摘要:
An improved accuracy position and direction updating system for use with an automatic guided vehicle that navigates by dead reckoning. Permanent magnets providing detectable position indicators are mounted in the floor and may be at widely spaced locations such as fifty feet apart along the route of the vehicle. A row of Hall sensors is transversely mounted on the vehicle. The sensors detect the lateral location of each floor magnet relative to the vehicle as the vehicle passes over the magnet. Sensors are precalibrated, correcting for errors in sensor null voltage readings due to changes in sensor characteristics due to causes comprising aging and temperature. Data from five sensors that are closest to the magnet are correlated with a stored pattern of magnetic field and their position data are averaged to determine a first estimate of the lateral or first dimensional position of the vehicle. A running average is calculated from sequentially acquired estimates to improve the results. Such precalibration and averaging provides an improved accuracy of the lateral or first dimensional position measurement between the array of Hall sensors and the magnet. A high frequency measurement of the time at which the signals from the row of sensors reaches a peak value, which is the time that the row of sensors arrives at the magnet, provides an improved second dimensional position measurement. More than one magnet is read concurrently to provide position and bearing information during one processing cycle.
摘要:
A dual mast storage and retrieval vehicle (10) comprising structure which maintains each mast (80, 80') essentially vertical as variably weighted heavy loads are placed on a carriage (50) disposed between the masts. Each mast is disposed near the center of a separately supported base (90, 90') such that bending of the base under such loads induces little off-vertical deflection to the mast. The separately supported bases are coupled by a connector (600) which comprises cross-aisle and vertical degrees of freedom but is strictly constrained in the down-aisle direction.
摘要:
A mast to base connection for a storage and retrieval machine (10) which incorporates a pin connection between the mast (22) and the base (12). The base of the machine is formed as a plurality of elongated plates (32) standing on edge with upwardly extending lugs (50) formed integrally with the plates. The mast has similar lugs (60, 61) formed at its lower end which interleave with the lugs on the base. The mast and base are factory prealigned prior to shipment and line bored to receive connecting pins (64) which can be precisely matched to each bore. The invention includes a method by which the mast is assembled to the base at a job site by laying the mast down on the base and inserting one of the connecting pins into the lugs, and then tilting the mast about the pin until the remaining lugs are aligned for insertion of a second pin.
摘要:
A double reach shuttle assembly (20) for a storage and retrieval machine. Latch mechanisms (82) are provided on the movable elements (22, 23, 24, 25) of the shuttle to control the sequence of extension of the movable elements thereby reducing the amount of space required beneath a load in a storage rack to accommodate the shuttle elements when the double reach shuttle is used in a single reach mode. As the shuttle extends, each movable element remains stationary until the element above it reaches a predetermined point relative thereto. The invention further provides an additional latch mechanism (124) which insures that the load carrying element (25) of the shuttle is the last to retract.
摘要:
A system, including methods and apparatus requiring digital communication between two devices using radio frequency communications to provide the link. Apparatus for decoding a digital data stream is provided, which data stream has been imposed on a base band signal where the rate of data transmission is as high as twice the frequency of the base band signal. A differential amplifier is employed to recognize the beginning and end of a segment of a wave cycle which represents a digital bit.
摘要:
A storage/retrieval machine (10) is provided with means to adapt the machine for use in fighting fires in a warehouse in which the machine is installed. A plurality of platforms (26,30) and access ladders (28, 32) are provided along the length of the machine mast (14). A standpipe (34) having a connection (36) to a central fire extinguisher fluid source extends along the mast, and hose and nozzle assemblies (38) are provided at each platform. To provide power to the machine to move it to the location of the fire, an auxiliary drive motor (61) is mounted on the storage/retrieval machine, and an auxiliary power supply (46) mounted in a waterproof housing (48) and supported on its own wheels (50,52), is engageable with the storage/retrieval machine for movement therewith.
摘要:
A vertical drive assembly (100) for a storage and retrieval vehicle (10) wherein a cable drive motor (200) is horizontally juxtaposed between a lift cable winding and unwinding drum (430). The vertical drive assembly is modularly assembled on a frame (170) and is attachable and detachable from the vehicle as a unit. The vertical drive assembly comprises the motor, a speed reducer (370), and the drum. To stay within the width of the vehicle, the speed reducer is disposed within the core of the drum. In one embodiment, a disc brake (350) comprising pneumatic release and spring actuation is juxtaposed between a driven sprocket wheel and the speed reducer.