End of arm tool, apparatus, and method of engaging an article
US7717255B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 26, 2007 |
| Grant date | May 18, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 19, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB25J15/0052
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A conveying system includes a robotic arm, an end-of-arm-tool, carried by the robotic arm, and a conveyor. In one example, the end of arm tool includes a plurality of engagement mechanisms arranged in an array. Each engagement mechanism includes at least two opposed fingers moveable between engaged and released positions, and is thereby adapted to grasp a soft-sided article from the conveyor. The conveyor includes a plurality of parallel tracks, each track separated from an adjacent track by a groove. A plurality of stops is configured to stop a plurality of soft-sided articles in an array analogous to the arrayed engagement mechanisms of the end-of-arm tool. In operation, the opposed fingers of each engagement mechanism pass through the grooves defined within the conveyor, to grasp upstream and downstream sides of an article, respectively, and underneath the article, which is then lifted by the robotic arm.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.