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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 18, 1997
Filed:
Apr. 25, 1995
Applicant:
Inventor:
Brian R Carlisle, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Assignee:
Adept Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B65G / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
198395 ; 198396 ;
Abstract
A parts feeder conveys parts to a selection zone viewed by a vision system, which selects parts having an orientation allowing them to be gripped and transferred from the conveyor. Non-selected parts are conveyed from the selection zone to a hopper for recirculation to the selection zone. The parts are tumbled between successive passes through the selection zone and eventually assume orientations allowing them to be gripped. The gripper has rotatable finger pads which can be either driven or passively rotated.