# US 12,191,181 B2 · Interface apparatus and container transporting system with the apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,191,181 B2 - Document ID: US12191181B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/490,011 - Filed: 2021-09-30 - Published: 2022-05-05 - Granted: 2025-01-07 - Earliest claimed: 2020-11-04 - Assignees: Semes Co., Ltd. - Applicants: SEMES Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Jun Sang Ahn; Bo Seung Hwang; Jeong Ung Cheon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12191181B2 ## CPC - H10P 72/3221: {Overhead conveying} - B65G 1/0457: {with suspended load carriers} - B65G 1/0485: {Check-in, check-out devices} - B65G 47/61: for articles - H10P 72/0612: {Production flow monitoring, e.g. for increasing throughput} - H10P 72/3216: {using a general scheme of a conveying path within a factory} - H10P 72/3218: {Conveying cassettes, containers or carriers} - B65G 2201/0297: Wafer cassette - H10P: GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 - 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) ## Abstract Provided are an interface apparatus for resolving congestion through a non-stop interface between a transporting device and a logistics automation storage device, and a container transporting system having the same. The interface apparatus includes a saddle for receiving a container from a container transporting device; and a circulating path for providing a route for transporting the container seated on the saddle to a container storage device, wherein the saddle receives the container while moving together with the container transporting device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An interface apparatus comprising: a plurality of saddles for receiving containers from a container transporting device, each of the plurality of saddles comprising a body and a groove formed in a surface of the body configured to face the container transporting device, the groove at least partially surrounded by sidewalls, and an impact absorbing member being formed on one or more surfaces of the groove; a circulating path for providing a route for transporting the containers seated on saddles to a container storage device; and a control device configured to control speeds of the plurality of saddles on the circulating path, wherein each saddle of the plurality of saddles receives in a respective groove thereof a respective container of the containers while moving together with the container transporting device, each saddle receiving the respective container on the one or more surfaces of the respective groove having the impact absorbing member, and wherein the control device independently controls the speeds of the plurality of saddles relative to one another, such that a speed of one of the plurality of saddles may be different from a speed of another of the plurality of saddles. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each saddle moves at the same or similar speed as the container transporting device when receiving the respective container. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circulating path includes a first section overlapping a movement path of the container transporting device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each saddle receives the respective container from the container transporting device in the first section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each saddle moves at the same speed as the container transporting device in the first section when the saddle enters the first section at the same time as the container transporting device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each saddle moves faster than the container transporting device when the saddle enters the first section later than the container transporting device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each saddle moves faster than the container transporting device until the saddle moves while maintaining the same line with the container transporting device in the first section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the saddle is accelerated relative to the container transporting device, or the container transporting device is decelerated relative to the saddle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each saddle moves slower than the container transporting device when the saddle enters the first section earlier than the container transporting device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each saddle moves slower than the container transporting device until the saddle moves while maintaining the same line with the container transporting device in the first section. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each saddle is decelerated relative to the container transporting device, or the container transporting device is accelerated relative to the saddle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each saddle is located on the same line as the container transporting device under the container transporting device when receiving the container. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circulating path comprises: a first section, in which the saddle receives the container from the container transporting device; a second section, in which the saddle delivers the container to the container storage device; a third section, in which the saddle transports the container; and a fourth section, in which the saddle moves after delivering the container. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the saddle waits in the fourth section. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each saddle has a length corresponding to a section receiving the respective container in the circulating path. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein each saddle moves when receiving the respective container. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control device receives real time position information for the container transporting device and the plurality of saddles, and independently controls the speeds of the plurality of saddles based on the real time position information, or wherein the independent control of the plurality of saddles relative to one another includes temporarily stopping one of the plurality of saddles relative to another one of the plurality of saddles in one section of the circulating path. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove is surrounded by sidewalls on fewer than all sides of the groove. ### Claim 19 An interface apparatus comprising: a plurality of saddles for receiving containers from a container transporting device, each of the plurality of saddles comprising a body and a groove formed in a surface of the body configured to face the container transporting device, the groove at least partially surrounded by sidewalls, and an impact absorbing member being formed on one or more surfaces of the groove; a circulating path for providing a route for transporting the containers seated on saddles to a container storage device; and a control device configured to control speeds of the plurality of saddles on the circulating path, wherein each saddle of the plurality of saddles receives in a respective groove thereof a respective container of the containers while moving together with the container transporting device, each saddle receiving the respective container on the one or more surfaces of the respective groove having the impact absorbing member, and moves at the same or similar speed as the container transporting device when receiving the container, and wherein the control device independently controls the speeds of the plurality of saddles relative to one another, such that a speed of one of the plurality of saddles may be different from a speed of another of the plurality of saddles. ### Claim 20 A container transporting system comprising: a container transporting device for transporting a container; a container storage device for storing the container; and an interface device for interfacing with the container transporting device and the container storage device, wherein the interface device comprises, a plurality of saddles for receiving containers from the container transporting device, each of the plurality of saddles comprising a body and a groove formed in a surface of the body configured to face the container transporting device, the groove at least partially surrounded by sidewalls, and an impact absorbing member being formed on one or more surfaces of the groove; a circulating path for providing a route for transporting the containers seated on the saddles to the container storage device; and a control device configured to control speeds of the plurality of saddles on the circulating path, wherein each saddle of the plurality of saddles receives in a respective groove thereof a respective container of the containers while moving together with the container transporting device, each saddle receiving the respective container on the one or more surfaces of the respective groove having the impact absorbing member, and wherein the control device independently controls the speeds of the plurality of saddles relative to one another, such that a speed of one of the plurality of saddles may be different from a speed of another of the plurality of saddles.