JPH11327646A - Information transmission method and device by guide line communication - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a device capable of transmitting various information through a guide line between carriers traveling on a prescribed track or between the carrier and a ground side. SOLUTION: In this information transmission method, when pulse signals are transmitted through the guide line 2a from the pulse signal transmission means 5 of the carrier A to the pulse signal reception means 6 of the carrier B, the pulse signal judgement means 7 of the carrier B decides the information of what kind of contents is transmitted by referring to a prescribed table from the number of the pulse signals detected within prescribed time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transport system which is installed in a facility such as a hospital, and in which a transport vehicle travels on a rail track composed of a plurality of rails by receiving power supplied by a non-contact power supply system. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transmitting information between transport vehicles or between a transport vehicle and a ground side.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a transport system in a factory, an automatic warehouse, a hospital, or the like, a transport trolley loaded with various transported objects travels on a predetermined track on a floor. This transport vehicle is an electric vehicle driven by a motor, and runs on a predetermined track while receiving power from a power supply line laid along the track by a non-contact power feeding method.

In addition to the power supply line, a guide line is laid in an appropriate section of the track, and when the guide vehicles pass through the section where the guide line is laid, the guide vehicles are connected to each other, or between the guide vehicles and the ground. Signals can be transmitted and received to and from this side via this guide wire.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), at a point where the tracks merge, the transport vehicle A traveling on the main traveling track 1a and the transport vehicle B traveling on the branch track 1b do not collide. A loop-shaped guide line 2a, 2b is laid in parallel near the junction of the main traveling track 1a and the branch track 1b in a L-shaped curve, and is connected to the transport vehicle A via the guide lines 2a, 2b. Signals can be transmitted and received between the carriage B.

Similarly, in the example shown in FIG. 3 (b), a part of the main running track 1a is rotated by the rotary shifter 3 to be connected to the branch track 1b. In this case, On the side of the rotary shifter 3 on the main traveling track 1a, loop-shaped guide lines 2a and 2b are laid in parallel along the main traveling track 1a. Signals can be transmitted and received between the carriage A and the controller 4 for controlling the rotary shifter 3 provided on the ground side via the guide lines 2a and 2b. Is performed.

[0006]

However, in the transmission and reception of signals between the transport vehicles or between the transport vehicles and the ground via the above-mentioned guide lines (referred to as guide line communication),
Only ON / OFF two types of information could be exchanged.

That is, in the case shown in FIG. 3 (a), the main carriage 1a is moved from the carriage B traveling on the branch track 1b.
When the ON signal, which is an entry permission signal for the vehicle, is transmitted to the transport vehicle A via the guide line 2a, the transport vehicle A receiving the ON signal transmits
OFF indicating permission to enter the carriage B via the guide line 2b
Information has been transmitted between the transport vehicles A and B, for example, by transmitting a signal or an ON signal indicating entry prohibition. In addition, also in the case shown in FIG. 3B, the guide wire communication for exchanging two types of ON / OFF information between the transport trolley A and the controller 4 provided on the ground side has been performed.

For this reason, the amount of information that can be transmitted is extremely small, and only simple information can be exchanged between the transport vehicles or between the transport vehicles and the ground side. Therefore, in order to operate the transport system smoothly by performing detailed control, a central controller that controls the entire transport system issues commands to each transport vehicle in real time. There is a problem that the load on the device increases.

In view of the above, the present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and various kinds of information are transferred via a guide line between conveyance vehicles traveling on a predetermined track or between the conveyance vehicles and the ground side. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for transmitting information by guidance line communication, which can transmit the information and reduce the load on the central controller.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, an information transmission method using guide wire communication according to the present invention is directed to a transport system in which a plurality of transport vehicles travel along a traveling track on which a guide wire is laid. A method for transmitting information between these transport vehicles, comprising transmitting a pulse signal from the first transport vehicle of the transport vehicles to the second transport vehicle via the guide wire; The transport vehicle counts the number of the pulse signals received within a predetermined time and refers to a table in which the number of pulses and the pattern of the information content are associated with each other. , Various information is transmitted from the first carrier on the transmitting side to the second carrier on the receiving side.

In this manner, signals of various patterns can be transmitted and received between the carriages by the guide line communication, and based on the result of analyzing these signals, each of the carriages can perform its own operation. Various controls can be performed for the traveling of the vehicle.

Next, the information transmission method using guide line communication according to the present invention transmits information between the transfer vehicle and the ground side in a transfer system in which the transfer vehicle travels along a traveling track on which the guide line is laid. From the transmitting carrier to the control means of the transport system on the receiving side provided on the ground side, or vice versa, from the controlling means on the transmitting side to the receiving side. Toward the transport trolley,
The pulse signal is transmitted through the guide wire, the receiving side counts the number of the pulse signals received within a predetermined time, and refers to a table in which the number of pulses and the pattern of the information content are associated with each other. By determining to which of the patterns the count value of the pulse signal belongs,
It is characterized in that various information is transmitted from the transmission side to the reception side.

By doing so, it becomes possible to transmit and receive signals of various patterns between the carrier and the ground side by way of the guidance line communication, and based on the result of analyzing these signals, the carrier is transported. Various controls can be performed between the bogie and the ground side.

[0014] In these information transmission methods, three or more types of information can be transmitted from the transmitting side to the receiving side in correspondence with the fact that the table defines three or more types of the patterns. desirable.

By doing so, the amount of information that can be transmitted can be drastically increased as compared with the conventional two types of information that can be transmitted. As a result, fine control can be performed between the transport vehicles or between the transport vehicle and the ground side.

Further, the information transmission device using guide line communication according to the present invention is a transmission system in which a plurality of transport vehicles travel along a traveling track on which a guide line is laid, for transmitting information between the transport vehicles. An apparatus for transmitting a pulse signal from a first carrier of the carrier to a second carrier via the guide wire.
Pulse signal transmitting means provided on the transporting vehicle, pulse signal receiving means provided on the second transporting vehicle for receiving the pulse signal transmitted by the pulse signal transmitting means, number of pulses and information content The table is associated with the pattern of, and by counting the number of pulse signals received within a predetermined time by the pulse signal receiving means and referring to the table, the count value of the pulse signal is the pattern of the pattern Pulse signal determining means for determining which pattern the pattern belongs to, and based on the determination result by the pulse signal determining means, various signals are transmitted from the first transport vehicle on the transmitting side to the second transport vehicle on the receiving side. Information is transmitted.

Further, according to the information transmission apparatus using guide wire communication of the present invention, in a transport system in which a transport vehicle travels along a traveling track on which a guide wire is laid, information is transmitted between the transport vehicle and the ground side. Device for transmitting from the carrier on the transmitting side to control means on the receiving side provided on the ground side, or vice versa, from the control means on the transmitting side to the carrier on the receiving side A pulse signal transmitting means provided on the transmitting side for transmitting a pulse signal via the guide wire; and a pulse signal transmitting means provided on the receiving side for receiving the pulse signal transmitted by the pulse signal transmitting means. A table in which the number of pulses and the information content pattern are associated with each other, and count the number of pulse signals received within a predetermined time by the pulse signal receiving means. Pulse signal determining means for determining to which of the patterns the count number of the pulse signal belongs by referring to the table while referring to the table, and based on a determination result by the pulse signal determining means, Various types of information are transmitted from a transmitting side to the receiving side.

In these information transmitting devices, it is possible that three or more types of information can be transmitted from the transmitting side to the receiving side, corresponding to the fact that the table defines three or more types of the patterns. desirable.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1A mainly shows an information transmission system in a transport system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This transport system is installed in a facility such as a hospital, and uses a rail track composed of a plurality of rails by a propulsive force generated between a primary side and a secondary side conductor of a linear DC motor (referred to as a linear motor). Is a linear transport system in which a transport vehicle travels.

The carriages A and B are carriages provided with linear motors, and are driven by DC current converted from AC current of a predetermined frequency supplied to the linear motors, and provided on the carriages A and B. The transported material is loaded on the container and travels along the traveling track 1.

Each of the transport vehicles A and B includes a pulse signal transmitting means 5, a pulse signal receiving means 6, a pulse signal determining means 7, and a controller 8, and the guide vehicles 2 (2a, 2b) are mutually connected between the transport vehicles A and B. ) Allows transmission and reception of pulse signals. When the pulse signal received by the pulse signal receiving means 6 is supplied to the pulse signal determining means 7, the pulse signal determining means 7 determines the information content pattern from the number of pulse signals detected within a predetermined time. The result is transferred to the controller 8 to control the traveling of the transport vehicles A and B.

FIG. 1 (b) shows such a guide line communication mechanism. Reference numerals 9a and 9b denote coils each having a secondary winding wound around the central protruding side of the E-shaped core. The three projecting sides of the E-shaped core are arranged so as to face downward, and furthermore, the loop-shaped guiding wire 2 is arranged to pass through two grooves formed in the E-shaped core.

The coil 9a and the coil 9b perform a pair of pulse signal transmission / reception functions. That is, the coil 9
When a pulse signal is transmitted from a through the induction wire 2, the coil 9b receives this pulse signal. Conversely, coil 9
When a pulse signal is transmitted from b through the induction wire 2, the coil 9a receives this pulse signal.

The coil 9a is provided on the transport vehicle A, the coil 9b is provided on the transport vehicle B, or the coil 9a is provided on the transport vehicle A or B, and the coil 9b is provided on the ground side. Pulse signals can be transmitted and received between the bogie and the ground side.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show the relationship between the waveform of the pulse signal and the transmitted information pattern. FIG. 2C shows the relationship between the number of pulses and the information pattern. It is a table shown. This table is composed of transport vehicles A and B
Is stored in an appropriate storage means on the ground side.

When the number of pulse signals received and counted within a predetermined time by the pulse signal receiving means 6 is supplied to the pulse signal determining means 7, the pulse signal determining means 7 refers to the table shown in FIG. Determine the pattern of the transmitted information.

In this table, the relationship between the number of pulses and the pattern of the information content is defined in advance in association with each other. In this table, for example, pattern 1 is “entry request”, pattern 2 is “entry prohibited”, pattern 3
Is "permission allowed", pattern 4 is "stopped", pattern 5
Are registered in a pattern such as "during slow operation", pattern 6 is "trouble has occurred", and pattern 7 is "rotary shifter drive OK".

Referring to this table, FIG.
In the case of (a), since the count number of the pulse signal is 3, the pulse signal determination unit 7 determines that the information is pattern 1 information. Similarly, in the case of FIG. 2B, the pulse signal determination means 7 determines that the information is pattern 2 information.
The result of this determination is supplied to the controller 8 provided on the transport trolley and the control device for driving the shifter provided on the ground side, for example, and various controls are performed.

In the above table, information patterns are associated with appropriate pulse widths, but various correspondences can be provided. For example,
Pattern 1 when the number of pulses is divisible by 5, pattern 2 when the remainder when the number of pulses is divided by 5 is 1.
.., Etc., the number of pulses may be systematized by a remainder system of 5 so as to correspond to 5 types of information patterns. In the above-described embodiment, the linear transport system is assumed. However, power is supplied by various power supply methods such as a contact power supply method and a non-contact power supply method, and the transport carriage travels on a predetermined track. It goes without saying that the information transmission method and apparatus according to the present invention can also be applied to a system.

[0031]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, since a plurality of patterns of information are related to the count number of the pulse signal transmitted within a predetermined time, the predetermined trajectory is determined. Traveling trolleys, or
Various kinds of information can be exchanged between the carrier and the ground. In particular, by associating three or more types of information patterns with the count number of pulse signals received within a predetermined time, the number of types of information can be dramatically improved as compared with the two types of information 0 and 1 that can conventionally transmit information. The amount of information can be increased. As a result, detailed information can be exchanged between the transport vehicles or between the transport vehicle and the ground side, and a transport system capable of running the transport vehicle more smoothly can be constructed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an information transmission system on a transmitting side and a receiving side of guidance line communication according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a relationship between a pulse signal and an information pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2A and 2B show waveforms of the pulse signal, and FIG. 9 is a table showing a relationship between a signal count number and an information pattern.

3A and 3B are schematic diagrams illustrating a state near a section where a guide line is laid in a transport system, where FIG. 3A illustrates a vicinity of a confluence of tracks, and FIG. 3B illustrates a vicinity of a point where a rotary shifter is provided. Is shown.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 traveling track 2 guide line 3 rotary shifter 4 (ground side) controller 5 pulse signal transmitting means 6 pulse signal receiving means 7 pulse signal determining means 8 (trolley side) controller 9a, 9b coil

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A method for transmitting information between a plurality of transport vehicles in a transport system in which a plurality of transport vehicles travel along a traveling track on which a guide line is laid, comprising: A pulse signal is transmitted from the first transport vehicle to the second transport vehicle via the guide wire, and the second transport vehicle counts the number of the pulse signals received within a predetermined time to determine the number of pulses and information. By referring to the table associated with the content pattern and determining to which of the patterns the count value of the pulse signal belongs, the first carrier on the transmitting side and the second on the receiving side are determined. 2. An information transmission method using guidance line communication, wherein various information is transmitted to a second carriage. 2. A method for transmitting information between a transport vehicle and a ground side in a transport system in which the transport vehicle travels along a traveling track on which a guide line is laid, wherein the transport device includes: From the bogie to the control means of the transport system on the receiving side provided on the ground side, or vice versa, from the control means on the transmitting side toward the transporting bogie on the receiving side, a pulse via the guide wire Transmitting a signal, the receiving side counts the number of the pulse signals received within a predetermined time, and refers to a table in which the number of pulses and a pattern of information content are associated with each other, and the count value of the pulse signal is A method for transmitting information by guidance line communication, characterized in that various types of information are transmitted from a transmitting side to a receiving side by determining to which of the patterns the pattern belongs. 3. The table according to claim 1, wherein three or more types of the patterns are defined in the table, and three or more types of information can be transmitted from the transmitting side to the receiving side. A method for transmitting information by way of guidance line communication. 4. In a transport system in which a plurality of transport vehicles travel along a traveling track on which a guide line is laid, an apparatus for transmitting information between the transport vehicles, wherein Pulse signal transmitting means provided on the first transport vehicle for transmitting a pulse signal from the first transport vehicle to the second transport vehicle via the guide wire; and a pulse transmitted by the pulse signal transmitting device. A pulse signal receiving means provided on the second carrier for receiving a signal, a table in which the number of pulses and a pattern of information content are associated with each other, the pulse signal receiving means being received within a predetermined time by the pulse signal receiving means By counting the number of pulse signals and referring to the table, it is possible to determine to which of the patterns the count value of the pulse signals belongs. A pulse signal determination unit that performs transmission of various information from the first carrier on the transmission side to the second carrier on the reception side based on the determination result by the pulse signal determination unit. Characteristic information transmission device by guidance line communication. 5. A device for transmitting information between a carrier and a ground in a carrier system in which the carrier travels along a traveling track on which a guide wire is laid, wherein the carrier on the transmitting side is provided. A pulse signal is transmitted from the bogie to the control unit on the receiving side provided on the ground side, or vice versa, from the control unit on the transmitting side to the transporting bogie on the receiving side, via the guide wire. A pulse signal transmitting means provided on the transmitting side for receiving the pulse signal transmitted by the pulse signal transmitting means; a pulse signal receiving means provided on the receiving side for receiving the pulse signal; By counting the number of pulse signals received by the pulse signal receiving means within a predetermined time and referring to the table, Pulse signal determining means for determining which pattern of the pattern the count number of the pulse signal belongs to, based on a determination result by the pulse signal determining means, various information is transmitted from the transmitting side to the receiving side. An information transmission device using guidance line communication, which is transmitted. 6. The table according to claim 4, wherein three or more types of information can be transmitted from the transmission side to the reception side in correspondence with the table defining three or more types of the patterns. An information transmission device using guidance line communication.