JP2008129637A - Guide line structure for automated guided vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the guide line structure of an automated guided vehicle suitable for a place where it is necessary to frequently repeat withdrawal or installation. <P>SOLUTION: In the guide line structure of the automated guided vehicle, connection parts 2a and 2b for engaging adjacent support boards 2 are formed at the both ends in the longitudinal direction of a guide line unit 10 constituted of a guide line 1 constituted of a magnetic substance and an almost short strip-shaped support board 2 constituted of a non-magnetic substance. Thus, it is possible to form a magnetic induction path following a predetermined path only by fitting and connecting connection parts 2a and 2b at the both ends of those support boards 2 in the longitudinal direction without mounting each guide line unit 10 on a floor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a structure of a guide wire laid along a traveling route of a magnetic induction type automatic guided vehicle.

  In recent years, in factories and warehouses, a magnetic guiding path (guide line) made of magnetic tape or the like is formed on the floor surface as a traveling path, and the magnetic field of the guide line is detected by a sensor or the like. Automated guided vehicles (AGV, AGF, etc.) traveling along the road are used.

  Conventionally, this guide wire has been used by sticking magnetic tape directly on the floor of a factory or the like using an adhesive or double-sided adhesive tape, or by using a cutter machine or the like to a predetermined depth on the floor surface. In general, an electric wire such as a copper wire or a magnetic rod such as a magnet is buried in the groove after the cutting groove is formed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

In addition, the present applicants have already fixed or placed a guide wire unit in which a magnetic material such as a magnetic tape is sandwiched between two strip-shaped plate members made of a non-magnetic material on a predetermined guide path with screws. A guide line structure for an automated guided vehicle that can be easily laid and replaced even when there is an installation on the floor by (laying) (see Patent Document 3). .
JP-A-7-239713 JP 2002-278622 A JP 2003-195942 A

  By the way, the guide line of the automatic guided vehicle as described above may be installed in a place exposed to temporary high temperature or water. For example, when loading workpieces into a batch processing type firing furnace, install a guide wire from the furnace entrance to the back of the furnace, load and place the workpiece using an automated guided vehicle, and then unmanned In order to retract the transport vehicle to the outside and to prevent demagnetization of the magnetic material due to high temperature, measures such as removing the guide wire are taken.

  However, it is impossible to remove the conventional fixed automatic guided vehicle guide line, or it takes time and labor to remove and re-install. Although a method of placing the guide wire unit on the floor surface is also conceivable, for accurate traveling and positioning of the automatic guided vehicle, it is necessary to fix the guide wire to some extent along a predetermined position (traveling route). is there.

  The present invention has been made to address the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a guide line structure for an automatic guided vehicle suitable for a place where removal and installation must be repeated frequently.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 is composed of a guide wire made of a magnetic material and a substantially strip-shaped support plate made of a non-magnetic material, and is arranged in a longitudinal direction along a predetermined path. In the guide line structure of the automatic guided vehicle that guides the traveling of the automatic guided vehicle by being laid side by side, a connecting portion that engages adjacent support plates is formed at both longitudinal ends of the support plate. It is characterized by that.

  Here, a configuration in which the support plate is disposed on a rail disposed along the predetermined path can be suitably employed. (Claim 2)

  In the present invention, a guide wire unit made of a non-magnetic strip-like member to which a magnetic material such as a magnetic tape is affixed is arranged on the floor surface while being connected in the longitudinal direction thereof, and a magnet that guides the traveling of the automatic guided vehicle. By constructing a taxiway, the intended purpose is achieved.

  That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the guide line units are formed by forming the connecting portions that engage the adjacent support plates at both longitudinal ends of the strip-shaped support plates that support the magnetic body. The magnetic induction path along the predetermined path can be easily formed by simply fitting these connecting portions together without attaching the to the floor surface.

  Further, the guide line units connected in the longitudinal direction can be easily pushed and pulled out even in a place where a human cannot enter, and for example, can be easily arranged in a gap below a heavy object. Therefore, the guide line structure of the automatic guided vehicle of the present invention can be removed and installed in a short time.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, by arranging these connected guide line units side by side on rails arranged along a predetermined route, the magnetic guide path of the automatic guided vehicle can be accurately set. And can be formed quickly.

  In particular, even if it is placed in a hidden place at the bottom of the structure, it is not necessary to check the position of the guide wire, and it is pushed (slided) from one end of the rail while connecting each guide wire unit. A magnetic induction path can be formed only by moving (to). Moreover, the guide wire formed on the rail has the merit that all connected guide wire units can be easily pulled out by simply pulling one support plate located at the end when removing it. is there.

  This rail is also preferably made of a non-magnetic material, like the support plate that supports the guide wire.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a top view of a guide line of an automatic guided vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  The guide line of the automatic guided vehicle in the present embodiment guides the traveling of the magnetic induction type automatic guided vehicle, and the guide line unit 10 in which the magnetic tape 1 is attached to one surface of the substantially strip-shaped support plate 2. Are connected.

  The magnetic tape 1 has a conventionally known configuration and is a general-purpose product in which a magnetic material is applied on a thin film substrate. Note that a plate-like member or a rod-like member made of a magnetic material may be used instead of the magnetic tape.

  The support plate 2 is a rectangular plate member made of a non-magnetic material such as stainless steel (SUS), and connecting portions 2a and 2b that can engage adjacent support plates 2 are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction. Is formed. One of the connecting portions (connecting portion 2a) is provided with a rectangular hole penetrating the front and back of the support plate, and the other (connecting portion 2b) has a rectangular convex portion that fits into the hole. Is formed.

  With the above configuration, the guide wire structure of the automatic guided vehicle according to the present embodiment connects and connects the connecting portions 2a and 2b at both ends of the support plate 2 without attaching the guide wire units 10 to the floor surface. A magnetic guiding path along a predetermined path can be easily formed simply by going on.

  In addition, the guide line structure of this automated guided vehicle does not require fixing with a screw or the like on the floor surface or forming a cutting groove on the floor surface, and the magnetic induction path can be removed and reinstalled in a short time. Is possible. Therefore, the guide line structure of the automatic guided vehicle in the present embodiment can relatively easily remove the guide line unit and store it in a safe place even in a place exposed to high temperature or water.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
2 and 3 are diagrams for explaining a method for installing and removing a guide line of an automated guided vehicle according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The guide wire unit 10 in the present embodiment is also formed by sticking the magnetic tape 1 to one surface of the substantially strip-like support plate 2, similarly to the guide wire unit in the first embodiment. Further, at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the guide wire unit 10, connecting portions 2a and 2b capable of engaging adjacent support plates 2 are provided.

  A feature of the guide line structure of the automatic guided vehicle of this embodiment is that a metal rail 11 is attached in advance on a predetermined guide path on the floor surface, and each guide line unit 10 is arranged on the rail 11. It is a point that is arranged. The rail 11 is made of a non-magnetic material (SUS or the like) similar to that of the support plate 2 and is screwed onto the floor surface using each flange portion 11a protruding in the width direction from the rail body. It has been stopped.

  Here, the magnetic guiding path of the automatic guided vehicle in the present embodiment is simply pushed from one end of the rail 11 and slid while sequentially connecting the guide line units 10 as shown in FIG. It can be formed quickly.

  Further, when the guide wire structure is removed, as shown in FIG. 3, the guide wire structure is connected only by pulling one support plate 2 positioned closest to the guide wire unit 10 installed on the rail 11. All the guide wire units 10 can be pulled out easily.

  Therefore, the guide line structure of the automatic guided vehicle in the present embodiment is such that the guide line is located in a place where removal and installation is difficult, such as a place where a worker cannot reach, such as a lower part of a heavy object, or a place where work is dangerous. Even when located, these removal and re-installation operations can be performed safely and quickly.

  In the above embodiment, the guide wire unit 10 in which the magnetic tape 1 is attached to one surface of the support plate 2 has been described as an example. However, the configuration of the guide wire used in the present invention is limited to the above example. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-195942, a structure in which a magnetic body is sandwiched between two nonmagnetic support plates may be used.

  Further, the shape of the connecting portions 2a and 2b formed at the end portion of the guide wire unit 10 is not limited to the example in the above embodiment, and for example, a convex portion protruding in the longitudinal direction at one end of the support plate, A concave portion that engages with the convex portion may be provided on the other edge portion, and these may be connected in a planar manner so that the entire guide path is configured to be flat (equal).

  Furthermore, the shape of the rail 11 attached in advance on a predetermined taxiway on the floor may be changed in accordance with the configuration of the guide wire unit 10 to be arranged, and the method for fixing it to the floor is not particularly limited. .

It is the figure which looked at the guide line of the automatic guided vehicle in 1st Embodiment of this invention from the top. It is a figure explaining the installation method of the guide wire of the automatic guided vehicle in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the removal method of the guide line of the automatic guided vehicle in 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Magnetic tape 2 Support plate 2a, 2b Connection part 10 Guide line unit 11 Rail

Claims (2)

An unmanned transport vehicle that includes a guide wire made of a magnetic material and a substantially strip-shaped support plate made of a non-magnetic material, and is arranged in a longitudinal direction along a predetermined path to guide the travel of the unmanned transport vehicle. In the guide line structure of
A guide line structure for an automatic guided vehicle, wherein connecting portions for engaging adjacent support plates are formed at both longitudinal ends of the support plate. The guide line structure of the automatic guided vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the support plate is disposed on a rail disposed along the predetermined path.

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