Holding device, cargo handling apparatus, and holding method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022219337-A1
Application number	US-202217574849-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 13, 2022
Priority date	Jan 14, 2021
Publication date	Jul 14, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a holding device includes a first holder configured to hold an upper surface of an article, and a second holder configured to hold a side surface of the article. The holding device performs at least a first operation of the first and second holders holding the article, and a second operation of only the first holder holding the article.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A holding device, comprising:
a first holder configured to hold an upper surface of an article; and a second holder configured to hold a side surface of the article, the holding device performing at least
a first operation of the first and second holders holding the article, and
a second operation of only the first holder holding the article.

2 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first driver driving the first holder along a longitudinal direction; and a second driver driving the second holder along the longitudinal direction with respect to the first holder.

3 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first operation is performed in a first state in which the second holder is at a first position, the second holder can hold the side surface of the article at the first position, and the second operation is performed in a second state in which the second holder is at a second position separated from the first position.

4 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first operation is performed in a first state in which the second holder can hold the side surface of the article, and the second operation is performed in a second state in which the second holder is positioned higher than at least a portion of the first holder.

5 . The device according to claim 4 ,
wherein at least a portion of the second holder is positioned directly above the first holder in the second state.

6 . The device according to claim 4 , wherein
the first state and the second state are switched by rotating the second holder around a rotation center, and the rotation center is along a lateral direction and is located at a different position from the second holder.

7 . The device according to claim 4 , wherein
the first state and the second state are switched by moving one or both of the first and second holders in a vertical direction.

8 . The device according to claim 3 , wherein
the second holder is coupled to the first holder in the first state, and the second holder is detached from the first holder in the second state.

9 . The device according to claim 3 , wherein
the second position is backward of the first position, and the first state and the second state are switched by moving the second holder in a longitudinal direction.

10 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein
a plurality of the first holders and a plurality of the second holders are arranged in a lateral direction.

11 . The device according to claim 10 , wherein
the plurality of first holders is mutually-independently movable in a vertical direction.

12 . A holding device, comprising:
a first holder configured to hold an upper surface of an article; and a second holder configured to hold a side surface of the article, the second holder being movable between
a first position that is lower than at least a portion of the first holder, and
a second position that is higher than the at least a portion of the first holder.

13 . The device according to claim 12 , wherein
at least a portion of the second holder is positioned directly above the first holder when the second holder is at the second position.

14 . The device according to claim 12 , further comprising:
a fourth driver changing a position in a vertical direction of the second holder by moving the second holder with respect to the first holder.

15 . The device according to claim 12 , wherein
the second holder is attachable to and detachable from the first holder.

16 . A cargo handling apparatus, comprising:
a third driver driving the first and second holders in a vertical direction; a lift on which the article is placed, the lift moving in the vertical direction; and the holding device according to claim 1 .

17 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , further comprising:
a first supporter and a second supporter supporting the first holder and the second holder, the first supporter and the second supporter being separated from each other in a lateral direction, a length in the lateral direction of the lift being greater than a length in the lateral direction between the first supporter and the second supporter.

18 . The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein
the first holder and the second holder are movable to a position not interfering with the lift when the lift is moved to be higher than the first holder.

19 . A holding method, comprising:
using a holding device to perform at least a first operation and a second operation, the holding device including
a first holder configured to hold an upper surface of an article, and
a second holder configured to hold a side surface of the article,
the first holder and the second holder holding the article in the first operation, only the first holder holding the article in the second operation.

20 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein
the second holder is positioned at a first position in the first operation, the second holder can hold the side surface of the article at the first position, and the second holder is positioned at a second position separated from the first position in the second operation.

21 . The method according to claim 20 , wherein
the second position is higher than the first position.

Assignees

• Toshiba Kk
• Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corp

Inventors

• Shibata Motojiro
• Ikeya Yukihiro
• Toyoshima Takeshi
• Taki Toshikazu
• Fujihara Hiroaki
• Mitsuya Yusuke

Classifications

• B65G65/32

  Filling devices · CPC title

• B65D25/10 Primary

  Devices to locate articles in containers {(for protecting articles from mechanical damage B65D81/02)} · CPC title

• B65G59/00

  De-stacking of articles (B65G60/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65G61/00 Primary

  Use of pick-up or transfer devices or of manipulators for stacking or de-stacking articles not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B25J15/0004

  with provision for adjusting the gripped object in the hand · CPC title