Robotic system and method for collecting and dispensing regular and irregular shaped objects

A robotic system for collecting and dispensing regular and irregular shaped objects, comprising:

• a chassis;
• transport means for supporting the chassis for movement along a support surface over which are spread one or more regular or irregular shaped objects;
• first drive means for powering the transport means;
• a transversely extending, forwardly opening receptacle for receiving and holding the objects;
• means for mounting the receptacle to the chassis for movement about a substantially horizontal axis between a lowered collecting position in front of the chassis and a raised dumping position for dispensing the objects into a collection bin behind the chassis;
• second drive means for moving the receptacle between its lowered and raised positions;
• a pair of sweeper gates;
• means for pivotally mounting each sweeper gate at a corresponding end of the receptacle for pivotal motion about a corresponding vertical axis when the receptacle is in its lowered collecting position so that working together the pair of sweeper gates can rotate between fully open and fully closed positions to entrap and pull the objects into the receptacle when they are within a predetermined proximity of the receptacle;
• third drive means for moving the sweeper gates between their fully open and fully closed positions;
• and
• means remote from the chassis for allowing an operator to control the first, second and third drive means.