Transport system, transport method, and non-transitory storage medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12264010-B2
Application number	US-202217591901-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2022
Priority date	Feb 22, 2021
Publication date	Apr 1, 2025
Grant date	Apr 1, 2025

Abstract

A transport system includes a transport robot configured to transport an item picked up from a shelving unit or to be stored into the shelving unit, wherein: the transport robot includes a placing table on which the item is to be placed, and a lifting mechanism configured to lift and lower the placing table; and the placing table includes an engaging portion configured to engage with the shelving unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transport system comprising a transport robot configured to transport an item picked up from a shelving unit or to be stored into the shelving unit, wherein:
the transport robot includes:
a placing table on which the item is to be placed,
a sensor, and
a lifting mechanism configured to lift and lower the placing table;

the placing table includes an engaging portion configured to engage with the shelving unit;
the shelving unit includes:
a first protrusion protruding inward from a side board of the shelving unit, or
a first recess formed in the side board of the shelving unit;

the placing table includes:
a second recess that engages with the first protrusion protruding inward from the side board of the shelving unit, or
a second protrusion that engages with the first recess formed in the side board of the shelving unit;

the shelving unit includes a plate-shaped member extending in a vertical direction, the plate-shaped member being the first protrusion;
the placing table includes a cutout that engages with the plate-shaped member, the cutout being the second recess;
the plate-shaped member has a plurality of holes arranged at different heights; and
the sensor is configured to detect each of the holes in the plate-shaped member is located inward of the cutout.

2. The transport system according to claim 1 , wherein the engaging portion is configured to restrict horizontal movement of the placing table.

3. The transport system according to claim 1 , wherein the transport robot is further configured to
pick up the item from the shelving unit and place the item on the placing table, and
store the item placed on the placing table into the shelving unit.

4. The transport system according to claim 1 , wherein:
a sliding material or a roller is provided in the cutout of the placing table; and
the placing table is configured to slide while being engaged with the plate-shaped member.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ota Junya
• Iwamoto Kunihiro
• Itozawa Yuta
• Komura Hirotaka
• Takagi Yutaro
• Nakamoto Yoshiaki

Classifications

• B66F9/0755

  Position control; Position detectors · CPC title

• B65G2201/0235

  Containers · CPC title

• B65G1/1371

  with data records · CPC title

• B65G1/02

  Storage devices (furniture A47B; shop fittings A47F) · CPC title

• B65G1/0435 Primary

  with pulling or pushing means on either stacking crane or stacking area · CPC title