Patents by Inventor Kazuharu Yoshinaga

Kazuharu Yoshinaga has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11939160
    Abstract: An article transport vehicle (3) includes: a travel unit (11) that travels to a set position (P1) that has been set so as to correspond to each of a plurality of storage units (1) configured to store an article (W); a support portion (12) configured to support the article (W); a lighting unit (13) that emits light; and a control unit that controls the travel unit (11) and the lighting unit (13). The control unit executes a travel control that controls the travel unit (11) such that the travel unit (11) travels to the set position (P1) that has been set so as to correspond to a target storage unit (1A), and a lighting control that controls the lighting unit (13) so as to emit light to a lighting position (P2) that corresponds to the target storage unit (1A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuharu Yoshinaga
  • Publication number: 20230415991
    Abstract: A holding device with a holder holding an operation vehicle is transported by a transporter from a loader and is placed on a mount located along a travel path. The state of the holder in the holding device placed on the mount is changed to a non-holding state and an elevator lowers the operation vehicle to place the operation vehicle on the travel path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Takanori Nakamura, Kazuharu Yoshinaga
  • Patent number: 11834278
    Abstract: A swing arm changes a position of a placement surface of a placement body between a horizontal position and a tilted position by swinging between a reference position at which the swing arm extends along an opposing surface facing a lower surface of the placement body and a standing position at which the swing arm is tilted relative to the opposing surface. The opposing surface is provided with a guide member configured to guide swinging movement of the swing arm, and the guide member is configured to support the swing arm by sandwiching the swing arm from both sides in an axial direction within a prescribed guide range including the reference position in a total swing range of the swing arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuharu Yoshinaga, Takashi Akiyama
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20230256882
    Abstract: An article transport vehicle (V) includes: a carriage body (1); and a transfer device (3) that is mounted on the carriage body (1) and is configured to transfer an article. The transfer device (3) includes an article support unit (32); a linking support unit (31) that links the article support unit (32) to the carriage body (1), and a drive unit (D). The linking support unit (31) includes a first shaft support portion (311) that is linked to the carriage body (1) so as to be swingable around a first shaft (A1), the article support unit (32) includes a second shaft support portion (321) that is linked to the linking support unit (31) so as to be swingable around a second shaft (A2), and the drive unit (D) includes a first drive unit (33D) and a second drive unit (34D).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventor: Kazuharu Yoshinaga
  • Patent number: 11673500
    Abstract: An article transport vehicle (V) includes: a carriage body (1); and a transfer device (3) that is mounted on the carriage body (1) and is configured to transfer an article. The transfer device (3) includes an article support unit (32); a linking support unit (31) that links the article support unit (32) to the carriage body (1), and a drive unit (D). The linking support unit (31) includes a first shaft support portion (311) that is linked to the carriage body (1) so as to be swingable around a first shaft (A1), the article support unit (32) includes a second shaft support portion (321) that is linked to the linking support unit (31) so as to be swingable around a second shaft (A2), and the drive unit (D) includes a first drive unit (33D) and a second drive unit (34D).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuharu Yoshinaga
  • Publication number: 20230079654
    Abstract: An article transport facility of the present invention includes a transport device that is arranged below a traveling surface and transports articles below the traveling surface, door members that are provided in correspondence with openings and change in orientation between an open orientation in which the openings are open and a closed orientation in which the opening are closed, and a door control section that controls the door members. The transport device is configured to transport multiple articles synchronously and simultaneously in an article group, and the door control section opens all of the door members provided in a receiving section group synchronously and simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Kazuharu Yoshinaga, Takashi Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20230071673
    Abstract: A frame unit includes door members that are provided in correspondence with openings and change in orientation between an open orientation in which the openings are open and a closed orientation in which the openings are closed, and a door drive section that drives the door members in order to cause the door members to change in orientation. The door drive section includes a drive source and a transmission mechanism that transmits driving power from the drive source to the door members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Kazuharu Yoshinaga, Takashi Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20230076207
    Abstract: A swing arm changes a position of a placement surface of a placement body between a horizontal position and a tilted position by swinging between a reference position at which the swing arm extends along an opposing surface facing a lower surface of the placement body and a standing position at which the swing arm is tilted relative to the opposing surface. The opposing surface is provided with a guide member configured to guide swinging movement of the swing arm, and the guide member is configured to support the swing arm by sandwiching the swing arm from both sides in an axial direction within a prescribed guide range including the reference position in a total swing range of the swing arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Kazuharu Yoshinaga, Takashi Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20230072839
    Abstract: A placement body on which an article is placed is driven by a transfer drive mechanism to transfer the article. The transfer drive mechanism includes a transfer drive source and a transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes an output member coupled to an output shaft of the transfer drive source and a driven member that is not coupled to the output member and operates by being pressed by the output member. A wheel drive source, the transfer drive source, and the output member are supported by a vehicle body frame, and the placement body and the driven member are supported by a vehicle body cover. The vehicle body cover covers the wheel drive source and the transfer drive source and is detachably attached to the vehicle body frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Kazuharu Yoshinaga, Takashi Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20230070238
    Abstract: A vehicle body frame includes a first rib protruding from a bottom surface portion toward an upper side and extending along a first direction. A vehicle body cover includes a second rib protruding from a top surface portion toward a lower side and extending along a second direction. A lower frame portion of a holding member that holds a power storage body includes a first recessed groove portion recessed from a lower end surface toward the upper side and extending along the first direction. An upper frame portion of the holding member includes a second recessed groove portion recessed from an upper end surface toward the lower side and extending along the second direction. A power storage unit is sandwiched between the bottom surface portion of the vehicle body frame and the top surface portion of the vehicle body cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Kazuharu Yoshinaga, Takashi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 11542098
    Abstract: An article transport vehicle (3) includes: a travel portion (11) that travels to set positions (P1) that are set in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of storage sections (1) that store articles; a supporting portion (12) that supports an article; an illumination portion (13) that emits light; and a control portion that controls the travel portion (11) and the illumination portion (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuharu Yoshinaga
  • Publication number: 20220009396
    Abstract: An article transport vehicle (V) includes: a carriage body (1); and a transfer device (3) that is mounted on the carriage body (1) and is configured to transfer an article. The transfer device (3) includes an article support unit (32); a linking support unit (31) that links the article support unit (32) to the carriage body (1), and a drive unit (D). The linking support unit (31) includes a first shaft support portion (311) that is linked to the carriage body (1) so as to be swingable around a first shaft (A1), the article support unit (32) includes a second shaft support portion (321) that is linked to the linking support unit (31) so as to be swingable around a second shaft (A2), and the drive unit (D) includes a first drive unit (33D) and a second drive unit (34D).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventor: Kazuharu Yoshinaga
  • Publication number: 20210276802
    Abstract: Provided is technology that identifies a worker who took an article out from a storage portion when retrieving articles from a plurality of storage portions for storing articles using an article transport vehicle. Provided is a control unit (15); a support portion (12) that supports an article (B) taken out from a storage portion (1) for storing an article (B) and placed through a placement opening (K) by a worker; a placement detecting unit (5) that detects placement of an article (B) through the placement opening (K); and an identification information reading unit (4) that reads identification information indicative of information of the worker (M), wherein the identification information reading unit (4) reads the identification information when the placement detecting unit (5) detects placement of an article (B), and the control unit (15) associates the identification information and placement history of an article (B) and stores the placement history in a storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventor: Kazuharu Yoshinaga
  • Publication number: 20210239511
    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: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventor: Kazuharu Yoshinaga
  • Publication number: 20210229919
    Abstract: An article transport vehicle (3) includes: a travel unit (11) that travels to a set position (P1) that has been set so as to correspond to each of a plurality of storage units (1) configured to store an article (W); a support portion (12) configured to support the article (W); a lighting unit (13) that emits light; and a control unit that controls the travel unit (11) and the lighting unit (13). The control unit executes a travel control that controls the travel unit (11) such that the travel unit (11) travels to the set position (P1) that has been set so as to correspond to a target storage unit (1A), and a lighting control that controls the lighting unit (13) so as to emit light to a lighting position (P2) that corresponds to the target storage unit (1A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventor: Kazuharu Yoshinaga
  • Publication number: 20210221617
    Abstract: An article transport vehicle (3) includes: a travel portion (11) that travels to set positions (P1) that are set in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of storage sections (1) that store articles; a supporting portion (12) that supports an article; an illumination portion (13) that emits light; and a control portion that controls the travel portion (11) and the illumination portion (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventor: Kazuharu Yoshinaga
  • Patent number: 11059672
    Abstract: A fire protection door in an open position is present above a traveling path of a transport vehicle. The fire protection door is capable of moving downward from the open position to a closed position along a door trajectory. The transport vehicle includes: a control portion; an area detection portion that detects an interference area, which is an area in which a portion of the transport vehicle in the traveling path overlaps the door trajectory; and a descent detection portion that detects a descent of the fire protection door. The control portion performs a retraction control such that the transport vehicle travels to the outside of the interference area when the descent detection portion has detected a descent of the fire protection door in a state in which the transport vehicle is located in the interference area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuso Ogawa, Natsuo Takagawa, Kazuharu Yoshinaga, Toshikazu Kato, Yusuke Morimoto
  • Publication number: 20210130096
    Abstract: When an article transport vehicle is used to collect articles from a plurality of storing units for storing the articles, an operator who has taken out an article from a storing unit is appropriately identified. The article transport vehicle includes: a traveler (11) that travels to set positions that are set in correspondence with a plurality of storing units (1) for storing the articles (B); a supporter (12) that supports the article (B) taken out from the storing unit (1) by an operator (M); and an identification information reader (4) that reads identification information (MID) of the operator (M). The identification information (MID) is held in an identification information holder (T) that is attached to a foot of the operator (M), and the identification information reader (4) is provided below the supporter (12) on a side (U2) on which the operator (M) puts the article (B) into the supporter (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventor: Kazuharu Yoshinaga
  • Patent number: 10766513
    Abstract: An article transport vehicle includes an obstacle sensor having a detection area that includes at least the width of the own vehicle and that expands in the advancing direction, controls the travel of the own vehicle, based on as front inter-object distance corresponding to own-vehicle position information indicating a position of the own vehicle and front object position information indicating a position on a track of a front object that is located in front of the own vehicle and whose position on the track is specified, and sets a length of the detection area E along the advancing direction of the obstacle sensor to be variable according to the front inter-object distance such that the length is less than the front inter-object distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Natsuo Takagawa, Kazuharu Yoshinaga, Toshikazu Kato, Yusuke Morimoto