Overhead robot system and a method for its operation

摘要

The objective of the invention is to create an overhead robot system that reduces the movements of the system's gripper when it is desired to pick up an individual object from the middle of a stack of objects. The number of movements is reduced as the gripper can be driven to above the desired stack of objects and does not need to be subsequently moved to another location above the warehouse area in order to pick up and move a single object. The invention comprises a separate arrangement for moving a single picked-up object to the edge of the warehouse area. The gripper can move more quickly to the next object to be picked up.

主权项

1. An overhead robot system for moving objects, which may be stacked, located in a warehouse area, said system comprising:
a gantry unit arranged to move above objects located in the warehouse area; a gripper attached to the gantry unit and arranged to move along the gantry unit above all the objects in the warehouse, said gripper comprising means to reach the warehouse area to pick up and release an object/stack of objects and to lift the object/stack of objects up for moving it to another location; a robot control system for controlling the movements of the gantry unit and the gripper; a platform that can be moved to be positioned at the gripper, to the vicinity and below an object/stack of objects held up in the gripper, for releasing a single object from the gripper onto the platform; and carrying means for moving the object from the platform to the edge of the warehouse area, wherein said robot control system comprises control means for controlling the movements of the platform and the carrying means, and wherein the carrying means comprises:
a carrying element for moving the object away from the platform; anda carrier attached to the gantry unit and arranged to move along the gantry unit, being able to move along the gantry unit to the position of the gripper and beyond, said platform and carrying element being in connection with the carrier.