Robotic spearing device for performing item capture and sorting, spearing end effector and method for performing same
US11992955B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 23, 2021 |
| Grant date | May 28, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2042 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05B2219/40064
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A spearing end effector for a robotic spearing device capturing and sorting a selected item from a mass of items and having a robotic manipulator with the spearing end effector mounted at an end thereof. The robotic spearing device comprises: a spearing end effector body; a spike; a linear actuator having the spike mounted thereon; and a propeller. The spike is configurable between a retracted configuration where it is entirely located inside the spearing end effector body and an extended configuration where it extends outwardly from therefrom. The spike is engageable to the selected item when configured in the extended configuration. The linear actuator is movable to configure the spike between the retracted configuration and the extended configuration. The propeller is selectively activatable to propel the selected item in a propelling direction during an ejection of the selected item from the spearing end effector.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.