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US 5,687,831 AGranted
Flexible parts feeder
AssigneeAdept Technology, Inc.
InventorBrian R. Carlisle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A parts feeder conveys parts to a selection zone viewed by a vision system, which selects parts having an orientation allowing them to be gripped and transferred from the conveyor. Non-selected parts are conveyed from the selection zone to a hopper for recirculation to the selection zone. The parts are tumbled between successive passes through the selection zone and eventually assume orientations allowing them to be gripped. The gripper has rotatable finger pads which can be either driven or passively rotated.
Claims22
A parts feeder, comprising:
- a transport system for receiving parts and transporting the parts to a selection zone at which a selector analyzes parts in the selection zone and selects parts according to the analysis;
- and
- a recirculator that receives non-selected parts from the transport system and recirculates the received parts for receipt and subsequent transport by said transport system through said selection zone, said recirculator being operative to induce the recirculated parts to assume different orientations and/or relative positions during transport for subsequent passes through said selection zone;
- said recirculator comprising a parts-receptor that moves along a transfer path extending from a location at which the parts-receptor receives non-selected parts from the transport system to a region in which the parts-receptor discharges the received non-selected parts, said transfer path comprising two curved end portions, wherein said parts-receptor is positioned under the transport system when said parts-receptor is at the non-selected parts receiving location.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.