# US 12,759,809 B2 · Device and method for transporting articles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,809 B2 - Document ID: US12759809B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/972,641 - Filed: 2024-12-06 - Published: 2025-06-12 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-12-07 - Assignees: Semes Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Semes Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Kyu Hyung Park; Eun Ji Choi; Jun Beom Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759809B2 ## CPC - B65G 47/901: {provided with drive systems with rectilinear movements only} - B65G 35/06: comprising a load-carrier moving along a path, e.g. a closed path, and adapted to be engaged by any one of a series of traction elements spaced along the path (effecting drive at two or more points spaced along the length of an endless conveyor B65G23/32) - B65G 2203/0233: Position of the article - B65G 2203/0283: Position of the load carrier - 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 An article transport device is provided. The article transport device comprises a housing including an internal space, a driving unit disposed on an upper portion of the housing and traveling along a driving rail installed on a ceiling, a hoist unit disposed in the internal space and gripping a first transport article, and an anti-drop unit installed in the housing and preventing the transport article from falling, wherein the anti-drop unit includes a stroke configured to move toward the internal space, and a contact portion installed at one end of the stroke and contacting the first transport article, wherein the contact portion has a step shape that descends in a direction toward the internal space. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article transport device comprising: a housing including an internal space; a driving unit disposed on an upper portion of the housing and traveling along a driving rail installed on a ceiling; a hoist unit disposed in the internal space and gripping a first transport article; and an anti-drop unit installed in the housing and preventing the transport article from falling, wherein the anti-drop unit includes a stroke configured to move toward the internal space, and a contact portion installed at one end of the stroke and contacting the first transport article, wherein the contact portion is disposed at a bottom-most end of the article transport device and has a step shape comprising more than two steps that descend in a direction toward a center of the internal space, and every step of the more than two steps of contact portion is configured to support the first transport article and prevent the first transport article from dropping out of the internal space. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the hoist unit has gripped the first transport article in the internal space and the stroke moves toward the internal space such that the stroke stops when the contact portion contacts the first transport article. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the contact portion does not stop until it contacts the first transport article when the stroke starts to move toward the internal space. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a body, a first cover installed on one surface of the body and protruding downward, and a second cover installed on the other surface of the body and protruding downward, and wherein the anti-drop unit includes a first anti-drop unit installed on the first cover, and a second anti-drop unit installed on the second cover. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the hoist unit has gripped a second transport article in the interior space that is lower than the height of the first transport article, and wherein if the stroke moves to its maximum range of motion and the contact portion does not contact the second transport article, the stroke stops at a position in the maximum range of motion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein a step shape of the contact portion that is chamfered and has curved edges in that surfaces of the contact portion that engage with the first transport article and on which the first transport article is supported are curved. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a first stroke sensor installed at a portion where the anti-drop unit and the housing are connected and detects whether the stroke has moved to a minimum movable range and transmits a signal; a second stroke sensor installed at the area where the anti-drop unit and the housing are connected, and transmitting a signal in response to detecting whether the stroke has moved to a maximum operating range; and a control portion that detects signals from the first stroke sensor and the second stroke sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the control portion detects signals from the first stroke sensor and the second stroke sensor and stops the stroke. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a load detection sensor installed in the internal space and detecting whether the first transport article is located in the internal space. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the first transport article further includes a flange portion configured to be gripped by the hoist unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the load detection sensor detects the flange portion of the transport article. ### Claim 12 An article transport device comprising: a housing including an internal space, a driving unit disposed on an upper portion of the housing and traveling along a driving rail installed on a ceiling, a hoist unit disposed in the internal space and gripping a first transported article, and an anti-drop unit disposed in the housing and preventing the first transport article from falling, wherein the anti-drop unit includes a stroke configured to move toward the internal space and a contact portion installed at one end of the stroke and contacting the first transport article, wherein the contact portion is disposed at a bottom-most end of the article transport device and has a stair-shaped shape comprising more than two steps that descend in a direction toward a center of the internal space, and every step of the more than two steps of contact portion is configured to support the first transport article and prevent the first transport article from dropping out of the internal space, wherein the hoist unit grips the first transport article and lifts the first transport article into the internal space, wherein the stroke stops when the contact portion contacts the first transport article as the stroke moves toward the internal space. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the hoist unit grips the second transport article at a height lower than the first transport article and lifts the second transport article into the interior space, wherein the stroke moves toward the interior space to a maximum range of motion, and if the contact portion does not contact the second transport article, the stroke stops at a position in the maximum range of motion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the step shape of the contact portion is chamfered and has curved edges. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the article transport device further includes a first stroke sensor installed at a portion where the anti-drop unit and the housing are connected and detects whether the stroke has moved to the minimum movable range and transmits a signal, a second stroke sensor installed at a portion where the anti-drop unit and the housing are connected and detects whether the stroke has moved to the maximum movable range and transmits a signal, and a control portion that detects signals from the first stroke sensor and the second stroke sensor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the hoist unit has the first transport article gripped in the interior space and the stroke moves toward the interior space, the stroke stopping when the contact portion contacts the first transport article. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, wherein the contact portion does not stop until it contacts the first transport article when the stroke starts to move toward the internal space. ### Claim 18 An article transport device comprising: a housing including an internal space; a driving unit disposed on an upper portion of the housing and traveling along a driving rail installed on a ceiling; a hoist unit disposed in the internal space and gripping a first transport article; an anti-drop unit disposed in the housing and including a stroke configured to prevent the first transport article from falling, and moving towards the interior space, and a contact portion installed at one end of the stroke and in contact with the first transport article; a first stroke sensor installed at a portion where the anti-drop unit and the housing are connected and detects whether the stroke has moved to a minimum range of motion and transmits a signal; a second stroke sensor installed at a portion where the anti-drop unit and the housing are connected and detects whether the stroke has moved to a maximum range of motion and transmits a signal; and a control portion that detects signals from the first stroke sensor and the second stroke sensor and stops the stroke, and wherein the contact portion is disposed at a bottom-most end of the article transport device and has a stair-shaped shape comprising more than two steps that descend in a direction toward a center of the internal space, and every step of the more than two steps of contact portion is configured to support the first transport article and prevent the first transport article from dropping out of the internal space.