Soft Robotics, Inc.

Soft Robtics, Inc.

William Gunner

Jeffrey Curhan

Thomas Womersley

Craig Demello

Brendan Cavanaugh

A method for picking polybagged articles includes targeting the polybagged article, placing a multistage gripper adjacent the polybagged article, tenting, pressing on, or suspending the polybagged article from the tenting tool, and gathering the polybagged article with a perimeter gripper.

Picking, placing, and scanning bagged clothing and other articles

Exemplary embodiments relate to unique structures for robotic end-of-arm-tools (EOATs). In particular, exemplary embodiments provide structures allowing a displacement fluid to be discharged from a distal end of a robotic finger. The discharge may be used to displace a target object, such as an object that is adjacent to another blocking object or the side of a container. After the target object is displaced, the EOAT may be better able to maneuver into a gripping posture and may be able to secure a better grasp on the target object.

End of arm tools for soft robotic systems

Exemplary embodiments relate to a fastener suitable for industrial tasks. Some embodiments include a sealing surface sized so that an outer surface of a sealing ring is located at approximately the same diameter as the fastener head, thus reducing ingress risk for foreign contaminants. Further embodiments provide a centering pilot to improve sealing consistency and quality. Some embodiments provide an angled flange on the fastener head to lift tightening tools away from the surface to which the fastener is being applied, and to shed liquids readily. The portion of the head that receives the tightening tools may be relatively small (approximately the same diameter as the fastener's threaded shaft) to reduce the risk of over-torquing. A bearing surface of the fastener may be located below the sealing ring (towards the threaded shaft) to prevent the fastener from marring the unsealed surface to which the fastener is being applied.

Fasteners with reduced bacterial harborage points, sealing capabilities, and component protection features

Exemplary embodiments relate to unique structures for robotic end-of-arm-tools (EOATs). According to some embodiments, two or more fingers or actuators may be present on an EOAT, and the actuators may be connected to a hub through one or more sets of pivots attached to linkages that allow the distances between the pivots to be varied. Compared to conventional EOATs, exemplary embodiments increase the range of motion of the actuators, improve grip posture, boost gripping force, and balance the loads on the actuators.

Growing community of inventors

Quincy, MA, United States of America

William Gunner