The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 23, 1999
Filed:
Oct. 14, 1997
Kazunori Ooishi, Shizuoka, JP;
Abstract
An automatically guided vehicle that runs guided by guide signals transmitted from guiding material laid on the floor. The wheels at the four corners of the chassis of the vehicle are casters that can be switched over between free and fixed modes. A steering drive unit which can move by itself in longitudinal direction is mounted on the lower surface of the chassis at approximately the center thereof. Sensors that detect guide signals are provided at the front and rear parts of the steering drive unit. The steering drive unit changes its operating position automatically as the vehicle switches over between forward and backward running modes. The casters change modes in such a manner that, as the automatically guided vehicle switches over between forward and backward running modes, the casters at the front function as free wheels while the casters at the rear function as fixed or pivot-restrained wheels.