Robotic carton unloader
First Claim
1. A robotic carton unloader for unloading cartons in a carton pile within a semi-trailer having side walls, the robotic carton unloader comprising:
- a mobile body;
a movable robotic arm attached to the mobile body and comprising an end effector at an end thereof, the end effector configured to unload cartons from the carton pile; and
a conveyor system attached to the mobile body and extending from front to rear of the carton unloader to convey cartons received thereon by the movable robotic arm, the conveyor system comprising a central conveyor carried on the mobile body and a front conveyor movably attached to the mobile body and extending therefrom towards the carton pile,wherein the front conveyor comprises movable side portions configured to change width from narrow to wider to act as a shield that catches and then moves falling cartons received thereon, wherein the movable side portions of the front conveyor comprises a lateral movement mechanism located within the front conveyor to laterally move the movable side portions, and wherein a conveying surface of the movable side portions of the front conveyor comprises a laterally widenable belt that is generally a flat belt and can widen when the movable side portions laterally extend and narrow when the movable side portions laterally retract.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A robotic carton unloader for unloading cartons in a carton pile has a mobile body and a movable robotic arm attached to the mobile body that has an end effector at a movable end thereof to unload cartons from the carton pile. A conveyor system is attached to the mobile body and extends from front to rear of the carton unloader to convey cartons received thereon by the moveable robotic arm. The conveyor system comprises a central portion carried on the mobile body and a front portion extending therefrom towards the carton pile. The front portion is configured to change width from narrow to wider to act as a shield to catch and then move falling cartons received thereon.
184 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A robotic carton unloader for unloading cartons in a carton pile within a semi-trailer having side walls, the robotic carton unloader comprising:
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a mobile body; a movable robotic arm attached to the mobile body and comprising an end effector at an end thereof, the end effector configured to unload cartons from the carton pile; and a conveyor system attached to the mobile body and extending from front to rear of the carton unloader to convey cartons received thereon by the movable robotic arm, the conveyor system comprising a central conveyor carried on the mobile body and a front conveyor movably attached to the mobile body and extending therefrom towards the carton pile, wherein the front conveyor comprises movable side portions configured to change width from narrow to wider to act as a shield that catches and then moves falling cartons received thereon, wherein the movable side portions of the front conveyor comprises a lateral movement mechanism located within the front conveyor to laterally move the movable side portions, and wherein a conveying surface of the movable side portions of the front conveyor comprises a laterally widenable belt that is generally a flat belt and can widen when the movable side portions laterally extend and narrow when the movable side portions laterally retract. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification