Apparatus and Method for Transferring a Pattern from a Universal Surface to an Ultimate Package
AssigneeFrito-Lay North America, Inc.
InventorsDarin James BAYLOR, Cory BURNS, Kevin L. COTE
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for transferring a pattern from a universal surface to an ultimate package. The apparatus comprises an end effector for a pattern transfer robot. The end effector comprises a crowder plate with crowder plate slats spaced apart a distance to form openings between the crowder plate slats. The universal surface comprises a finger wall with finger wall slats spaced apart a distance to form openings between the finger wall slats. A portion of the crowder plate slats are sized to pass between a portion of mating finger wall slats.
Claims22
An apparatus for transferring a pattern from a universal surface to an ultimate package, said apparatus comprising:
- an end effector for a pattern transfer robot;
- wherein the universal surface comprises a finger wall, said finger wall comprising finger wall slats spaced apart a distance to form openings between the finger wall slats,
- wherein the end effector comprises a crowder plate, said crowder plate comprising crowder plate slats spaced apart a distance to form openings between the crowder plate slats, and
- wherein a portion of the crowder plate slats are sized to pass between a portion of mating finger wall slats.
A method for transferring a pattern of non-rigid objects from a universal surface to an ultimate package, said method comprising the steps:
- providing a pattern on a universal surface;
- conveying the pattern to a transfer station;
- picking the pattern with an end effector at the transfer station;
- and
- placing the pattern into an ultimate package, said ultimate package comprising at least one layer of non-rigid objects to form at least one universal element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.