on the outside of the carriage (not shown in the figure), and the tarpaulin cover 200 is located on the top of the carriage. Both the tarpaulin frame 100 and the tarpaulin cover 200 are covered with tarpaulins, thereby achieving the covering of the carriage. Further, the tarpaulin frame 100 and the tarpaulin cover 200 are slidably connected, allowing the tarpaulin cover 200 to move relative to the tarpaulin frame 100, thereby opening or closing the opening of the carriage. Exemplarily, the tarpaulin frame 100 has a sliding groove, the tarpaulin cover 200 has a slider, and a chain can be disposed within the sliding groove. The tarpaulin cover 200 is provided with a sprocket that cooperates with the chain. In addition, a drive member 300 can be disposed on the tarpaulin frame 100 and connected to the chain to drive the chain; or the drive member 300 can also be disposed on the tarpaulin cover 200 and connected to the sprocket to drive the sprocket. Through the driving action of the drive component 300, and the cooperation between the slide and the slider, and the sprocket and the chain, the tarpaulin cover 200 can be automatically rotated and moved relative to the tarpaulin frame 100.

[0039] It is understood that the movable connection between the tarpaulin cover 200 and the tarpaulin frame 100 in this embodiment of the invention is not limited to the example described above. For example, the two can also be connected by a gear-rack, nut-screw, guide wheel-guide rail, or other similar methods, and this invention does not limit the connection in any of these ways.

[0040] It should also be noted that the controller in this invention can be electrically connected to the drive unit 300. For example, the controller and the drive unit 300 can be connected via wires, control lines, etc., or wirelessly via Bluetooth, microwave, infrared, WIFI, Near Field Communication (NFC), etc. Furthermore, the controller can be fixedly mounted on the tarpaulin frame 100 or separately mounted from the tarpaulin frame 100. This invention does not limit the connection method between the controller and the drive unit 300, nor the mounting method of the controller.

[0041] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the movement process of a tarpaulin cover provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another tarpaulin cover movement process provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of the movement process of another tarpaulin cover provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Specifically, refer to Figures 2-4 As shown, the controller in this invention is configured as follows:

[0043] Reference Figure 2 As shown, in response to a preset first control command, the control drive unit 300 drives the tarpaulin cover 200 to move vertically along the side beam 120 with a first power (e.g., Figure 2 (The direction of the arrow in the image);

[0044] Reference Figure 3 As shown, in response to a preset second control command, the control drive unit 300 switches from a first power to a second power, and drives the tarpaulin cover 200 to switch between vertical and horizontal movement using the second power (e.g., Figure 3 (in the direction of the arrow in the image), thereby causing the tarpaulin cover 200 to flip over through the connection between the top beam 110 and the side beam 120;

[0045] Reference Figure 4 As shown, in response to a preset third control command, the control drive unit 300 switches from the second power to the third power, and drives the tarpaulin cover 200 to move horizontally along the top beam 110 using the third power (e.g., Figure 4 (The direction of the arrow in the image).

[0046] Among them, the first control command, the second control command and the third control command are all preset commands in the controller. The user can determine them according to the specific size of the tarpaulin frame 100, the specifications of the drive component 300, the weight of the tarpaulin cover 200, the coefficient of friction between the tarpaulin frame 100 and the tarpaulin cover 200, and the running status of the tarpaulin cover 200 on the tarpaulin frame 100.

[0047] For example, because the tarpaulin cover 200 experiences different force states at the side beam 120, top beam 110, and the connection point between the side beam 120 and top beam 110 (i.e., at the corner), the first power, second power, and third power corresponding to the first control command, second control command, and third control command, respectively, have different magnitudes. Specifically, when the tarpaulin cover 200 moves from the side beam 120 to the top beam 110, the tarpaulin cover 200 moves vertically on the side beam 120. The driving force on the tarpaulin cover 200 should be greater than or equal to the weight of the tarpaulin cover 200 and the frictional force between the tarpaulin cover 200 and the tarpaulin frame 100. The driving component 300 needs to do work to overcome the weight of the tarpaulin cover 200 and the frictional force between the tarpaulin cover 200 and the tarpaulin frame 100. When the tarpaulin cover 200 moves at the corner, the driving force on the tarpaulin cover 200 should be greater than or equal to the weight of the tarpaulin cover 200 and the frictional force between the tarpaulin cover 200 and the tarpaulin frame 100. The driving force 300 needs to overcome the weight of the tarpaulin 200 and the friction between the tarpaulin 200 and the tarpaulin frame 100. When the tarpaulin 200 moves horizontally on the top beam 110, the driving force on the tarpaulin 200 should be greater than or equal to the friction between the tarpaulin 200 and the tarpaulin frame 100. Therefore, the driving force 300 needs to overcome this friction. In other words, when the tarpaulin 200 moves from the side beam 120 to the top beam 110, the first power is greater than the second power, and the second power is greater than the third power. Similarly, when the tarpaulin 200 moves from the top beam 110 to the side beam 120, the third power is greater than or equal to the second power, and the second power is greater than or equal to the first power.

[0048] It is important to note that during transportation, the vehicle compartment typically faces complex external environments. Therefore, when the tarpaulin cover 200 moves relative to the tarpaulin frame 100, in addition to considering the structure of the automatic tarpaulin system itself, changes in the external environment also need to be taken into account. For example, when there is strong wind, the drive component 300 needs to overcome not only the gravity or friction of the tarpaulin cover 200, but also the wind force. When there is snow on the tarpaulin cover 200, the friction between the tarpaulin cover 200 and the tarpaulin frame 100 increases, and the drive component 300 also needs to overcome this increased friction. Based on this, the actual values ​​of the first power, second power, and third power in this invention can be relatively large to ensure that the tarpaulin cover 200 can operate stably relative to the tarpaulin frame 100.

[0049] The automatic tarpaulin system provided by this invention has a controller configured to control the drive component 300 to drive the tarpaulin cover 200 along the side beam 120 and top beam 110 of the tarpaulin frame 100 at different power levels according to different preset control commands, thereby making the movement of the tarpaulin cover 200 smoother. Specifically, this invention can adjust the operating power of the drive component 300 in real time according to different states of the tarpaulin cover 200, so that the drive component 300 can adapt to the actual movement process of the tarpaulin cover 200. That is, when the tarpaulin cover 200 needs to be driven by different power levels, the controller can control the drive component 300 to switch between a first power, a second power, and a third power, which not only helps to save energy to a certain extent, but also protects the drive component 300 from failure due to long-term high-power operation, thereby ensuring that the automatic tarpaulin system has better safety and stability. Furthermore, when encountering complex external environments (such as rain, snow, strong winds, etc.), the drive unit 300 needs to overcome not only friction and the weight of the tarpaulin cover 200, but also external forces (such as wind). The controller in this invention can also control the drive unit 300 to operate at appropriate power according to changes in the external environment, thereby enabling the automatic tarpaulin system to have good environmental adaptability and improve the user experience.

[0050] In one possible embodiment, the drive element 300 has an output shaft (not shown in the figure). Optionally, the drive element 300 can be a drive motor, and the output shaft is the main shaft of the drive motor. Furthermore, the controller is configured to determine the number of rotations or rotation time of the output shaft based on the height of the side beam 120 and the dimensions of the output shaft to generate a first control command.

[0051] In addition to the corresponding first power, the first control command may also include the running time of the first power, which can be determined according to the dimensions of the side beam 120 and the drive shaft.

[0052] Specifically, once the specifications of the drive component 300 are determined, the dimensions of the drive shaft are also determined; once the dimensions of the tarpaulin frame 100 are determined based on the dimensions of the carriage, the height of the side beam 120 is also determined. Therefore, based on the determined dimensions of the drive shaft and the height of the side beam 120, the user can determine the number of rotations or rotation time of the drive shaft according to the rated speed of the drive component 300, thereby determining the operating time of the first power and ultimately forming a preset first control command.

[0053] For example, the height of the side beam 120 in the tarpaulin frame 100 can be 2500mm, and the drive unit 300 can be a motor with a rated power of 300W and a rated speed of 65rpm, and the diameter of the drive shaft of the motor is 25mm. After calculation, the number of rotations of the drive shaft is 32, and the running time of the first power is 30s.

[0054] Optionally, the controller is also configured to: determine the number of rotations or rotation time of the output shaft based on the length of the tarpaulin cover 200 and the size of the output shaft to form a second control command; and determine the number of rotations or rotation time of the output shaft based on the width of the top beam 110 and the size of the output shaft to form a third control command.

[0055] Similar to the first control command, the second and third control commands in this invention can also be determined based on the size of the drive shaft, the length of the tarpaulin cover 200, and the width of the top beam 110. The specific determination process of the second and third control commands will not be elaborated here.

[0056] By setting the first control command, the second control command, and the third control command, the present invention enables the controller to control the drive component 300 to work with different power levels, thereby making the movement of the tarpaulin cover 200 relative to the tarpaulin frame 100 more consistent with the actual structure of the automatic tarpaulin system and changes in the external environment, thus helping to ensure the stability and safety of the movement of the tarpaulin cover 200.

[0057] In one feasible manner, the first power is greater than or equal to the second power, and the second power is greater than or equal to the third power; or, the first power is less than or equal to the second power, and the second power is less than or equal to the third power.

[0058] When the tarpaulin cover 200 moves from the side beam 120 to the top beam 110, the first power of the drive component 300 is greater than or equal to the second power, and the second power is greater than or equal to the third power, so that the tarpaulin cover 200 has sufficient torque during the movement; when the tarpaulin cover 200 moves from the top beam 110 to the side beam 120, the first power is less than or equal to the second power, and the second power is less than or equal to the third power, so that the tarpaulin cover 200 maintains a suitable speed during the movement.

[0059] It should be noted that the present invention does not limit the specific magnitude of the first power, the second power and the third power, which can be reasonably adjusted according to the movement state of the tarpaulin cover 200, and the present invention does not limit them.

[0060] To ensure the lifespan of the drive component 300 and enable it to maintain stable operation over a long period, the controller in this invention can also limit the operating time of the drive component 300 by setting a preset threshold, thereby preventing the drive component 300 from operating at a certain power for a long time, which could lead to damage or overheating.

[0061] Specifically, in one feasible manner, the controller is further configured to: control the drive unit 300 to stop working when the drive unit 300 performs vertical movement and the drive unit 300 operates at a power greater than a first power for a duration exceeding a preset first threshold; or control the drive unit 300 to stop working when the drive switches between vertical and horizontal movement and the drive unit 300 operates at a power greater than a second power for a duration exceeding a preset second threshold; or control the drive unit 300 to stop working when the drive unit 300 performs horizontal movement and the drive unit 300 operates at a power greater than a third power for a duration exceeding a preset third threshold.

[0062] During the movement of the tarpaulin cover 200 along the side beam 120, if the drive component 300 operates at a power exceeding the first power and the operating time exceeds the first threshold, it is considered that the drive component 300 is overloaded. This could be due to increased weight of the tarpaulin cover 200 or exposure to strong winds, rain, or snow. Alternatively, it could be considered that the drive component 300 is operating at excessive speed, which is detrimental to the smooth operation between the tarpaulin cover 200 and the tarpaulin frame 100. In this case, the controller can respond to the first threshold and the actual operating time of the drive component 300, controlling the drive component 300 to stop operating. This adds an overload protection layer to the drive component 300, ensuring its safety and lifespan.

[0063] When the drive component 300 moves at the connection between the side beam 120 and the top beam 110, if the drive component 300 operates at a power exceeding the second power and the operating time exceeds the second threshold, it is considered that the drive component 300 is operating under overload or overspeed. At this time, the controller can respond to the second threshold and the actual operating time of the drive component 300 to control the drive component 300 to stop working.

[0064] During the movement of the drive component 300 along the top beam 110, if the drive component 300 operates at a power exceeding the third power and the operating time exceeds the third threshold, it is considered that the drive component 300 is operating under overload or overspeed. At this time, the controller can respond to the third threshold and the actual operating time of the drive component 300 to control the drive component 300 to stop working.

[0065] For example, the first power can be 40W, the first threshold can be 5s, and when the drive unit 300 operates at 50W power for more than 5s, the controller controls the drive unit 300 to stop working; the second power can be 30W, the second threshold can be 3s, and when the drive unit 300 operates at 35W power for more than 3s, the controller controls the drive unit 300 to stop working; the third power is 25W, the third threshold can be 4s, and when the drive unit 300 operates at 28W power for more than 4s, the controller controls the drive unit 300 to stop working.

[0066] In some embodiments, the automatic tarpaulin system further includes a detector 400 disposed on the tarpaulin frame 100. The detector 400 is used to detect obstacles protruding from the side beam 120 and the top beam 110 and send a detection signal to the controller. At this time, the controller is also configured to receive the detection signal sent by the detector 400 and control the drive unit 300 to stop working.

[0067] To further enhance the safety of the tarpaulin cover 200 during its movement relative to the tarpaulin frame 100, for example, when goods in the carriage protrude from the frame, or when personnel are present near the frame, this invention can detect obstacles protruding from the side beams 120 and top beams 110 using detectors 400 installed on the side beams 120 and top beams 110. Furthermore, the controller can respond to the received detection signal and control the drive unit 300 to stop operating, thereby reducing potential safety risks associated with the automatic tarpaulin system.

[0068] Furthermore, the detector 400 can be any one of the following: a limit switch, an infrared sensor, a laser sensor, or an inductor. Moreover, there can be multiple detectors 400, and these multiple detectors 400 are evenly distributed on the side beam 120 and the top beam 110. This invention does not limit the type, arrangement, or number of detectors 400.

[0069] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating a motion control method provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] Reference Figure 5 As shown, the present invention also provides a motion control method, which is applied to the above-mentioned automatic tarpaulin system and includes the following steps:

[0071] S100, in response to a preset first control command, the drive unit drives the tarpaulin cover to move vertically along the side beam with a first power.

[0072] S200, in response to a preset second control command, the drive unit switches from the first power to the second power, and drives the tarpaulin cover to switch between vertical and horizontal movement with the second power.

[0073] S300, in response to a preset third control command, the drive unit switches from the second power to the third power, and drives the tarpaulin cover to move horizontally along the top beam with the third power.

[0074] The present invention also provides a motion control method, which is applied to an automatic tarpaulin system to achieve smooth control of the movement of the tarpaulin cover, thereby improving the automation and intelligence level of the automatic tarpaulin system.

[0075] Numerous specific details are set forth in the specification provided herein. However, it will be understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. Similarly, for the sake of brevity and to aid in understanding one or more aspects of the invention, in the description of exemplary embodiments of the invention above, various features of the embodiments are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof. The claims, which follow the detailed description, are hereby expressly incorporated into that detailed description, wherein each claim itself is a separate embodiment of the invention.

[0076] It should be noted that the above embodiments are illustrative of the invention and not restrictive, and that those skilled in the art can devise alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses should not be construed as limiting the claims. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps not listed in the claims. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention can be implemented by means of hardware comprising several different elements and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In the unit claims enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by the same item of hardware. The use of the words first, second, and third, etc., does not indicate any order. These words can be interpreted as names. The steps in the above embodiments, unless otherwise specified, should not be construed as limiting the order of execution.

Claims

1. An automatic tarpaulin system, characterized in that, The device includes a tarpaulin frame, a tarpaulin cover connected to the tarpaulin frame, a drive unit for driving the tarpaulin cover to move along the outer contour of the tarpaulin frame, and a controller electrically connected to the drive unit. The tarpaulin frame includes a top beam and side beams connected to the top beam. The controller is configured to: In response to a preset first control command, the drive unit is controlled to drive the tarpaulin cover to move vertically along the side beam with a first power. In response to a preset second control command, the drive unit is controlled to switch from the first power to the second power, and the tarpaulin is driven to switch between vertical and horizontal movement with the second power, so that the tarpaulin flips over and passes through the connection between the top beam and the side beam; In response to a preset third control command, the drive unit is controlled to switch from the second power to the third power, and the tarpaulin cover is driven to move horizontally along the top beam using the third power.

2. The automatic tarpaulin system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive unit has an output shaft, and the controller is further configured to: The number of rotations or rotation time of the output shaft is determined based on the height of the side beam and the size of the output shaft to generate the first control command.

3. The automatic tarpaulin system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to: The number of rotations or rotation time of the output shaft is determined based on the length of the tarpaulin cover and the size of the output shaft to generate the second control command.

4. The automatic tarpaulin system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to: The number of rotations or rotation time of the output shaft is determined based on the width of the top beam and the size of the output shaft to form the third control command.

5. The automatic tarpaulin system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first power is greater than or equal to the second power, and the second power is greater than or equal to the third power; or... The first power is less than or equal to the second power, and the second power is less than or equal to the third power.

6. The automatic tarpaulin system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to: When the drive unit performs vertical movement and the drive unit operates at a power greater than the first power for a duration exceeding a preset first threshold, the drive unit is controlled to stop working. or When the drive unit switches between vertical and horizontal movement, and the drive unit operates at a power greater than the second power for a duration exceeding a preset second threshold, the drive unit is controlled to stop working. or When the drive unit moves horizontally and operates at a power greater than the third power for a duration exceeding a preset third threshold, the drive unit is controlled to stop operating.

7. The automatic tarpaulin system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The automatic tarpaulin system also includes a detector installed on the tarpaulin frame, the detector being used to detect obstacles protruding from the side beams and the top beam, and to send a detection signal to the controller; The controller is also configured to: The system receives the detection signal sent by the detector and controls the drive to stop working.

8. The automatic tarpaulin system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The detector can be any one of a limit switch, an infrared sensor, or a laser sensor.

9. The automatic tarpaulin system according to claim 7, characterized in that, There are multiple detectors, and the multiple detectors are evenly distributed on the side beam and the top beam.

10. A motion control method, characterized in that, The motion control method, applied to the automatic tarpaulin system as described in any one of claims 1-9, includes the following steps: In response to a preset first control command, the drive unit drives the tarpaulin cover to move vertically along the side beam with a first power; In response to a preset second control command, the drive unit switches from the first power to the second power, and drives the tarpaulin cover to switch between vertical and horizontal movement using the second power; In response to a preset third control command, the drive unit switches from the second power to the third power and drives the tarpaulin cover to move horizontally along the top beam with the third power.

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