IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,623,841
Granted Patent B2
US 12,623,841 · App. 18/038,047 · Granted May 12, 2026

Robot and article dimension obtainment method

Inventors: Hideshi Yamane (Kobe, JP); Eiji Yoshikuwa (Kobe, JP); Toshiyuki Tsujimori (Kobe, JP)
Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B65G1/0421B25J13/085B65G1/0435
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,623,841
App. No.
18/038,047
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A robot includes a holder, a puller, a sensor, and a dimension obtainer. The holder holds an article placed on a supporter. The puller pulls the holder to a front side. The sensor detects that the article being pulled out ceased being on the supporter. The dimension obtainer obtains a dimension of the article along a pullout direction based on a distance that the article is pulled for from when the puller starts to pull out the article until when the sensor detects that the article ceased being on the supporter.

Claims (36)

1 . A robot, comprising:

a holder that holds an article placed on a supporter;

a puller that pulls the holder to a front side;

a limit switch that detects that the article being pulled out ceased being on the supporter;

a dimension obtainer that obtains a dimension of the article along a pullout direction based on a distance that the article is pulled for from when the puller starts to pull out the article until when the limit switch detects that the article ceased being on the supporter,

a robot body; and

an end effector that is attached to a distal end of the robot body, wherein the limit switch is arranged at the end effector.

2 . The robot according to claim 1 , wherein a pullout of the article starts with a face of the article on the front side and a face of the supporter on the front side belonging to a same plane.

3 . The robot according to claim 1 , comprising a controller that controls the robot body and the end effector,

wherein the end effector includes a receiver that carries the article that ceased being on the supporter, and

wherein the controller controls the puller so that the article is pulled out while a top surface of the receiver being lower than a bottom edge of a face of the article on the front side.

4 . The robot according to claim 3 , wherein the limit switch is arranged at the receiver.

5 . The robot according to claim 1 , wherein the holder is arranged at the end effector that is attached to a distal end of the robot body, and

wherein the puller includes a pulling conveyor that is arranged at the end effector and slides the holder.

6 . The robot according to claim 5 , wherein, if the limit switch does not detect that the article ceased being on the supporter even after the pulling conveyor moved the holder to a limit of slide movement, the robot body pulls out the article further together with the end effector until the limit switch detects it.

7 . A robot, comprising:

a holder that holds an article placed on a supporter;

a puller that pulls the holder to a front side;

a strain sensor that detects that the article being pulled out ceased being on the supporter;

a dimension obtainer that obtains a dimension of the article along a pullout direction based on a distance that the article is pulled for from when the puller starts to pull out the article until when the strain sensor detects that the article ceased being on the supporter;

a robot body; and

an end effector that is attached to a distal end of the robot body, wherein the strain sensor is arranged at the end effector.

8 . A robot, comprising:

a holder that holds an article placed on a supporter;

a puller that pulls the holder to a front side;

a sensor that detects that the article being pulled out ceased being on the supporter;

a dimension obtainer that obtains a dimension of the article along a pullout direction based on a distance that the article is pulled for from when the puller starts to pull out the article until when the sensor detects that the article ceased being on the supporter;

a robot body; and

an end effector that is attached to a distal end of the robot body, wherein

the sensor is a force sensor that is arranged at a distal end of the robot body.

9 . A robot, comprising:

a holder that holds an article placed on a supporter;

a puller that pulls the holder to a front side;

a sensor that detects that the article being pulled out ceased being on the supporter; and

a dimension obtainer that obtains a dimension of the article along a pullout direction based on a distance that the article is pulled for from when the puller starts to pull out the article until when the sensor detects that the article ceased being on the supporter, wherein the holder is arranged at an end effector that is attached to a distal end of a robot body, and

wherein the puller includes a pulling conveyor that is arranged at the end effector and slides the holder.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2023
From: YAMANE, HIDESHI; YOSHIKUWA, EIJI; TSUJIMORI, TOSHIYUKI
To: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 064505/0546 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-194098 · Nov 24, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240002147A1 · Jan 4, 2024
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