CARTON UNLOADER SELF ALIGNING INTERFACE

摘要

A self-aligning interface (6300) is attached to a robotic carton unloader (6100) and provides an interface between an extendable conveyor (6200) and the robotic carton unloader (6100). The self-aligning interface (6300) can include a positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) mounted on the robotic carton unloader (6100) and operatively engaged with the extendable conveyor (6200) to provide positional information about the location of the extendable nose conveyor (6220) relative to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c). A control unit (6180) is attached to the robotic carton unloader (6100) for full robotic control of robotic carton unloader (6100) and the unloading process. The control unit (6180) is connected to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) and the extendable conveyor (6200). The control unit (6180) uses positional information to calculate and control extension and retraction movements of the extendable conveyor (6200) in unison with the forward and reverse movements of the robotic carton unloader 6100 to ensure unloaded cartons (12) exiting the moving truck unloader are received on the extendable conveyor (6200).

主权项

1. A self-aligning interface (6300) for interfacing an extendable conveyor (6200) attached to a floor (34) of a warehouse (30) to a robotic carton unloader (6100) unloading cartons (12) within a semi-trailer (10), the extendable conveyor (6200) has an extendable nose conveyor to receive unloaded cartons thereon from the robotic carton unloader during the unloading process, the self-aligning interface (6300) comprising:
a positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) mounted on the robotic carton unloader (6100) and operatively engaged with the extendable conveyor (6200) to provide positional information about the location of the extendable nose conveyor (6220) relative to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c); and a control unit (6180) attached to the robotic carton unloader (6100) for robotic control of robotic carton unloader (6100) and the unloading process, the control unit (6180) operably connected to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) and communicably connected to the extendable conveyor (6200), the control unit (6180) using the positional information to calculate and control extension and retraction movements of the extendable conveyor (6200) to move in unison with the forward and reverse movements of the robotic carton unloader (6100).