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:
Aug. 25, 2015
Filed:
Feb. 21, 2013
Western Digital Technologies, Inc., Irvine, CA (US);
Joseph A. Perlas, San Jose, CA (US);
Dean Albert Tarrant, Gilroy, CA (US);
Western Digital Technologies, Inc., Irvine, CA (US);
Abstract
A device may comprise a gripper defining a plurality of openings, each being configured to selectively receive, retain and release an item using a vacuum. One or more sensors may be associated with the plurality of openings, and may be configured to detect a faulty item received in the opening associated therewith. An item receiving structure may be configured to receive items released by the gripper when one or more of the sensors detects that one or more of the received items is faulty. An item receptacle may be configured to receive a plurality of items, and a vacuum chute may be configured to convey items received in the item receiving structure away from the gripper and into the item receptacle under a vacuum force.