US 2024/0190689 A1 · APPARATUSES AND SYSTEMS FOR THE AUTOMATED RETRIEVAL, TRANSPORT, AND PROCESSING OF ARTICLES

Abstract

A system and an apparatus for dispensing and retrieving products is provided. The system may include: a grasping head; first and second grasping members, each grasping member comprising: a top member; a post member; and first and second grasping fingers, where the first and second grasping fingers extend from the post member and are spaced apart from the top member by a predetermined distance, where the first and second grasping members are connected to the grasping head, where at least one of the first and second grasping members is movably connected to the grasping head, where the at least one of the first and second grasping members is movable relative to the other of the first and second grasping members.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a controller;
at least one sensor;
a processing line;
and
a container disposed between the at least one sensor and the processing line, wherein the at least one sensor measures a distance between one of a top of the container and the at least one sensor or a cap positioned on the top of the container and the at least one sensor,
wherein the controller identifies an anticipated distance between the at least one sensor and a cap on the top of the container,
wherein the controller determines a difference between the anticipated distance and the distance between one of the top of the container and the at least one sensor or the cap positioned on the top of the container and the at least one sensor, and
wherein the controller provides an alert in response to the difference satisfying a predetermined distance.

5 more elements

An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

receive, at a processing station, a container, wherein the processing station receives the container along a processing line;
measure a distance from at least one sensor of the processing station to a top of the container in response to the container not including a cap thereon or a top of a cap of the container in response to the container including a cap thereon, wherein the at least one sensor is positioned above the processing line;
determine an anticipated distance between the at least one sensor to a top of the cap of the container;
determine a difference between the anticipated distance and the measured distance from the at least one sensor of the processing station to the top of the container in response to the container not including a cap thereon or a top of a cap of the container in response to the container including a cap thereon;
and
provide an alert in response to the difference satisfying a predetermined distance.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

18/587,054Filed 26 Feb 2024

Priority

27 Mar 2020

Published

13 Jun 2024

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

B67B 3/264
Devices for controlling the caps: positioning of the caps
B65B 7/16
Closing containers or receptacles after filling: closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of,…
B65B 7/28
Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons: by applying…
B65B 57/00
Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices

Apparatuses and systems for the automated retrieval, transport, and processing of articles

Life of this patent

Apparatuses and systems for the automated retrieval, transport, and processing of articles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10