Patents by Inventor Kunihiro Iwamoto

Kunihiro Iwamoto 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: 12286300
    Abstract: A transport system includes a transport robot and a plurality of kinds of loading platform portions each of which is able to be connected to the transport robot. The transport system includes: a determination unit that determines a loading platform portion to which the transport robot is to be connected, from the plurality of kinds of loading platform portions, based on a transport condition; and a connection control unit that controls a connecting operation between the transport robot and the loading platform portion determined by the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunihiro Iwamoto, Yuta Itozawa, Hirotaka Komura, Yutaro Takagi
  • Patent number: 12282887
    Abstract: A logistics system provides a logistics service utilizing a logistics robot that delivers packages by autonomous traveling. The logistics system includes one or more processors. When delivery destinations of the packages are dispersedly located on a plurality of floors of a building, the one or more processors execute a priority determination process that determines priority among the plurality of floors. Then, the one or more processors execute a logistics robot control process that controls the logistics robot so as to deliver the packages to the plurality of floors in an order of the priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuhisa Otsuki, Haeyeon Lee, Kunihiro Iwamoto, Kota Oishi
  • Patent number: 12271842
    Abstract: A delivery system includes a plurality of delivery vehicles for delivering an article to a delivery destination with power charged in a battery that is able to be charged and discharged. The delivery vehicles are able to be charged with each other. A charging schedule including a combination of a charging vehicle and a vehicle to be charged selected from the delivery vehicles is determined based on a delivery schedule of the article and a remaining charge capacity of the battery for each of the delivery vehicles, and the delivery schedule for the charging vehicle and the vehicle to be charged is updated based on the charging schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunihiro Iwamoto, Yuta Itozawa, Hirotaka Komura
  • Patent number: 12264010
    Abstract: A transport system includes a transport robot configured to transport an item picked up from a shelving unit or to be stored into the shelving unit, wherein: the transport robot includes a placing table on which the item is to be placed, and a lifting mechanism configured to lift and lower the placing table; and the placing table includes an engaging portion configured to engage with the shelving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junya Ota, Kunihiro Iwamoto, Yuta Itozawa, Hirotaka Komura, Yutaro Takagi, Yoshiaki Nakamoto
  • Patent number: 12251819
    Abstract: A transport system is a transport system in which an autonomous mobile robot transports an object. The autonomous mobile robot includes a mounting portion on which the object is mounted. The mounting portion includes a guide that engages with the object and regulates a moving direction of the object on a surface of the mounting portion to a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta Itozawa, Kunihiro Iwamoto, Hirotaka Komura, Yutaro Takagi
  • Patent number: 12195988
    Abstract: A staircase area at which a staircase is installed across a first floor and a second floor is provided in a building. A part of the staircase area is a non-installation space in which a staircase is not installed, and a lifting space through which a transport robot moves up and down between the first floor and the second floor is provided using the non-installation space. The lifting space and a staircase hall having a spandrel wall there between are adjacent to each other the second floor. An opening through which the transport robot moves between the lifting space and the staircase hall is provided in the spandrel wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nami Muramatsu, Kunihiro Iwamoto, Yuta Itozawa, Hirotaka Komura
  • Patent number: 12196008
    Abstract: A rack includes: a casing; M pairs of supports that are provided inside the casing so as to extend in a depth direction and arrayed at regular intervals in a predetermined direction; and a lock mechanism that locks returnable containers housed while being supported so as to be slidable along the respective M pairs of supports. The lock mechanism has M rotary lock main bodies that are respectively provided at the M pairs of supports and each unlock at a predetermined rotation angle, and a coupling member that couples the M rotary lock main bodies to one another and allows them to rotate in conjunction with one another. The predetermined rotation angle for unlocking is different for each of the M rotary lock main bodies, and the M rotary lock main bodies are driven to rotate by a single driving source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunihiro Iwamoto, Yuta Itozawa, Hirotaka Komura, Yutaro Takagi, Yoshiaki Nakamoto, Junya Ota
  • Patent number: 12181875
    Abstract: A control system for controlling a movement of a carriage in which a load is housed includes a determination unit configured to determine whether or not an autonomous mobile robot is planned to move toward the carriage in a state in which the load is raised to a predetermined height or higher by a placement part, the autonomous mobile robot including the placement part having a changeable height and being configured to house the load placed on the placement part in the carriage, and a carriage control unit configured to control the carriage so that the carriage moves toward the autonomous mobile robot when it is determined that the autonomous mobile robot is planned to move toward the carriage in a state in which the load is raised to the predetermined height or higher by the placement part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunihiro Iwamoto, Yuta Itozawa, Hirotaka Komura
  • Patent number: 12172677
    Abstract: It is possible to suppress increase in power consumption of a delivery vehicle within a transportation vehicle. A delivery system includes: an autonomously-moving-type delivery vehicle configured to deliver an article; and a transportation vehicle configured to carry and transport the delivery vehicle, in which after the transportation vehicle carrying the delivery vehicle travels toward a delivery destination of the article, the delivery vehicle gets out of the transportation vehicle and delivers the article to the delivery destination. The transportation vehicle includes an unloading mechanism for letting the delivery vehicle get out of the transportation vehicle and a control unit configured to control the unloading mechanism. The delivery vehicle receives a control signal for controlling the unloading mechanism output from the control unit and gets out of the transportation vehicle based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunihiro Iwamoto, Yuta Itozawa, Hirotaka Komura
  • Publication number: 20240400305
    Abstract: A conveyance system that improves the lifespan of an expansion and contraction part that raises and lowers a mounting base is achieved. A conveyance system according to an embodiment includes a movable moving unit, an expansion and contraction part provided in the moving unit and expanding and contracting in a vertical direction, a mounting base attached to a tip of the expansion and contraction part, and a control unit configured to select a direction from the moving unit to a shelf when a package is transferred between the mounting base and the shelf so that stress loads accumulated in the expansion and contraction part are leveled in a circumferential direction of the expansion and contraction part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kunihiro IWAMOTO
  • Patent number: 12139333
    Abstract: A transport system is a transport system that transports a luggage using a transport vehicle and a transport robot. In a state in which the transport robot and the transport vehicle are connected, the transport robot takes out the luggage from the transport vehicle, or stores the luggage in the transport vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunihiro Iwamoto, Yuta Itozawa, Hirotaka Komura, Yutaro Takagi
  • Publication number: 20240367959
    Abstract: A conveyance robot which contributes to the improvement of the accuracy of detection by a detection sensor is provided. A conveyance robot according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a conveyance robot configured to convey a rigid object to be conveyed, the conveyance robot including: a detection sensor configured to detect an environment in the vicinity of the conveyance robot; a mobile cart; a sensor pole part configured to support the detection sensor, the sensor pole part being vertically disposed on the mobile cart; and a coupling part configured to be coupled to a part to be coupled of the object to be conveyed, the coupling part being provided in the sensor pole part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta ITOZAWA, Kunihiro IWAMOTO, Hirotaka KOMURA, Yutaro TAKAGI, Uori KOIKE
  • Patent number: 12129113
    Abstract: A control device for a conveyance robot including a telescopic portion which is extensible in a height direction is provided. The control device includes an estimation unit configured to estimate a natural frequency of the conveyance robot according to an amount of extension of the telescopic portion and a control unit configured to control a drive mechanism of the conveyance robot such that the natural frequency of the conveyance robot and an angular frequency of a vibration generating portion when the conveyance robot operates do not match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junya Ota, Kunihiro Iwamoto, Yuta Itozawa, Hirotaka Komura, Yutaro Takagi, Yoshiaki Nakamoto
  • Patent number: 12129115
    Abstract: A transport vehicle includes at least one rack, a top plate, an arm attached to the top plate and extendable and retractable in a horizontal direction, a rotation mechanism that changes an extension direction of the arm by rotating the top plate with a vertical direction as a rotation axis, and a control unit that controls operation of the rotation mechanism and the arm. The control unit extends and retracts the arm to pull out an object from the at least one rack or a rack installed outside, rotates the top plate on which the pulled-out object is placed, and extends the arm to store the object in the rack when the object has been pulled out from the at least one rack, and extends the arm to store the object in the at least one rack when the object has been pulled out from the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunihiro Iwamoto, Yutaro Takagi, Yuta Itozawa, Hirotaka Komura
  • Publication number: 20240351839
    Abstract: A conveyance system which improves the stability of a mounting base raised and lowered along a guide rail is achieved. A conveyance system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a mounting base with a groove guided along a guide rail extending in a vertical direction and a lifting mechanism configured to raise and lower the mounting base. When a direction of a movement of an item to be carried out from the mounting base is defined as a forward direction and a direction opposite to the forward direction is defined as a rearward direction, the conveyance system raises and lowers the mounting base while pressing a side surface on a rear side of the groove against the guide rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunihiro IWAMOTO, Hirotaka Komura
  • Patent number: 12125069
    Abstract: An automated order processing for order items registered in advance as commodities targeted for automated order service is performed. In the automated order processing, it is determined whether any container/package for the order items exists in the disposal box, based on internal status data of a disposal box or identification data on the contents of the container/package existing in the disposal box. If it is determined that any container/package for the order items exists in the disposal box, the number of discarded containers/packages for the order items existing in the disposal box is calculated. Then, it is determined whether the number of discarded containers/packages is equal to or larger than an upper threshold set according to a sales mode of the order items. If it is determined that the number of discarded containers/packages is equal to or larger than the upper threshold, ordering data of the order items is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuhisa Otsuki, Haeyeon Lee, Yutaro Takagi, Yuta Itozawa, Hirotaka Komura, Kunihiro Iwamoto, Kota Oishi
  • Patent number: 12103181
    Abstract: A garbage box includes an opening-closing unit and a switch on a predetermined surface, the switch being a switch by which the opening-closing unit is opened. The garbage box is installed such that the predetermined surface faces a base surface with a predetermined interval from the base surface, the base surface being a floor surface or a ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunihiro Iwamoto, Yutaro Takagi, Yuta Itozawa, Hirotaka Komura
  • Patent number: 12091241
    Abstract: A trash box is a trash box including a trash box main body in which trash is accommodated. A top surface or a side surface of the trash box main body includes an input port via which the trash is put into the trash box main body. A bottom surface of the trash box main body includes an opening-closing portion. The trash box main body is placed such that the opening-closing portion faces a reference plane that is a floor face or ground. The trash box main body is changeable in height from the reference plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Nakamoto, Yuta Itozawa, Hirotaka Komura, Yutaro Takagi, Junya Ota, Kunihiro Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 12062006
    Abstract: A delivery method according to the present disclosure includes a step of delivering packages to designated destinations by mobile bodies traveling autonomously, each of the packages having a delivery priority level. The delivery method further includes a step of, when a number of mobile bodies gathered in a bottleneck section is larger than a number of mobile bodies capable of passing through the bottleneck section at the same time, preferentially causing a mobile body delivering a package of which the delivery priority level is higher than a package delivered by another mobile body to pass through the bottleneck section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuhisa Otsuki, Haeyeon Lee, Kunihiro Iwamoto, Kota Oishi
  • Patent number: 12050465
    Abstract: A management system, a management method, and a program capable of reducing occurrence of delivery failures by an autonomous mobile robot are provided. The management system is a management system configured to manage a delivery by an autonomous mobile robot that delivers a package to a delivery destination, the management system including: an environment information acquisition unit configured to acquire environment information, which is information regarding an environment that inhibits a delivery by the autonomous mobile robot in the vicinity of the delivery destination; and a delivery determination unit configured to determine whether or not to cause the autonomous mobile robot to deliver the package to the delivery destination based on the environment information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunihiro Iwamoto, Yuta Itozawa, Hirotaka Komura