Porter module and robot having the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11673254-B2
Application number	US-201916628124-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 2, 2019
Priority date	Jan 2, 2019
Publication date	Jun 13, 2023
Grant date	Jun 13, 2023

Abstract

A porter module includes: a main body having a space formed between a left body and a right body spaced apart from each other in a left-right direction; a left pressing body disposed on the left body; a right pressing body disposed on the right body and disposed to face the left pressing body; and an adjusting mechanism installed in the main body and moving at least one of the left pressing body and the right pressing body to adjust an interval between the left pressing body and the right pressing body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A porter module, comprising:
a main body having a first body and a second body spaced apart from each other to define a space therebetween;
a first pressing body located at the first body;
a second pressing body located at the second body and arranged to face the first pressing body; and
an adjuster located in the main body to move at least one of the first pressing body and the second pressing body to adjust an interval between the first pressing body and the second pressing body,
wherein the adjuster further includes a puller located in the main body, the puller being connected to one of the first pressing body and the second pressing body, the puller being configured to pull the one of the first pressing body and the second pressing body away from another of the first pressing body and the second pressing body.

2. The porter module of claim 1 , wherein the main body has a guide rod, and
wherein at least one the first pressing body and the second pressing body has a guide hole to receive the guide rod such that the at least one of the first pressing body and the second pressing body is guided along the guide rod.

3. The porter module of claim 1 , wherein the main body includes:
an inner cover on which at least one of the first pressing body and the second pressing body is movably disposed;
an outer cover surrounding the inner cover; and
an accommodation space provided between the inner cover and the outer cover to accommodate the adjuster.

4. The porter module of claim 1 , further comprising:
an input sensor located at the main body to detect an input;
a controller configured to control the adjuster to move the at least one of the first pressing body and the second pressing body to adjust an interval between the first pressing body and the second pressing body in response to the detected input.

5. The porter module of claim 1 , wherein the adjuster includes:
a motor located in the main body; and
a cam arranged to be in contact with the first pressing body, the cam being rotatable by the motor.

6. The porter module of claim 5 , wherein the first pressing body includes:
an outer contactor configured to contact an article placed in the space between the first pressing body and the second pressing body;
an inner body coupled to the outer contactor, the inner body being located between the cam and the outer contractor;
a ball in contact with the cam; and
a ball housing coupled to the inner body and rotatably accommodating the ball.

7. The porter module of claim 1 , wherein the adjuster includes:
a first adjuster located at the first body to move the first pressing body so that the first pressing body moves toward and away from the second pressing body; and
a second adjuster located at the second body to move the second pressing body so that the second pressing body moves toward and away from the first pressing body.

8. The porter module of claim 7 , wherein the main body includes a first guide rod and a second guide rod,
wherein the first pressing body has a first guide hole to receive the first guide rod such that the first pressing body is guided along the first guide rod, and
wherein the second pressing body has a second guide hole to receive the second guide rod such that the second pressing body is guided along the second guide rod.

9. The porter module of claim 7 , wherein the puller includes:
a first puller connected to the first pressing body, the first puller being configured to pull the first pressing body in a direction away from the second pressing body; and
a second puller connected to the second pressing body, the second puller being configured to pull the second pressing body in a direction away from the first pressing body.

10. The porter module of claim 7 , wherein the main body includes:
a first inner cover having a first opening through which the first pressing body penetrates; and
a second inner cover having a second opening through which the second pressing body penetrates.

11. The porter module of claim 10 , wherein the main body includes:
a first outer cover covering the first adjuster; and
a second outer cover covering the second adjuster,
wherein the first adjuster is located between the first pressing body and the first outer cover, and
wherein the second adjuster is located between the second pressing body and the second outer cover.

12. The porter module of claim 7 , wherein each of the first adjuster and the second adjuster comprises a motor and a cam connected to the motor.

13. The porter module of claim 12 , wherein each of the first pressing body and the second pressing body includes:
an outer contactor; and
an inner body coupled to the outer contactor.

14. The porter module of claim 13 , wherein each of the first pressing body and the second pressing body includes:
a ball in contact with the cam; and
a ball housing coupled to the respective inner body so that the ball is rotatably accommodated therein.

15. A robot, comprising:
a porter module, the porter module including:
a main body having a first body and a second body spaced apart from each other to define a space therebetween;
a first pressing body located at the first body;
a second pressing body located at the second body and arranged to face the first pressing body; and
an adjuster located in the main body to move at least one of the first pressing body and the second pressing body to adjust an interval between the first pressing body and the second pressing body;

a mover configured to transport the porter module, the mover including:
a support plate on which the porter module is mounted; and
a display located above the support plate;

a touch sensor at the display; and
a controller configured to control the adjuster according to a signal transmitted from the touch sensor.

16. The robot of claim 15 , further comprising at least one sensor to sense an article placed between the first pressing body and the second pressing body,
wherein the controller is configured to control the adjuster according to a signal transmitted from the at least one sensor.

17. The robot of claim 15 , further comprising:
a weight sensor to determine a weight of an article accommodated in the space; and
a distance sensor to determine at least one of a distance between the article and the porter module, a distance between the article and the first pressing body, or a distance between the article and the second pressing body,
wherein the controller is configured to control the adjuster according to the determined weight of the article and the determined distance.

18. A robot, comprising:
a porter module, the porter module including:
a main body having a first body and a second body spaced apart from each other to define a space therebetween;
a first pressing body located at the first body;
a second pressing body located at the second body and arranged to face the first pressing body; and
an adjuster located in the main body to move at least one of the first pressing body and the second pressing body to adjust an interval between the first pressing body and the second pressing body;

a mover configured to transport the porter module, the mover including:
a support plate on which the porter module is mounted; and
a display located above the support plate;

a touch sensor located at the main body; and
a controller configured to control the adjuster according to a signal transmitted from the touch sensor.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Jung Chungin
• Yang Sunho
• Hong Eulpyo

Classifications

• B25J13/081

  Touching devices, e.g. pressure-sensitive · CPC title

• B25J9/08 Primary

  characterised by modular constructions · CPC title

• B25J9/126

  Rotary actuators · CPC title

• B25J9/1005

  comprising adjusting means · CPC title

• B25J9/0009 Primary

  Constructional details, e.g. manipulator supports, bases · CPC title