Patents Assigned to Daifuku Co., Ltd.
  • Patent number: 11807458
    Abstract: A picking system is realized that can efficiently perform operations from collection to delivery of articles in a limited space. A picking system (1) includes: a multi-row sorting device (2) configured to sort the article into one of the plurality of rows of exits (21) and discharge the sorted article; a container supporting device (3) capable of supporting an accommodating container (B) on a plurality of rows of container supporting portions (32) until an article group that is a set of articles for the order is collected; and a transport device (4) configured to unload the accommodating container (B) in which the article is accommodated from the container supporting portion (32), and load an empty accommodating container (B) to the container supporting portion (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Ueda, Masaya Miyamoto, Masashige Iwata, Kazunari Kimura
  • Publication number: 20230348108
    Abstract: In order to reduces a risk that a user of a baggage check-in machine is infected with a virus or the like, a baggage check-in machine (1) includes: an inner display (11) that displays an image which includes an operation target region and which is related to baggage check-in; an image formation section (30) that causes the image displayed on the inner display (11) to be formed as an aerial image in air around the baggage check-in machine (1); an operation identification section (102) that identifies an operation conducted with respect to a part in the aerial image which corresponds to the operation target region; and a process performance section (105) that carries out, in accordance with the operation which has been identified, a process related to the baggage check-in.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: DAIFUKU CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazushi TSUJIMOTO, Takuya ISOMURA, Takashi OI
  • Patent number: 11802438
    Abstract: A fire door includes: an outer frame; a door body; and a center rail, the center rail is provided so as to overlap a target area in a wall orthogonal direction view, and so as to extend in a width direction between a first frame portion and a second frame portion on the side opposite to the wall body with respect to the target area, the center rail and the first frame portion are fixed to each other, the center rail and the second frame portion are engaged with each other with an engaging mechanism interposed therebetween, and the engaging mechanism is configured to allow relative movement of the center rail relative to the second frame portion in the width direction, and to regulate the relative movement thereof in the wall orthogonal direction and a slide direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takafumi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11802010
    Abstract: An article transport facility includes a transport conveyor (34) and a weighing device (24), which includes a support portion (28) for supporting a container (C1) and a measuring portion (30) configured to measure a weight of the container (C1) supported by the support portion (28). The article transport facility is configured to perform a state change between a withdrawn state in which the support portion (28) is withdrawn downward relative to a transport surface (34A) and a protruding state in which the support portion (28) protrudes upward relative to the transport surface (34A) by moving the support portion (28) and the transport conveyor (34) relative to each other in a vertical direction (Z). A support surface (28A) of the support portion (28) is inclined such that one corner portion (8A) of multiple corner portions (8) located at corners of the container (C1) is lower than the other corner portions (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoji Mori, Atsushi Minoo
  • Patent number: 11795013
    Abstract: An article transport facility includes a main conveyor device and induction conveyors. The main conveyor device includes belt conveyors and carriage bodies. The induction conveyor includes a first conveyor device for loading article onto a second transport path and a second conveyor device that is provided for an article-loading position on a transport path and loads the article onto the belt conveyor. The first conveyor device adjusts the timing of loading the article to the article-loading position, by controlling the timing of loading the article onto the second conveyor device. The second conveyor device adjusts, on the belt conveyors, loading position of the article loaded onto the belt conveyor by controlling the timing of loading the article onto the belt conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: DAIFUKU CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Ueda, Osamu Matsui, Hiroyuki Koide, Atsushi Ishikura
  • Patent number: 11794213
    Abstract: A sorting facility for sorting an article by a belt conveyor provided on a traveling carriage traveling along a conveyance path. A plurality of traveling carriages travel on the conveyance path. Each of the plurality of traveling carriages is provided with a power generation motor generating electric power by traveling of the traveling carriage. The belt conveyor provided on each of the plurality of traveling carriages is driven in a predetermined position on the conveyance path by the electric power generated by the power generation motor. The power generation motor provided in each of the plurality of traveling carriages starts generation of the electric power necessary to drive the belt conveyor in order from the power generation motor provided in the traveling carriage scheduled to pass the predetermined position on the conveyance path first, after the traveling carriages are actuated and traveling speeds become a constant speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: DAIFUKU CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Ueda, Osamu Matsui, Hiroyuki Koide, Atsushi Ishikura
  • Patent number: 11787630
    Abstract: A transfer system includes a carrier and a storage shelf. The carrier transfers an object along a transfer path on or suspended from a ceiling. The storage shelf is disposed along the transfer path and stores the object transferred by the carrier. The storage shelf includes a placement portion having the object placed thereon. The placement portion moves up and down with respect to a transfer position Tat which the object is transferred between the placement portion and the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: DAIFUKU CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumio Takahara, Rina Ishii, Shinichiro Higashi
  • Patent number: 11787643
    Abstract: Diverting equipment for conveying an article on a conveyance path to a branching path formed so as to branch from the conveyance path. In the conveyance path, a branching section to the branching path has a plurality of conveyance rollers disposed in a conveyance direction H of the article in the conveyance path and a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction H of the article in the conveyance path, the conveyance rollers forming the conveyance surface of the conveyance path and being rotatable around the axes of vertical shafts. Between the adjacent conveyance rollers disposed in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction H of the article, a gap is formed along the conveyance direction H of the article. In the gap, a rail capable of supporting the article is extended along the conveyance direction H of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: DAIFUKU CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Makoto Namikawa
  • Publication number: 20230309690
    Abstract: The object carrier for carrying objects is provided, wherein the engaging portions of the shelf member are engaged with the engaged portions of the frame member from top to bottom in the vertical direction to constitute the engagement state between the shelf member and the frame member, the connection line between the engaged portions constitutes an engagement direction, and the shelf member moves in an engagement releasing direction perpendicular to the engagement direction on a horizontal plane to release the engagement state with the frame member. The lift for removing objects from the object carrier is provided, wherein the bearing portion moves in the vertical direction through the lifting portion and bears the shelf member on which the object is placed under the object carrier, and the bearing portion moves in the horizontal direction through the sliding portion, so as to remove the shelf member and the object altogether.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicants: DAIFUKU CO., LTD., Taiwan Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyohide ICHINO
  • Patent number: 11767204
    Abstract: A transport vehicle (2) that travels along a container shelf (1) provided with a plurality of levels of shelf portions (11) arranged in a vertical direction (Z) and configured to support containers (W), thereby transporting the containers (W). The transport vehicle (2) is provided with a support region where a container (W) is supported, a first transfer apparatus (23) that inserts/takes the container (W) into/out of the container shelf (1), and a second transfer apparatus (24) that loads/unloads the container (W) on/from the support region. The second transfer apparatus (24) is configured such that a container (W) can be moved to the support region so as to allow a plurality of the containers (W) to be supported in a stacked state in the support region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Ueda, Masashige Iwata, Akira Emoto
  • Patent number: 11760519
    Abstract: A transfer device and a control device for controlling the transfer device are provided. The control device is configured to execute setting control to set a storing position, in a container, of each of a plurality of articles to be stored in the container, storage control to control the transfer device so as to store each of the articles at the storing position, and replacement control to replace one of a first holding portion and a second holding portion attached to the attachment portion with the other one. The setting control is control to set the storing position in accordance with an order of transferring the plurality of articles so as to sequentially place the articles from a reference position that is set at a position adjacent to a side wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Morikubo, Yoshikazu Tai, Masami Iwai, Atsushi Minoo
  • Patent number: 11753248
    Abstract: In a picking facility, if both a first picking operation and a second picking operation are performed based on order information, a third container is transported from a housing portion to a second picking portion, a fourth container is transported from the housing portion to the second picking portion, after the second picking operation has been performed, the fourth container in which a target article has been housed by the second picking operation is transported as a second container to a first picking portion, a first container is transported from the housing portion to the first picking portion, and, after the first picking operation has been performed, the second container in which the target articles have been housed by the first picking operation and the second picking operation is transported to a shipping portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Miyamoto, Hiroaki Haruta
  • Patent number: 11753260
    Abstract: An unloading apparatus includes a holding apparatus configured to hold side a holding target article group in such a manner as to hold the holding target article group and an article subgroup above the holding target article group; a suction apparatus including a plurality of suction parts that are configured to hold a plurality of articles constituting a suction target article group, and are configured to operate independently from each other, the suction target article is an article subgroup in an uppermost level; a first lifting apparatus configured to lift and lower a placement part and the holding apparatus relative to each other; a second lifting apparatus configured to lift and lower the suction apparatus and the holding apparatus relative to each other; and a first transport apparatus configured to receive at least one article subgroup held by the holding apparatus, and transport the at least one received article subgroup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Ito, Satoshi Yoda
  • Patent number: 11745962
    Abstract: An unloading apparatus includes a holding apparatus configured to hold side peripheral surfaces of a holding target article group, which is an article subgroup in one level among a plurality of article subgroups in a plurality of levels which article subgroups are included in the stacked article group, in such a manner as to hold the holding target article group and an article subgroup above the holding target article group; a first transport apparatus configured to receive at least one article subgroup held by the holding apparatus from the holding apparatus, and transport the at least one received article subgroup; a retrieval apparatus configured to retrieve one or more articles from an article subgroup in an uppermost level in the stacked article group; and a second transport apparatus configured to transport the stacked article group from the retrieval apparatus to the holding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Ito, Satoshi Yoda
  • Patent number: 11745223
    Abstract: A system for sorting articles includes a plurality of article supporters attached to an endless chain. At least one diverting point is provided at which the articles may be removed. A plurality of lateral pushers are movable along the article supporter so as to selectively push the articles off the article supporters at the diverting point. A distributing mechanism initiates the movement of the lateral pushers. At least one diversion detection device is configured to identify a presence of each of the article supporters. A controller is configured to determine a slat number of each of the article supporters and to determine whether the article positioned on the article supporter associated with the detected slat number should be removed at the diverting point, and to actuate the distributing mechanism. The at least one diversion detection device is substantially aligned with the actuator in the direction of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: WYNRIGHT CORPORATION, DAIFUKU CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ronald Meadows
  • Patent number: 11733086
    Abstract: In order to suppress the collection of articles that are different from those specified when collecting articles using an article transport vehicle from a plurality of accommodating portions that accommodate articles, an article transport vehicle (3) includes a control portion (15), and a weight detecting portion (18) that detects a total weight (W) of articles (B) supported by a support portion (12), wherein articles picked up from accommodating portions (1) are supported by the support portion (12). In a case in which an increased weight (?W), which is an increase in the total weight (W) when an article (B) is newly supported by the support portion (12), is out of a prescribed range (WL, WH) according to a weight (BW) of a target article, which is an article (B) that is to be picked up from the accommodating portion (1), the control portion (15) determines that the target article was not correctly picked up, and makes a notification giving error information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuharu Yoshinaga
  • Patent number: 11717858
    Abstract: An article sorting system includes: a sorting container support apparatus including a plurality of sorting container support units; a plurality of sorting containers supported by the sorting container support units; an automatic sorting apparatus that is arranged adjacent to the sorting container support apparatus and configured to automatically sort a plurality of articles into a plurality of articles; a work area that is set up adjacent to the sorting container support apparatus on a side opposite to the automatic sorting apparatus and in which an operator performs a sorting operation to sort articles into the plurality of sorting containers supported by the sorting container support units; and an operation display apparatus. The operation display apparatus displays, toward the work area, operation instruction-related information on each of the plurality of sorting container support units or each of the plurality of sorting containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kosuke Ogino
  • Publication number: 20230228375
    Abstract: In order to facilitate horizontally hanging an object, a hanging mechanism includes: a first hanging shaft to be hung from a ceiling; a second hanging shaft supported so as to be hung from the first hanging shaft; and a connecting section connecting the first hanging shaft and the second hanging shaft. The connecting section includes: a protruding spherical surface of a first connecting member that is provided on the first hanging shaft side; and a recessed surface portion, which is a recessed spherical surface of a second connecting member that is provided on the second hanging shaft side and that is in contact with the spherical surface of the first connecting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: DAIFUKU CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keisuke SHIROISHI
  • Patent number: D995976
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Fujio, Takuya Isomura
  • Patent number: D996766
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Fujio, Takuya Isomura