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:
May. 02, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 17, 1997
Applicant:
Inventors:
Felix Buchi, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Issa Nesnas, La Crescenta, CA (US);
Brian R Carlisle, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Assignee:
Adept Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B65G / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
198395 ;
Abstract
A flexible parts feeder includes a flexible membrane for supporting parts and defining a selection zone where the positional state of parts is analyzed by a machine vision system. The output of the sensor is used to control a transformer that selectively applies impulse energy to the flexible membrane so as to change the positional states of at least some parts in the selection zone to a desired positional state. Those parts having the desired positional state are selected and removed from the membrane by a robot.