JP2003238097A - Control device for cargo handling vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily set driving characteristics suited to each operator's preference in the case of sharing one fork lift truck by a plurality of operators. <P>SOLUTION: The operator's ID code inputted by the operation of an operating part 28 is transmitted from a terminal 21 to a controller 23, and information on the driving characteristics corresponding to the ID code received by accessing a database 30 is led out by the controller 23. The led-out information on the driving characteristics are transmitted from the controller 23 to the terminal 21 and transferred to a vehicle control means 25, and each part of the vehicle is controlled by the vehicle control means 25 on the basis of the transferred information on the driving characteristics. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cargo handling vehicle in which, when a driving characteristic that suits an operator's preference is set, the vehicle control means controls each part of the vehicle to realize driving in accordance with the set driving characteristic. Regarding the control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a forklift truck, which is a cargo handling vehicle, an operator operating the forklift truck can set driving characteristics such as accelerator feeling and acceleration performance that suit his or her preference, and according to the set driving characteristics. In order to realize such driving, the vehicle control means controls each part of the vehicle.

At this time, the most common method for setting the driving characteristics is, for example, when a service person visits the site and changes the driving characteristics data stored in advance in a memory provided in the forklift.

[0004]

However, in the case where the service person changes the data in the memory as described above, when a plurality of operators use one forklift, each operator should have his or her own preference. It was very inconvenient because it was not possible to easily change the setting of driving characteristics.

Therefore, the operator writes in advance the operating characteristic data that suits his / her preference, and when the user gets on the forklift, the writing data of the IC card is read by the controller of the forklift, and the read operating characteristic data is read. It is considered that each part of the vehicle is controlled in accordance with the above, so that even when a plurality of operators use one forklift, it is possible to easily set the driving characteristic that suits their own preference.

[0006] However, in setting the driving characteristics using this IC card, each operator must bring an IC card in which the driving characteristics data unique to him / herself is brought in when he / she boards a forklift, which is very troublesome. If you forget to bring your card with you, you may not be able to drive with the driving characteristics that suit your taste.

On the other hand, recently, a so-called wireless LAN is constructed by a management side communication control means composed of a personal computer or the like and a terminal device which is a vehicle side communication control means mounted on a forklift, and the management side communication control is performed. Information relating to cargo handling is transmitted from a means to a terminal, and cargo handling work is executed according to the information received by the terminal. Therefore, it is conceivable to use such a wireless LAN to transmit the information regarding the driving characteristics that suits the preference of each operator from the management side to the terminal side, thereby making it unnecessary to bring the above IC card. However, such a system has not been proposed so far.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to facilitate setting of driving characteristics that suit one's taste when a single forklift is shared by a plurality of operators.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention, when a driving characteristic that suits an operator's preference is set, a vehicle for realizing driving in accordance with the set driving characteristic. A control device for a cargo handling vehicle that controls each part of the vehicle by a control means, which is mounted on the cargo handling vehicle and wirelessly communicates information regarding cargo handling with a management-side communication control means, and serially communicates with the vehicle control means. Storing the vehicle-side communication control means connected communicatively, and storing the management-side communication control means in advance together with the identification data assigned to each operator, the information about the driving characteristics that suits each operator Means for access to the vehicle side communication control means,
An operation unit for inputting operator identification data is provided, and by operating the operation unit, certain operator identification data is transmitted to the management side communication control means, and is called from the storage means by the management side communication control means. The information about the driving characteristic corresponding to the identification data of the certain operator transmitted is received, the received information about the driving characteristic is transferred to the vehicle control means, and the vehicle control means causes the vehicle side communication control means. Each part of the vehicle is controlled based on the information on the driving characteristics transferred from the vehicle (Claim 1).

According to this structure, when the operator's identification data is input by the operation of the operation section, the vehicle control means transmits the identification data to the vehicle side communication control means, and the management side communication control means. The driving characteristic data corresponding to the identification data transmitted by accessing the storage means is called, and the information on the called driving characteristics is transmitted from the management-side communication control means to the vehicle-side communication control means and further the vehicle control means. The vehicle control means controls each part of the vehicle based on the transferred information about the driving characteristics.

Therefore, even when a plurality of operators share one forklift, it is possible to easily set the operating characteristics desired by each operator, and it is not necessary to bring an IC card or the like, The operator can easily set the driving characteristics that suit his or her preference.

Further, according to the present invention, when a driving characteristic that suits an operator's preference is set, the vehicle control means controls each part of the vehicle by the vehicle control means so as to realize the driving in accordance with the set driving characteristic. In the above, the vehicle-side communication control means is mounted on the cargo-handling vehicle and wirelessly communicates information regarding cargo-handling with the management-side communication control means, and is connected to the vehicle-control means so that serial communication is possible. , The management-side communication control means is connected to a storage means in which information regarding the driving characteristics that suits each of a plurality of operators is stored in advance together with identification data assigned to each operator, and the vehicle-side communication control is performed. Means for transmitting and receiving between the operating section for each operator to input his own identification data and transmission request, and the management side communication control means. A storage unit for storing information, transmitting a transmission request input by the operation of the operation unit to the management side communication control unit, and the management side communication control unit is called from the storage unit and transmitted. Information regarding the driving characteristics of all operators is received together with the corresponding identification data and stored in the storage unit, and information regarding the driving characteristics corresponding to the identification data input by the operation of the operation unit is stored. It is read from a unit and transmitted to the vehicle control unit, and the vehicle control unit controls each unit of the vehicle based on the information regarding the driving characteristic transmitted from the vehicle side communication control unit (claim). 2).

According to this structure, when the transmission request is input, when the transmission request input by the operation of the operation unit is transmitted from the vehicle side communication control means to the management side communication control means, the management side communication is performed. The control means calls the operating characteristic data of all the operators registered in the storage means, and the management side communication control means, together with the identification data corresponding to the information on the operating characteristics of all the called operators, the vehicle side communication control means. Information related to driving characteristics corresponding to the identification data input by the operation of the operation unit, which is transmitted to the vehicle control means and is transmitted to the vehicle control unit, and is related to the transmitted driving characteristics. The vehicle control means controls each part of the vehicle based on the information.

Therefore, even when a plurality of operators share one forklift, it is possible to easily set the operating characteristics desired by each operator, and it is not necessary to bring an IC card or the like, and a plurality of operators can be used. The operator can easily set the driving characteristics that suit his or her preference.

Further, according to the present invention, the storage means is installed at a remote location from the management side communication control means, and is connected so as to be accessible by the management side communication control means. (Claim 3).

According to this structure, when the storage means is installed at a place far away from the management communication control means, for example, when the storage means is installed in one service center or the like. Even if there is, it is possible to access the storage means from the management-side communication control means provided at a plurality of locations and obtain the information regarding the required driving characteristics.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the cargo handling vehicle is a forklift (Claim 4). According to such a configuration, it is possible to provide a forklift truck in which a plurality of operators can easily set operating characteristics that suit their preferences.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a counterbalance type forklift which is a cargo handling vehicle will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. However,
1 and 2 are a side view and a rear view of a counterbalanced forklift, FIG. 3 is a block diagram, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation.

The counterbalance type forklift according to this embodiment is constructed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example. That is, a battery is mounted and accommodated below the seat 3 provided in the driver's seat 2 of the vehicle body 1, and when the key switch for starting the forklift is turned on, power is supplied from the battery to the traveling motor and the hydraulic motor. There is.

Then, in response to the depression of the accelerator pedal, the traveling motor is driven based on the output command value from the vehicle control means such as a microcomputer, and the vehicle body is moved forward or backward by the operation of the directional lever. As the vehicle 1 travels, the steering wheel 5 controls the steering of front wheels 6 which are steered wheels, and the rear wheels 7 which are drive wheels are operated by depressing the brake pedal.
The braking force is applied to.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a mast 10 is attached to the front portion of the vehicle body 1 so as to be extendable and contractible.
A pair of L-shaped forks 12 are attached to the lift bracket 11 via a lift bracket 11. Then, the hydraulic motor is driven based on the control command value according to the operation of the lift lever provided in the driver's seat 2, the lift cylinder operates to expand and contract the mast 10, and the expansion and contraction of the mast 10 moves the fork 12 up and down. .

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a head guard 15 for protecting the operator is supported on the vehicle body 1 by four columns 16 and is arranged above the driver's seat 2. A battery unit 20 for a terminal in a wireless LAN is attached to the head guard 15, and a terminal 21 supplied with power from the battery unit 20 is
For example, it is attached to the upper part of the right front support column 16 that supports the head guard 15. Here, the terminal device 21 corresponds to the vehicle-side communication control means in the present invention, and includes a display unit including a liquid crystal display (LCD).

Then, as shown in FIG. 3, information relating to cargo handling is wirelessly communicated with a management machine 23 composed of a personal computer installed in a management office. The information on the cargo handling includes information on the location of unloading and unloading, information on the type and number of packages, and the like.
The information from the management device 23 via the wireless modem 26 is received by the terminal device 21, the information received by the terminal device 21 is displayed on the display unit, and the operator is displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 21. The cargo handling is executed based on the information.
The management machine 23 corresponds to the management-side communication control means in the present invention.

Information can also be transmitted from the terminal 21 side to the management machine 23 side by operating the operation section 28 which is constituted by a touch panel mounted on the display section of the terminal 21. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the terminal device 21 has a built-in memory as a storage unit that stores data related to transmission and reception.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 3, the terminal 21 uses a serial interface based on the RS-232C standard, for example, and as described above, the vehicle control means 25 comprising a microcomputer for controlling each part of the forklift. Is connected via serial communication with the vehicle control means 25 via the terminal 21 from the management machine 23 to obtain information about the driving characteristics that suits the preferences of each of the plurality of operators. This is the greatest feature of the present invention.

That is, the database 30 which is a storage means for storing information relating to driving characteristics such as accelerator feeling and acceleration performance which suits each of a plurality of operators.
Is installed in a management office in which the management machine 23 is installed, and the management machine 23 is connected to the database 30 so as to be accessible.

At this time, the database 30 stores the information about the operating characteristics of each operator together with the ID code which is the identification data assigned to each operator. By designating the ID code, the database 3 is stored.
0 is accessed to retrieve information about the operating characteristics of the corresponding operator.

Next, the communication processing procedure of the operating characteristics between the management device 23 and the terminal device 21 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4. Now, when an operator "A" operates the forklift, When the power of the terminal device 21 by the battery 20 is turned on, the ID code of the operator "A" is input by operating the operation unit 28 in order to obtain information on the operating characteristics of the operator "A" prior to the start of operation. (S1), the input I
The D code is transmitted to the management device 23 via the terminal device 21 (S2).

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the management machine 23 receives the ID code of the operator "A", and
It is verified whether the code is correct (S3), and if the result of this verification is improper (NO in S3), the management device 2
The information indicating the inadequacy transmitted from the terminal 3 is received by the terminal 21 (S4), the fact is displayed on the display unit of the terminal 21 (S5), and then the process returns to step S2.

Then, as a result of the collation in step S3, if appropriate, the management machine 23 accesses the database 30 to call the information about the driving characteristic corresponding to the ID code of the operator "A" (S6), and it is called. Information transmitted from the management device 23 and received by the terminal device 21 (S7), the transmission information from the management device 23 is received by the terminal device 21 and the operator name corresponding to the ID code is displayed on the display unit. At the same time (S8), the received information is transferred from the terminal 21 to the vehicle control means 25 by serial communication (S9), and the vehicle control means 25 provides the accelerator feeling and the acceleration performance, which are the information relating to the transferred driving characteristics. Each part of the vehicle is controlled as described above (S1
0).

As described above, when the operator's ID code is input by operating the operation unit 28, the ID code is transmitted from the terminal 21 to the management machine 23, and the management machine 23 accesses and receives the database 30. The information on the driving characteristic corresponding to the ID code is called, and the management machine 23
From the terminal 21
Is transmitted to the vehicle control means 25, and each part of the vehicle is controlled based on the information about the driving characteristics transferred by the vehicle control means 25.

Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, even when a plurality of operators share one forklift, it is possible to easily set the operating characteristics desired by each operator. It is not necessary to bring an IC card or the like, and a plurality of operators can easily set operating characteristics that suit their own preferences.

As a modification of the above embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 5, the database 30 as a storage means
Is a service center 32 remote from the management machine 23.
It may be installed in the computer and connected by the management machine 23 so as to be accessible by using a telephone line or the like. In this case, there is a unique effect that it is possible to access the database 30 from the management machines 23 provided at a plurality of locations and obtain the information regarding the required driving characteristics.

Further, as another embodiment of the present invention, the terminal 21 transmits the transmission request input by the operation of the operation unit 28 to the management machine 23, and the management machine 23 responds to the transmission request to the database 30. The information about the operating characteristics of all the operators, which is called and transmitted from, is received together with the ID code corresponding to each, and is stored in the memory, and when an operator inputs by the operation of the operation unit 30, the input is performed. The information about the driving characteristic corresponding to the generated ID code is read from the memory and transmitted to the vehicle control means 25, and the vehicle control means 25 controls each part of the vehicle based on the information about the driving characteristic transmitted from the terminal device 21. You may do it.

In this case, for example, if the information about the driving characteristics of all the operators is fetched from the management machine 23 side to the terminal machine 21 side, after that, the ID code of the operator who actually carries out the driving operation is input, and the terminal machine 21 is entered. Since each part of the vehicle is controlled by taking out only the necessary information from the memory of the computer, it is not necessary to obtain the information on the driving characteristic from the management device 23 each time, and the communication frequency between the management device 23 and the terminal device 21 can be determined. It can be reduced.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the storage means is explained as a database, but it goes without saying that it is not particularly limited to a database, and the identification data of each operator is also limited to the above-mentioned ID code. The name of the operator may be used instead of the one.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the counterbalance type forklift has been described. However, for a forklift of a type other than the counterbalance type and other cargo handling vehicles, information regarding cargo handling is managed. The present invention can be similarly applied as long as it has a function of communicating from the side to the terminal mounted in the vehicle, and the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications other than those described above can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0039]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the identification data of the operator is input, the identification data is transferred from the vehicle control means to the vehicle side communication control means, and the management side. The communication control unit calls the driving characteristic data corresponding to the identification data transferred from the storage unit and transferred, and the management-side communication control unit outputs information about the called driving characteristic from the vehicle-side communication control unit to the vehicle control unit. Since each part of the vehicle is controlled by the vehicle control means on the basis of the transferred information regarding the driving characteristics, even if a plurality of operators share one forklift, it is possible that The operating characteristics can be easily set, there is no need to bring an IC card, etc., and multiple operators can set the operating characteristics to suit their own preferences. It is possible to perform the easy.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when the transmission request is input, the transmission request input by operating the operation unit is transmitted from the vehicle side communication control means to the management side communication control means. And the operating characteristic data of all the operators registered in the storing means by the managing side communication control means are called, and the information regarding the operating characteristics of all called operators together with the identification data corresponding to each of the called operating characteristic data from the managing side communication control means. Information relating to driving characteristics, which is transmitted to the vehicle-side communication control means and stored in the storage section thereof, and which corresponds to the identification data input by the operation of the operation section is read from the storage section, transmitted to the vehicle control means, and transmitted. In the case where a plurality of operators share one forklift because the vehicle control unit controls each part of the vehicle based on the information about the coming driving characteristics. Even if there is, it is possible to easily set the driving characteristics that each operator likes, and it is not necessary to bring an IC card or the like, and multiple operators can easily set the driving characteristics that suit their tastes. become.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when the storage means is installed at a location far away from the management-side communication control means, the storage means is installed in, for example, one service center. Even in such a case, it becomes possible to access the storage means from the management-side communication control means provided at a plurality of locations and obtain the information regarding the required driving characteristics.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 4, it is possible to provide a forklift truck in which a plurality of operators can easily set the operating characteristics to suit their own preferences.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a counterbalanced forklift according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the counterbalanced forklift according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a modified example of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

21 Terminal (vehicle side communication control means) 23 Management machine (management side communication control means) 25 Vehicle control means 28 Operation part 30 database (storage means) 32 Service Center

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A control device for a cargo handling vehicle, wherein a vehicle control means controls each part of the vehicle to realize a driving in accordance with the set driving characteristic when a driving characteristic that suits an operator's preference is set. The vehicle-side communication control means is mounted on the vehicle and wirelessly communicates information regarding cargo handling with the management-side communication control means, and is connected to the vehicle control means so as to be serially communicable. The communication control means is connected to a storage means in which information regarding the driving characteristics that suits each of a plurality of operators is stored in advance together with identification data assigned to each operator. Control unit for inputting the identification data of the operator, and the identification data of an operator is operated by the operation unit to control the communication on the management side. To the operating means, and receives the information on the operating characteristic corresponding to the identification data of the certain operator that is called from the storing means and transmitted by the management-side communication control means, and receives the received information on the operating characteristic. A control device for a cargo handling vehicle, which is transferred to a vehicle control means, wherein the vehicle control means controls each part of the vehicle based on the information regarding the driving characteristic transferred from the vehicle side communication control means. 2. A control device for a cargo handling vehicle, wherein, when a driving characteristic that suits an operator's preference is set, the vehicle control means controls each part of the vehicle to realize driving according to the set driving characteristic. The vehicle-side communication control means is mounted on the vehicle and wirelessly communicates information regarding cargo handling with the management-side communication control means, and is connected to the vehicle control means so as to be serially communicable. The communication control means is connected to a storage means that stores in advance information about the driving characteristics that suits each of a plurality of operators together with identification data assigned to each operator, and the vehicle-side communication control means Stores transmission / reception information between an operation unit for an operator to input his / her identification data and a transmission request, and the management-side communication control means. A storage unit, which transmits a transmission request input by the operation of the operation unit to the management-side communication control unit, and which is called by all the operators of the storage unit by the management-side communication control unit. Information on driving characteristics is received together with the corresponding identification data and stored in the storage unit, and information on the driving characteristics corresponding to the identification data input by the operation of the operation unit is read from the storage unit. A control device for a cargo handling vehicle, which transmits to the vehicle control means, and the vehicle control means controls each part of the vehicle based on the information regarding the driving characteristics transmitted from the vehicle side communication control means. 3. The storage means is installed at a remote location from the management-side communication control means, and is connected so as to be accessible by the management-side communication control means. The control device for a cargo handling vehicle according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The control device for a cargo handling vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the cargo handling vehicle is a forklift.