Gripper actuating system in a food processing machine

• US 10,639,798 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Provisur Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Provisur Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Pryor, Glen F., Garcia-Perez, Fernando
• Primary Examiner(s): Rink, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US15/398,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20180186011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/0045 Manipulators used in the food industry
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/0213 actuated by gears
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 2007/011 by clamping claws, e.g. in high speed slicers for food products
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 2210/02 for cutting food products, e.g. food slicers
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/00 Arrangements for operating and controlling machines or devices for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/01 Means for holding or positioning work

Abstract

A gripping system of a food processing machine includes a gripping device, an airflow sensing device, at least one processor, and at least one memory. The gripping device is moveable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The airflow sensing device is configured to sense an airflow. The at least one processor is in electronic communication with the airflow sensing device. The at least one memory is in electronic communication with the at least one processor. The at least one memory comprises programming code for execution by the at least one processor. The programming code is configured to move the gripping device from the open configuration to the closed configuration when the airflow sensing device senses a change in the airflow.

Claims

1. A gripping system of a food processing machine comprising:

a gripping device moveable between an open configuration and a closed configuration;

an airflow sensing device which does not comprise an air pressure sensor;

at least one processor in electronic communication with the airflow sensing device;

at least one memory in electronic communication with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one memory comprises programming code for execution by the at least one processor, and the programming code is configured to move the gripping device from the open configuration to the closed configuration when the airflow sensing device senses a change in the airflow.

2. The gripping system of claim 1 further comprising a plate moveable between an extended position and a compressed position, wherein a disruption member connected with the plate disrupts the airflow communicating with an airflow sensing line connected to the airflow sensing device in different amounts when the plate is in the extended position versus when the plate is in the compressed position thereby creating the change in the airflow.

3. The gripping system of claim 1 further comprising a compartment connected to first and second lines, wherein the programming code is configured to switch which of the first and second lines delivers air into the compartment and which of the first and second lines vents the air out of the compartment when the airflow sensing device senses the change in the airflow.

4. The gripping system of claim 3 further comprising a pump and a valve, the pump, the valve, and the first and second lines all connected, wherein the programming code is configured to switch the valve to control which of the first and second lines delivers the air from the pump into the compartment and which of the first and second lines vents the air out of the compartment when the airflow sensing device senses the change in the airflow.

5. The gripping system of claim 1 further comprising a compartment connected to first and second lines and to an airflow sensing line, the airflow sensing line connected to the airflow sensing device, the compartment containing a piston for moving the gripping device between the open and closed configurations, the piston configured to move in one direction within the compartment when air flows into the compartment through the first line and configured to move in an opposite direction within the compartment when the air flows into the compartment through the second line, wherein the airflow sensing line vents to an ambient environment at a location which is at least five feet away from the gripping device.

6. The gripping system of claim 5 wherein the airflow sensing line vents to the ambient environment within a cabinet which is at least five feet away from the gripping device.

7. The gripping system of claim 2 further comprising a compartment connected to the airflow sensing line and to first and second lines, wherein the programming code is configured to switch which of the first and second lines delivers air into the compartment and which of the first and second lines vents the air out of the compartment when the airflow sensing device senses the change in the airflow communicating with the airflow sensing line.

8. The gripping system of claim 7 wherein the plate is configured to be moved from the compressed position to the extended position due to the air delivered into the compartment forcing the disruption member to move.

9. The gripping system of claim 8 further comprising a pump and a valve, the pump, the valve, and the first and second lines all connected, wherein the programming code is configured to switch the valve to control which of the first and second lines delivers the air from the pump into the compartment and which of the first and second lines vents the air out of the compartment when the airflow sensing device senses the change in the airflow.

10. The gripping system of claim 9 further comprising a piston contained in the compartment, the piston for moving the gripping device between the open and closed configurations, the piston configured to move in one direction within the compartment when the air flows into the compartment through the first line and configured to move in an opposite direction within the compartment when the air flows into the compartment through the second line, wherein the airflow sensing line vents to an ambient environment at a location which is at least five feet away from the gripping device.

11. The gripping system of claim 10 wherein the airflow sensing line vents to the ambient environment within a cabinet which is at least five feet away from the gripping device.

20. The gripping system of claim 1 further comprising an airflow sensing line connected to the airflow sensing device, the airflow sensing line vented to an ambient environment at a location at least five feet away from the gripping device.

21. The gripping system of claim 1 further comprising an airflow sensing line connected to the airflow sensing device, the airflow sensing line vented to an ambient environment within a cabinet.

12. A gripping system of a food processing machine comprising:

a gripping device moveable between an open configuration and a closed configuration;

a compartment;

a piston disposed within the compartment for moving the gripping device between the open configuration and the closed configuration;

a pump; and

a plurality of lines, wherein at least two of the plurality of lines connect the pump to the compartment, and at least one of the plurality of lines vents the compartment to an ambient environment at a location which is at least five feet away from the gripping device.

13. The gripping system of claim 12 further comprising a valve connected to the at least two of the plurality of lines, at least one processor, and at least one memory in electronic communication with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one memory comprises programming code for execution by the at least one processor, the programming code configured to control the valve to alternatingly switch which of the at least two of the plurality of lines delivers air into the compartment and which of the at least two of the plurality of lines vents the air out of the compartment in order to move the gripping device between the open and closed configurations.

14. The gripping system of claim 13 wherein the at least two of the plurality of lines are connected to the compartment at locations which are on opposite sides of the piston.

15. The gripping system of claim 12 further comprising a cabinet, wherein the at least one of the plurality of lines vents air out of the compartment to the ambient environment within the cabinet which is at least five feet away from the gripping device.

16. A method of operating a gripping device of a food processing machine comprising:

sensing a change in airflow with an airflow sensing device that senses the change in airflow without sensing air pressure; and

automatically moving the gripping device between an open and a closed configuration when the change in the airflow is sensed by the airflow sensing device.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising a food product forcing a plate to move between an extended position and a compressed position causing the change in the airflow.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising automatically switching which of first and second lines delivers air into a compartment and which of the first and second lines vents the air out of the compartment when the airflow sensing device senses the change in the airflow.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the automatically moving the gripping device between the open and the closed configuration further comprises when the first line delivers the air in the compartment the air forcing a piston within the compartment to move in one direction, and when the second line delivers the air in the compartment the air forcing the piston within the compartment to move in an opposite direction.

22. The method of claim 16 further comprising venting air in a compartment to an ambient environment, through an airflow sensing line connected to an airflow sensing device, at a location which is at least five feet away from a gripping device.

23. The method of claim 16 further comprising venting air in a compartment to an ambient environment, through an airflow sensing line connected to an airflow sensing device, within a cabinet.