Mobile body positioning station and mobile body positioning system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12084292-B2
Application number	US-201915734049-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2019
Priority date	Jun 6, 2018
Publication date	Sep 10, 2024
Grant date	Sep 10, 2024

Abstract

A mobile body positioning station and a mobile body positioning system include a first partition, a second partition disposed along a direction intersecting an extending direction of the first partition, and a guide device as a guide disposed on a movement path of a robot as a mobile body. The guide device is disposed along an oblique direction with respect to the direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the first partition to extend from the first partition toward the second partition side. The guide device is configured to make the robot move in the oblique direction more easily than move in directions other than the oblique direction, and the guide device moves the robot along the first partition toward the second partition.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mobile body positioning station comprising:
a first partition;
a second partition disposed along a direction intersecting an extending direction of the first partition; and
a guide disposed on a movement path of a mobile body, wherein
the guide comprises a plurality of guide rollers horizontally disposed along an oblique direction with respect to a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the first partition to extend from the first partition toward the second partition side, the guide rollers having rotary center axes extending along a direction that is perpendicular to the oblique direction, and
the guide rollers are configured to be rotated by reward or forward movement of the mobile body so that the guide rollers cause the mobile body, which is in the reward or forward movement after the mobile body comes into contact with the first partition, to move along the first partition toward the second partition;
the mobile body positioning station further comprising a third partition facing the second partition and disposed along a direction intersecting the extending direction of the first partition; and
an entrance port of the mobile body defined between an end portion of the second partition in the extending direction and an end portion of the third partition in the extending direction, wherein a distance between the second partition and the third partition increases from the first partition toward the entrance port;
a power feeding device for the mobile body disposed on the third partition; and
an air replenishment device for the mobile body disposed on the third partition.

2. The mobile body positioning station according to claim 1 , wherein the oblique direction is a direction inclined at a predetermined acute angle set in advance with respect to an extending direction of the second partition.

3. The mobile body positioning station according to claim 1 , wherein the oblique direction is set in a range equal to or larger than 15 degrees and smaller than 90 degrees.

4. The mobile body positioning station according to claim 1 , wherein the first partition and the second partition are disposed in such a manner that the extending direction of the first partition and an extending direction of the second partition make a right angle.

5. The mobile body positioning station according to claim 1 , wherein
the guide rollers are disposed in parallel to one another.

6. The mobile body positioning station according to claim 1 , wherein
the guide rollers comprise:
a pair of support plates; and
at least one roller main body,

the pair of support plates is disposed along the oblique direction, and
the at least one of roller main bodies is rotatably disposed by a rotary shaft perpendicular to the support plates.

7. A mobile body positioning system comprising:
a control device configured to control movement of the mobile body capable of being self-propelled; and
the mobile body positioning station according to claim 1 , wherein
the control device stops movement of the mobile body when a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the mobile body comes into contact with the first partition.

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Shukutani Koji
• Onishi Ken
• Onishi Noriko
• Okazaki Hiroyoshi
• Kojima Hiroyoshi
• Kobori Syuhei

Classifications

• H02J7/70 Primary

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• B65G41/006

  with the conveyor not adjustably mounted on the supporting frame or base · CPC title

• B65G39/18

  for guiding loads · CPC title

• B60L53/36

  by positioning the vehicle · CPC title

• B65G13/11

  Roller frames · CPC title