CONVEYANCE SYSTEM

A conveyance system capable of reducing the risk of damage to a connector provided in a conveyance vehicle is provided. A conveyance system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a conveyance vehicle including a first connector, and a cargo bed including a second connector complementary to the first connector. The first connector is disposed on an upper surface of the conveyance vehicle with its connector surface facing downward. The second connector is disposed on a lower surface of the cargo bed with its connector surface facing upward.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese patent application No. 2023-007050, filed on Jan. 20, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a conveyance system.

In an unmanned conveyance vehicle disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H5-221516, a protrusion is formed at each of the four corners of a pedestal. A power transfer connector is provided in a hole of each of the protrusions. The upper part of each of the protrusion is formed in a cylindrical shape and the lower part thereof is shaped in a tapered shape in such a manner that the diameter increases downward. Recesses opposed to the protrusions are provided on a lower surface of a station, and the protrusions are engaged with (i.e., inserted into) the recesses, respectively.

SUMMARY

The connector of the unmanned conveyance vehicle disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is disposed so that its connector surface faces upward. Therefore, when the unmanned conveyance vehicle is not connected with the station, there is a risk that the connector of the unmanned conveyance vehicle may be damaged.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-described problem, and an object thereof is to provide a conveyance system capable of reducing the risk of damage to a connector provided in a conveyance vehicle.

A conveyance system according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a conveyance system including a conveyance vehicle including a first connector, and a cargo bed including a second connector complementary to the first connector, in which

the first connector is disposed on an upper surface of the conveyance vehicle with its connector surface facing downward, and

the second connector is disposed on a lower surface of the cargo bed with its connector surface facing upward.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a conveyance system capable of reducing the risk of damage to a connector provided in a conveyance vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A specific embodiment to which the present disclosure is applied will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the below-shown embodiment. Further, for clarifying the explanation, the following description and drawings are simplified as appropriate.

First Embodiment

A conveyance system according to a first embodiment will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings.FIG.1is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a conveyance system1according to the first embodiment. The conveyance system1includes a cargo bed2and a conveyance vehicle3. The conveyance vehicle3may be an unmanned conveyance vehicle.

The cargo bed2includes an accommodation part21and a pair of leg parts22. A cargo or the like is accommodated in the accommodation part21.

FIG.2is a diagram for explaining a configuration of the lower surface of the accommodation part21. The lower surface of the accommodation part21is also referred to as the lower surface of the cargo bed2. A protrusion211protruding downward is provided on the lower surface of the accommodation part21. The protrusion211includes a pair of side plates2111vertically extending from the lower surface and a lower plate2112connecting the lower ends of the pair of side plates2111. A second connector (not shown) is provided on the upper surface of the lower plate2112. The connector surface of the second connector faces upward. Further, an inclination (which will be described later) is provided in each of the side plate2111. When a first connector (which will be described later) is guided by the inclinations, the first connector is connected to the second connector.

The first and second connectors may be audio/video connectors, power supply connectors, or communication connectors. For example, electric power may be supplied from the conveyance vehicle3to the cargo bed2through the first and second connectors. Further, in the case where a display is provided on the side surface of the cargo bed2, video information to be displayed on the display may be transmitted from the conveyance vehicle3to the cargo bed2through the first and second connectors.

Referring toFIG.1again, each leg part22includes a horizontally extending bar221and a vertically extending pole222. One end of the bar221is connected to the lower surface of the accommodation part21through the pole222. A wheel(s) may be provided below the bar221.

A first direction toward which the gap between the lower surface of the accommodation part21and the first leg part22is opened is opposite to a second direction toward which the gap between the lower surface of the accommodation part21and the second leg part22is opened. The conveyance vehicle3can move into a space under the accommodation part21in the first direction or move into the space under the accommodation part21in the second direction.

The conveyance vehicle3includes a body part31. The body part31is a housing for containing at least some of apparatuses and the like required for the conveyance vehicle3(e.g., a processor and an actuator). A plate32extending in the vertical direction is vertically provided at the end of the body part31. A sensor(s) (not shown) may be attached to the plate32.

Further, a wheel(s) (not shown) is rotatably provided below the body part31. By having an actuator such as a motor rotate the wheel according to a control signal from the processor, the conveyance vehicle3moves to an arbitrary place.

The thickness of the body part31is smaller than the gap between the lower surface of the accommodation part21and the leg part22. As the conveyance vehicle3moves in the direction in which the bar221extends, the conveyance vehicle3can move into the gap between the lower surface of the accommodation part21and the leg part22.

A drive mechanism (not shown) for lifting the cargo bed2is provided at each of the four corners on the upper surface of the body part31. For example, a protrusion may be provided at each of the four corners, and the protrusions may be configured so that their heights can be changed. Further, the drive mechanism may also have a function of moving the cargo bed2in the horizontal direction.

The conveyance vehicle3moves into the gap between the lower surface of the accommodation part21and the leg part22, and then the conveyance vehicle3lifts the cargo bed2, so that the conveyance vehicle3is connected to the cargo bed2.FIG.3is a diagram for explaining a state in which the conveyance vehicle3is connected with the cargo bed2. In this state, the second connector of the cargo bed2is connected with the first connector of the conveyance vehicle3(which will be described later).

Referring toFIG.1again, the conveyance vehicle3has a processor, a memory, and the like (not shown). The conveyance vehicle3is connected to the cargo bed2according to a control signal from the processor. As the conveyance vehicle3, which has been connected with the cargo bed2, travels, the conveyance system1transports a cargo or the like.

A first connector311is provided on the upper surface of the body part31. The first connector311is a connector complementary to the second connector provided in the cargo bed2. The connector surface of the first connector311faces downward.

FIG.4is a diagram for explaining a configuration of the first connector311. A groove312is formed below the first connector311. When the cargo bed2is connected to the conveyance vehicle3, the protrusion211of the cargo bed2enters (i.e., is inserted into) the groove312. The connector surface of the first connector311faces downward. Rollers3111are provided on both sides of the first connector311.

FIG.5is a diagram for explaining the connector surface of the first connector311. The first connector311is a pin-type connector, and each pin (e.g., a pogo pin) faces (i.e., projects) downward. Each pin faces (i.e., projects) toward the body part31and is not exposed. Note that the first connector311may be a socket-type connector.

FIG.6is a diagram for explaining a structure of the rear surface of the first connector311. The first connector311is attached to a movable part313. The movable part313is disposed between a plate314and a plate315. Each of the plates314and315vertically extends from the upper surface of the body part31. The movable part313is connected with the plate314by a spring316, and the movable part313is connected with the plate315by a spring317. That is, the first connector311is in a floating state by the springs316and317.

Next, a configuration of the second connector212provided in the cargo bed2will be described with reference toFIG.7. A first terminal pattern2121and a second terminal pattern2122are arranged on the same plane. The second connector212is a socket-type connector. In the case where the first connector311is a socket-type connector, the second connector212may be a pin-type connector. Depending on in which direction the conveyance vehicle3moves into space under the cargo bed2, the first connector311is connected to either the first terminal pattern2121or the second terminal pattern2122.

Each of the first and second terminal patterns2121and2122corresponds to the terminal pattern of the first connector311. The second terminal pattern2122is disposed in point symmetry with the first terminal pattern2121with respect to the center of the plane. That is, when the first terminal pattern2121is rotated about the vertical axis by 180 degrees, the orientations of the first and second terminal patterns2121and2122coincide with each other. The first and second connectors311and212are connected to each other irrespective of in which direction the conveyance vehicle3has moved into space under the cargo bed2.

Two inclinations2123are provided on the connector surface of the second connector212. The two inclinations2123guide rollers3111so that the first connector311is connected to the first terminal pattern2121or to the second terminal pattern2122depending on the direction in which the conveyance vehicle3moves into space under the cargo bed2. Each of the inclinations2123is lowered (i.e., extends obliquely downward) toward the center point. The inclination directions of the two inclinations2123are opposite to each other.

As shown inFIG.7, the two inclinations2123are provided in point symmetry with each other with respect to the center point. Since the rollers3111are provided on both sides of the first connector311, there is no need to provide inclinations2123on both sides of each of the first and second terminal patterns2121and2122.

As described above, the first connector311is in the floating state by the springs. When the conveyance vehicle3lifts the cargo bed2, the rollers3111of the first connector311are guided by the inclinations2123. In this way, the terminal pattern of the first connector311is connected to the first terminal pattern2121or to the second terminal pattern2122.

In the conveyance system according to the first embodiment, since the connector surface of the first connector provided in the conveyance vehicle is not exposed, the risk of damage to the first connector provided in the conveyance vehicle can be reduced. Further, the position of the first connector can be accurately determined by using the rollers and the inclinations.

The above-described program includes instructions (or software codes) that, when loaded into a computer, cause the computer to perform one or more of the functions. The program may be stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium or a tangible storage medium. By way of example, and not a limitation, the non-transitory computer readable media or tangible storage media can include a RAM (Random-Access Memory), a ROM (Read-Only Memory), a flash memory, an SSD (Solid-State Drive) or other types of memory technologies, a CD-ROM, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a Blu-ray (Registered Trademark) disc or other types of optical disc storage, and magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other types of magnetic storage devices. The program may be transmitted on a transitory computer readable medium or a communication medium. By way of example, and not a limitation, the transitory computer readable media or communication media can include electrical, optical, acoustical, or other forms of propagation signals.

Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and they may be modified as appropriate without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.