Item pick up system
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsKuo-Hung Lee, Yu-Jui Liu, Hung-Yu Wu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for picking up and positioning an item includes a vacuum assembly capable of applying a suction force to the item. The apparatus further includes an item engaging plate positioned adjacent the vacuum assembly. The apparatus still further has a blocking member positioned adjacent the vacuum assembly. The blocking member is capable of interrupting the suction force. The blocking member is positionable in a first position allowing the item to be picked up and in a second position interrupting the suction force to assist disengagement of the item.
Claims19
An apparatus for picking up and positioning an item comprising:
- a vacuum assembly capable of applying a suction force to the item;
- an engaging plate positioned adjacent the vacuum assembly and having a first plurality of apertures formed therein such that the suction force can be applied to the item through the first plurality of apertures;
- and
- a blocking member positioned adjacent the engaging plate and capable of interrupting the suction force flowing through the first plurality of apertures of the engaging plate, wherein the blocking member is positionable in a first position allowing the item to be picked up and a second position interrupting the suction force to assist disengagement of the item from the engaging plate, wherein the blocking member is a plate slideably mounted adjacent the engaging plate, and wherein the blocking member has a second plurality of apertures that at least substantially align with the first plurality of apertures of the engaging plate when the blocking member is in the first position and that are at least substantially out of alignment with the first plurality of apertures of the engaging plate when the blocking member is in the second position.
An apparatus for moving an item from one location to another location comprising:
- a mechanical arm capable of moving from one location to another;
- a pick up head coupled to the mechanical arm and capable of engaging and disengaging the item, the pick up head including:
- an engaging plate for directly contacting the item, wherein the engaging plate is divided into a plurality of independently actuated pick up zones and wherein each zone has a first plurality of apertures formed therein;
- a vacuum mechanism capable of providing a suction force to each of the pick up zones;
- and
- a plurality of independently actuated blocking members, wherein each blocking member is associated with one of the pick up zones and wherein each blocking member is capable of being independently actuated between an open position allowing the suction force to pass through the respective zone and a closed position interrupting the suction force at the respective zone, wherein each blocking member comprises a second plurality of apertures, and wherein, when in the open position, the second plurality of apertures at least substantially align with the first plurality of apertures of an associated pick up zone, and, when in the closed position, the second plurality of apertures are at least substantially out of alignment with the first plurality of apertures of the associated pick up zone.
A method of picking up an item for positioning from one location to another location using a pick up head having a plurality of pick up zones and a vacuum mechanism, the method comprising:
- selectively applying a suction force to one or more of the pick up zones to pick up the item, wherein each of the one or more pick up zones comprises a first plurality of apertures formed therein;
- and
- selectively interrupting the suction force to one or more of the pick up zones to disengage the item from the pick up head, wherein the interrupting of the suction force is from a blocking member positioned adjacent an engaging plate and capable of interrupting a suction force flowing through the first plurality of apertures of the engaging plate, wherein the blocking member comprises a second plurality of apertures, wherein, when the selectively applying the suction force occurs, the second plurality of apertures of the blocking member are at least substantially aligned with the first plurality of apertures of the engaging member, and, when the selectively interrupting the suction force occurs, the second plurality of apertures of the blocking member are at least substantially out of alignment with the first plurality of apertures of the engaging plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.