Automated guided vehicle positive stopping system
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorsDavid W. Newberry, John A. Holt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A positive stopping system with an adjustable stopper apparatus positioned along an automated guided vehicle navigation pathway. The adjustable stopper apparatus includes a linear actuator moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. A stopper end is coupled to the linear actuator. The stopper end is positioned within the automated guided vehicle navigation pathway when the linear actuator is in the extended position and removed from the automated guided vehicle navigation pathway when the linear actuator is in the retracted position.
Claims20
A positive stopping system comprising:
- an adjustable stopper apparatus positioned along an automated guided vehicle navigation pathway, the adjustable stopper apparatus comprising:
- a linear actuator moveable between an extended position and a retracted position;
- and
- a stopper end coupled to the linear actuator, wherein the stopper end is positioned within the automated guided vehicle navigation pathway when the linear actuator is in the extended position and the stopper end is removed from the automated guided vehicle navigation pathway when the linear actuator is in the retracted position.
An automated guided vehicle system comprising:
- an automated guided vehicle comprising a vehicle frame, a drive mechanism, a sensing head, and a stop block coupled to the vehicle frame;
- a conveyor station comprising a conveyor frame;
- and
- an adjustable stopper apparatus mounted on the conveyor station, the adjustable stopper apparatus comprising:
- a linear actuator moveable between an extended position and a retracted position;
- and
- a stopper end coupled to the linear actuator, wherein the stopper end is positioned within an automated guided vehicle navigation pathway when the linear actuator is in the extended position and the stopper end is removed from the automated guided vehicle navigation pathway when the linear actuator is in the retracted position;
- and
- wherein when the linear actuator is in the extended position, the stopper end is engageable with the stop block of the automated guided vehicle and when the linear actuator is in the retracted position, the automated guided vehicle navigation pathway is unobstructed.
A method of navigation assistance, the method comprising:
- extending a linear actuator of an adjustable stopper apparatus into an automated guided vehicle navigation pathway wherein the adjustable stopper apparatus is coupled to a conveyor station;
- approaching the conveyor station with an automated guided vehicle following the automated guided vehicle navigation pathway, wherein the automated guided vehicle comprises a vehicle frame, a drive mechanism, and a stop block coupled to the vehicle frame;
- engaging the stop block of the automated guided vehicle with the linear actuator of the adjustable stopper apparatus;
- stopping the automated guided vehicle;
- and
- retracting the linear actuator of the adjustable stopper apparatus from the automated guided vehicle navigation pathway.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.