Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Katsuhiko Nagasawa

Daiji Sone

Keizo Fukushima

Rui Suzuki

Distance measurements are performed by a fork pocket detection sensor at a position at which the fork pocket detection sensor faces one of fork pockets and at a position at which the fork pocket detection sensor faces the central position in the horizontal direction between the fork pockets on a pallet side face, and information obtained by combining pieces of distance-measurement information acquired by the distance measurements is compared with information of predefined shapes of the fork pockets, so as to specify the positions of the fork pockets. Hereby, it is possible to accurately detect the positions of the fork pockets without causing a decrease of conveyance efficiency.

Conveying apparatus

A swivel base is provided on a trolley so as to be able to swivel around a vertical axis, and a fork can be slid in a horizontal direction between an advanced position and a retracted position by a sliding mechanism capable of moving up and down along a pillar erected on the swivel base. Thus, it is possible to realize a configuration in which an empty-box skid is loaded in one direction and unloaded in another direction by means of the swiveling swivel base, without employing a configuration in which a plurality of members is supported so as to be able to swivel around different vertical axes. A movable range of the sliding mechanism (a movable range of the fork) in a vertical direction is therefore not significantly limited, and a transfer position of the empty-box skid in the vertical direction can be set to a lower position.

Carrying apparatus

Based on information on a plurality of images taken by a plurality of cameras of a QR-code imaging device, either information that label information has been appropriately acquired or information that the label information has not been appropriately acquired is assigned to each of a plurality of parts boxes placed on a forklift. Then, the information assigned to each parts box is displayed over a corresponding parts box in an image showing the parts boxes. By visually checking the image showing the parts boxes, a worker can easily recognize a parts box of which the label information has not been appropriately acquired.

Label reading system

A label reading system that reads labels attached to packages placed on a conveyor vehicle while the conveyor vehicle passes through a label reading area includes a guide device that guides the conveyor vehicle toward the label reading area, by indicating a traveling speed and a traveling position set in advance so as to enable reading of the labels, and an information reading device that takes images of the labels in the label reading area, and reads information on the labels.

Growing community of inventors

Aichi-ken, Japan

Katsuhiko Nagasawa