Transfer Device Comprising Automatic Opening Unit of Box Cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024343506-A1
Application number	US-202318580023-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 7, 2023
Priority date	Feb 8, 2022
Publication date	Oct 17, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A transfer device comprising an automatic opening unit of a box cover, the transfer device includes: a barcode reader for reading a barcode attached to a box accommodating a bobbin and having a cover; a conveyor unit for placing the box; a centering unit; a fork unit for chucking the cover of the box; a traveling drive unit; and a control unit. The control unit controls Z-axis centering of the fork unit in conjunction with the barcode reader and the distance sensor, X-axis centering of the fork unit in conjunction with the box detection sensor, and Z-axis elevation and Y-axis movement of the fork unit, respectively, to automatically control opening of the cover.

First claim

1 . A transfer device comprising:
a barcode reader configured to read a barcode coupled to a box, the box being arranged to accommodate a bobbin including raw materials, wherein the box includes a cover; a conveyor unit configured to move the box; a centering unit installed outside the conveyor unit and configured to adjust a position of the box along a width direction and along a longitudinal direction; a fork unit installed on an upper part of the conveyor unit and configured to chucking the cover along the width direction, wherein the fork unit includes a box cover cylinder, a box detection sensor, and a distance sensor, wherein the box cover cylinder is configured to move along the width direction when the cover is chucked, wherein the box detection sensor is configured to sense the cover, and wherein the distance sensor is configured to sense a distance between the cover and the distance sensor; a traveling drive unit to a top of the fork unit and configured to elevate the fork unit along a height direction, wherein the traveling drive unit is configured to move the fork unit along the longitudinal direction; and a control unit configured to automatically control opening of the cover by_ controlling: centering of the fork unit along the height direction in conjunction with the barcode reader and the distance sensor; centering of the fork unit along the width direction in conjunction with the box detection sensor, and movement of the fork unit along the height direction and the longitudinal direction.

2 . The transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein
the conveyor unit comprises: a free roller lane configured to receive the box being transported along the longitudinal direction; a box stopper installed at a rear end of the free roller lane along the longitudinal direction, so as to center the box along the-longitudinal direction; a cargo alignment sensor disposed adjacent to the box stopper and configured to sense whether the box is in contact with the box stopper; an entry guide block installed at a front end of the free roller lane along the longitudinal direction, so as to guide an entry path of a transport vehicle; and a transport vehicle end stopper disposed adjacent to the box stopper, so as to prevent a collision between the transfer device and the transport vehicle.

3 . The transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein
the centering unit comprises: a box pusher configured to contact the box, so as to center the box; a first cylinder connected to the box pusher and configured to move the box pusher along the width direction; a moving plate on which the first cylinder is installed; a second cylinder connected to the moving plate and configured to move the box pusher along the longitudinal direction; a linear motion guide connected to the moving plate to guide movement along the longitudinal and width directions; a centering unit frame accommodating the second cylinder; and a size check sensor installed on an upper part of the centering unit frame and configured to sense a size of the box.

4 . The transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein
the fork unit comprises: a fork unit frame having a plate structure; robot provided with a motor, installed on a lower part of the fork unit frame, and configured to be movable in the width direction; a fork arm installed on a lower part of the robot; a fork installed on a lower end of the fork arm and configured to chuck the bobbin, wherein the fork is disposed between the fork arm and a center plane of the fork unit extending in the height direction; the box cover cylinder provided with a cylinder rod, a cover pusher, and a connecting member, wherein the cylinder rod is disposed so as to extend beyond a terminal edge of the fork arm in the width direction, wherein the cover pusher is disposed between the fork arm and the center plane, and a connecting member connects the cylinder rod and the cover pusher; the box detection sensor installed on the connecting member; the distance sensor installed on the lower part of the robot, wherein the distance sensor is disposed between the fork arm and the center plane; a chucking sensor installed at the lower end of the fork arm; an elevating guide shaft installed on an upper part of the fork unit frame; a first sensor support installed on a side surface of the fork unit frame and extending beyond the upper part of the fork unit frame in the height direction; and a first elevating regular position sensor and a first elevating limit sensor installed on the first sensor support.

5 . The transfer device according to claim 4 , wherein
the traveling drive unit comprises: a traveling drive unit frame having a plate structure; a traveling motor installed on an upper part of the traveling drive unit frame and configured to move the traveling drive unit frame along the longitudinal direction; an elevating motor installed on the upper part of the traveling drive unit frame and configured to move the fork unit in the height direction; a rack jack coupled to the traveling drive unit frame and the fork unit, wherein the rack jack is configured to pass through the traveling drive unit frame in the height direction, wherein the rack jack is configured to convert rotation of the elevating motor into linear motion so as to move the fork unit along the height direction; an elevating guide bush installed in the traveling drive unit frame, and configured to receive the elevating guide shaft of the fork unit; a second sensor support installed in the traveling drive unit frame in the height direction; and a second elevating regular position sensor and a second elevating limit sensor installed on the second sensor support.

6 . The transfer device according to claim 5 , further comprising
a main frame unit; wherein the main frame unit comprises: a three-dimensional main frame; a light curtain sensor installed on a side of the main frame and configured to interlock the control unit during maintenance; a cableveyor installed on an upper part of the main frame to guide cables; a linear motion guide installed on the upper part of the main frame and connected to the traveling drive unit frame to guide the traveling drive unit frame along the longitudinal direction; and a traveling regular position sensor and a traveling limit sensor installed on the upper part of the main frame.

7 . The transfer device according to claim 6 , further comprising
a bobbin stacking stand installed at a rear end of the main frame unit along the longitudinal direction and configured to receive the bobbin thereon; wherein the bobbin stacking stand comprises: a three-dimensional stacking stand frame; a guide block installed on an upper part of the three-dimensional stacking stand frame to prevent movement of the bobbin in the longitudinal or width directions; a cargo detection sensor installed on the upper part of the three-dimensional stacking stand frame and configured to sense whether the bobbin is in the bobbin stacking stand; a bobbin detection sensor installed on the guide block to sense whether the bobbin is in the guide block; and a transport vehicle end stopper installed toward a rear end of the three-dimensional stacking stand frame along the longitudinal direction, so as to prevent a collision between the transport vehicle and the three-dimensional stacking stand.

8 . The transfer device according to claim 6 , further comprising a cover assembly installed on both a top surface and a side surface of the main frame unit; wherein
the cover assembly comprises: a three-dimensional cover assembly frame; a ladder installed on a side surface of the three-dimensional cover assembly frame, so as to provide a movement path; an

Assignees

• Lg Energy Solution Ltd

Inventors

• Won Seung Jae
• Jeong Byeong Oh

Classifications

• B65B57/02

  responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages · CPC title

• B65B69/00

  Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B66F9/02

  Stationary loaders or unloaders, e.g. for sacks · CPC title

• B65G2203/042

  Sensors · CPC title

• B65G2203/0233

  Position of the article · CPC title