System and method for preventing debris buildup in vacuum sensor lines

A parcel handling system, comprising;

• a robot;
• a vacuum-based end effector mounted to the robot for engaging parcels, including one or more vacuum cups;
• one or more vacuum lines in fluid communication with the one or more vacuum cups;
• one or more vacuum sensor lines in fluid communication with the one or more vacuum cups and with one or more vacuum sensors;
• and
• a subsystem, including
• a manifold, including
• a positive air pressure source, and
• a controller operably connected to the positive air pressure source and including a processor for executing instructions stored in a memory component to selectively activate the positive air pressure source to emit a positive flow of air, and
• one or more positive air pressure lines, each positive air pressure line of the one or more positive air pressure lines having a proximal end in fluid communication with the positive air pressure source and a distal end in fluid communication with one of the one or more vacuum sensor lines.

A parcel handling system, comprising:

• a robot;
• a vacuum-based end effector mounted to the robot for engaging parcels, including one or more vacuum cups;
• one or more vacuum lines in fluid communication with the one or more vacuum cups;
• one or more vacuum sensor lines in fluid communication with the one or more vacuum cups and with one or more vacuum sensors;
• and
• a subsystem, including
• one or more positive air pressure lines, each positive air pressure line of the one or more positive air pressure lines having a distal end in fluid communication with one of the one or more vacuum sensor lines, and
• a manifold, including
• a positive air pressure source in fluid communication with the one or more vacuum lines and the one or more positive air pressure lines,
• a vacuum source configured to draw a vacuum and in fluid communication with the one or more vacuum lines,
• a first valve configured to transition between an open configuration and a closed configuration to regulate airflow from the positive air pressure source to the one or more positive air pressure lines,
• a second valve configured to transition between a first configuration to permit a negative flow of air to be drawn through the one or more vacuum lines while the vacuum source is activated and a second configuration to permit a positive flow of air emitted by the positive air pressure source to be directed into the one or more vacuum lines, and
• a controller operably connected to the positive air pressure source, the first valve, and the second valve, with the controller including a processor for executing instructions stored in a memory component to (i) selectively activate the positive air pressure source to emit the positive flow of air, (ii) selectively activate the first valve to transition between the open configuration and the closed configuration, and (iii) selectively activate the second valve to transition between the first configuration and the second configuration.