# US 12,179,354 B2 · Article transfer facility > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,354 B2 - Document ID: US12179354B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/293,635 - Filed: 2019-11-12 - Published: 2022-01-13 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-14 - Assignees: Daifuku Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Daifuku Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Mitsuo Morikubo; Yoshikazu Tai; Masami Iwai; Takuya Gondoh; Atsushi Minoo; Kazuyoshi Ohgita; Manabu Onayama; Kiyoji Mori - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179354B2 ## CPC - B25J 9/16: Program controls (total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, G05B19/418) - B65G 61/00: Use of pick-up or transfer devices or of manipulators for stacking or de-stacking articles not otherwise provided for - B25J 13/08: by means of sensing devices, e.g. viewing or touching devices - B65B 5/08: Packaging groups of articles, the articles being individually gripped or guided for transfer to the containers or receptacles - B65B 17/00: Other machines, apparatus, or methods for packaging articles or materials - B65G 47/90: Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials - B65G 57/04: by suction or magnetic devices - B65B 5/105: {by grippers (B65B5/12 and B65B5/108 take precedence)} - B65G 47/917: {control arrangements} - B65G 2201/0258: Trays, totes or bins - B65G 2203/0233: Position of the article - B65G 2203/041: Camera - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract An article transfer facility (100) includes a transfer device (3) that performs a first operation to take out an article (W) that are supported by a first container (C1), from the first container (C1), and a second operation to load the article (W) taken out from the first container (C1), onto a second container (C2); and an inclination device (5) that supports the second container (C2) at a predetermined position (P2), wherein the second container (C2) has a rectangular mounting surface (S) onto which the articles (W) are to be mounted, and is formed in a box shape with an open upper surface, and the inclination device (5) supports the second container (C2) in an inclined state such that a target corner portion (Sct) that is one of a plurality of corner portions (Sc) of the mounting surface (S) is located lower than the other corner portions (Sc). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article transfer facility that transfers articles, comprising: a transfer device that performs a first operation to take out an article that is supported by a first support member from the first support member, and a second operation to load the article taken out from the first support member onto a second support member; a support mechanism that supports the second support member at a predetermined position; and a transport device that transports the second support member at the predetermined position, wherein the second support member has a rectangular mounting surface onto which the articles are to be mounted, and is formed in a box shape with an open upper surface, wherein the support mechanism supports the second support member in an inclined state such that a target corner portion that is one of a plurality of corner portions of the mounting surface is located lower than the other corner portions, and wherein the transport device is displaceable relative to the support mechanism between a first position where the transport device supports the second support member so that the second support member is movable along the transport device and a second position where the support mechanism supports the second support member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The article transfer facility according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device performs the first operation according to a first coordinate system, and performs the second operation according to a second coordinate system that is different from the first coordinate system, and wherein the second coordinate system is inclined relative to a horizontal plane according to an inclination of the second support member supported by the support mechanism. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The article transfer facility according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device performs the second operation on the plurality of articles so as to arrange the articles in a reference direction that is a direction along one of four sides of the mounting surface, with reference to the target corner portion that serves as a reference point. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The article transfer facility according to claim 1, wherein the support mechanism supports the second support member in an inclined state such that the mounting surface is inclined downward in a direction toward the transfer device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The article transfer facility according to claim 1, wherein the support mechanism is located at the predetermined position on a transport path of the transport device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The article transfer facility according to claim 2, wherein the transfer device performs the second operation on the plurality of articles so as to arrange the articles in a reference direction that is a direction along one of four sides of the mounting surface, with reference to the target corner portion that serves as a reference point. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The article transfer facility according to claim 2, wherein the support mechanism supports the second support member in an inclined state such that the mounting surface is inclined downward in a direction toward the transfer device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The article transfer facility according to claim 3, wherein the support mechanism supports the second support member in an inclined state such that the mounting surface is inclined downward in a direction toward the transfer device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The article transfer facility according to claim 2, wherein the support mechanism is located at the predetermined position on a transport path of the transport device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The article transfer facility according to claim 3, wherein the support mechanism is located at the predetermined position on a transport path of the transport device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The article transfer facility according to claim 4, wherein the support mechanism is located at the predetermined position on a transport path of the transport device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The article transfer facility according to claim 1, wherein the transport device includes an inclined conveyor located at the predetermined position, wherein the support mechanism includes a plurality of support members that support the second support member, and a swing unit that swings the inclined conveyor relative to the plurality of support members, and wherein the swing unit swings the inclined conveyor between the first position where the inclined conveyor supports the second support member and a second position where the plurality of support members support the second support member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The article transfer facility according to claim 12, wherein one or more support members of the plurality of support members, other than two support members located at two ends in a direction in which the transport device transports the second support member, are configured to move to a position where the one or more support members do not support the second support member.