US 5,510,984 AGranted

Automated guided vehicle enunciator system

AssigneeBoard of Regents - Univ. of Nebraska

InventorsRodney S. Markin, Gary W. Kipp

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Abstract

The enunciator system for an AGV includes a transmitter mounted on the AGV connected to an electrical control circuit having a plurality of individual switches operable to cause the transmitter to transmit a specific signal upon arrival of the AGV at predetermined locations along a circuitous route. Each location along the AGV route has identifier markings detectable by the AGV such that the AGV will stop for a predetermined period of time at each location as it travels along its route. If a switch for a specific location is actuated, the transmitter will transmit a signal to a receiver at that location which then triggers an audio or visual alarm at the location to alert a person at the location as to the arrival of an item on the AGV. After a predetermined period of time, the alarm will cease and the AGV will continue along its circuitous route. If the item is not removed from the AGV at the specified location, the AGV will continue along with the route until it arrives once again at the specified location at which time it will again trigger the alarm at that location, Because each specific location has its own independent receiver to receive an independent signal from the transmitter, more than one location may be specified for different items without triggering the alarms of undesignated locations.

Claims12

Dependent claims

An enunciator system for an automated guided vehicle (AGV) traveling a circuitous route through a building having a plurality of designated locations, the AGV being of the type having an electrical control system for guiding and driving the vehicle along the route, and each designated location having individual identifier markings detectable by the AGV control system for recognizing and distinguishing each of said plurality of designated locations to the control system, comprising:

a transmitter mounted on said AGV, with means for transmitting a first signal to a remote receiver;
a first receiver mounted at a first of said plurality of designated locations, detecting the first signal from the transmitter and activating an alarm in response thereto;
first alarm means mounted at said first location connected to said first receiver, for alerting a person at the first location of the detection of the first signal;
an electrical control circuit connected to said AGV control system, including means for activating the transmitter to transmit the first signal upon detection of the identifier markings for said first location by the AGV control system;
and
a first switch connected to said control circuit and operable between an "on" position, permitting said means for activating the transmitter to transmit the first signal, and an "off" position, preventing said means for activating the transmitter from transmitting the first signal;
said first receiver means for detecting the first signal and actuating the first alarm means including means for continuously activating the first alarm for a predetermined period of time;
said electrical control circuit including means for preventing the continued travel of the AGV for a period of time equal to the predetermined period of time for which the first alarm is continuously activated.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.