Sorting apparatus and sorting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10751759-B2
Application number	US-201815993100-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2018
Priority date	Jun 7, 2017
Publication date	Aug 25, 2020
Grant date	Aug 25, 2020

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

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.

Assignees

• Toshiba Kk
• Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corp

Inventors

• Sezaki Kentaro

Classifications

• B07C5/36 Primary

  Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution {(sorting according to destination B07C3/003, B07C3/02)} · CPC title

• B25J13/08

  by means of sensing devices, e.g. viewing or touching devices · CPC title

• B25J9/06

  characterised by multi-articulated arms · CPC title

• B25J13/087

  for sensing other physical parameters, e.g. electrical or chemical properties · CPC title

• B25J13/085

  Force or torque sensors (B25J13/082, B25J13/084 take precedence) · CPC title