Robot device for unloading cargo and control method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025381663-A1
Application number	US-202519313663-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 28, 2025
Priority date	Sep 12, 2023
Publication date	Dec 18, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

An effector includes a body plate and at least one rod coupled to the body plate. The at least one rod is configured to be variably tilted with respect to the body plate. A robot device includes an end effector, a joint arm coupled to the end effector and configured to move the end effector, and a processor configured to execute a program stored in a memory so as to control movement of the end effector. The processor acquires cargo image information, controls the joint arm to perform a first movement so as to move the end effector above a cargo elevation, controls the joint arm to perform a second movement so as to move the end effector downward after the first movement, and controls the joint arm to perform a third movement so as to retract the end effector after the second movement.

First claim

1 . An effector, comprising:
a body plate; and at least one rod coupled to the body plate, wherein the at least one rod is configured to be variably tilted with respect to the body plate.

2 . The effector according to claim 1 , wherein the body plate has a groove extending in a transverse direction of the body plate, and the rod is disposed in the groove.

3 . The effector according to claim 1 , wherein the rod is directly or indirectly freely coupled to the body plate so as to make the rod be tilted with respect to the body plate by gravity or an external force.

4 . The effector according to claim 3 , wherein the rod is provided as a plurality of rods, and the plurality of rods are configured to be tilted independently of one another.

5 . The effector according to claim 1 , wherein the end effector is included in a robot device for cargo unloading, and
wherein the rod is provided as a plurality of rods, and one or more of the plurality of rods are configured to be insertable into corresponding gaps between individual cargo items located at an upper end portion of the cargo.

6 . The effector according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a guide rail disposed on the body plate; and a carriage configured to be movable along the guide rail and having a rod hole into which the rod is inserted.

7 . The effector according to claim 6 , wherein the guide rail comprises a first slit extending in a first direction, and a second slit extending in a third direction and coupled to the first slit.

8 . The effector according to claim 7 , wherein the carriage comprises a plurality of guide blocks engaged with the guide rail, and the plurality of guide blocks comprises a first guide block and a second guide block inserted into the guide rail,
wherein the carriage and the rod are configured to linearly move together in the first direction, when the first guide block and the second guide block are both positioned in the first slit, and wherein the rod is configured to be tilted, when one or both of the first guide block and the second guide block are positioned in the second slit.

9 . The effector according to claim 6 , wherein the body plate has a groove extending in a transverse direction of the body plate, and
wherein the carriage is configured to be at least partially linearly movable in the transverse direction while moving along the guide rail.

10 . The effector according to claim 6 , further comprising an elastic member fixed to the body plate and the carriage.

11 . The effector according to claim 1 , wherein during tilting of the rod, the rod is configured to be at least partially linearly movable in a direction intersecting an extension direction of the rod.

12 . The effector according to claim 1 , wherein the effector is included in a robotic device that comprises a joint arm configured to move the effector, and the effector is coupled to an end portion of the joint arm.

13 . A robot device, comprising:
an end effector; a joint arm coupled to the end effector and configured to move the end effector; and a processor configured to execute a program stored in a memory so as to control movement of the end effector, wherein the processor is configured to: acquire cargo image information; control the joint arm to perform a first movement so as to move the end effector above a cargo elevation, the end effector including a body plate and at least one rod; control the joint arm to perform a second movement so as to move the end effector downward after the first movement; and control the joint arm to perform a third movement so as to retract the end effector after the second movement.

14 . The robot device according to claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to maintain a vertical position of the body plate during the third movement substantially same as that of the body plate at the end of the second movement.

15 . A method of operating a robot device for unloading cargo, wherein the robot device comprises a body plate and at least one rod coupled to the body plate, the method comprising:
moving the rod above loaded cargo items; moving the end effector downward; and retracting the end effector.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one rod is a plurality of rods, and one or more of the plurality of rods are inserted between boundaries of adjacent ones of the cargo items as a result of the moving of the end effector downward, or the retracting of the end effector, or both.

17 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein during the retracting of the end effector, a lower end of the rod retracts while being in contact with an upper surface of a corresponding one of the cargo items.

18 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one rod is a plurality of rods, and one or more of the plurality of rods are tilted during the retracting of the end effector.

19 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one rod is a plurality of rods, and during the retracting of the end effector, one or more of the plurality of rods move in a horizontal direction.

20 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein as a result of the retracting of the end effector, one or more of the cargo items are swept and unloaded by the rod.

Assignees

• Korea Inst Ind Tech

Inventors

• Lee Kwang Hee
• Pyo Dong Bum
• Cho Jung San
• Kim Hyun Su
• Song Yong Hyeon

Classifications

• B65G67/26

  using rakes or scrapers · CPC title

• B25J15/0052

  multiple gripper units or multiple end effectors · CPC title

• B25J19/023

  including video camera means · CPC title

• B25J15/0616

  with vacuum · CPC title

• B25J15/0014

  having fork, comb or plate shaped means for engaging the lower surface on a object to be transported · CPC title