Transport System

Abstract

To provide a transportation system that decreases risks of falling of a cargo base that is transported by a transportation vehicle while being lifted up.SOLUTION: A transportation system 1 includes: a cargo base 2 including a loading part 21; and a transportation vehicle 3. The cargo base 2 is transported by the transportation vehicle 3 while the loading part 21 is lifted up from below by the transportation vehicle 3. The cargo base 2 includes, in a lower side of the loading part 21, an abutment part 221 which comes into abutment contact with an undersurface of the transportation vehicle 3 when the transportation vehicle 3 lifts up the loading part 21.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a transport system, and more particularly to a technique for transporting a loading platform. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART A transport system is known in which a carrier including a loading section is lifted and transported by a transport vehicle (for example, see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-143307 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There is a risk that the loading platform may tip over when lifted by the transport vehicle.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of such problems, and provides a transport system that reduces the risk of a loading platform tipping over while being transported in a lifted state by a transport vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A transport system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: A transport system including a loading platform and a transport vehicle, the loading platform is transported by the transport vehicle with the loading section lifted from below by the transport vehicle, The loading platform includes a contact portion below the loading portion that contacts the underside of the transport vehicle when the transport vehicle lifts the loading portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to realize a transport system that reduces the risk of a loading platform tipping over while being transported in a lifted state by a transport vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a transport system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the transport vehicle and the loading platform according to the first embodiment are coupled together. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the transport system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the transport system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a plurality of contact portions according to the first embodiment are in contact with a main body portion. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Specific embodiments to which the present disclosure is applied will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. In addition, the following description and drawings have been simplified as appropriate for clarity of explanation.

[0010] Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, a conveyance system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a conveyance system 1 according to the first embodiment. The conveyance system 1 includes a loading platform 2 and a conveyance vehicle 3. The conveyance vehicle 3 may be an unmanned guided vehicle.

[0011] The loading platform 2 includes a loading section 21 and legs 22a and 22b. Luggage is loaded onto the loading section 21. The legs 22a and 22b are provided below the loading section 21 and support the loading section 21. When the legs 22a and 22b are not to be distinguished from each other, they may be simply referred to as legs 22.

[0012] The loading platform 2 does not need to have both the legs 22a and 22b, and may have only one of the legs 22a and 22b. In this case, a leg having a different configuration from the leg 22 may be provided to allow the loading platform 2 to stand on its own.

[0013] Leg 22a includes abutment portion 221a extending horizontally and pole 222a extending vertically. Similarly, leg 22b includes abutment portion 221b extending horizontally and pole 222b extending vertically. When abutment portions 221a and 221b are not distinguished from each other, they may be simply referred to as abutment portion 221. Similarly, when poles 222a and 222b are not distinguished from each other, they may be simply referred to as pole 222.

[0014] One end of the abutting portion 221, which is the base end, is connected to the periphery of the lower surface of the loading portion 21 via a pole 222. The end of the abutting portion 221 opposite to the base end is called the tip end.

[0015] The contact portion 221 is, for example, a rod-shaped or plate-shaped body with a rectangular cross section, and extends in the front-rear or width direction of the loading platform 2. The contact portion 221 is arranged so that one side of the rectangle is aligned horizontally. If the contact portion 221 is a plate-shaped body, it may be arranged so that the long side of the rectangle is aligned horizontally. The contact portion 221 may also be a rod-shaped body with a circular cross section.

[0016] The loading platform 2 may be configured to have a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction when viewed from above. In this case, the abutting portion 221 may extend in the lateral direction of the loading platform 2. For example, if the lateral direction of the loading platform 2 is the lateral direction, the abutting portion 221 extends in the lateral direction of the loading platform 2.

[0017] 1, the direction from the base end to the tip end of the contact portion 221a is opposite to the direction from the base end to the tip end of the contact portion 221b. The transport vehicle 3 can move above the contact portion 221a by moving from the tip end to the base end of the contact portion 221a. The transport vehicle 3 can move above the contact portion 221b by moving from the tip end to the base end of the contact portion 221b.

[0018] As described above, the transport vehicle 3 may have only one of the legs 22a and 22b. The direction from the base end to the tip end of the contact portion 221a may coincide with the direction from the base end to the tip end of the contact portion 221b. The transport vehicle 3 may move above both the contact portions 221a and 221b by moving from the tip ends of the contact portions 221a and 221b toward the base ends.

[0019] The transport vehicle 3 includes a main body 31. The main body 31 is a housing that houses at least some of the equipment (e.g., processor, actuator) required for the transport vehicle 3. A plate 32 extending vertically is erected at the end of the main body 31. A sensor (e.g., LIDAR) (not shown) may be attached to the plate 32.

[0020] The transfer vehicle 3 does not necessarily have to include the plate 32. The lower surface of the main body 31 is also referred to as the lower surface of the transfer vehicle 3.

[0021] Rotatably mounted wheels (not shown) are provided below the main body 31. An actuator such as a motor rotates the wheels in response to a control signal from a processor, allowing the transfer vehicle 3 to move to any desired position. The transfer vehicle 3 may also move autonomously based on the detection results of sensors.

[0022] The thickness of the main body 31 may be thinner than the gap between the underside of the loading section 21 and the abutting section 221. Alternatively, a groove into which the abutting section 221 fits may be provided on the underside of the main body 31. When the transport vehicle 3 moves from the tip end of the abutting section 221 toward the base end, the transport vehicle 3 slips under the loading section 21. The abutting section 221 does not prevent the loading platform 2 and the transport vehicle 3 from being connected to each other.

[0023] A drive mechanism (not shown) for lifting the loading platform 2 is provided on the upper surface of the main body 31. The transport vehicle 3 enters the gap between the underside of the loading unit 21 and the abutment portion 221, and the transport vehicle 3 lifts the loading unit 21 from below. This connects the transport vehicle 3 and the loading platform 2. Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the state in which the transport vehicle 3 and the loading platform 2 are connected. The loading platform 2 is transported by the transport vehicle 3 while connected to the transport vehicle 3, that is, while the loading unit 21 is lifted from below by the transport vehicle 3. The transport system 1 transports goods as the transport vehicle 3 connected to the loading platform 2 travels.

[0024] Returning to Fig. 1, the transport vehicle 3 has a processor, memory, etc. (not shown). The processor loads a program (not shown) into a memory such as RAM and executes the program. This controls the wheels and drive mechanism, connects the transport vehicle 3 to the loading platform 2, and the transport vehicle 3 transports the loading platform 2.

[0025] When the transport vehicle 3 lifts the loading section 21, the abutment section 221 of the loading platform 2 abuts against the underside of the transport vehicle 3. Then, the transport vehicle 3 transports the loading platform 2 with the loading section 21 lifted from below. Since the loading platform 2 is supported by the transport vehicle 3 via the abutment section 221, the risk of the loading platform 2 tipping over is reduced. Also, rattling of the loading platform 2 can be suppressed.

[0026] When the loading platform 2 has a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction in a top view, the loading platform 2 is likely to tip over in the lateral direction. Therefore, when the abutment portion 221 extends in the lateral direction of the loading platform 2, the risk of the loading platform 2 tipping over is easily reduced. Furthermore, when multiple abutment portions 221 abut against the underside of the main body portion 31, the risk of the loading platform 2 tipping over can be further reduced.

[0027] When the cross section of the abutment portion 221 is rectangular and the abutment portion 221 is positioned so that one side of the rectangle is horizontal, the contact area between the underside of the main body portion 31 and the abutment portion 221 is large, and the stability of the loading platform 2 is high.

[0028] Next, the operation of the conveyance system 1 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 shows a state in which the conveyance vehicle 3 has moved above the contact portion 221a, that is, a state in which the conveyance vehicle 3 has slipped under the loading unit 21. Figure 4 shows a state in which the conveyance vehicle 3 has lifted the loading unit 21 from below.

[0029] 3, a groove 311 into which the rod-shaped contact portion 221a or the contact portion 221b fits is provided on the underside of the main body 31 of the transport vehicle 3. The width of the groove 311 may be determined so that the groove 311 fits into the contact portion 221. When the transport vehicle 3 moves from the tip end of the contact portion 221 toward the base end, the contact portion 221a fits into the groove 311. When the transport vehicle 3 moves from the tip end of the contact portion 221b toward the base end, the contact portion 221b fits into the groove 311. In FIG. 3, the contact portion 221a fits into the groove 311. A docking sensor for detecting that the contact portion 221 is in the groove 311 may be provided in the contact portion 221.

[0030] Further, a drive mechanism 312 that lifts the loading unit 21 is provided on the upper surface of the main body 31. The drive mechanism 312 may include an actuator. The drive mechanism 312 may include, for example, an extension / contraction unit that extends and contracts in the vertical direction. A platform that contacts the lower surface of the loading unit 21 may be provided at the tip of the extension / contraction unit. The position at which the loading unit 21 is lifted may be different from that shown in FIG. 3. For example, the drive mechanism 312 may lift the loading unit 21 at the four corners of the upper surface of the main body 31.

[0031] 4, the loading unit 21 is lifted from below by the driving mechanism 312. The upper surface of the contact portion 221a then contacts the lower surface of the main body 31, more specifically, the bottom surface of the groove 311.

[0032] 5, both the contact portion 221a and the contact portion 221b may be in contact with the underside of the main body portion 31. When a plurality of contact portions 221 are in contact with the underside of the main body portion 31, the loading platform 2 can be further stabilized. When the contact portions 221a and 221b are in contact with the peripheral portions (e.g., both sides) of the underside of the main body portion 31, the support base surface is wide and stability is high.

[0033] In this case, the transport vehicle 3 needs to move above both the contact portions 221a and 221b in advance. For example, if the direction from the base end to the tip end of the contact portion 221a coincides with the direction from the base end to the tip end of the contact portion 221b, the transport vehicle 3 moves from the tip ends of the contact portions 221a and 221b toward the base ends. This allows the transport vehicle 3 to move above both the contact portions 221a and 221b.

[0034] The direction from the base end to the tip end of contact portion 221a may be opposite to the direction from the base end to the tip end of contact portion 221b. If groove 311 is sufficiently wide or if groove 311 is not provided, transport vehicle 3 can move above both contact portions 221a and 221b, for example, by moving above contact portion 221a and then moving in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which contact portion 221a extends.

[0035] 5, two contact portions 221 are in contact with the lower surface of the main body portion 31, but three or more contact portions 221 may be in contact with the lower surface of the main body portion 31. The directions from the base end portions to the tip end portions of the three or more contact portions 221 may be the same.

[0036] The transport system according to the first embodiment can reduce the risk of the loading platform being transported by the transport vehicle tipping over.

[0037] The above-mentioned programs include instructions (or software code) that, when loaded into a computer, cause the computer to perform one or more functions. The programs may be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium or a tangible storage medium. By way of example and not limitation, 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 technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-ray® disc or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device. The programs may also be transmitted on a transitory computer-readable medium or communication medium. By way of example and not limitation, transitory computer-readable medium or communication medium includes electrical, optical, acoustic, or other forms of propagated signals.

[0038] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1. Transport system 2 Cargo bed 21 Loading section 22, 22a, 22b Legs 221, 221a, 221b Contact part 222, 222a, 222b Paul 3 Transport vehicles 31 Main body 311 Groove 312 Drive mechanism 32 plates

Claims

1. A transport system including a loading platform and a transport vehicle, the loading platform is transported by the transport vehicle with the loading section lifted from below by the transport vehicle, The loading platform includes a contact portion below the loading section that contacts the underside of the transport vehicle when the transport vehicle lifts the loading section. Conveying system.

2. The contact portion has a rod-like or plate-like shape extending in the front-rear direction or the width direction of the loading platform, the loading platform includes a pole that connects a base end portion, which is one end of the abutment portion, to a peripheral portion of the underside of the loading portion, When the transport vehicle moves under the loading section, the transport vehicle moves from the tip end of the contact section toward the base end. The transport system according to claim 1 .

3. The loading platform is configured to have a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction when viewed from above, The abutting portion extends in the short direction of the front-rear direction and the width direction. The transport system according to claim 2 .

4. When the transport vehicle lifts the loading section, a plurality of contact portions come into contact with the underside of the transport vehicle.

3. A transport system according to claim 1 or 2.

5. A groove into which the contact portion fits is provided on the underside of the transport vehicle.

3. A transport system according to claim 1 or 2.

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