US 9,315,343 B1 · Robotic lifting apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for separating and moving a selected number of items, such as a sheets, boards or blanks is provided in which a robotic arm is constructed with forks capable of securely compressing a desired number of items therebetween for displacement from a stack of the items. The items to be grasped by the arm are initially separated from the remainder of the stack by a separation mechanism that can be mounted directly to the arm or to a support structure for the stack of items. The separation mechanism engages and lifts the desired number of items from the stack to enable the forks on the arm to engage each side of the items. The apparatus can be quickly reconfigured to engage and remove any desired number of items from the stack and/or to accommodate changes I the shape, size and/or thickness of the items.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An apparatus for separating a selected or predetermined number of items from a stack of the items, the apparatus comprising:

a. a lift arm including at least one movable section;
b. an engagement mechanism operably connected to one end of the movable section of the lift arm, the engagement mechanism configured to engage and move the items from the stack;
and
c. a separation mechanism selectively positionable adjacent the engagement mechanism and configured to engage and separate the items from the stack,
wherein the engagement mechanism comprises:
at least one upper fork positionable above the items to be removed from the stack;
and
at least one lower fork positionable below the items to be removed from the stack, and
wherein the separation mechanism is operably connected to the lift arm adjacent the engagement mechanism and further comprises:
i. a track attached to the end of the lift arm between the at least one upper fork and the at least one lower fork;
and
ii. a carriage selectively movable along the track.

9 more elements

A method of separating a predetermined number of items from a stack of the items;

the method comprising the steps of:
a. providing an apparatus for separating a selected or predetermined number of items from a stack of the items comprising a lift arm including at least one movable section, an engagement mechanism operably connected to one end of the movable section of the lift arm, the engagement mechanism configured to engage and move the items from the stack and a separation mechanism selectively positionable adjacent the engagement mechanism and configured to engage and separate the items from the stack;
b. engaging the separation mechanism with a section of a stack of items to be separated from the remainder of the stack;
c. engaging the engagement mechanism with the section of items;
d. disengaging the separation mechanism from the section;
and
e. moving the engagement mechanism and the section of items away from the remainder of the stack, wherein the separation mechanism is formed of a track attached to the end of the lift arm between at least one upper fork and at least one lower fork and a carriage selectively movable along the track, and wherein the step of engaging the separation mechanism with the section includes the steps of:
i. moving the carriage along the track into engagement with the section;
and
ii. elevating the separation mechanism to lift and separate the section from the remainder of the stack.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Robotic lifting apparatus

Life of this patent

Robotic lifting apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17