IP Library Granted Patent US 12,448,069
Granted Patent B2
US 12,448,069 · App. 17/421,651 · Granted Oct 21, 2025

Conveying device, processing installation, method for conveying and/or processing objects

Inventors: Michael Lauer (Bietigheim-Bissingen, DE); Dirk Bartsch (Bietigheim-Bissingen, DE); Peter Rempp (Eppingen, DE); Benny Frasch (Hemmingen, DE); Martin Weidle (Gerlingen, DE); Johannes Bayha (Winnenden, DE); Stefano Bell (Kornwestheim, DE)
Assignee: Dürr Systems AG
B62D53/005B62D65/18B65G35/06B65G43/00B65G47/00B65G47/52B65G67/02B65G69/2876B65G2201/0294B65G2203/0233B65G2203/042B65G2207/40B65G2814/03
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,448,069
App. No.
17/421,651
Granted
Oct 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle, which is used in particular for transporting objects, in particular workpieces. Here, preferably one or more receiving elements for receiving one or more objects are provided.

Claims (33)

1. A vehicle for conveying objects including vehicle bodies, the vehicle comprising:

a base body;

a chassis, by which the base body lies and/or is movable on a vehicle-accessible subsurface;

a drive device for driving the vehicle; and

a receiving device, which includes two or more receiving elements, for receiving at least one object, wherein all of the receiving elements extend along a common plane that runs vertically and parallel to a longitudinal center axis of the vehicle, wherein the two or more receiving elements are arranged on mutually opposite sides of a drive axis of the drive device.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the two or more receiving elements are arranged movably on the base body.

3. A vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the vehicle includes a lifting drive device by which the one receiving element, the two or more receiving elements are raisable and/or lowerable in relation to the base body.

4. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein all of the receiving elements are coupled to one another and are only jointly movable in relation to the base body.

5. A vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein a lifting drive device of the vehicle includes a lifting drive element having a lifting drive belt or a lifting drive chain, wherein the lifting drive element connects a lifting drive motor and the two or more receiving elements to one another such that the two or more receiving elements are jointly movable by the lifting drive motor, the two or more than two receiving elements being raisable and/or lowerable in relation to the base body.

6. A vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein

a) the lifting drive element extends through a drive axis of the drive device for driving the vehicle, and/or

b) the lifting drive element extends below a drive axis of the drive device for driving the vehicle.

7. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the drive device has a drive axis that connects two drive elements including drive wheels of the drive device to one another, wherein the drive axis is oriented substantially transversely, at least approximately perpendicularly to a longitudinal center axis and/or main direction of travel of the vehicle.

8. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the drive device has a drive axis that connects two drive elements, including drive wheels of the drive device to one another,

wherein the drive axis is arranged, with respect to a longitudinal center axis and/or main direction of travel of the vehicle at least approximately centrally on the base body of the vehicle, and/or

wherein a plurality of drive elements including drive wheels of the drive device are drivable independently of one another.

9. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the drive device includes a drive axis and/or one or more drive elements that are lowerable and/or pressable onto a floor and/or are raisable away from the floor by an actuation device, and

wherein the drive axis and/or one or more drive elements are integrated into the base body of the vehicle and/or surrounded on five sides by the base body, and/or wherein the actuation device is accessible at an outer side of the vehicle for actuating the actuation device.

10. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the two or more receiving elements each have a receiving portion that tapers towards an upper end, in relation to the direction of gravity.

11. A vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein all of the receiving portions take a form that is substantially conical, partially conical, frustoconical or partially frustoconical.

12. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the two receiving elements has a height that, along a direction parallel to the direction of gravity, is greater than a height of the base body of the vehicle as seen parallel to the direction of gravity.

13. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes one or more receiving sensors by which

a) an object arranged on at least one receiving element is detectable and/or its correct positioning is monitorable; and/or

b) an orientation and/or a location of an object that is arranged at a spacing from the at least one receiving element are detectable.

14. A vehicle according to claim 13 , wherein at least one receiving sensor is arranged on the base body and/or on the receiving element.

15. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving element includes a lubricating device which is integrated into the receiving element.

16. A vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein the lubricating device is integrated into a shaft portion and/or a receiving portion of the receiving element, being arranged completely within the shaft portion and/or the receiving portion.

17. A vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein the lubricating device includes a reservoir for receiving lubricant, and a dispensing element for a controllable supply of lubricant from the reservoir to an object that is to be lubricated, including a part of a lifting drive device.

18. A vehicle for conveying objects including vehicle bodies, the vehicle comprising:

a base body;

a chassis, by which the base body lies and/or is movable on a vehicle-accessible subsurface;

a drive device for driving the vehicle; and

a receiving device, which includes two or more receiving elements, for receiving at least one object, wherein the receiving elements extend along a common plane that runs vertically and parallel to a longitudinal center axis of the vehicle, wherein a first of the two or more receiving elements is arranged on a first side of a drive axis of the drive device, and a second of the two or more receiving elements is arranged on a second side of the drive axis, the second side opposite the first side.

Priority Claims (6)
DE 102019200307.9 · Jan 11, 2019 · national
DE 102019200308.7 · Jan 11, 2019 · national
DE 102019200310.9 · Jan 11, 2019 · national
DE 102019200311.7 · Jan 11, 2019 · national
DE 202019100145.3 · Jan 11, 2019 · national
DE 102019206729.8 · May 9, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220073156A1 · Mar 10, 2022
References Cited (165)
US 376984A · Goebel · 1888 [cited by applicant]
US 3930277A · Wulff · 1976 [cited by applicant]
US 4137984A · Jennings et al. · 1979 [cited by applicant]
US 4658732A · Coester · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4811685A · Murai · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 5014625A · Murai · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5845582A · Coester et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 6324992B1 · Morikiyo et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6494142B2 · Masugaki · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6494304B1 · Jaynes et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 8406950B2 · Erb et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8496103B2 · Federmann · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8700205B2 · Scheuerman · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 8933593B2 · Haberer et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9014902B1 · Murphy · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 10232899B1 · Gatta et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10780930B1 · Kentley-Klay · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 10864637B2 · Magnanimo et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10957202B2 · Lewandowski et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 10960939B1 · Kentley-Klay · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 11199853B1 · Afrouzi · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 11364962B2 · Von Krauland · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 12006147B2 · Becker · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 12128554B2 · Bangalore Srinivas · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 12180003B2 · Austrheim · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20050232729A1 · Dehne · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20070189650A1 · Moeller · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080000069A1 · Savoy · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080071429A1 · Kraimer et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20110067979A1 · Assmann · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120205175A1 · Masserang et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20140114526A1 · Erb · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140186147A1 · Song et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150128397A1 · Kozasa et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160214668A1 · Ogawa et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160376136A1 · Miller et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20180120028A1 · Robbin · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180142488A1 · Boussard et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190169007A1 · Standard et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190225436A1 · Lindbo · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20200109038A1 · Nagasawa · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20200216130A1 · Von Krauland · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200339350A1 · Dooley · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20200346864A1 · Fjeldheim · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20220081048A1 · Lauer et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220161879A1 · Lauer et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220177061A1 · Lauer et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
AU 2014338685B2 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
AU 2014338686B2 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
CN 1469980A · 2004 [cited by applicant]
CN 1933935A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
CN 102239455A · 2011 [cited by applicant]
CN 103303642A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
CN 103538649 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 203888927U · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 104508724A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
CN 104993218A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
CN 204713237U · 2015 [cited by applicant]
CN 105813934A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
CN 105874482A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
CN 106413982A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
CN 108149989A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
CN 108361231A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
CN 109131279A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
CN 113302111A · 2021 [cited by applicant]
CN 113302118A · 2021 [cited by applicant]
DE 202005004466U1 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
DE 102004047209A1 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
DE 60302802 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
DE 102010045010A1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
DE 102011085019A1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
DE 102011109597 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
DE 102013000569A1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
DE 102013113729 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
DE 102015003213A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
DE 112015000150 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
DE 202015100782U1 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
DE 102015006098 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
DE 102015220495A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
DE 102016014882A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
DE 202016102149U1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
DE 202016102752U1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
DE 102016113312A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
DE 102017103931A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
DE 202017102155A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
DE 102017113343 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
EP 2339376A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
EP 2386876A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
EP 2722687A1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
EP 2889713A2 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
EP 3410248A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
EP 3704001B1 · 2022 [cited by applicant]
JP S5893682A · 1983 [cited by applicant]
JP H06059731A · 1994 [cited by applicant]
JP H06335655A · 1994 [cited by applicant]
JP H11188302 · 1999 [cited by applicant]
JP H11240608A · 1999 [cited by applicant]
JP 2000043769A · 2000 [cited by applicant]
JP 2003233423A · 2003 [cited by applicant]
JP 2004256021A · 2004 [cited by applicant]
JP 2010156333A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 2010194447A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012025306 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012058792A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014076720A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014510661A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015159742A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016007679A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 5851524B2 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018024415A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018523086A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019026002A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
JP 2020524109A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
KR 101496902 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020180004177A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO 2011053681A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO 2013168706A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015121818A2 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 2016112932A1 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
WO 2018234105A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020143947 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020143949 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020143950 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020143951 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
Automated Guided Vehicle Systems, VDI 2510, Oct. 2005, 40 pages, Verein Deutscher Ingenieure, Düsseldorf, Germany. [cited by applicant]
Youtube, Clever Autonomy for Mobile Robots—KUKA Navigation Solution, May 26, 2016, 1 page. [cited by applicant]
Youtube, KMP 1500—Intelligent & Autonomus Mobile Platform, Sep. 13, 2017, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japan Patent Office, “Search Report by Registered Search Organization,” issued in connection with Japanese Patent Application No. 2021538472, dated Jun. 6, 2023, 35 pages. [English Translation Included]. [cited by applicant]
Japan Patent Office, “Search Report by Registered Search Organization,” issued in connection with Japanese Patent Application No. 2021538266, dated Jun. 12, 2023, 19 pages. [English Translation Included]. [cited by applicant]
Japan Patent Office, “Search Report by Registered Search Organization,” issued in connection with Japanese Patent Application No. 2021538697, dated Jun. 16, 2023, 26 pages. [English Translation Included]. [cited by applicant]
Japan Patent Office, “Search Report by Registered Search Organization,” issued in connection with Japanese Patent Application No. 2021538030, dated Jun. 19, 2023, 22 pages. [English Translation Included]. [cited by applicant]
Japan Patent Office, “Notice of Reasons for Refusal,” issued in connection with Japanese Patent Application No. 2021538697, dated Dec. 7, 2023, 14 pages. [English Translation Included]. [cited by applicant]
Japan Patent Office, “Decision of Refusal,” issued in connection with Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-538472, mailed Nov. 7, 2023, 4 pages, with English translation. [cited by applicant]
United States Patent and Trademark Office, “Non-Final Office Action,” issued in connection with U.S. Appl. No. 17/421,675, filed Jun. 5, 2024, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]
The State Intellectual Property Office of People's Republic of China, “First Office Action,” issued in connection with Chinese Patent Application No. 202110892279.9, dated Mar. 27, 2024, 15 pages. [English Translation I… [cited by applicant]
The State Intellectual Property Office of People's Republic of China, “First Office Action,” issued in connection with Chinese Patent Application No. 202110890385.3, dated Mar. 28, 2024, 13 pages. [English Translation I… [cited by applicant]
The State Intellectual Property Office of People's Republic of China, “First Office Action,” issued in connection with Chinese Patent Application No. 202110892393.1, dated Mar. 28, 2024, 12 pages. [English Translation I… [cited by applicant]
The State Intellectual Property Office of People's Republic of China, “First Office Action,” issued in connection with Chinese Patent Application No. 202110890710.6, dated Mar. 28, 2024, 11 pages. [English Translation I… [cited by applicant]
The State Intellectual Property Office of People's Republic of China, “First Office Action,” issued in connection with Chinese Patent Application No. 202110890463.X, dated Mar. 29, 2024, 14 pages. [English Translation I… [cited by applicant]
European Patent Office, “Notification of an Objection,” issued in connection with European Patent Application No. 19809066.4, dated Jun. 4, 2024, 66 pages. [Machine English Translation Included]. [cited by applicant]
European Patent Office, “Notification of an Objection,” issued in connection with European Patent Application No. 19809066.4, dated Jun. 7, 2024, 78 pages. [Machine English Translation Included]. [cited by applicant]
Günter Ullrich, “Fahrerlose Transportsysteme: Eine Fibel—mit Praxisanwendungen—zur Technik —für die Planung,” Springer Vieweg, 2nd Edition, 2014, 502 pages. [Machine English Translation Included]. [cited by applicant]
SICK AG, “S300 Sicherheits-Laserscanner: Betriebsanleitung,” SICK AG, 8010947/XK33, Oct. 7, 2013, 312 pages. [Machine English Translation Included]. [cited by applicant]
SICK AG, “S3000 Safety Laser Scanner: Operating Instructions,” SICK AG, 8009942/TL59, Jan. 29, 2010, 148 pages. [cited by applicant]
SICK AG, “Industrial Safety Systems: Sicherheits-Laserscanner für mehr Dynamik und Effizienz,” SICK AG, 8010738/04-06 MRH, 48 pages. [Machine English Translation Included]. [cited by applicant]
Sick Sensor Intelligence, “Monitoring automated guided vehicles (AGB)—with Safe Motion Control from SICK | SICK AG,” YouTube, [https://www.youtube.com/watch7vnRw7D5trwza8], Aug. 30, 2016, 1 page. [cited by applicant]
United States Patent and Trademark Office, “Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due,” issued in connection with U.S. Appl. No. 17/421,675, dated Sep. 20, 2024, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
United States Patent and Trademark Office, “Notice of Allowability,” issued in connection with U.S. Appl. No. 17/421,675, dated Sep. 27, 2024, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
United States Patent and Trademark Office, “Non-Final Office Action,” issued in connection with U.S. Appl. No. 17/421,579, filed Dec. 4, 2024, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]
United States Patent and Trademark Office, “Non-Final Office Action,” issued in connection with U.S. Appl. No. 17/421,574, dated Nov. 6, 2024, 11 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Searching Authority, “International Search Report”, issued in connection with International Application No. PCT/EP2019/082388, mailed Mar. 12, 2020, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Searching Authority, “Written Opinion”, issued in connection with International Application No. PCT/EP2019/082388, dated Mar. 12, 2020, 18 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Searching Authority, “International Search Report”, issued in connection with International Application No. PCT/EP2019/082392, mailed Mar. 12, 2020, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Searching Authority, “Written Opinion”, issued in connection with International Application No. PCT/EP2019/082392, dated Mar. 12, 2020, 23 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Searching Authority, “International Search Report,” issued in connection with International Application Application No. PCT/EP2019/082394, mailed Mar. 12, 2020, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Searching Authority, “Written Opinion”, issued in connection with International Application No. PCT/EP2019/082394, dated Mar. 12, 2020, 15 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Searching Authority, “International Search Report,” issued in connection with International Application Application No. PCT/EP2019/082395, mailed Mar. 12, 2020, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Searching Authority, “Written Opinion,” issued in connection with International Application Application No. PCT/EP2019/082395, dated Mar. 12, 2020, 15 pages. [cited by applicant]
United States Patent and Trademark Office, “Final Office Action,” issued in connection with U.S. Appl. No. 17/421,574, dated Feb. 26, 2025, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]
United States Patent and Trademark Office, “Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due,” issued in connection with U.S. Appl. No. 17/421,579, dated Mar. 18, 2025, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japan Patent Office, “Notice of Reasons for Refusal,” issued in connection with Japanese Patent Application No. 2021538472, dated Jun. 30, 2025, 10 pages. [English machine translation included.]. [cited by applicant]
United States Patent and Trademark Office, “Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due,” issued in connection with U.S. Appl. No. 17/421,574, dated Jun. 13, 2025, 33 pages. [cited by applicant]
United States Patent and Trademark Office, “Corrected Notice of Allowability,” issued in connection with U.S. Appl. No. 17/421,579, dated Jul. 25, 2025, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
United States Patent and Trademark Office, “Advisory Action,” issued in connection with U.S. Appl. No. 17/421,574, dated May 5, 2025, 3 pages. [cited by applicant]
Malaysian Patent Office, “Substantive Examination Adverse Report and Examiner's Report to the Registrar Under Section 30(1) / 30(2),” issued in connection with Malaysian Patent Application No. PI2021003474, issued Aug. … [cited by applicant]