The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Dec. 12, 2023

Filed:

Dec. 11, 2020
Applicant:

Material Handling Systems, Inc., Mt. Washington, KY (US);

Inventors:

Cyril David Bader, Louisville, KY (US);

Josiah Douglas, Louisville, KY (US);

Paul Receveur, New Albany, IN (US);

Jonathan Dean Terrell, Louisville, KY (US);

Assignee:

Material Handling Systems, Inc., Mt. Washington, KY (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B25J 9/16 (2006.01); B25J 15/06 (2006.01); B25J 15/00 (2006.01); B25J 13/08 (2006.01); B25J 18/02 (2006.01); B07C 3/02 (2006.01); B25J 9/12 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B25J 9/1697 (2013.01); B25J 13/08 (2013.01); B25J 15/0052 (2013.01); B25J 15/0616 (2013.01); B25J 15/0683 (2013.01); B25J 18/02 (2013.01); B07C 3/02 (2013.01); B25J 9/123 (2013.01);
Abstract

A vacuum-based end effector for selectively engaging parcels includes a base plate to which a plurality of vacuum cups are mounted and configured to be placed in fluid communication with a vacuum source. Each vacuum cup includes a bellows having a distal end connected to a lip. The vacuum-based end effector further includes a linear actuator that is mounted to the base plate and includes an extendible arm to which at least one vacuum cup is operably connected. The linear actuator can be selectively actuated to extend the extendible arm and move the lip of the vacuum cup operably connected to the extendible arm below a common plane defined by the lips of vacuum cups which maintain a fixed position relative to the base plate to individually address a target parcel. The vacuum-based end effector can be combined with a robot to provide an improved system for selectively engaging parcels.


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