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US 2026/0249486 A1Published application
Material Handling Device
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsDustin Greene, John Manning Holder, Lauren Greene
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device to remove an object from a storage position. The device includes a surface and a suction device. The suction device includes a manifold and arms that extend outward from the manifold. An air pump moves the air from the manifold thereby causing air flow inward along the arms and into the manifold to create a suction force in the arms.
Claims20
A device to remove an object from a storage position, the device comprising:
- a surface;
- a suction device positioned on the surface, the suction device comprising:
- a manifold;
- arms that extend outward from the manifold, the arms comprising:
- an inner end in communication with the manifold;
- an outer end;
- a channel that extends between the inner end and the outer end;
- a valve that controls an amount of air that flows through the channel;
- and
- an air pump that moves the air from the manifold thereby causing air flow inward along the arms and into the manifold to create a suction force in the arms.
7 more elements
A device to remove an object from a storage position, the device comprising:
- a support with a surface;
- a suction device positioned on the surface, the suction device comprising:
- a manifold;
- arms with channels that extend outward from the manifold;
- an air pump;
- a computing device comprising processing circuitry configured to:
- activate the air pump and create a suction force at the arms;
- determine air flow through the arms;
- determine which of the one or more of the arms are in contact with the object;
- reduce the flow of air through the arms that are not in contact with the object;
- and
- continue the flow of air through the arms that are in contact with the object.
9 more elements
A method of picking an object from a storage shelf, the method comprising:
- moving a suction device along a table;
- moving air from a manifold of the suction device and moving air into channels that extend through arms that extend outward from the manifold;
- contacting one or more of the arms that extend outward from the suction device against the object;
- preventing air flow through the arms that are not in contact with the object;
- and
- creating a suction force in the arms that are in contact with the object and connecting the arms to the object;
- and
- moving the suction device and the object that is connected to the arms onto the table.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.