Part transfer system

A method of transferring a part, comprising:

• activating a vacuum source, wherein the vacuum source is in fluid communication with a plurality of partitions of an end effector, the end effector includes a plurality of vacuum ports each in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of partitions;
• moving the end effector toward the part until the end effector engages the part;
• maintaining the end effector stationary after the end effector engages the part until a pressure in at least one of the plurality of partitions is equal to or less than a predetermined pressure threshold;
• moving the end effector along with the part toward a kitting tray until the part is placed on the kitting tray;
• and
• aligning, using an indexing mechanism, the part with the kitting tray while moving the end effector along with the part toward the kitting tray.

A part transfer system, comprising:

• a movable support;
• a plurality of arms coupled to the movable support;
• an end effector coupled to each of the plurality of arms, the end effector includes a body and a plurality of dividers each coupled to the body, the plurality of dividers divides the body into a plurality of partitions, and the end effector includes a plurality of vacuum ports each in fluid communication with one of the plurality of partitions;
• a first vacuum source in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of vacuum ports, wherein each of the plurality of vacuum ports is configured to draw a fluid from the plurality of partitions to establish a vacuum between the end effector and a part that is engaged with the end effector, thereby securing the part to the end effector;
• a kitting tray includes a tray body and a plurality of vacuum tray ports extending through the tray body;
• and
• a second vacuum source in fluid communication with the plurality of vacuum tray ports to draw a gas from the plurality of vacuum tray ports to secure the part to the kitting tray when the part is disposed on the kitting tray.