System and method of providing delivery of items from one container to another container using a suction attachment system
US11279569B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 13, 2018 |
| Grant date | Mar 22, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 30, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G47/917
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method is disclosed for using robots to move items from one container to another. The method includes positioning a source container under a suction robot having two degrees of freedom only, the suction robot having a flexible suction end having a variable suction component that can cause suction to occur within the suction end upon contact with an item in the source container. The contact can be non-orthogonal of an end of the flexible suction and a surface of the item. The robot retrieves the item from the source container with the flexible suction end by lowering the flexible suction end into the source container to retrieve the item and lifts the retrieved item from the source container. The robot then moves the retrieved item horizontally from the source container to a destination container.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.