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US 11,597,086 B2Granted
Food-safe, washable interface for exchanging tools
AssigneeThe Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
InventorsDavid M. S. Johnson, Justin Rooney, Cody Chu, Luis Trueba
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A problem with current food service robots is making the robots safe to work around food. A solution provided by the present disclosure is a food-safe tool switcher and corresponding tool. The tool switcher can mate with a variety of tools, which can be molded or 3D printed out of food-safe materials into a single-part, instead of constructed modularly. This provides for easier cleaning.
Claims10
A system comprising:
- an actuating rod;
- at least one ball bearing;
- a housing having a first port to receive the actuating rod, and having a second port within the first port to receive the at least one ball bearing, the first port and second port of the housing configured to allow motion of the actuating rod in a direction through the first port perpendicular to the at least one ball bearing in the second port, a distal end of the second port further having a hole with a constriction on the outer circumference of the housing, the constriction configured to allow a portion of the ball bearing to extend out of the second port while holding the remaining portion of the ball bearing within the second port;
- a utensil mating bracket having a reception port configured to receive the housing, the reception port having at least one locking member along an outer portion of the reception port, such that when the portion of the at least one ball bearing extends out of the second port, the locking member interfaces with the portion of the at least one ball bearing such that the housing is locked within the utensil mating bracket.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- providing an actuating rod, at least one ball bearing, and a housing;
- receiving the actuating rod at a first port of the housing;
- receiving, at a second port within the first port, the at least one ball bearing;
- wherein the first port and second port of the housing are configured to allow motion of the actuating rod in a direction through the first port perpendicular to the at least one ball bearing in the second port, a distal end of the second port further having a hole with a constriction on the outer circumference of the housing, the constriction configured to allow a portion of the ball bearing to extend out of the second port while holding the remaining portion of the ball bearing within the second port;
- receiving the housing at a utensil mating bracket having a reception port, the reception port having at least one locking member along an outer portion of the reception port, such that when the portion of the at least one ball bearing extends out of the second port, the locking member interfaces with the portion of the at least one ball bearing such that the housing is locked within the utensil mating bracket.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.