SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FEEDING ARTICLES TO AND REMOVING ARTICLES FROM AN AUTOMATIC WASHER
First Claim
1. A handling system for introducing articles to a washer, the handling system comprising:
- a loading station for introducing the articles to the handling system;
a first conveyor for transferring the articles from the loading station to a first position; and
a second conveyor for conveying the articles from the first position to the washer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods, and devices for feeding articles to and removing articles from an automatic washer, for example, a tunnel-type automatic washer are provided. The systems and methods employ conveyors, for example, belt conveyors, gantry-type conveyors, and shuttle-type conveyors, for handling and conveying articles to or from a washer or an intermediate station. The conveyors utilize arm-end tooling adapted to grasp and manipulate at least one article, but may typically handle a plurality of articles. The arm-end tooling includes cylinder-based actuators that can be operated and controlled by an automated control system. The handling of the articles can be assisted by using a vision-based system. Aspects of the invention are suited for use in handling laboratory equipment, for example, utensils and containers, such as, laboratory animal cages, in particular, cage tops and cage bottoms.
18 Citations
65 Claims
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1. A handling system for introducing articles to a washer, the handling system comprising:
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a loading station for introducing the articles to the handling system;
a first conveyor for transferring the articles from the loading station to a first position; and
a second conveyor for conveying the articles from the first position to the washer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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- 3. The handling system as recited in clam 1, wherein the second conveyor comprises one of a gantry conveyor and a shuttle conveyor.
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8. The handling system as recited in clam 1, wherein the handling system further comprises an article emptying station.
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9. The handling system as recited in clam 8, wherein the article emptying station comprises one of a fluid emptying station and a solids emptying station.
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14. A method of handling and feeding at least one article to a washer, the method comprising:
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providing at least one article;
mounting the at least one article on a first conveyor in a first position;
conveying the at least one article from the first position to a second position;
grasping at least one article with a second conveyor; and
conveying the at least one article from the second position to the washer using the second conveyor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A handling system for removing articles from a washer, the handling system comprising:
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a first conveyor for conveying the articles from the washer to a first position; and
a second conveyor for conveying articles from the first position to a second position. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for removing at least one articles from a washer having a discharge position, the method comprising:
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conveying the at least one article from the discharge position to a first position;
conveying the at least one article from the first position to a second position. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. An arm-end tool for grasping at least one article, the arm-end tool comprising:
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a frame mountable on a conveyor;
an open rectangular housing pivotably mounted to the frame; and
means for gripping the at least one article mounted to the open rectangular housing. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A method of transferring at least one article from a first location to a second location using an arm-end tool comprising:
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a frame mountable on a conveyor;
an open rectangular housing pivotably mounted to the frame; and
means for gripping the at least one article mounted to the open rectangular housing, the method comprising;
positioning the at least one article in the first location;
locating the open rectangular housing around the at least one article;
gripping the at least one article with the means for gripping; and
conveying the gripped at least one article from the first position to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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59. An automated conveyor system for transferring articles from a first position to a second position, the system comprising:
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a conveyor having at least one beam;
an arm-end tool mounted for translation along the at least one beam, the arm-end tool having at least one set of opposing gripping arms;
a vision-based locating device; and
an automated controller for controlling the operation of the conveyor and the operation of the arm-end tool in response to the vision-based locating device to locate the articles in the first position and transfer the articles from the first position to the second position.
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65-68. -68. (canceled)
Specification