Conveyor system

Abstract

To provide a conveyance system capable of reducing a risk of damaging a connector provided in a conveyance vehicle.SOLUTION: A conveyance system 1 comprises a conveyance vehicle 3 having a first connector 311 and a loading space 2 having a second connector 212 complementary to the first connector 311. The first connector 311 is provided on an upper surface of the conveyance vehicle 3 with its connector surface directed downwardly. The second connector 212 is provided on a lower surface of the loading space 2 with its connector surface directed upwardly.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a conveyance system.

Background Art

[0002] Protrusions are formed at the four corners on the base of the driverless transport vehicle described in Patent Document 1. A power transfer connector is provided in the hole of the protrusion. The protrusion is formed in a cylindrical shape at its upper part and in a tapered shape with a diameter increasing downward at its lower part. A recess opposite to the protrusion is provided on the lower surface of the station, and the protrusion is engaged with the recess.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The connector of the driverless transport vehicle described in Patent Document 1 has a connector surface provided upward. Therefore, when the driverless transport vehicle and the station are not connected, there is a risk that the connector of the driverless transport vehicle is damaged.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of such problems, and realizes a conveyance system that reduces the risk of damage to the connector provided on the transport vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A conveyance system according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a conveyance system including a transport vehicle having a first connector and a loading platform having a second connector complementary to the first connector, wherein the first connector has a connector surface facing downward and is provided on the upper surface of the transport vehicle, The second connector has a connector surface facing upward and is provided on the lower surface of the loading platform.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a transport system can be realized that reduces the risk of damage to the connector provided on the transport vehicle.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present disclosure is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. Also, for clarity of explanation, the following description and drawings are simplified as appropriate.

[0010] Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, the transport system according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the transport system 1 according to Embodiment 1. The transport system 1 includes a loading platform 2 and a transport vehicle 3. The transport vehicle 3 may be an automated guided vehicle.

[0011] The loading platform 2 includes a storage part 21 and a pair of leg parts 22. Luggage is stored in the storage part 21.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the lower surface of the storage part 21. The lower surface of the storage part 21 is also referred to as the lower surface of the loading platform 2. On the lower surface of the storage part 21, a protruding part 211 protruding downward is provided. The protruding part 211 includes a pair of side plates 2111 standing on the lower surface and a lower plate 2112 connecting the lower ends of the pair of side plates 2111. A second connector (not shown) is provided on the upper surface of the lower plate 2112. The connector surface of the second connector faces upward. Further, a gradient (described later) is provided on the side plate 2111. By guiding the first connector (described later) along the gradient, the first connector and the second connector are connected.

[0013] The first connector and the second connector may be connectors for audio / video, may be connectors for power supply, or may be connectors for communication. For example, power may be supplied from the carrier vehicle 3 to the loading platform 2 via the first connector and the second connector. Further, when a display is provided on the side surface of the loading platform 2, information of the video displayed on the display may be transmitted from the carrier vehicle 3 to the loading platform 2 via the first connector and the second connector.

[0014] Returning to FIG. 1, each leg part 22 includes a bar 221 extending in the horizontal direction and a pole 222 extending in the vertical direction. One end of the bar 221 is connected to the lower surface of the storage part 21 via the pole 222. Wheels may be provided below the bar 221.

[0015] The first direction in which the gap between the lower surface of the storage part 21 and the first leg part 22 opens and the second direction in which the gap between the lower surface of the storage part and the second leg part 22 opens are opposite to each other. The carrier vehicle 3 can sneak under the storage part 21 from the first direction or from the second direction.

[0016] The carrier vehicle 3 includes a main body 31. The main body 31 is a housing that houses at least a part of the devices (e.g., processors, actuators) required for the carrier vehicle 3. At the end of the main body 31, a plate 32 extending in the vertical direction is erected. A sensor (not shown) may be attached to the plate 32.

[0017] Also, wheels (not shown) are rotatably provided below the main body 31. By rotating the wheels by an actuator such as a motor according to a control signal from the processor, the carrier vehicle 3 moves to an arbitrary position.

[0018] The thickness of the main body 31 is thinner than the gap between the lower surface of the housing part 21 and the leg part 22. By the carrier vehicle 3 advancing in the extending direction of the bar 221, the carrier vehicle 3 can enter the gap between the lower surface of the housing part 21 and the leg part 22.

[0019] At the four corners of the upper surface of the main body 31, a drive mechanism (not shown) for lifting the load platform 2 is provided. For example, protrusions may be provided at the four corners, and the height of the protrusions may be configured to be variable. Further, the drive mechanism may further have a function of moving the load platform 2 in the horizontal direction.

[0020] When the carrier vehicle 3 enters the gap between the lower surface of the housing part 21 and the leg part 22 and the carrier vehicle 3 lifts the load platform 2, the carrier vehicle 3 and the load platform 2 are connected. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the state in which the carrier vehicle 3 and the load platform 2 are connected. At this time, the second connector of the load platform 2 is connected to a first connector (described later) of the carrier vehicle 3.

[0021] Returning to FIG. 1, the carrier vehicle 3 has a processor, a memory, etc. (not shown). The carrier vehicle 3 connects to the load platform 2 according to a control signal from the processor. By the carrier vehicle 3 connected to the load platform 2 traveling, the conveying system 1 conveys the luggage.

[0022] On the upper surface of the main body 31, a first connector 311 is provided. The first connector 311 is a connector complementary to the second connector provided on the load platform 2. The connector surface of the first connector 311 faces downward.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the first connector 311. A groove 312 is formed below the first connector 311. When the loading platform 2 and the carrier vehicle 3 are connected, the protrusion 211 of the loading platform 2 enters the groove 312. The connector surface of the first connector 311 faces downward. Rollers 3111 are provided on both sides of the first connector 311.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the connector surface of the first connector 311. The first connector 311 is a pin-type connector, and each pin (e.g., a pogo pin) faces downward. Each pin faces the main body 31, and the pins are not exposed. Note that the first connector 311 may be a socket-type connector.

[0025] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the back surface of the first connector 311. The first connector 311 is attached to the movable part 313. The movable part 313 is disposed between the plates 314 and 315. Each of the plates 314 and 315 stands on the upper surface of the main body 31. The movable part 313 and the plate 314 are connected by a spring 316, and the movable part 313 and the plate 315 are connected by a spring 317. That is, the first connector 311 floats by the springs 316 and 317.

[0026] Next, referring to FIG. 7, the configuration of the second connector 212 provided in the loading platform 2 will be described. The first terminal pattern 2121 and the second terminal pattern 2122 are arranged on the same plane. The second connector 212 is a socket-type connector. When the first connector 311 is a socket-type connector, the second connector 212 may be a pin-type connector. Depending on the direction in which the carrier vehicle 3 enters from under the loading platform 2, the first connector 311 is connected to either the first terminal pattern 2121 or the second terminal pattern 2122.

[0027] Each of the first terminal pattern 2121 and the second terminal pattern 2122 corresponds to a terminal pattern of the first connector 311. The second terminal pattern 2122 is provided point-symmetrically with the first terminal pattern 2121 with respect to the center of the plane. In other words, when the first terminal pattern 2121 is rotated 180 degrees around the vertical axis, the orientation of the first terminal pattern 2121 and the orientation of the second terminal pattern 2122 match. When the transport vehicle 3 enters under the platform 2 from any direction, the first connector 311 and the second connector 212 are connected to each other.

[0028] The connector surface of the second connector 212 is provided with two gradients 2123. The two gradients 2123 guide the rollers 3111 so that the first connector 311 is connected to the first terminal pattern 2121 or the second terminal pattern 2122 depending on the direction in which the transport vehicle 3 enters the underside of the platform 2. Each gradient 2123 descends toward the center point. The gradient directions of the two gradients 2123 are opposite to each other.

[0029] 7, the two slopes 2123 are provided symmetrically with respect to the center point. Since the rollers 3111 are provided on both sides of the first connector 311, it is not necessary to provide slopes 2123 on both sides of each of the first terminal pattern 2121 and the second terminal pattern 2122.

[0030] As described above, the first connector 311 is in a floating state by the spring. When the transport vehicle 3 lifts the platform 2, the rollers 3111 of the first connector 311 are guided to the slope 2123. As a result, the terminal pattern of the first connector 311 is connected to the first terminal pattern 2121 or the second terminal pattern 2122.

[0031] In the conveyance system according to the first embodiment, the connector surface of the first connector provided on the conveyance vehicle is not exposed, so that the risk of the first connector provided on the conveyance vehicle being damaged can be reduced. In addition, the position of the first connector can be determined with high accuracy by using rollers or a gradient.

[0032] When the above program is loaded into a computer, it includes a set of instructions (or software code) for causing the computer to perform one or more functions. The program may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium or a tangible storage medium. By way of example and not limitation, the computer-readable medium or tangible storage medium includes random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, solid-state drive (SSD) or other memory technologies, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc or other optical disc storage, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices. The program may also be transmitted on a transitory computer-readable medium or a communication medium. By way of example and not limitation, the transitory computer-readable medium or communication medium includes electrical, optical, acoustic, or other forms of propagated signals.

[0033] It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0034] 1 Conveying system 2 Loading platform 21 Accommodating portion 211 Protrusion 2111 Side plate 2112 Bottom plate 212 Second connector 2121 First terminal pattern 2122 Second terminal pattern 2123 Gradient 22 Leg 221 Bar 222 Pole 3 Conveying cart 31 Main body portion 311 First connector 3111 Roller 312 Groove 313 Movable part 314, 315, 32 Plates 316, 317 Springs

Claims

1. A conveying system comprising a carrier having a first connector and a loading platform having a second connector complementary to the first connector, wherein the first connector has a connector surface facing downward and is provided on the upper surface of the carrier, and the second connector has a connector surface facing upward and is provided on the lower surface of the loading platform. The conveying system.

2. The first connector is of a pin type and the second connector is of a socket type, or the first connector is of a socket type and the second connector is of a pin type. The conveying system according to Claim 1.

3. The second connector includes two terminal patterns arranged in the same plane, wherein one of the terminal patterns is provided point-symmetrically with respect to the other terminal pattern with reference to the center point on the plane. The conveying system according to any one of Claims 1 or 2.

4. Rollers are provided on both sides of the first connector. The conveying system according to Claim 3.

5. A gradient for guiding the rollers is provided on the second connector such that the first connector is connected to one of the terminal patterns or the other terminal pattern according to the direction in which the carrier enters below the loading platform. The conveying system according to Claim 4.

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