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US 12,654,957 B2Granted
Solar panel dispensing system for facilitating installation of solar panels
AssigneePalladyne Corp.
InventorFraser M. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar panel dispensing device comprising a hopper, a guide arm, and an actuator. The hopper includes a frame defining an interior volume and an exit and is configured to contain a plurality of solar panels therein. The guide arm includes a support surface coupled to the hopper at a position adjacent to the exit of the hopper. The guide arm can extend away from the exit at a position to guide the plurality of solar panels from the hopper to an installation position. The actuator can include a contact interface operable to interface with and displace a lead solar panel of the plurality of contained solar panels through the exit, and to present the lead solar panel to the guide arm.
Claims44
A solar panel dispensing device, comprising:
- a hopper comprising a frame defining an interior volume and an exit, the hopper being configured to contain one or more solar panels therein;
- a guide arm comprising a support surface configured to receive a lead solar panel, the support surface being mounted on the hopper at a position at the exit of the hopper, such that the guide arm is in direct contact with the frame of the hopper, the guide arm extending away from the exit at a position to guide the lead solar panel from the hopper to an installation position;
- and
- an actuator comprising a contact interface operable to interface with and displace the lead solar panel of the plurality of contained solar panels through the exit, and to present the lead solar panel onto the support surface of the guide arm.
1 more element
A solar panel dispensing system, comprising:
- a mobile platform operable to move and maneuver about an environment;
- and
- a solar panel dispensing device supported by the mobile platform, the solar panel dispensing device comprising:
- a hopper comprising a frame defining an interior volume and an exit, the hopper being configured to contain one or more solar panels therein;
- a guide arm mounted to the hopper and comprising a support surface configured to receive a lead solar panel, the support surface being supported by the hopper at a position at the exit of the hopper, such that the guide arm is in direct contact with the frame of the hopper, the guide arm extending away from the exit at a position to guide a lead solar panel from the hopper to an installation position;
- and
- an actuator comprising a contact interface operable to interface with and displace the lead solar panel of the plurality of contained solar panels through the exit, and to present the lead solar panel to the guide arm.
4 more elements
A method for installing solar panels into a solar panel mount using a solar panel dispensing device, the method comprising:
- supporting a plurality of solar panels in a hopper of the solar panel dispensing device, the hopper comprising a frame defining an interior volume and an exit;
- aligning a guide arm mounted to the hopper at the exit of the hopper with the solar panel mount in a position to facilitate dispensing of a lead solar panel into the solar panel mount from an installation position of the lead solar panel;
- actuating an actuator to displace a lead solar panel of the plurality of contained solar panels out of the hopper via the exit and onto a support surface of the guide arm;
- driving the first solar panel from the exit of the hopper and along the guide arm to guide the first solar panel to the installation position;
- and
- driving the first solar panel out of the guide arm to the installation position.
3 more elements
A method for installing solar panels into a solar panel mount using a solar panel dispensing device, the method comprising:
- supporting a plurality of solar panels in a hopper of the solar panel dispensing device, the hopper comprising a frame defining an interior volume and an exit;
- aligning a first exit of a guide arm of the solar panel dispensing device mounted to the hopper at the exit of the hopper with a first solar panel mount in a position to facilitate dispensing of a lead solar panel into the first solar panel mount from a first installation position of the lead solar panel;
- aligning a second exit of the guide arm of the solar panel dispensing device with a second solar panel mount in a position to facilitate dispensing of a lead solar panel into the second solar panel mount from a second installation position of the lead solar panel;
- actuating an actuator to displace the lead solar panel of the plurality of solar panels out of the hopper via the exit and onto a support surface of the guide arm;
- driving the lead solar panel from the exit of the hopper and along the guide arm to guide the lead solar panel to one of a first exit corresponding to the first solar panel mount or a second exit corresponding to the second solar panel mount;
- and
- driving the lead solar panel out of the first exit or the second exit of the guide arm to either the first installation position or the second installation position.
4 more elements
A method for configuring a solar panel dispensing device, the method comprising:
- configuring the solar panel dispensing device to comprise a hopper comprising a frame defining an interior volume and an exit, the hopper being configured to contain one or more solar panels therein;
- configuring the solar panel dispensing device to comprise a guide arm comprising a support surface configured to receive and a lead solar panel, the guide arm being mounted to the hopper such that the support surface is positioned at a position at the exit of the hopper, the guide arm extending away from the exit at a position to guide a lead solar panel from the hopper to an installation position;
- configuring the solar panel dispensing device to comprise an actuator comprising a contact interface operable to interface with and displace the lead solar panel of the plurality of contained solar panels through the exit, and to present the lead solar panel to the guide arm.
A solar panel dispensing system, comprising:
- a plurality of solar panels;
- and
- a solar panel dispensing device comprising:
- a hopper comprising a frame defining an interior volume and an exit, the hopper containing the plurality of solar panels within the interior volume;
- a guide arm comprising a support surface configured to receive a lead solar panel, the support surface being mounted to the hopper at a position at the exit of the hopper, the guide arm extending away from the exit at a position to guide a lead solar panel from the hopper to an installation position;
- and
- an actuator comprising a contact interface operable to interface with and displace the lead solar panel of the plurality of contained solar panels through the exit, and to present the lead solar panel to the guide arm.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.