JP2002325872A - Automatic garaging system for golf carts - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic garaging system which can widely reduce intervals of golf carts to park in a garage. SOLUTION: This automatic garaging system for golf carts is constituted of a cart garage with a common parking instruction transmitter 76, a cart mounted controller, a caddie master room controller, and an entering cart sensor 71 and an outgoing cart sensor 72. The caddie master room controller gives a parking instruction signal to activate the common parking instruction transmitter 76 to transmit a collision preventing signal converted from the parking instruction when an entering cart gets to a designated parking area. Then a detector for collision prevention mounted on a cart is actuated to immediately stop the cart. Simultaneously the cart mounted controller senses the collision preventing signal to switch OFF the power source of the cart. The caddie master room controller judges the entrance of a cart entering a designated parking area by receiving running distance information by radio by a distance meter mounted on the cart.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a golf cart automatic loading system for automatically loading a cart into a cart garage by remote control from a caddy master room. The cart garage to which the present invention is applied has a plurality of lanes, and in each lane, a lane guide line that branches from the entry side end of the cart path guide line and joins the exit side end is embedded. And a cart garage in which a plurality of parking areas are provided in each lane.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a cart traffic control system in which a cart travels while being guided by a guide line embedded in a cart path has been introduced to many golf courses. This trend is expected to continue in the future due to the need for labor-saving and mechanization of golf courses. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-155 shown in FIG.
The golf course cart traffic control system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 990 is intended to save labor in the golf course. Even if there is a branch point in the cart path, each cart follows a predetermined course. It is characterized by being able to run.

[0003] In the cart traffic control system of the golf course shown in FIG. 8, the entry of a cart is performed as follows. When the cart number is input from the loop antenna 19K, the control device 29 checks the lane for storing the cart from the reservation data, and transmits a destination signal of the cart to the guide line switching device 17C. When the destination is, for example, the first lane, the switching device 17C excites only the destination-specific induction wires 15E and deenergizes the others. Not energized. In this way, the cart enters a predetermined lane. Since the stop marker 37 is installed near the exit of the lane, the top cart is the stop marker 3
7 is detected and stopped. When the following cart approaches the previous cart, it stops due to the function of the collision prevention detecting device. There is one staff member in the garage 33, and the engine of the stopped cart is stopped. In this way, the cart will automatically enter the predetermined lane and line up.

According to a golf course cart traffic control system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-155990,
Cart entry / exit management is semi-automated, realizing significant labor savings. However, the cart garage requires at least one attendant both when leaving and entering the warehouse. This is because the on / off of the cart power cannot be remotely controlled from the caddy master room.

Accordingly, the present applicant has filed another patent application (Japanese Patent Application No.
001-136747) disclosed an automatic golf cart entry system. The following describes a case in which this automatic cart entry system for a golf cart is applied to a cart garage having eight lanes in FIG. 7.

[0006] This golf cart automatic warehousing system includes:
The cart mounted controller, the caddy master room controller, the outgoing cart sensor for detecting the cart to be taken out and inputting the identification number of the cart to the caddy master room controller, and detecting the incoming cart and sending the identification number of the cart to the caddy. Parking data generating means for generating parking data including a cart identification number and a parking lane number in the caddy master room controller, comprising a receiving cart sensor input to a master room controller;
Parking data storage means for storing the parking data, and wireless transmission means for wirelessly transmitting a parking instruction or a parking instruction to the selected cart based on the parking data, and a parking instruction or parking instruction to the cart mounted controller; And a switch operating means for turning on or off the power switch of the cart based on the leaving command or the parking command. It has been adopted.

In an automatic golf cart loading system, a cart that has traveled to a designated lane in a cart garage is provided with a collision prevention detecting device mounted thereon with a stop marker or a preceding cart that has previously entered the same lane. The vehicle stops suddenly upon detection of a collision prevention signal from the vehicle, and when the cart mounted controller receives a parking command at that position, the cart power is turned off.

For this reason, in the above-described automatic golf cart entry system, the interval between carts parked in the same lane in the cart garage is determined by the maximum distance D that can be detected by the collision prevention detecting device. Since the maximum distance D is approximately 1.5 m, there is a problem that the distance between the carts parked in the cart garage is too wide. Therefore, there is a problem that the number of carts that can be parked is considerably limited as compared with the semi-automatic storage system. Incidentally, in the garage shown in FIG. 7, only five carts are stored while there are six parking spaces in each lane.

[0009]

A first problem to be solved by the present invention is to have a plurality of lanes, each lane branching from the entrance end of the cart path guide wire and exiting from the exit end. That is, a cart is automatically stored in a cart garage in which a lane guide line merging with a section is buried.

A second problem to be solved by the present invention is as follows.
The operation of a power switch for turning off the power of the cart for parking the entered cart can be remotely controlled from the caddy master room.

A third problem to be solved by the present invention is as follows.
The distance between carts parked in the cart garage is to be significantly reduced from the maximum distance D that can be detected by the collision prevention detecting device.

[0012]

Means for Solving the Problems A first method for solving the above problems is described below.
The golf cart automatic warehouse system has a plurality of lanes, and each lane is buried with a lane guide line that branches from the entrance side end of the cart path guide line and merges with the exit side end, and is further shared. Cart garage in which the parking command transmitter is installed, a cart mounted controller, a caddy master room controller, an outgoing cart sensor for detecting the outgoing cart and inputting the identification number of the cart into the caddy master room controller, and an incoming cart And a golf cart comprising a storage cart sensor for detecting the cart number and inputting the identification number of the cart to the caddy master room controller.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the first automatic cart loading system for golf carts, the caddy master room controller controls the shared parking command transmitter when the entered cart enters a designated parking area. Is activated to transmit a parking command, and the cart mounted controller turns off the power of the cart when the parking command is received.

Further, the caddy master room controller wirelessly receives mileage information from a range finder mounted on the cart from the cart mounted controller, so that the incoming cart enters a designated parking area. Was determined.

Further, it is possible to use only one common parking command transmitter installed in the cart garage.

Next, a second automatic cart entry system for golf carts which solves the above-mentioned problem has a plurality of lanes, each lane branching from the entry side end of the cart path guide line and exiting from the exit side. A lane guide line that merges with the cart is buried, and a cart garage where a cart sensor and a parking command transmitter are installed for each cart parking area, a cart mounted controller, a caddy master room controller, and a cart to be taken out are detected. The delivery cart sensor inputs the identification number of the cart to the caddy master room controller, and the storage cart sensor detects the entering cart and inputs the identification number of the cart to the caddy master room controller.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second automatic golf cart loading system, when the incoming cart enters a designated parking area, the caddy master room controller transmits a parking command to the designated parking area. Is activated to transmit a parking command, and the cart mounted controller turns off the power of the cart when the parking command is received.

Further, the caddy master room controller is adapted to determine that the incoming cart has entered a designated parking area based on a detection signal input from a cart sensor in the area.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in a block diagram in FIG. 1, an automatic stocking system for a golf cart according to the present invention is constituted by various devices installed in a cart garage, a caddy master room, and a cart, respectively.

The caddy master room controller 60 includes:
The control unit 61 includes a control unit 61, a storage unit 62, an input unit 63, a display unit 64, and a wireless transmission unit 65. The caddy master room controller 60 is installed in the caddy master room or the like, and at any time, the cart number and the destination of the cart with that number (in-course or out-course, garage or start terrace, etc.), etc. Operation management information is input.

The caddy master room controller 6
Numeral 0 performs management such as collecting, storing, and editing cart management information. The cart entry / exit management information includes the lane number of the cart garage, the number of parked cars, the parking position, the number of exited carts, and the like. In the caddy master room, which cart is parked in which lane can be specified by the lane number and the cart identification number on the basis of the cart entry / exit management information information. Then, the present parking situation of the cart garage can be graphically displayed on the display unit 64.

Therefore, the staff in the caddy master room can easily identify the cart parked at the head of each lane by the cart identification number while watching the current parking situation of the cart garage graphically displayed on the display unit 64. . Therefore, the attendant can take out the required number of carts without any trouble.

While watching the current parking situation of the cart garage graphically displayed on the display unit 64, the staff in the caddy master room determines how many parking areas are behind the last parked cart. It is possible to determine which lane the cart waiting to enter at the entrance of the cart garage is to be entered into which lane by grasping the existence of the cart. Therefore, the attendant can store the cart without any trouble.

Next, the cart mounted controller 80 includes a control unit 81, a storage unit 82, a radio transceiver 85, a cart identification number transmitter 86, a stop command receiver 87, a collision prevention detecting device 88, a switch operating unit 89, a steering operation. It comprises a device 91 and a distance meter 92.

The cart identification number transmitter 86 is composed of a transmitter body for generating an induction radio signal FSK-modulated by the code of the cart identification number given to the cart, and an antenna for transmitting the signal toward the ground. , And continuously transmits the signal.

The cart garage 70 to which the present invention is further applied
Has a plurality of lanes as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, for example. In each lane, a lane guide line that diverges from the entry side end of the cart passage guide line 5 and joins the exit side end is embedded. In FIGS. 5 to 7, eight lanes are provided, and the number of branch points 6 from the cart path guide line 5 to the lane guide line is eight.

The incoming cart sensor 71 is installed just before a branch point 6 where the cart is guided to each lane guide line of the cart garage from the cart path guiding line 5 and detects a cart entering the cart garage to detect the cart of the cart. The identification number is input to the caddy master room controller 60. Further, the exit cart sensor 72 is installed at a position immediately after the merging point where each lane guide line of the cart garage joins the cart path guide line 5, and detects a cart leaving the cart garage and detects the cart of the cart. The cart identification number is input to the caddy master room controller 60. The cart identification numbers input from the incoming cart sensor 71 and the outgoing cart sensor 72 are stored in the storage unit 62 of the caddy master room controller 60, and are used as part of the cart in / out management information.

In front of the branch point 6, a storage-side stop command transmitter 73 is also provided. The storage-side stop command transmitter 73 and the storage cart sensor 71 are connected to the caddy master room controller 60 via respective communication lines. The caddy master room controller 60 controls the storage cart sensor 7
1 to recognize the cart identification number of the incoming cart, and gives a control command to the stop command transmitter 73 to control the stop and start of the cart.

A guide line switching device 74 connected to the caddy master room controller 60 via a feeder line is also provided just before the branch point 6. The caddy master room controller 60 gives a control command to the guide line switching device 74 to excite one of the pair of destination-specific guide lines embedded in the branch point 6 and de-energize the other. Switch according to the destination lane of the cart. In this way, the caddy master room controller 60 converts the cart with the cart identification number recognized by the entry cart sensor 71 into the lanes L1 to L of the cart garage 70.
8 to the designated lane.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment and a second embodiment of the automatic golf cart loading system according to the present invention will be described.

First, in the first embodiment, the caddy master room controller determines that the cart has reached the designated stop position from the traveling distance information of the entered cart, and based on this determination, performs the parking process, that is, turns off the cart power. It is characterized in that it is automatically turned off by remote control.

Although the basic configuration of the first embodiment is as shown in FIG. 1, the types and numbers of the components installed in the cart storage are as shown in FIG. In the cart garage in the first embodiment, a stop marker 75 is provided at each end of each of the lanes L1 to L8, and one shared stop command transmitter 76 is provided for the cart that has entered the car.

In the golf cart automatic warehousing system of the first embodiment having such a configuration, the caddy master room controller 60 operates according to the flowchart of FIG.

That is, the caddy master room controller 6
The control unit 61 of 0 is waiting for the reception of the cart identification number (101). When the cart identification number is received from the cart entry sensor 71, the control unit 61 controls the stop command transmitter to transmit a stop command (102), stops the cart with the cart identification number at that location, and waits for entry. Let it. Subsequently, the control unit 61 performs the parking area selection processing (10
3) and a target distance setting process (104) are performed.

In the parking area selection process (103), the staff in the caddy master room reads out from the storage unit 62 and looks at the current parking situation of the cart garage displayed on the display unit 64 in the form of a chart or a graphic, and determines the number of the lane in which lane. The user selects whether the waiting cart is to be stored in the parking position, that is, the parking area, and inputs the lane number and the parking area number selected by the input unit 63 to the control unit 61. And
The control unit 61 stores the inputted lane number and parking area number in the storage unit 62.

In the target distance setting process (104), the control unit 61 sets a target distance that the waiting cart should travel to the parking area based on the lane number and the parking area number input in step 103. The set target distance is stored in the storage unit 62. Since the distance from the entrance of the cart garage, that is, the point where the entrance-side stop command transmitter 73 is installed, to each parking area is stored in the storage unit 62 in advance, the target distance setting process (104) is performed in step 10.
Automatically following step 3.

Subsequent to the parking area selection processing (103) and the target distance setting processing (104), the control section 61 controls the guide line switching device 74 so that the waiting carts are guided to the selected lane. The guidance line embedded at the branch point 6 is switched (105). When the switching of the guide line is completed, the control unit 61 gives a stop command release signal to the entry-side stop command transmitter 73 (106), and starts the cart waiting for entry.

Thereafter, the controller 61 waits until the cart travels the target distance (107). The control unit 61
The distance information transmitted from the wireless transceiver 85 of the cart mounted controller 80 is received by the wireless transceiver 65, and it is determined that the cart has reached the target distance by referring to the target distance stored in the storage unit 62. At this time, the parking command signal is given to the common parking command transmitter 76 (108). Then, the common parking command transmitter 76 transmits a collision prevention signal to the entire cart garage, activates the collision prevention detecting device 88 for the incoming cart, and stops the cart suddenly.
Subsequent to step 108, the control unit 61 updates the warehousing record stored in the storage unit 62 (109), thereby ending a series of warehousing management operations and waiting for the next cart to arrive. .

The above-mentioned caddy master room controller 6
In response to the operation of 0, the cart mounted controller 80 operates according to the flowchart of FIG.

That is, the control unit 81 of the cart mounted controller 80 waits for the reception of a parking command from the shared parking command transmitter (301). Upon receiving the parking command, the control unit 81 controls the switch operation unit to turn off the engine switch (302), turns off the main power switch of the cart that follows (303), and ends a series of warehousing management operations.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the cart automatically stored in this manner, the parking interval d is greatly reduced. Therefore, in the automatic cart entry system (FIG. 7) in which the preceding cart is detected and the collision prevention detecting device is activated and the parking position is set as the parking position, the parking area is 8 lanes, 5 cars each, a total of 40 cars. In contrast, in the automatic cart entry system of the first embodiment, the parking area increased to 48 cars.

Next, in the second embodiment, a parking command transmitter with an approach sensor installed in each parking area of a cart garage directly detects that the entered cart has reached a specified stop position. Based on the detection, the parking process, that is, the cart power is automatically turned off by remote control. Although the basic configuration of the second embodiment is as shown in FIG. 1, the types and the number of the components installed in the cart storage are as shown in FIG. Second
In the cart garage in the embodiment, all parking areas L
11 to L18, L21 to L28, L31 to L38, L4
1 to L48, L51 to L58, L61 to L68, L71
L78, L81-L88 are provided with parking command transmitters 76 with proximity sensors. However, the top parking areas L11, L21, L31, L41, L51,
A stop marker 75 may be provided in L61, L71 and L81 instead of the parking command transmitter 76 with the proximity sensor.

In the golf cart automatic warehousing system of the second embodiment having such a configuration, the caddy master room controller 60 operates according to the flowchart of FIG. 3, and the cart mounted controller 80 operates according to the flowchart of FIG.

That is, the caddy master room controller 6
0 is waiting for the reception of the cart identification number (201).
When the cart identification number is received from the cart entry sensor 71, the caddy master room controller 60 controls the stop instruction transmitter to transmit a stop instruction (202), stops the cart with the cart identification number at that location, and waits for entry. Let it be in a state. Subsequently, the caddy master room controller 60 performs a parking area selection process (203).

In the parking area selection process (203), the staff in the caddy master room reads out from the storage unit 62 and looks at the current parking situation of the cart garage displayed on the display unit 64 in a chart or a graphic form, while checking which lane and which lane The user selects whether the waiting cart is to be stored in the parking position, that is, the parking area, and inputs the lane number and the parking area number selected by the input unit 63 to the control unit 61. And
The control unit 61 stores the inputted lane number and parking area number in the storage unit 62.

Following the parking area selection process (203),
The control unit 61 controls the parking command transmitter 76 with the proximity sensor in the selected parking area to make the proximity sensor operable (204).

Subsequent to the proximity sensor operation enabling process (204), the control unit 61 controls the guide line switching device 74,
The guide line buried at the junction 6 is switched so that the waiting cart is guided to the selected lane (20).
5). When the switching of the guide line is completed, the control unit 61 gives a stop command release signal to the entry-side stop command transmitter 73 (2).
06) The cart waiting for entry with the cart identification number is started.

Thereafter, the control unit 61 waits until the cart reaches the selected parking area (207). When the control unit 61 receives a signal transmitted from the parking command transmitter 76 with the proximity sensor of the selected parking area,
It is determined that the cart has reached the selected parking area. And the control part 61 gives a parking command signal to the parking command transmitter 76 with the proximity sensor of the selected parking area (208). Then, the parking command transmitter 76 with the proximity sensor transmits a collision prevention signal, activates the collision prevention detection device 88 mounted on the cart that has reached the parking area, and stops the cart suddenly. Step 208
Subsequently, the control unit 61 updates the warehousing record stored in the storage unit 62 (209), thereby ending a series of warehousing management operations and waiting for the next cart to arrive.

The above-mentioned caddy master room controller 6
0, the cart mounted controller 80
Similar to the first embodiment, the operation is performed according to the flowchart of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the cart automatically stored in this way, the parking interval d is greatly reduced. Therefore, in the automatic cart entry system (FIG. 7) in which the preceding cart is detected and the collision prevention detecting device is activated and the parking position is set as the parking position, the parking area is 8 lanes, 5 cars each, a total of 40 cars. On the other hand, the parking area increased to 48 cars in the cart automatic warehousing system of the second embodiment.

In the present invention, the parking command given from the caddy master room controller 60 is not transmitted wirelessly to the cart mounted controller 80 but is given to the parking command transmitter 76 via a communication line. Based on the parking command given from the caddy master room controller 60, the parking command transmitter 76 immediately transmits a collision prevention signal. As a result, the collision prevention detecting device 88 mounted on the cart operates, and the cart is suddenly stopped.
Therefore, the parking interval d can be maintained more accurately than when the cart is stopped by operating the normal stop brake.

[0052]

According to the present invention, the operation of the power switch for turning off the cart to park the entered cart is remotely controlled from the caddy master room, and the cart is automatically placed in the selected parking area of the cart garage. You can now enter the warehouse. In addition, the distance between carts parked in the cart garage could be significantly reduced from the maximum distance D that can be detected by the collision prevention detection device, so that the number of carts that can be stored is stored by a staff member in the garage. The number could be increased to the same number as the system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a golf cart automatic storage system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an operation of a caddy master room controller at the time of storage in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an operation of a caddy master room controller at the time of entry into a warehouse according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the cart mounted controller at the time of entry into the warehouse.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a cart garage in the automatic warehousing system of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a cart garage in the automatic warehousing system of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a cart garage in another automatic warehousing system.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a conventional cart traffic control system for a golf course.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Cart 5: Guidance line 6: Branch point 60: Caddy master room controller 61: Control unit 62: Storage unit 63: Input unit 64: Display unit 65: Wireless transceiver 71: Incoming cart sensor 72: Outgoing cart sensor 73: Entry side stop command transmitter 74: guide line switching device 75: stop marker 76: parking command transmitter 81: control unit 82: storage unit 85: wireless transceiver 86: cart identification number transmitter 87: stop command receiver 88: Collision prevention detection device 89: switch operation unit 91: steering device 92: distance meter 92: engine switch 92: main power switch

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A lane guide line, which has a plurality of lanes, is buried in each lane and branches from the entry side end of the cart path guide line and merges with the exit side end, and further transmits a common parking command. The cart garage where the machine is installed, the cart mounted controller, the caddy master room controller, the outgoing cart sensor that detects the cart to be outgoing and inputs the identification number of the cart to the caddy master room controller, and detects the incoming cart. An automatic entry system for a golf cart, comprising a receiving cart sensor for inputting the identification number of the cart to the caddy master room controller, wherein the caddy master room controller enters the designated parking area when the incoming cart enters the designated parking area. When the common parking command transmitter is activated to send a parking command,
The cart loading controller turns off the power of the cart when the parking command is received, and the automatic cart loading system for a golf cart. 2. The caddy master room controller wirelessly receives mileage information from a range finder mounted on a cart from the cart mounted controller, and informs that the incoming cart has entered a designated parking area. The system for automatically storing a golf cart according to claim 1, wherein the determination is made. 3. A common parking command transmitter installed in the cart garage is one.
Golf cart automatic warehousing system. 4. A lane guide line, which has a plurality of lanes, is buried in each lane and branches from the entrance end of the cart passage guide line and merges with the exit end of the cart, and further comprises a cart parking area. A cart garage in which a cart sensor and a parking command transmitter are installed, a cart mounted controller, a caddy master room controller, an exiting cart sensor for detecting the cart to be exited and inputting the identification number of the cart to the caddy master room controller. , And an incoming cart sensor that detects the incoming cart and inputs the identification number of the cart to the caddy master room controller, wherein the caddy master room controller has entered the warehouse. When the cart enters the designated parking area, the parking command transmitter in that area is activated. And transmitting a parking command to the cart, and the cart mounted controller turns off the power of the cart when receiving the parking command. 5. The caddy master room controller determines that a cart that has entered a parking lot has entered a designated parking area based on a detection signal input from a cart sensor in that area. An automatic storage system for a golf cart according to claim 4.