Method for cleaning autonomously controlled transport vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for cleaning autonomously controlled transport vehicles (10) when entering rooms (3) with increased cleanliness requirements, wherein the transport vehicle (10) drives over a dirt collection mat (2) in order to bind the dirt particles adhering to wheels (11) of the transport vehicle (10). An efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable cleaning process for the wheels of the transport vehicles is achieved in that the lane (S1L, S1R; S2L, S2R; S3L, S3R) for the transport vehicle (10) on the dirt collection mat (2) is laterally displaced incrementally in the event of a repeated entry.

Description

[0001]

[0002] Methods for cleaning autonomously controlled transport vehicles

[0003] The invention relates to a method for cleaning autonomously controlled transport vehicles when entering rooms with increased cleanliness requirements, in which the transport vehicle drives over a dirt-trapping mat to bind the dirt particles adhering to the wheels of the transport vehicle, wherein the driving path of the transport vehicle on the dirt-trapping mat is gradually shifted laterally upon repeated entry.

[0004] In the production of components for electromobility and other industries, increasingly stringent requirements are being placed on the cleanliness of production facilities. Even if these facilities are not necessarily classified and certified as cleanrooms according to ISO 14644, it is necessary to implement measures that largely prevent the ingress of contaminants. The method according to the invention encompasses both the operation of cleanrooms according to ISO 14644 and other areas requiring special protection, which are collectively referred to here as areas with increased cleanliness requirements.

[0005] Preventing the entry of external contaminants is a crucial measure for rooms with high cleanliness requirements. Many sources of contamination can be effectively eliminated through the use of airlocks and similar devices.

[0006] In industrial environments with stringent cleanliness requirements, such as in the semiconductor industry or in the production of vehicle batteries and their components, a common problem is the need to transport heavy and bulky objects into and out of the space using vehicles. This means that these vehicles sometimes travel outside the cleanroom and can pick up contaminants that must be prevented from entering the cleanroom. The wheels of these vehicles are particularly susceptible, as dirt adheres especially strongly to their treads, dirt that may have originated, for example, from a loading area outside the cleanroom.

[0007] To remove dirt from people's shoes or vehicle wheels, dirt-trapping mats have been developed. These mats attract dirt particularly strongly and therefore efficiently clean shoe soles or wheel treads when a person walks or a vehicle drives over them. In principle, this solves the problem of effectively cleaning transport vehicles, assuming only a few passes. However, the dirt-trapping mats become saturated after a few passes and must be replaced. Either disposable dirt-trapping mats, which are discarded after use, or reusable dirt-trapping mats, which can be reused repeatedly after cleaning, are available.

[0008] If transport vehicles frequently enter the area with high cleanliness requirements, then the dirt-trapping mats need to be replaced more often. This increases the workload and hinders logistics, as the relevant airlock is blocked during the replacement process. Uneven wear on the dirt-trapping mats further increases the frequency of replacement.

[0009] From DE 29 724 191 U, a cleaning device is known in which a mat for cleaning shoes or the like is provided, which can be moved as needed to avoid overloading. However, when using self-propelled transport vehicles in cleanrooms, special requirements must be met to ensure safe operation.

[0010] The object of the invention is to avoid these disadvantages and to provide a method that enables efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable cleaning of the wheels and other essential components of transport vehicles. At the same time, safe and efficient cleaning should be ensured.

[0011] This problem is solved according to the invention by cleaning the sensors of the transport vehicle in addition to cleaning the wheels.

[0012] In this context, the driving lane is understood to be the area of ​​the dirt-trapping mat that is touched by the wheel treads of the transport vehicle when it passes over it. The driving lane does not necessarily have to be moved after every pass, as the dirt-trapping mats typically have a capacity to hold dirt that is sufficient for several passes. The driving lane is therefore moved when the capacity of the mat is likely to be saturated.

[0013] To prevent problems with the functionality of autonomous transport vehicles, it is necessary to clean the vehicle's sensors in addition to cleaning the wheels. Combining wheel cleaning with blowing off the sensors reduces the overall cleaning time and allows the dirt generated during the blowing process to be collected by the dirt-trapping mat. This reduces the risk of contamination of other components or the cleanroom environment.

[0014] In particular, the cleaning of the transport vehicle's sensors can be carried out by blowing them off, preferably with ionized air, wherein the cleaning of the transport vehicle's sensors is effected by a laterally movable arrangement of blower nozzles. This allows for adjustments to accommodate changes in the transport vehicle's trajectory.

[0015] In principle, it is possible to shift the mat slightly after each pass, to a degree corresponding to a fraction of the tire width. This ensures that a specific point on the mat is traversed multiple times, thus optimally utilizing the mat's capacity. Measurements can be taken, if necessary, to ensure maximum load. However, a particularly simple and cost-effective procedure is achieved by determining, in a calibration step, the number n of passes required for the mat to function adequately at the same location. Subsequently, in operation, the mat is shifted laterally after a specified number n of passes. Typically, this involves shifting the transport vehicle's lane by the width of the tire to maximize mat utilization.

[0016] Basically, there are two different variants of the inventive method: According to a first variant, the dirt-trapping mat is stationary, and a control device is provided for the transport vehicles, which defines the driving path during each crossing and performs a stepwise lateral shift. This variant is relatively simple but requires sufficient space in the airlock or entrance where the dirt-trapping mat is located. Ideally, the width of the dirt-trapping mat is approximately twice the track width of the transport vehicle. Thus, during the first crossing, the transport vehicle is steered, for example, so that the right wheels roll along the right edge of the dirt-trapping mat. Subsequently, the control is gradually adjusted so that the transport vehicle travels further to the left during the crossing until the left wheels roll along the left edge of the dirt-trapping mat.Then the dirt-trapping mat needs to be replaced. In contrast, a second option involves a movable dirt-trapping mat that shifts laterally with each use. This option is slightly more complex in design but requires less space for passage.

[0017] According to a particularly advantageous variant of the second solution, the dirt-trapping mat is flexible and is gradually wound from a supply roll, across a functional area, onto a receiving roll. This allows for a significantly longer service life, as the surface area of ​​the dirt-trapping mat is virtually unlimited at the top.

[0018] The invention also relates to an alternative method for cleaning autonomously controlled transport vehicles when entering areas with increased cleanliness requirements, in which the transport vehicle drives over a dirt-trapping mat to bind the dirt particles adhering to its wheels. This method is characterized in that the dirt-trapping mat is gradually shifted in the direction of travel with each repeated entry. The basic principle is the same as in the embodiments described above, except that the shifting occurs longitudinally, so that a previously unused section of the dirt-trapping mat is always put into use. The dirt-trapping mat can be very narrow and adapted to the tire width, provided that only transport vehicles with a specific track width are used.

[0019] The invention also relates to a device for cleaning autonomously controlled transport vehicles upon entry into areas with increased cleanliness requirements, comprising a dirt-trapping mat designed to bind dirt particles adhering to the wheels of the transport vehicle. According to the invention, this device is characterized by a mechanism for gradually shifting the driving path of the transport vehicle laterally on the dirt-trapping mat during repeated entry.

[0020] A first embodiment is characterized by the fact that a control device is provided for the transport vehicles, which specifies the driving path of the transport vehicle on the dirt-trapping mat during the respective crossing and which is designed to carry out a stepwise lateral shift of the driving path.

[0021] An alternative design variant is characterized by the inclusion of a control device for the transport vehicles, which dictates the vehicle's path on the dirt-trapping mat during each crossing. A sliding mechanism may also be provided to move the dirt-trapping mat laterally.

[0022] The invention also relates to a device for cleaning autonomously controlled transport vehicles upon entry into areas with increased cleanliness requirements, comprising a dirt-trapping mat designed to bind dirt particles adhering to the wheels of the transport vehicle. This device is characterized in that a mechanism is provided to shift the driving path of the transport vehicle on the dirt-trapping mat incrementally in the direction of travel upon repeated entry.

[0023] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a non-restrictive embodiment and the accompanying figures. These figures show:

[0024] Fig. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of the device according to the invention in a top view;

[0025] Fig. 2 also schematically shows a second embodiment variant in a cross-section; and

[0026] Fig. 3 shows a slightly modified version compared to Fig. 2 in an analogous representation.

[0027] Figure 1 shows an airlock 1 that allows entry into a room 3 with increased cleanliness requirements. To reduce the entry of dirt from an external area 4, a dirt-trapping mat 2 is provided. A control device 5 is provided in the airlock 1, which is capable of communicating with passing transport vehicles 10 in order to influence their navigation within the area of ​​the dirt-trapping mat 2 in such a way as to ensure optimal effectiveness.

[0028] Three lanes are shown as examples with dashed lines: a first lane SIL, SIR corresponding to the left and right wheels 11 of a transport vehicle 10 with a track width d, respectively. Immediately adjacent to this are a second and a third lane S2L, S2R and S3L, S3R. The lateral offset of lanes S2L, S2R relative to SIL, SIR and S3L, S3R relative to S2L, S2R corresponds approximately to the width b of the wheels 11 of the transport vehicle 10.

[0029] The control device 5 monitors the passage of the transport vehicles 10 and influences their navigation via radio commands. When a transport vehicle 10 has completed a predetermined number of passages on the first lane SIL, SIR, indicating that the dirt-trapping mat 2 is locally saturated, or as determined by measurement, the control device 5 switches to the second lane S2L, S2R, and after its saturation, to the third lane S3L, S3R, and so on, until the total capacity of the dirt-trapping mat 2 is exhausted. Alternatively, the lanes can be shifted after each passage, but to a lesser extent, thus ensuring optimal utilization of the dirt-trapping mat 2.

[0030] Air nozzles 9 are provided to clean the sensors 12 of the transport vehicle 10, for example by blowing them off with ionized air. If necessary, the air nozzles 9 can be movably arranged to be positioned optimally, which is particularly important if the transport vehicle 10 repeatedly changes lanes SIL, SIR; S2L, S2R and S3L, S3R.

[0031] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the path of the transport vehicle 10 always remains the same, but a flexible dirt-trapping mat 2 is moved transversely to the direction of travel when the local absorption capacity is exhausted.

[0032] The flexible dirt-trapping mat 2 rests on a support structure 8 and is gradually wound from a supply roll 7a over a functional area onto a receiving roll 7b. The supply roll 7a and the receiving roll 7b are recessed.

[0033] The functional area is the part resting on the support structure 8, which is available for the passage of the transport vehicle 10.

[0034] The embodiment shown in Fig. 3 largely corresponds to that shown in Fig. 2, with the difference that the supply roller 7a and the receiving roller 7b are arranged laterally next to the passage area, which has the advantage that no intervention in the substructure is required.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Method for cleaning autonomously controlled transport vehicles (10) upon entry into rooms (3) with increased cleanliness requirements, wherein the transport vehicle (10) drives over a dirt-trapping mat (2) to bind the dirt particles adhering to the wheels (11) of the transport vehicle (10), wherein the driving lane (SIL, SIR; S2L, S2R; S3L, S3R) of the transport vehicle (10) on the dirt-trapping mat (2) is progressively shifted laterally upon repeated entry, characterized in that, in addition to cleaning the wheels (11), the sensors (12) of the transport vehicle (10) are also cleaned.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that in a calibration step it is determined for which number n of crossings at the same location the dirt-trapping mat (2) is sufficiently functional and in the subsequent operation the lateral displacement of the driving lane (SIL, SIR; S2L, S2R; S3L, S3R) is carried out after each number n of crossings.

3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the dirt-trapping mat (2) is stationary and a control device for the transport vehicles (10) is provided which specifies the driving lane during the respective crossing and thereby performs a stepwise lateral displacement.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the dirt-trapping mat (2) is movably arranged and is gradually moved laterally upon repeated entry.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the dirt-trapping mat (2) is flexible and is wound stepwise from a supply roll (7a) over a functional area onto a receiving roll (7b).

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cleaning of sensors (12) of the transport vehicle (10) is carried out by blowing off, preferably with ionized air.

7. Method according to one of claims 1 or 6, characterized in that the cleaning of sensors (12) of the transport vehicle (10) is carried out by a laterally displaceable blower nozzle arrangement.

8. Method for cleaning autonomously controlled transport vehicles (10) upon entry into rooms (3) with increased cleanliness requirements, wherein the transport vehicle (10) drives over a dirt-trapping mat (2) in order to bind the dirt particles adhering to the wheels (11) of the transport vehicle (10), characterized in that the dirt-trapping mat (2) is gradually moved in the direction of travel during repeated entry.

9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the load on the dirt-trapping mat (2) is measured in order to control the displacement.

10. Device for cleaning autonomously controlled transport vehicles (10) at the entrance to rooms (3) with increased cleanliness requirements, which includes a dirt-trapping mat (2) designed to trap dirt on wheels (11) to bind dirt particles adhering to the transport vehicle (10), characterized in that a device is provided to gradually shift the driving lane (SIL, SIR; S2L, S2R; S3L, S3R) of the transport vehicle (10) laterally on the dirt-trapping mat (2) during repeated entry and that blow nozzles (9) are provided to blow off sensors (12) of the transport vehicles (10).

11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that a control device (5) is provided for the transport vehicles (10) which specifies the driving lane (SIL, SIR; S2L, S2R; S3L, S3R) of the transport vehicle (10) on the dirt-trapping mat (2) during the respective crossing and which is designed to carry out a stepwise lateral displacement of the driving lane (SIL, SIR; S2L, S2R; S3L, S3R).

12. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that a control device (5) is provided for the transport vehicles (10) which specifies the driving path of the transport vehicle (10) on the dirt-trapping mat (2) during the respective crossing and that a displacement device is provided which displaces the dirt-trapping mat (2) laterally.

13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the dirt-trapping mat (2) is flexible and that a supply roll (7a) and a receiving roll (7b) are provided, over which the dirt-trapping mat (2) is unwound.

14. Device according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the control device (5) is connected to optical signal units to control the transport vehicles (10).

15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the blow nozzles (9) are arranged to be laterally displaceable.

16. Device for cleaning autonomously controlled transport vehicles upon entry into rooms with increased cleanliness requirements, comprising a dirt-trapping mat (2) designed to bind dirt particles adhering to the wheels (11) of the transport vehicle (10), characterized in that a device is provided to shift the driving lane (SIL, SIR; S2L, S2R; S3L, S3R) of the transport vehicle (10) on the dirt-trapping mat (2) step by step in the direction of travel upon repeated entry. 2025 09 01 Ba

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