Variable position vacuum article pickup apparatus
US5033730A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 28, 1990 |
| Grant date | Jul 23, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 28, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H3/0816
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A vacuum article pickup apparatus is disclosed which is capable of picking up single articles such as pieces of mail or sheets of paper, from a random assortment of articles of varying sizes, shapes, weights, thicknesses, and porosities. The apparatus provides a vacuum gripper and a spacer which spaces the vacuum gripper from the articles. Provision is made for adjusting the height of the vacuum gripper and the spacer to compensate for differences in height of the random assortment of articles. Provision is also made for locking the vacuum gripper and the spacer at this height during the engagement of the uppermost article, and for withdrawing the spacer from contact with the random assortment of articles after the uppermost article has been engaged by the vacuum gripper.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.