Transporter and transport method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9889991-B2
Application number	US-201615262128-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2016
Priority date	Nov 5, 2015
Publication date	Feb 13, 2018
Grant date	Feb 13, 2018

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a transporter includes a first conveyor and a second conveyor. The first conveyor receives an object that is carried by an arm device and conveys the object in a first direction. The second conveyor is configured to receive and convey the object from the first conveyor and is movable in a second direction that crosses the first direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transporter comprising:
an arm device;
a first conveyor to receive an object that is carried by the arm device, the first conveyor to convey the object in a first direction; and
a second conveyor to receive the object from the first conveyor and to convey the object, the second conveyor being movable in position in a second direction that crosses the first direction, the second direction being a substantially vertical direction.

2. The transporter according to claim 1 , wherein
the first conveyor is movable in the second direction, and wherein
the second conveyor is movable in the second direction independently from the first conveyor.

3. The transporter according to claim 1 , wherein
the arm device is configured to carry next object in a state where the second conveyor moves away from a position at which the second conveyor is aligned with the first conveyor.

4. The transporter according to claim 1 , wherein
at least one of the first conveyor and the second conveyor comprises a shock absorber configured to relieve an impact that occurs when the object comes into contact with the first conveyor or the second conveyor.

5. The transporter according to claim 1 , wherein
at least one of the first conveyor and the second conveyor comprises a restrainer that is provided on a downstream end in an object-conveyance direction on the first conveyor or the second conveyor and is configured to restrain movement of the object.

6. The transporter according to claim 1 , wherein
the second conveyor comprises a roller that is provided on a downstream end in an object-conveyance direction on the second conveyor and is configured to convey the object at a speed different from those of other portions conveying the object in the second conveyor.

7. A transport method, comprising:
receiving an object from an arm device by a first conveyor and conveying the object in a first direction;
receiving the object from the first conveyor by a second conveyor; and
moving the second conveyor in a second direction that crosses the first direction, the second direction being a substantially vertical direction.

8. A transporter comprising:
an arm device;
a first conveyor to receive an object that is carried by the arm device, the first conveyor to convey the object in a first direction;
a second conveyor to receive the object from the first conveyor and to convey the object, the second conveyor being movable in position in a second direction that crosses the first direction; and
an extensible member that is provided between the first conveyor and the second conveyor, and extends between the first conveyor and the second conveyor in a case that the second conveyor moves in a direction of moving away from the first conveyor.

9. A transporter comprising:
an arm device;
a first conveyor to receive an object that is carried by the arm device, the first conveyor to convey the object in a first direction; and
a second conveyor to receive the object from the first conveyor and to convey the object, the second conveyor being movable in position in a second direction that crosses the first direction, wherein
at least one of the first conveyor and the second conveyor comprises a rotator that is configured to cause the first conveyor or the second conveyor to be inclined in a horizontal direction.

10. A transporter comprising:
an arm device that includes a holder, the arm device being configured to move the holder toward a first placement section outside the transporter, the arm device being configured to cause the holder to hold an object placed on the first placement section outside the transporter;
a first conveyor to receive the object that is carried by the arm device, the first conveyor to convey the object in a first direction; and
a second conveyor to receive the object from the first conveyor and to convey the object, the second conveyor being movable in position in a second direction that crosses the first direction.

11. The transporter according to claim 10 , wherein
the second conveyor delivers the object to a second placement section outside the transporter.

Assignees

• Toshiba Kk

Inventors

• Nakamoto Hideichi
• Ogawa Akihito
• Sonoura Takafumi
• Eto Haruna
• Tanaka Junya
• Sugahara Atsushi

Classifications

• B65G61/00

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

• B65G47/643 Primary

  in a vertical plane · CPC title

• B65G47/54

  at least one of which is a roller-way · CPC title

• B65G47/647

  the axis being perpendicular to the conveying direction · CPC title

• B65G47/912

  provided with drive systems with rectilinear movements only · CPC title