Conformable variable friction manipulator
US10343290B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 8, 2017 |
| Grant date | Jul 9, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 8, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB25J15/0616
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system, apparatus, and method is configured to retrieve items and particularly items that are stored in high-density storage solutions. The system can include one or two-piece manipulators with retractable grippers. The manipulators can be relatively low profile and/or low friction to facilitate their placement between a target item and adjacent items on densely packed shelves or trays. In a retracted position, the grippers can be stowed beneath the surface of the manipulators to further facilitate the placement of the manipulators. In a deployed position, the grippers can extend above the surface of the manipulators to increase the contact area, coefficient of friction, and/or surface pressure of the manipulators on the target item. The grippers can enable the manipulators to be thinner than would otherwise be possible to enable retrieval of items from tightly packed storage solutions—e.g., warehouses with higher gross cubic utilization (GCU).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.