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. 22, 2018
Filed:
Aug. 20, 2015
Vineland Research and Innovations Centre Inc., Vineland Station, CA;
John Van De Vegte, Cambridge, CA;
John Renfrew, Dundas, CA;
Matthew Jandrisits, Oakville, CA;
Robert Lau, Stouffville, CA;
Other;
Abstract
A device for harvesting mushrooms from a mushroom bed involves a robotic arm configured to interchangeably deploy one of a plurality of different suction grippers, each of the suction grippers having a suction cup having a size and shape profile appropriate for gripping a cap of a mushroom, the cap having a size and shape profile within a predetermined range. A vacuum source in fluid communication with the suction gripper supplies negative air pressure to the suction gripper for retaining a cap of the mushroom to be harvested in the suction cup. A control circuit in electronic communication with the suction gripper and the vacuum source is configured to automatically adjust the negative air pressure in the suction gripper in response to harvesting requirements during a mushroom harvesting process. A few standard mushroom shapes have been identified, which permits suction cup designs that maximize contact between the suction cups and the mushroom caps, which permits minimizing the strength of the vacuum needed to harvest the mushrooms.