Apparatus and method for separating objects
AssigneeABB Schweiz AG
InventorGuoqi Shi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of present disclosure relate to an apparatus and a method for separating objects. The apparatus comprises: a separating mechanism configured to separate objects arranged in a stack; a robot configured to hold the separating mechanism; and a controller configured to: cause the robot to move the separating mechanism to a first height; cause the robot to move the separating mechanism towards the stack; in response to a distance between the separating mechanism and the stack reaching a distance threshold, cause the robot to stop moving the separating mechanism; and cause the separating mechanism to separate the objects.
Claims19
An apparatus for separating objects, comprising:
- a separating mechanism configured to separate objects arranged in a stack;
- a distance sensor configured to detect a distance between the separating mechanism and the stack,
- wherein the distance sensor comprises a travel switch configured to be triggered when the distance between the separating mechanism and the stack reaches a distance threshold;
- a robot configured to hold the separating mechanism;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- cause the robot to move the separating mechanism to a first height;
- cause the robot to move the separating mechanism towards the stack;
- in response to the distance between the separating mechanism and the stack reaching the distance threshold, cause the robot to stop moving the separating mechanism;
- and
- cause the separating mechanism to separate the objects.
A method for separating objects arranged in a stack, the method comprising:
- causing a robot to move a separating mechanism to a first height, the separating mechanism being held by the robot;
- causing the robot to move the separating mechanism towards the stack;
- in response to a distance between the separating mechanism and the stack reaching a distance threshold, causing the robot to stop moving the separating mechanism;
- causing the separating mechanism to separate the objects;
- in response to a determination that a predefined number of objects have been separated from the stack, causing the robot to move the separating mechanism to a third height lower than the first height;
- causing the robot to stop moving the separating mechanism at the third height;
- and
- causing the separating mechanism to separate the objects.
An apparatus for separating objects, comprising:
- a separating mechanism configured to separate objects arranged in a stack;
- a robot configured to hold the separating mechanism;
- a height sensor configured to measure a height of the stack;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- cause the robot to move the separating mechanism to a first height;
- cause the robot to move the separating mechanism towards the stack;
- in response to a distance between the separating mechanism and the stack reaching a distance threshold, cause the robot to stop moving the separating mechanism;
- cause the separating mechanism to separate the objects;
- in response to a determination that the height of the stack has been reduced by more than a predefined amount, cause the robot to move the separating mechanism to a second height lower than the first height;
- cause the robot to stop moving the separating mechanism at the second height;
- and
- cause the separating mechanism to separate the objects.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.