End effector
AssigneePropack Processing and Packaging Systems, Inc.
InventorKevin George Crosby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An end effector for the packaging industry comprises has a frame, a bridge on top of the frame, a rack and pinion assembly, actuation rods, carrier assemblies, and vacuum ports. The rack and pinion assembly is configured to be operatively connected to a robot's rotatable shaft, and to the actuation rods. The actuation rods are fixedly connected to one or more of the carrier assemblies. As the robot's shaft rotates, the rack and pinion assembly is actuated, which actuates the actuation rods, which causes the carrier assemblies fixedly connected to the actuation rods to move longitudinally along the frame. Each carrier assembly includes a carrier block and at least one pick-up member. Each carrier block has at least one arm with a grabber to cooperate with an adjacent arm with grabbers of an adjacent carrier block(s) of the same subgroup.
Claims20
An end effector comprising:
- a frame having an elongated frame groove extending along a first axis of the frame;
- a first carrier assembly having a first carrier block with a first frame guide slidingly received in the frame groove allowing the first carrier assembly to slidingly move along the first axis, the first carrier block having a first slot disposed adjacent the first frame guide;
- a second carrier assembly comprising a second carrier block having a second frame guide slidingly received in the frame groove allowing the second carrier assembly to slidingly move along the first axis, the second carrier assembly disposed adjacent the first carrier assembly;
- the second carrier block having a second slot disposed adjacent the second frame guide;
- the first carrier assembly comprising a first arm having a first grabber and extending laterally towards the second carrier assembly such that the first arm is received in the second slot when the first carrier assembly and second carrier assembly converge toward each other,
- the second carrier assembly comprising a second arm having a second grabber configured to engage the first grabber and extending laterally towards the first carrier assembly such that the second arm is received in the first slot when the first carrier assembly and second carrier assembly converge toward each other.
An end effector comprising:
- a frame having an elongated frame groove extending along a first axis of the frame;
- a first carrier assembly having a first carrier block with a first frame guide slidingly received in the frame groove allowing the first carrier assembly to slidingly move along the first axis, the first carrier block having a first slot disposed adjacent the first frame guide;
- a second carrier assembly comprising a second carrier block having a second frame guide slidingly received in the frame groove allowing the second carrier assembly to slidingly move along the first axis, the second carrier assembly disposed adjacent the first carrier assembly;
- the second carrier block having a second slot disposed adjacent the second frame guide;
- a third carrier assembly comprising a third carrier block having a third frame guide slidingly received in the frame groove allowing the third carrier assembly to slidingly move along the first axis, the third carrier assembly disposed adjacent the second carrier assembly;
- the third carrier block having a third slot disposed adjacent the third frame guide;
- a fourth carrier assembly comprising a fourth carrier block having a fourth frame guide slidingly received in the frame groove allowing the fourth carrier assembly to slidingly move along the first axis, the fourth carrier assembly disposed adjacent the third carrier assembly;
- the fourth carrier block having a fourth slot disposed adjacent the fourth frame guide;
- the first carrier assembly comprising a first arm having a first grabber and extending laterally towards the second carrier assembly such that the first arm is received in the second slot when the first carrier assembly and second carrier assembly converge toward each other,
- the second carrier assembly comprising a second arm having a second grabber configured to engage the first grabber and extending laterally towards the first carrier assembly such that the second arm is received in the first slot when the first carrier assembly and second carrier assembly converge toward each other,
- the third carrier assembly comprising a third arm having a third grabber and extending laterally towards the second carrier assembly such that the third arm is received in the fourth slot when the second carrier assembly and third carrier assembly converge toward each other, and
- the fourth carrier assembly comprising a fourth arm having a fourth grabber configured to engage the third grabber and extending laterally towards the third carrier assembly such that the fourth arm is received in the third slot when the third carrier assembly and fourth carrier assembly converge toward each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.