JP2000211500A - Traveling control device for automatic guided vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily, safely and rapidly change over a stalled preceding vehicle from the automatic operation of the manual operation from either side of forward or rear part by arranging a traveling control device for an automatic guided vehicle on a forward part and rear part of the unmanned carrier, respectively. SOLUTION: An automatic guided vehicle 1 is provided with a traveling control device 2 provided with a change-over switch 21 to change over the manual operation and the automatic operation on its rear part, and a traveling control device 3 provided with a change-over switch 31 to change over the manual operation and the automatic operation on a forward part of the automatic guided vehicle 1. For example, when a trouble occurs at the position where the unmanned carrier passes through the position of a worker, the worker changes over the mode from the automatic operation mode to the manual operation mode by operating the change-over switch 21 of the traveling control device with the change-over switch on a rear side close to the worker and operable, and then, achieves the manual operation by the traveling control device 2. Since the turnout of the unmanned carrier becomes possible, the traffic on the carrying passage can be avoided in a short time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a traveling control device for an automatic guided vehicle, and more particularly, to an automatic guided vehicle for automatically transporting articles unmanned, in which the automatic guided vehicle traveling on a conveyed path on a track or a trackless track is broken. The present invention relates to a travel control device for an automatic guided vehicle that enables a worker to quickly and easily switch the travel control device to manual operation when such a situation occurs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an automatic guided vehicle that performs automatic driving, the automatic guided vehicle is transported when a failure or the like occurs during adjustment before automatic driving or during automatic operation of the automatic guided vehicle. The vehicle is evacuated from the road to the evacuation route so as not to impair the traveling of the subsequent automatic guided vehicle. In such a case, it is necessary to switch to manual operation by an operator even in an automatic guided vehicle that is operating automatically. In this case, the travel control device is switched from automatic to manual to perform manual operation. The traveling control device of the conventional automatic guided vehicle is usually provided only at one position on the rear side with respect to the traveling direction. Such unmanned transport vehicles are controlled at a production processing factory, etc., on rails on which workpieces are installed on the ground, while detecting magnetic tape, detecting wall surfaces, or based on predetermined map information. However, in many cases, a sufficient space is not allowed as a transfer path of the automatic guided vehicle, and a narrow transfer path or the like is generally used. In this case, for example, if the preceding vehicle stalls due to a breakdown or poor communication with the station side, etc., the following vehicle will not collide with the preceding vehicle at a predetermined interval by the installed anti-collision function. It stops at the position in front of the car. However, since there is no traveling control device on the front side of the preceding vehicle, the worker turns to the rear side of the preceding vehicle, switches to manual operation, drives the preceding vehicle to a required place, and evacuates. If the preceding vehicle is evacuated, the succeeding vehicle is automatically driven as it is.

[0003]

However, in the conventional automatic guided vehicle, the traveling control device is provided only at one position on the rear side with respect to the traveling direction of the automatic guided vehicle. When the vehicle is stuck on a road, an operator must go around the rear side of the preceding vehicle on which the travel control device is installed, and operate the travel control device to switch from automatic driving to manual driving to perform travel control. However, in the case of a narrow conveyance path, it is impossible for the worker to go behind the preceding vehicle, or the worker climbs on the automatic guided vehicle and turns around to operate the traveling control device, There is a danger that the worker goes around the rear part of the transport vehicle, and switching from automatic operation to manual operation may not be instantaneous. In such a case, there is a risk that the automatic guided vehicle will collide with other obstacles There was a problem that there is.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the conventional automatic guided vehicle traveling control apparatus, and is intended to be used even when it is difficult for an operator to turn around to the rear of a preceding vehicle on a narrow transport path. Even when the preceding vehicle is stuck, the traveling control device of the automatic guided vehicle that can easily and quickly switch from the position where the operator can easily operate to the manual driving to drive and evacuate. The purpose is to provide.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a traveling control device for an automatic guided vehicle according to the present invention controls traveling of the automatic guided vehicle in a traveling control device for an automatic guided vehicle traveling on a conveying path. Control devices are provided at the front and rear of the automatic guided vehicle, respectively.

[0006] This automatic guided vehicle travel control device automatically disables automatic traveling due to a communication failure or a failure, so that a stuck preceding vehicle can be easily and promptly changed from automatic driving to manual driving from both front and rear sides thereof. Since the switching can be performed and the unmanned transport vehicle can be evacuated, even if traffic congestion or the like occurs in the transport path, the work can be avoided in a short time.

[0007] In this case, the travel control device can be disposed on the left and right sides of the front and rear portions of the automatic guided vehicle, respectively.

Accordingly, the operator can easily switch to the manual operation from the place where he is currently working, so that if a failure or the like occurs in the automatic guided vehicle, appropriate measures can be taken promptly and safely.

In this case, the traveling control device can be provided with a changeover switch for changing over to manual operation.

[0010] This makes the device simple and easy to operate.

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a traveling control apparatus for an automatic guided vehicle according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an essential part of an automatic guided vehicle according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a running state. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an automatic guided vehicle, 1A denotes a preceding vehicle traveling along a conveying path, and 1B denotes a succeeding vehicle. The automatic guided vehicle 1 is provided with a travel control device 2 provided with a changeover switch 21 for switching between manual operation and automatic operation at a rear portion thereof, and a switching operation for similarly switching between manual operation and automatic operation at a front portion of the automatic guided vehicle 1. The travel control devices 3 each having the switch 31 are provided.

In this embodiment, the changeover switch 21 is provided on the traveling control device 2 and the traveling control device 3 having the changeover switch 31 is installed on the front side of the automatic guided vehicle. It is also possible to dispose the changeover switch and the travel control device individually close to each other. For example, a device with a lever such as a joystick is usually used as the travel control devices 2 and 3. However, a switch type device that travels only while the switch is being pressed, or a brake that is released and a push type is used. It is also possible. Also, the changeover switch 21,
Reference numeral 31 denotes a touch panel type, and the functions may be incorporated in the touch panel including the travel control devices 2 and 3. In the case of trackless, if a steering function is provided as a function of the travel control device, it becomes more practical. Also, a travel control device with a changeover switch is provided at least one at each of the front and rear sides of the automatic guided vehicle 1, and the automatic guided vehicle is operated so that it can be quickly operated from either the left or right side of the transport path. 1 can be disposed on both the left and right sides of the front and rear surfaces.

Thus, when a trouble occurs in a position where the automatic guided vehicle has passed from the position of the worker, the worker switches the traveling control device with the changeover switch on the rear side to a position that can be operated at a position close to the worker. After the switch is operated to switch from the automatic operation mode to the manual operation mode, the traveling control device 2 performs the manual operation. Also,
If an unmanned guided vehicle encounters a problem on the near side of the worker, the worker automatically operates the changeover switch of the travel control device with a changeover switch on the front side of the unmanned guided vehicle located close to the operator. After switching from the mode to the manual operation mode, the traveling control device performs the manual operation.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which two unmanned transport vehicles, that is, a preceding vehicle 1A and a succeeding vehicle 1B are traveling close to each other on a narrow transport path 4 toward a wide transport path 5. Now, if the preceding automatic guided vehicle 1A that is automatically traveling on the narrow transport path 4 becomes unable to automatically travel due to poor communication with the station side or the like and a failure of the preceding vehicle, etc., and becomes stuck at the position in FIG.
The following vehicle 1B stops immediately after the preceding vehicle 1A by a collision prevention function (not shown) mounted on the automatic guided vehicle.

In this case, since there is a space on the front side of the unmanned guided vehicle 1A which is stuck, a person can easily approach, evacuate by manual operation, and move to the wide transfer path 5. These automatic guided vehicles are used in production processing factories, etc., on rails on which work pieces are installed on the ground, on magnetic tapes, on wall surfaces, or automatically based on predetermined map information. Since the traveling control method is the same as the conventional method, detailed description is omitted.

In the above embodiment, the case where the automatic guided vehicles 1A and 1B travel in a line on the narrow transport path 4 has been described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to the case of two lanes or three lanes. Furthermore, if the travel control device has a reverse function,
Although one traveling control device may be provided for each automatic guided vehicle, usually, when traffic congestion as shown in FIG. 2 occurs, there are a plurality of succeeding vehicles. Since it takes a very long time to reverse and evacuate one by one, the present invention is effective even when applied to an automatic guided vehicle having such a reverse function, and the preceding vehicle causing the traffic jam is effective. Is easily evacuated.

[0018]

According to the automatic guided vehicle traveling control device of the present invention, automatic traveling becomes impossible due to communication failure or failure, and a stuck preceding vehicle can be easily switched from automatic driving to manual operation from either side of its front and rear portions. Since it is possible to quickly and safely switch to the operation and evacuate the automatic guided vehicle, even if traffic congestion or the like occurs on the transport path, the work can be avoided in a short time.

Further, since the traveling control devices are disposed on the left and right sides of the front and rear portions of the automatic guided vehicle, the operator can easily switch from the place where he / she is currently working to manual operation. When a failure or the like occurs in the carrier, appropriate measures can be taken promptly and safely.

Also, since the travel control device is provided with a changeover switch for switching to manual operation, the device is simple and easy to operate.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an automatic guided vehicle showing an embodiment of a traveling control device for an automatic guided vehicle according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a traveling state of the automatic guided vehicle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 automatic guided vehicle 1A preceding automatic guided vehicle (preceding vehicle) 1B subsequent automatic guided vehicle (subsequent vehicle) 2 traveling control device mounted at the rear of automatic guided vehicle 21 changeover switch mounted at the rear of automatic guided vehicle 3 automatic guided vehicle Travel control device attached to the front of the vehicle 31 Changeover switch attached to the front of the automatic guided vehicle 4 Narrow transport path 5 Wide transport path

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A traveling control device for an automatic guided vehicle traveling on a transport path, wherein a traveling control device for controlling traveling of the automatic guided vehicle is disposed at a front portion and a rear portion of the automatic guided vehicle, respectively. Travel control device for automatic guided vehicles. 2. The travel control device for an automatic guided vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the travel control device is disposed on the left and right sides of a front portion and a rear portion of the automatic guided vehicle, respectively. 3. The travel control device according to claim 1, further comprising a changeover switch for switching to a manual operation.
Or the travel control device of the automatic guided vehicle according to 2.