Vacuum gripping apparatus
US8560121B2 · kind B2 · utility
19Cited by
57References
16Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 11, 2012 |
| Grant date | Oct 15, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 11, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G47/917
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A gripper grasps irregular and deformable work pieces so as to lift and hold packaged, processed, or raw, and manipulate the work pieces for the purpose of material handling, assembly, packaging, and other robotic and automated manipulative functions. A vacuum is induced at multiple points through a flexible gripping hood to provide lifting force to, and facilitate rapid movement of, work pieces. An array of lighting devices and a double ring array of segmented mirrors provide uniform illumination to ensure accurate positioning of the gripping hood with respect to the work piece to be manipulated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.