Features/Benefits Provided: Reduced labor costs and reduced product damage The front end, or cab, of each AGV type (fork style and dual conveyor load bed), are identical. As a result, fewer spare parts are required & maintenance is simplified. Automatic battery exchange combines the benefits of opportunity charging & manual battery swap out, while eliminating the need for a ventilated room to charge batteries. Non-wire inertial guidance provides flexibility to easily relocate pick/drop stands or expand the system.

A high volume printing company utilizes 20 AGVs to provide complete material transport of bundles of printed material (palletized logs) to/from receiving stations, bindery lines, log palletizing lines, a buffer ASRS, and the shipping/mail room. The system consists of eight fork style vehicles capable of performing both conveyor and floor pickup and drop-off of pallet loads, and 12 vehicles with two bi-directional chain driven live roller conveyors for transferring loads to and from conveyor pick/drop stations. Load move requests at each pickup and drop off location are generated by a host computer and are passed on to the supplier's Vehicle System Manager (VSM) which communicates through an FM radio link to provide AGV routing, traffic control and monitoring, as well as load tracking.

The AGVs pickup and drop off loads automatically at the raw material and work-in-process ASRS. To maximize vehicle availability the AGV system includes an automatic battery exchange system. The rail guided battery exchange cart is managed by the VSM, and it uses the same microcomputer controls and RF communications as the AGVs. As such the VSM can anticipate low battery conditions in the vehicle fleet and direct the battery exchange cart retriever to complete initial battery selection and retrieval prior to AGV arrival at the exchange station. This control minimizes the exchange time. Battery life is extended through optimum battery charging and discharging which is made possible by the system.

 
is a proud member of the AGVS Manufacturers Association of Material Handling Industry of America

8212 M-119
Harbor Springs, MI 49740
Phone: 231-348-3931   Fax: 231-348-7201
Toll Free: 1-800-448-6521
Website: www.controlengineeringco.com