IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,350,826
Granted Patent B2
US 12,350,826 · App. 18/219,395 · Granted Jul 8, 2025

Loading and unloading system

Inventors: Masayoshi Hoshi (Osaka, JP); Hideaki Mizutani (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: NAKANISHI METAL WORKS CO., LTD.
B25J9/0093B25J5/007B25J19/023B65G43/08B65G2203/0266
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,350,826
App. No.
18/219,395
Granted
Jul 8, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A loading and unloading system includes: a robot including a robot arm; an automated guided vehicle on which the robot is mounted, the automated guided vehicle including a travel driving unit; transport conveyors; a robot controller that controls an operation of the robot arm 41 and supplies driving electric power to the robot arm; and a connector that receives electric power from outside of the loading and unloading system. The automated guided vehicle further includes: a transport controller that controls driving of the travel driving unit and the transport conveyors; and a battery that supplies electric power to the transport controller. The transport controller and the robot controller cooperate with each other to cause the transport conveyors to interlock with the robot arm.

Claims (35)

1. A loading and unloading system for a load in a container, the loading and unloading system comprising:

a robot including a robot arm capable of performing handling of the load;

an automated guided vehicle on which the robot is mounted, the automated guided vehicle including a travel driving unit that causes the automated guided vehicle to travel;

a transport conveyor that conveys the load;

a robot controller that controls an operation of the robot arm and supplies driving electric power to the robot arm; and

a power receiving unit that receives electric power to be supplied to the robot controller and the transport conveyor from outside of the loading and unloading system, wherein

the automated guided vehicle further includes:

a transport controller that controls driving of the travel driving unit and driving of the transport conveyor; and

a battery that supplies electric power to the transport controller and refrains from supplying electric power to the robot controller and the transport conveyor, and

the transport controller and the robot controller cooperate with each other to cause the transport conveyor to interlock with the robot arm, thereby performing the handling of the load.

2. The loading and unloading system according to claim 1 , further comprising

a power supply wiring that distributes and supplies the electric power received from the outside by the power receiving unit, to the robot controller and the transport conveyor, wherein

the automated guided vehicle and the transport conveyor are connectable to and disconnectable from each other with a connector, and

the power supply wiring is connected to the transport conveyor with the connector.

3. The loading and unloading system according to claim 1 , wherein

the transport controller includes:

a position estimating unit that estimates a current position of the automated guided vehicle; and

a conveyor controlling unit that cuts off supply of the electric power received by the power receiving unit to the transport conveyor in a case where the current position estimated by the position estimating unit is different from a handling position set in advance for the handling.

4. The loading and unloading system according to claim 1 , wherein

the automated guided vehicle further includes a first obstacle sensor that detects an obstacle, and

the transport controller includes a conveyor controlling unit that cuts off supply of the electric power received by the power receiving unit to the transport conveyor in a case where the first obstacle sensor detects the obstacle in a first field set in advance around the automated guided vehicle.

5. The loading and unloading system according to claim 1 , wherein

the transport conveyor further includes a second obstacle sensor that detects an obstacle, and

the transport controller includes a conveyor controlling unit that cuts off supply of the electric power received by the power receiving unit to the transport conveyor in a case where the second obstacle sensor detects the obstacle in a second field set in advance around the transport conveyor.

6. The loading and unloading system according to claim 1 , wherein

the robot includes:

a camera that captures an image; and

an image processing computer that performs image processing on the image captured by the camera,

the image processing computer needs predetermined time for startup and shutdown, and

the battery supplies operating electric power for the image processing computer.

7. The loading and unloading system according to claim 1 , further comprising

an external signal receiving unit that receives a predetermined external signal from the outside of the loading and unloading system, wherein

the transport controller controls the transport conveyor based on the external signal.

8. The loading and unloading system according to claim 7 , wherein

the external signal receiving unit is a connector for the external signal.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2023
From: HOSHI, MASAYOSHI; MIZUTANI, HIDEAKI
To: NAKANISHI METAL WORKS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 064195/0517 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-111408 · Jul 11, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240009833A1 · Jan 11, 2024
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