Segmented Rail Position Detection for Shared Traveling Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
When traveling rails are installed in a site with dimensions that do not match product dimensions, existing systems fail to accurately detect the positions of multiple traveling vehicles due to disengagement of detectable parts with rotary encoders, especially when the rails are formed of multiple segments.
Innovation Solution
A traveling vehicle system with a dual-rail configuration, where each rail is divided into segments with adjustable gaps, and detectable parts and detectors are positioned to ensure accurate detection of vehicle positions, preventing collisions and allowing for standardized installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single traveling rail is installed to accommodate multiple traveling vehicles, then the system structure is simple, but position detection accuracy deteriorates when the rail is divided into segments with gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The traveling rail is divided into multiple segmented members that can be connected with gaps, allowing the system to adapt to dimensional variations in the installation site while maintaining position detection capability through separate detectable parts on each segment
Solution Approach 2:
Detectable parts are introduced as intermediary elements between the traveling vehicles and the segmented traveling rail. These detectable parts are positioned on specific segments and work with detectors on the vehicles to enable accurate position detection even when the rail is divided into segments with gaps
2Adaptability or versatility
If detectable parts are installed with gaps between them to match segmented traveling rails, then adaptability to site dimensions is improved, but position detection reliability deteriorates due to disengagement with rotary encoders
Solution Approach 1:
Both the traveling rail and the detectable parts are segmented correspondingly. Each detectable part is installed on a specific rail member segment, and the segmentation allows gaps between segments while ensuring that at least one detectable part remains continuously detectable by the vehicle's detector
Solution Approach 2:
The positions of detectable parts are predetermined and strategically positioned on the segmented rail members before installation. This preliminary positioning ensures that regardless of gap variations, the detectors on traveling vehicles can always detect at least one detectable part, maintaining detection reliability
3Measurement precision
If multiple detectable parts are positioned to ensure continuous detection, then position detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different segments of the traveling rail are assigned different local qualities - some segments have detectable parts while others do not. The detectable parts are strategically positioned on specific segments to ensure continuous detection capability without requiring detectable parts on every segment, thus balancing detection accuracy with system simplicity
Data Source
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AI summary
A traveling vehicle system (10) is configured such that, in a shared area (12B), a first detectable part (35A, 35B) is disposed at a position detectable by a first detector (85A, 85B) and a second detectable part (36A, 36B) is disposed at a position undetectable by the first detector (85A, 85B) when a first traveling vehicle (7A) is located in a first position (P1), and the second detectable part (36A, 36B) is disposed at a position detectable by a second detector (87A, 87B) and the first detectable part (35A, 35B) is disposed at a position undetectable by the second detector (87A, 87B) when a second traveling vehicle (7B) is located in a second position (P2).