Loading or unloading apparatus, system, and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12397993-B2
Application number	US-202217939647-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 7, 2022
Priority date	Mar 9, 2020
Publication date	Aug 26, 2025
Grant date	Aug 26, 2025

Abstract

A loading or unloading apparatus configured to convey goods to a transport robot or unload goods on the transport robot. The loading or unloading apparatus includes an upright frame, a plurality of goods loading or unloading assemblies and a second driving structure. The upright frame is extending along a vertical direction. The plurality of goods loading or unloading assemblies are arranged on the upright frame at intervals along the vertical direction and capable of separately conveying, at different heights, the goods to the transport robot or unloading the goods on the transport robot. The second driving structure is configured to drive the upright frame to approach or move away from the transport robot along a loading or unloading direction, such that the plurality of goods loading or unloading assemblies convey the goods to the transport robot or unload the goods on the transport robot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A loading or unloading apparatus, configured to convey goods to a transport robot or unload goods on the transport robot, the loading or unloading apparatus comprising:
an upright frame, extending along a vertical direction;
a plurality of goods loading or unloading assemblies, arranged on the upright frame at intervals along the vertical direction and capable of separately conveying, at different heights, the goods to the transport robot or unloading the goods on the transport robot; and
a frame driving structure, configured to drive the upright frame to approach or move away from the transport robot along a loading or unloading direction, wherein when the frame driving structure drives the upright frame to approach or move away from the transport robot, the plurality of goods loading or unloading assemblies convey the goods to the transport robot or unload the goods on the transport robot;
wherein each of the plurality of goods loading or unloading assemblies comprises a loading or unloading cross arm and a push-pull structure, one ends of a plurality of loading or unloading cross arms are arranged on the upright frame at intervals along the vertical direction, and the push-pull structure is arranged at other ends corresponding to the plurality of loading or unloading cross arms; and when the plurality of loading or unloading cross arms approach or move away from the transport robot along the loading or unloading direction, the push-pull structure pushes or pulls goods, so as to convey the goods to the transport robot or unload the goods on the transport robot.

2. The loading or unloading apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the loading or unloading apparatus further comprises at least one temporary storage shelving unit, the upright frame is movably arranged on the temporary storage shelving unit along a horizontal direction, and the frame driving structure is configured to drive the upright frame to move relative to the temporary storage shelving unit along the horizontal direction; and the temporary storage shelving unit comprises a shelving unit with a plurality of layers along the vertical direction, and the plurality of goods loading or unloading assemblies are configured to pull goods at different heights on the transport robot to corresponding layers of the shelving unit on the temporary storage shelving unit, or the plurality of goods loading or unloading assemblies are configured to push goods on the plurality of layers of the shelving unit to the transport robot.

3. The loading or unloading apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the temporary storage shelving unit comprises a temporary storage roller with a plurality of layers arranged along the vertical direction, and each layer of the temporary storage roller is capable of individually transporting goods along the loading or unloading direction.

4. The loading or unloading apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a lifting assembly, arranged at one ends of the plurality of goods loading or unloading assemblies away from the transport robot, wherein the lifting assembly is configured to successively receive goods unloaded by the plurality of goods loading or unloading assemblies, or successively convey goods to the plurality of goods loading or unloading assemblies.

5. The loading or unloading apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the lifting assembly comprises a lifting roller extending along the loading or unloading direction and capable of simultaneously carrying a plurality of goods.

6. The loading or unloading apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the push-pull structure is rotatably arranged at other ends of the plurality of loading or unloading cross arms away from the upright frame, when rotating, the push-pull structure is capable of switching between a push-pull position and an avoidance position, and when rotating to the push-pull position, the push-pull structure conveys the goods to the transport robot or pulls down the goods on the transport robot; and when the push-pull structure rotates to the avoidance position, the push-pull structure avoids the goods.

7. The loading or unloading apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein two of the plurality of goods loading or unloading assemblies are arranged at intervals in a same horizontal direction of the upright frame, and two push-pull structures in the same horizontal direction separately and synchronously rotate to the push-pull position or the avoidance position; and the two push-pull structures in the same horizontal direction respectively and synchronously drive two sides of the goods along the loading or unloading direction.

8. The loading or unloading apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the push-pull structure comprises a push-pull rod rotatably arranged at one end of the loading or unloading cross arm away from the upright frame, and when rotating, the push-pull rod comprises the push-pull position or the avoidance position.

9. The loading or unloading apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the push-pull structure further comprises a push-pull motor arranged at the one end of the loading or unloading cross arm away from the upright frame, the push-pull rod is arranged on an output shaft of the push-pull motor, and the push-pull motor is configured to drive the push-pull rod to rotate to the push-pull position or the avoidance position.

10. A loading or unloading system, comprising:
a transport robot, and
a loading or unloading apparatus, comprising:
an upright frame, extending along a vertical direction;
a plurality of goods loading or unloading assemblies, arranged on the upright frame at intervals along the vertical direction and capable of separately conveying, at different heights, the goods to the transport robot or unloading the goods on the transport robot; and
a frame driving structure, configured to drive the upright frame to approach or move away from the transport robot along a loading or unloading direction, wherein when the frame driving structure drives the upright frame to approach or move away from the transport robot, the plurality of goods loading or unloading assemblies convey the goods to the transport robot or unload the goods on the transport robot;
wherein the loading or unloading apparatus further comprises at least one temporary storage shelving unit, the upright frame is movably arranged on the temporary storage shelving unit along a horizontal direction, and the frame driving structure is configured to drive the upright frame to move relative to the temporary storage shelving unit along the horizontal direction; and the temporary storage shelving unit comprises a shelving unit with a plurality of layers along the vertical direction, and the plurality of goods loading or unloading assemblies are configured to pull goods at different heights on the transport robot to corresponding layers of the shelving unit on the temporary storage shelving unit, or the plurality of goods loading or unloading assemblies are configured to push goods on the plurality of layers of the shelving unit to the transport robot.

11. The loading or unloading system according to claim 10 , wherein the temporary storage shelving unit comprises a temporary storage roller with a plurality of layers arranged along the vertical direction, and each layer of the temporary storage roller is capable of individually transporting goods along the loading or unloading direction.

12. The loading or unloading system according to claim 10 , wherein the transport robot comprises a carrying component, a vertical frame, a movable chassis, a plurality of storage assemblies and a blocking mechanism, the vertical frame is arrange

Assignees

• Hai Robotics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Chen Yeguang
• Kong Zhe

Classifications

• B65G1/06

  with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level (B65G1/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65G1/02

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

• B65G65/00

  Loading or unloading (of vehicles B65G67/00) · CPC title

• B65G1/1375 Primary

  the orders being assembled on a commissioning stacker-crane or truck · CPC title

• B65G1/0485 Primary

  Check-in, check-out devices · CPC title