Automatically individually separating bulk objects
US11679418B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 16, 2021 |
| Grant date | Jun 20, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 7, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T2207/30241
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A work cell and method for automatically separating objects disposed in 3D clusters includes dispensing the objects onto a horizontal conveying surface to form a 2D array, reforming the 2D array into a 1D stream in which the objects move in single-file in a predefined moving direction, utilizing a vision-based or other stationary sensing system to identify a selected target object in the 1D stream as the target object passes through an image capture (sensing) region, calculating trajectory data defining the target object's time-based position in the 1D stream, and then utilizing the trajectory data to control a robot arm or other object removal mechanism such that only the selected object is forcibly removed (e.g., swiped or picked-up) from the horizontal conveying surface. A continuous-loop-type conveying mechanism includes two parallel conveyor-belt-type conveying structures and associated belt-switching structures. An AI-powered vision system identifies new object shapes during preliminary learning phases.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.