End effector for robotic picking and packing
AssigneeNimble Robotics, Inc.
InventorSimon Kalouche
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A robotic end effector tool having multiple manipulator elements. The end effector includes a body, a suction cup movable relative to the body between a retracted position and an extended position, a plurality of fingers spaced around the suction cup and being actuatable between an open condition and a clamped condition, and a roller coupled to at least one of the fingers such that the roller is arranged to rotate about a first axis. The combination of the suction cup, the fingers and the rollers are arranged to pick an item and adjust the orientation of an object without setting the object down.
Claims20
A robotic end effector tool, comprising:
- a body;
- a suction cup movable relative to the body between a retracted position and an extended position;
- a plurality of fingers spaced around the suction cup, the plurality of fingers being actuatable between an open condition and a clamped condition;
- and
- a roller coupled to at least one of the fingers, the roller being rotatable about a first axis.
A method of repositioning an object relative to a palm of a robotic end effector tool, the method comprising:
- securing the object between a plurality of rollers, each roller being coupled to a respective finger of the robotic end effector tool;
- releasing the object from a suction cup after the securing step;
- and
- rotating the rollers, after the releasing step, to rotate the object relative to the palm of the robotic end effector tool.
A robot, comprising:
- a robot arm;
- and
- an end effector secured to the robot arm, the end effector comprising;
- a body;
- a suction cup movable relative to the body between a retracted position and an extended position;
- a plurality of fingers spaced around the suction cup, each of the fingers being actuatable between an open condition and a clamped condition;
- and
- a roller coupled to each one of the plurality of fingers and arranged to rotate about first and second axes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.