Grader apparatus
AssigneeScanvaegt International A/S
InventorUlrich Carlin Nielsen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for weighing and portioning items utilizing a robot device. The robot device includes a grip, e.g., a suction cup, to remove an item from a delivery station to a receiving area for placement into a particular batch. The method involves placing the items at delivery station according their weight and the weight of items already moved to a receiving area, selecting the items for a batch from the combination of items available for movement to the batch, and selective batching of the items in weight-determined and, optionally, type-determined groups.
Claims14
A method for separating-out of supplied natural foodstuff items for the batching of these items in weight-determined groups, said batching method comprising the steps of:
- a) determining the weight of each item of an incoming supply of natural foodstuff items;
- b) supplying said natural foodstuff items in a spaced distribution;
- c) using a control unit to keep track of the weight and location of each of the spaced foodstuff items and
- d) using at least two robots, each of which is under the control of said control unit and each of which has a gripping element for the selective gripping of a foodstuff item, to selectively grip and transfer each foodstuff item from the supply of spaced foodstuff items to a receiving location in accordance with the weight of the foodstuff items and the weight of the foodstuff items already transferred, or a combination of the foodstuff items available for transfer, so as to produce batches of foodstuff items of a predetermined weight or predetermined weight and type.
An Apparatus for separating-out of supplied natural foodstuff items for the batching of these items in weight-determined groups, said batching apparatus comprising:
- a) weight determining means for determining the weight of each item of an incoming supply of items;
- b) means for supplying said foodstuff items in a spaced distribution;
- c) a control unit for keeping track of the weight and location of each of the spaced foodstuff items;
- and
- d) at least two robots, each of which is under the control of said control unit and each of which has a gripping element for the selective gripping of an individual foodstuff item, for selectively gripping and transferring each foodstuff item from the supply of spaced foodstuff items to a receiving location in accordance with the weight of the foodstuff items and the weight of foodstuff items already transferred, or a combination of the foodstuff items available for transfer, so as to produce batches of foodstuff items of a predetermined weight or predetermined weight and type;
- wherein the weight determining means comprises a static weighing device at a supply station for the items for accumulated weighing-in of items and for enabling the determination of the weight of each item removed from the supply station by the gripping element of one of the robots by a reduction of the weight of items at the supply station due to the removal of the item.
An Apparatus for separating-out of supplied natural foodstuff items for the batching of these items in weight-determined groups, said batching apparatus comprising:
- a) weight determining means for determining the weight of each item of an incoming supply of items;
- b) means for supplying said foodstuff items in a spaced distribution;
- c) a control unit for keeping track of the weight and location of each of the spaced foodstuff items and
- d) at least two robots, each of which is under the control of said control unit and each of which has a gripping element for the selective gripping of an individual foodstuff item, for selectively gripping and transferring each foodstuff item from the supply of spaced foodstuff items to a receiving location in accordance with the weight of the foodstuff items and the weight of foodstuff items already transferred, or a combination of the foodstuff items available for transfer, so as to produce batches of foodstuff items of a predetermined weight or predetermined weight and type;
- wherein a first of said robots is adapted to selectively transfer each item to a first receiving location in which the items are segregated in accordance with at least the weight of the item, and wherein a second of said robots is adapted to selectively transfer said items from said first receiving location to a second receiving location in which items are formed into said batches.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.