US 6,374,984 B1Granted

Method for the automated grouping of objects

Assigneeimt robot AG

InventorPeter Nagler

Life of this patent

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Abstract

In a method for automated grouping of objects, the objects are randomly placed onto a conveyor belt and transported in a steady conveying flow to a grouping device. A recognition device determines a location and a position of the objects transported on the conveyor belt before reaching the grouping device and communicates the location and the position of the objects to a control unit. The control unit evaluates the random ordered state of the objects on the conveyor belt based on the location and the position of the objects. The control unit determines, based on the evaluation result of the evaluating step, sorting positions on the conveyor belt. The handling device groups, taking into account the belt speed, the objects in a group on each one of the determined sorting positions on the conveyor belt. The groups of objects are then further transported on the conveyor belt.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method for automated grouping of objects (8), said method comprising the steps of:

randomly placing objects (8) onto a conveyor belt (1) and transporting the objects (8) in a steady conveying flow to a grouping device (2);
determining with a recognition device (6) a location and a position of the objects (8) transported on said conveyor belt (1) upstream of the grouping device (2);
communicating the location and the position of the objects (8) to a control unit (5);
evaluating with the control unit (5), based on the location and the position of the objects (8), a random ordered state of the objects (8) on said conveyor belt (1);
determining with the control unit (5), based on an evaluation result of the evaluating step, sorting positions on said conveyor belt (1);
grouping with the handling device (7), taking into account the belt speed (n), the objects (8) in a group (9) on each one of the determined sorting positions on said conveyor belt (1);
further transporting the groups (9) of the objects (8) on said conveyor belt (1).

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/555,449Filed 31 Jul 2000
Priority: DE 197 52 90828 Nov 1997
Granted: 23 Apr 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

B65B 35/16
Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles: by grippers
A22C 11/008
Sausage making ; Apparatus for handling or conveying sausage products during manufacture: conveying sausages in horizontal position
A22C 17/0093
Other devices for processing meat or bones: handling, transporting or packaging pieces of meat
B07C 5/361
Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution: processing or control devices therefor, e.g. escort memory