Crane and automated storage and retrieval system

{
  "publication_number": "US9227797B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Crane and automated storage and retrieval system",
  "abstract": "A crane includes a first arm, a second arm, a first vertical transmission mechanism and a second vertical transmission mechanism. The first vertical transmission mechanism transmits the first arm and the second arm to move vertically in a synchronous manner, and the second vertical transmission mechanism transmits the second arm to move vertically with respect to the first arm.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A crane, which comprises: a first arm, a second arm, a first vertical transmission mechanism and a second transmission mechanism; the first vertical transmission mechanism moving the first arm and the second arm to move vertically in a synchronous manner, and the second vertical transmission mechanism moving the second arm vertically with respect to the first arm; wherein the crane further comprising a horizontal transmission mechanism, the horizontal transmission mechanism moving the first arm, the second arm, the first vertical transmission mechanism and the second transmission mechanism horizontally; the crane further comprising a rotation mechanism, the rotation mechanism rotating the first arm, the second arm, the first vertical transmission mechanism and the second transmission mechanism around a vertical axis; the rotation mechanism comprises a driver, a coupling and a damper the driver is linked to damper through the coupling, and the damper uses a required speed to transmit the first arm, the second arm, the first vertical transmission mechanism and the second transmission mechanism around a vertical axis by lowering the rotation speed outputted by the driver and increasing torque; wherein the vertical axis and a center axis of the rotation mechanism are co-linear.",
    "2. The crane as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first vertical transmission mechanism further moves the second transmission mechanism vertically with the first arm and the second arm synchronously.",
    "3. A crane, which comprises: a first arm, a second arm, a first vertical transmission mechanism and a second transmission mechanism; the first vertical transmission mechanism moving the first arm and the second arm to move vertically in a synchronous manner, and the second vertical transmission mechanism moving the second arm vertically with respect to the first arm; the crane further comprising a rotation mechanism, the rotation mechanism rotating the first arm, the second arm, the first vertical transmission mechanism and the second transmission mechanism around a vertical axis; the rotation mechanism comprises a driver, a coupling and a damper, the driver is linked to damper through the coupling, and the damper uses a required speed to transmit the first arm, the second arm, the first vertical transmission mechanism and the second transmission mechanism around a vertical axis by lowering the rotation speed outputted by the driver and increasing torque; wherein the vertical axis and a center axis of the rotation mechanism are co-linear.",
    "4. The crane as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the first vertical transmission mechanism further moves the second transmission mechanism vertically with the first arm and the second arm synchronously.",
    "5. The crane as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the first vertical transmission mechanism comprises two first vertical transmission units disposed with interval, the first arm, the second arm and the second vertical transmission mechanism are disposed between the two vertical transmission units and move vertically and synchronously under the collaboration of the two first vertical transmission units.",
    "6. The crane as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the second vertical transmission mechanism comprises two second vertical transmission units disposed with interval, the two second vertical transmission units move synchronously under the corresponding transmission of the two first vertical transmission units, the second arm is disposed between the two second vertical transmission units, and moves vertically and synchronously under the collaboration of the two second vertical transmission units.",
    "7. The crane as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the first vertical transmission unit and the second vertical transmission unit are screw shaft transmission unit respectively, the screw shaft transmission unit comprises a driver, a damper, a screw shaft, a sliding block and a linear guiding track; wherein the driver drives the screw shaft through damper, the screw shaft moves the sliding block along the linear guiding track so as to move vertically.",
    "8. The crane as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the crane further comprises a horizontal transmission mechanism, and the horizontal transmission mechanism moves the first arm, the second arm, the first vertical transmission mechanism and the second transmission mechanism horizontally.",
    "9. The crane as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the horizontal transmission mechanism comprises two conveyor mechanisms disposed with interval, a sliding block and a linear guiding track; the conveyor mechanism comprises a driver, a damper and a conveyor, the driver drives the conveyor through the damper, and the conveyor moves the sliding block along the linear guiding track so as to move horizontally.",
    "10. The crane as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the crane further comprises a rotation support wheel, for supporting the first vertical transmission mechanism during the transmission of first vertical transmission mechanism.",
    "11. An automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS), the AS/RS comprises a first arm, a second arm, a first vertical transmission mechanism and a second transmission mechanism; the first vertical transmission mechanism moving the first arm and the second arm to move vertically in a synchronous manner, and the second vertical transmission mechanism moving the second arm vertically with respect to the first arm; the crane further comprising a rotation mechanism, the rotation mechanism rotating the first arm, the second arm, the first vertical transmission mechanism and the second transmission mechanism around a vertical axis; the rotation mechanism comprises a driver, a coupling and a damper, the driver is linked to damper through the coupling, and the damper uses a required speed to transmit the first arm, the second arm, the first vertical transmission mechanism and the second transmission mechanism around a vertical axis by lowering the B rotation speed outputted by the driver and increasing torque; wherein the vertical axis and a center axis of the rotation mechanism are co-linear.",
    "12. The automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the crane further comprises a rotation support wheel, for supporting the first vertical transmission mechanism during the transmission of first vertical transmission mechanism.",
    "13. The automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the first vertical transmission mechanism further moves the second transmission mechanism vertically with the first arm and the second arm synchronously.",
    "14. The automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the first vertical transmission mechanism comprises two first vertical transmission units disposed with interval, the first arm, the second arm and the second vertical transmission mechanism are disposed between the two vertical transmission units and move vertically and synchronously under the collaboration of the two first vertical transmission units.",
    "15. The automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the second vertical transmission mechanism comprises two second vertical transmission units disposed with interval, the two second vertical transmission units move synchronously under the corresponding transmission of the two first vertical transmission units, the second arm is disposed between the two second vertical transmission units, and moves vertically and synchronously under the collaboration of the two second vertical transmission units.",
    "16. The automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the first vertical transmission unit and the second vertical transmission unit are screw shaft transmission unit respectively, the screw shaft transmission unit comprises a driver, a damper, a screw shaft, a sliding block and a linear guiding track; wherein the driver drives the screw shaft through damper, the screw shaft moves the sliding block along the linear guiding track so as to move vertically.",
    "17. The automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the crane further comprises a horizontal transmission mechanism, and the horizontal transmission mechanism moves the first arm, the second arm, the first vertical transmission mechanism and the second transmission mechanism horizontally.",
    "18. The automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that the horizontal transmission mechanism comprises two conveyor mechanisms disposed with interval, a sliding block and a linear guiding track; the conveyor mechanism comprises a driver, a damper and a conveyor, the driver drives the conveyor through the damper, and the conveyor moves the sliding block along the linear guiding track so as to move horizontally."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field of the Invention\n\nThe present invention relates to the field of mechanical techniques, and in particular to a crane and automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS).\n\n2. The Related Arts\n\nIn AS/RS, the crane is used for moving cassette inside the AS/RS. Specifically, the movement of a crane comprises: moving the cassette from the temporary location of the upstream moving system into AS/RS system, moving the cassette to temporary locations of a plurality of processing machines, moving cassette loaded with processed goods into AS/RS, and moving cassette to the temporary location of the downstream moving system.\n\nReferring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the structure of a known crane. As shown in FIG. 1, a known crane 10 comprises a horizontal transmission mechanism 101, an arm 102 and a vertical transmission mechanism 103, wherein the horizontal transmission mechanism 101 comprises four wheels 111 and a guiding mechanism 112. Under the guidance of guiding mechanism 112, wheels 111 move the arm 102 and the vertical transmission mechanism 103 along the horizontal direction. The vertical transmission mechanism 103 moves the arm 102 along the vertical direction.\n\nBecause the crane 10 is only disposed with an arm 102, only one cassette can be moved at one time. When a plurality of cassettes needs to be moved, additional movement process must be executed. Therefore, the efficiency is too low to meet the requirement of the increasing moving demands.",
  "cpc": [
    "B65G 65/00",
    "B25J 5/02",
    "B25J 9/042",
    "B25J 9/044",
    "B25J 9/107",
    "B66F 9/07"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B25J 5/02",
    "B25J 9/04",
    "B25J 9/10",
    "B65G 65/00",
    "B66F 9/07"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Guokun Yang",
    "Chunhao Wu",
    "Kunhsien Lin",
    "Minghu QI",
    "Zhenhua Guo",
    "Yongqiang Wang",
    "Zenghong Chen",
    "Chenyangzi Li",
    "Weibing Yang",
    "Zhiyou Shu"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2012-10-26",
  "publication_date": "2016-01-05",
  "grant_date": "2016-01-05",
  "priority_date": "2012-10-24",
  "application_number": "US-201213699635-A",
  "family_id": "50485481",
  "cited_by_count": 5,
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}