Arrayed vacuum end of arm tool
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsBrian Keith Merritt, Brett Alan Stripe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vacuum head and corresponding method for moving product at the end of a robotic arm includes a housing having a product contact surface. An array of at least two rows and at least three ranks of valves are arranged with respect to the product contact surface. A solenoid is connected with respect to each of the valves to selectively activate air pressure in one or more valves thereby enabling multiple switchable zones on the product contact surface and thereby enable transfer of product between stations.
Claims15
A vacuum head for moving product at the end of a robotic arm, the vacuum head comprising:
- a housing having a product contact surface;
- an array of at least two rows and at least three ranks of valves;
- a solenoid connected with respect to each of the valves to selectively activate air pressure in one or more valves thereby enabling multiple switchable zones on the product contact surface.
A method for transferring product between stations using a robotic arm and a vacuum head, the method comprising:
- configuring a product contact surface of a housing at an end of the robotic arm with an array of at least two rows and at least three ranks of valves;
- providing a solenoid in connection with the plurality of valves to selectively activate air pressure in one or more valves thereby enabling multiple switchable zones on the product contact surface;
- assessing a planogram of products using a PLC connected with respect to the solenoid to automatically activate zones based on a desired product configuration;
- and
- selectively transferring the product based upon the planogram.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.