IP Library Granted Patent US 10,751,759
Granted Patent B2
US 10,751,759 · App. 15/993,100 · Granted Aug 25, 2020

Sorting apparatus and sorting system

Inventor: Kentaro Sezaki (Kawasaki, JP)
Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA; Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation
B07C5/3412B07C5/36B25J9/06B25J9/1694B25J15/0616B25J19/021B07C5/361B07C2501/0063B65G61/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,751,759
App. No.
15/993,100
Granted
Aug 25, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to one embodiment, a sorting apparatus includes a controller, a holding device, and a driver. The controller acquires holding position information corresponding to identification information of an article to be processed, and sets a holding position based on the holding position information. The holding device holds the article. The drive unit causes the holding device to hold the article in the holding position set by the controller, and moves the article held by the holding device.

Claims (40)

1. A sorting apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to:

acquire an image of an article to be processed,

detect a mark indicative of a holding position from the image of the article, and

set the holding position based on the mark;

a holding device that holds the article;

a driver configured to:

cause the holding device to hold the article in the holding position set by the controller based on the mark, and

move the article held by the holding device;

a printer;

wherein the controller is configured to, when the mark is not detectable:

determine a holding position that enables the holding device to pick up the article, and

control the printer to print a mark indicative of the holding position on the article where the controller determined that pickup of the article is enabled.

2. The sorting apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the controller is configured to, when the mark is not detectable:

determine a holding position that enables the holding device to pick up the article, and

control the printer to print a mark indicative of the holding position on the article where the controller determined that pickup of the article is enabled.

3. The sorting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the holding device includes a suction portion that sucks the article.

4. A sorting system comprising:

a reader that reads an image of an article to be processed;

a cargo-handling apparatus that holds and moves the article; and

a control apparatus that supplies operation instructions to the cargo-handling apparatus, wherein

the control apparatus includes:

a processor configured to:

detect a mark indicative of a holding position from the image of the article read by the reader, and

set the holding position based on the mark to the cargo-handling apparatus; and

the cargo-handling apparatus includes:

a holding device that holds the article;

a driver configured to:

cause the holding device to hold the article in the holding position set by the control apparatus based on the mark, and

move the article held by the holding device; wherein

the cargo-handling apparatus further includes a printer; and

the processor of the control apparatus is configured to, when the mark is not detectable:

determine a holding position that enables pickup of the article, and

control the printer to print a mark indicative of the holding position on the article where the control apparatus determined that pickup of the article is enabled.

5. The sorting system according to claim 4 , wherein

the processor of the control apparatus is configured to, when the mark is not detectable:

determine a holding position that enables pickup of the article, and

control the printer to print a mark indicative of the holding position on the article where the control apparatus determined that pickup of the article is enabled.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Jul 29, 2025
From: TOSHIBA INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Reel/Frame 072239/0263 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2018
From: SEZAKI, KENTARO
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA; TOSHIBA INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 045938/0273 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2017-112332 · Jun 7, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180354121A1 · Dec 13, 2018