IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,642,615
Granted Patent B2
US 12,642,615 · App. 18/470,463 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Panel conveyance apparatus and panel conveyance method

Inventors: Haruhiko Tan (Kobe, JP); Hajime Nakahara (San Jose, CA); Mu-Kai Lin (Santa Clara, CA)
Assignees: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA; Kawasaki Robotics (USA), INC.
A61B34/76A61B2034/305
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,642,615
App. No.
18/470,463
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A panel transfer device according to one or more embodiment may include a base; an arm rotatably connected to the base, which includes a first detector; an end effector connected to the arm, including: a connector rotatably connected to the arm; a wrist connected to the connector, including a second detector; and a pair of forks connected to the wrist, including sensors. In response to the end effector gripping the panel, the sensor detects displacement of the panel in a first direction, the end effector rotates to a position where the first and second detectors face each other, the first and second detectors communicate to detect displacement of the panel in a second direction, and the panel transfer device calculates a correction amount based on the detected displacement of the panel in the first direction and in the second direction, and places the panel based on the correction amount.

Claims (56)

1 . A panel transfer device comprising:

a base;

an arm rotatably connected to the base, which comprises a first detector;

an end effector connected to the arm, comprising:

a connector rotatably connected to the arm;

a wrist connected to the connector, comprising a second detector; and

a pair of forks connected to the wrist, comprising a sensor, wherein

in response to the end effector gripping the panel, the sensor detects displacement of the panel in a first direction at the end effector gripping the panel,

the end effector rotates to a position where the first and second detectors face each other,

the first and second detectors communicate to detect displacement of the panel in a second direction, and

the panel transfer device calculates a correction amount based on the detected displacement of the panel in the first direction and in the second direction, and places the panel based on the correction amount.

2 . The panel transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first and second detectors communicate with a predetermined width to detect displacement of the panel in the second direction.

3 . The panel transfer device according to claim 2 , wherein

the first and second detectors recognize the panel by detecting an interruption in communication between the first and second detectors.

4 . The panel transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first detector is positioned lower than the panel.

5 . The panel transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein

the second detector is positioned higher than the panel.

6 . The panel transfer device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a second end effector connected to the arm and gripping a second panel comprising:

a second connector rotatably connected to the arm;

a second wrist connected to the second connector; and

a pair of second forks connected to the second wrist, wherein

a second sensor detect a displacement of the second panel in the first direction at the second end effector gripping the second panel,

in response to the first detector facing to the second detector by rotation, the second end effector moves the second panel to a position that creates a portion of the second panel that does not overlap the panel, and the first and second detectors detect displacement of the second panel in the second direction,

the first and second detectors communicate to detect the displacement of the second panel in the second direction, and

the panel transfer device calculates a second correction amount based on the detected displacement of the second panel in the first and second directions, and places the second panel based on the second correction amount.

7 . A panel transfer device comprising:

a base;

an arm rotatably connected to the base, which comprises a detector;

an end effector connected to the arm, comprising:

a connector rotatably connected to the arm;

a wrist connected to the connector; and

a first pair of forks connected to the wrist and comprising a first pair of sensors respectively provided on the first pair of forks, and a second pair of forks connected to the wrist and comprising a second pair of sensors respectively provided on the second pair of forks, wherein

the first pair of sensors are configured, in a state where the end effector grips a first panel, to detect displacement of the first panel in a first direction with respect to the end effector gripping the first panel,

the second pair of sensors are configured, in a state in which the end effector grips a second panel, to detect displacement of the second panel in the first direction with respect to the end effector gripping the second panel,

the end effector is configured to move at least one of the first and second panels to a position that creates a portion of the second panel that does not overlap the first panel, to detect by the detector displacement of the first and second panels in a second direction with respect to the end effector gripping the first and second panels, and

the panel transfer device is configured to calculate a correction amount based on the detected displacement of the panel in the first direction and in the second direction, and places the panel based on the correction amount.

8 . A method of transferring a panel comprising:

gripping a panel by an end effector;

detecting displacement of the gripped panel in a first direction with respect to the end effector;

moving the end effector to a position in which a first detector and a second detector face each other;

detecting displacement of the gripped panel in a second direction with respect to the end effector, in a state in which the first detector and the second detector face each other;

calculating correction amount based on the detected displacement of the gripped panel in the first and second directions; and

placing the gripped panel based on the correction amount.

9 . A method of transferring a panel comprising:

gripping a panel;

detecting displacement of the panel in a first direction of the griped panel;

moving the gripped panel to a position to detect displacement of the panel in a second direction;

calculating correction amount on the detected displacement of the panel in the first and second directions; and

placing the gripped panel based on the correction amount, wherein

the gripping the panel comprising gripping a first and a second panels,

the detecting the displacement of the panel in the first direction comprises detecting the displacement of each of the first and second panels in the first direction,

the moving the gripped panel to the position comprises moving the second panel to a position that creates a portion of the second panel that does not overlap the first panel and the displacement of the first and second panels in the second direction is detected,

the detecting the displacement of the panel in the second direction comprises detecting the displacement of the first panel in the second direction and the displacement of the second panel in the second direction based on the portion of the second panel that does not overlap with the first panel.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2023
From: TAN, HARUHIKO; NAKAHARA, HAJIME; LIN, MU-KAI
To: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA; KAWASAKI ROBOTICS (USA), INC.
Reel/Frame 065069/0571 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250090257A1 · Mar 20, 2025
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