Importance

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a robot for individually removing requested books from their prescribed locations in bookracks and returning them, a hand mechanism for the robot, and an automated library book handling system incorporating the robot. The robot comprises a carriage that moves itself around a bookrack in which are formed a plurality of shelf sections having shelf section identification information indicated thereon, in which library books having book identification information indicated thereon are stored upright in shelf sections prescribed therefor; and mounted on the carriage are a hand mechanism; a control unit for controlling three-dimensional motion of the hand mechanism opposite the bookrack; a mobile computer for obtaining, based on instructions from a library book checkout and return counter, the identification information for a requested book along with the requested book's prescribed shelf section storage location, and performing guidance control of the carriage and the three-dimensional motion of the hand mechanism; and a mobile power supply. The hand mechanism of the robot further comprises an identification information recognition unit for detecting shelf section identification information indicated on the bookrack as well as book identification information indicated on the library books, and recognizing a requested book's prescribed shelf section storage location, and a requested book present at that prescribed shelf section storage location; a book pullout mechanism for pulling-out a requested book from a row of books in a shelf section; and a book-holding mechanism for removing the pulled-out book by grasping the book across the thickness direction thereof.

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First Claim