Conveyor vehicle and conveyor method
US9327902B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 3, 2011 |
| Grant date | May 3, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 7, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G1/065
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A transfer vehicle includes a lateral pair of extendable and retractable arms, openable and closable hooks at front and rear ends of the arms, an arm opening and closing mechanism configured to change spacing between the arms, and a controller configured and programmed to control the arms and the arm opening and closing mechanism as well as the hooks. During article pickup, the controller pulls in an article onto the transfer vehicle by causing the arms to protrude to a position beyond the article in a state in which the hooks at a distal end in a pickup direction as viewed from the transfer vehicle are opened, thereafter closing the hooks to clamp the article, opening the arms after the clamping to provide a gap between the article and at least one of the arms, and retracting the arms in a state in which the hooks are closed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.