APPARATUS, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR HANDLING, POSITIONING, AND/OR AUTOMATICALLY ORIENTING OBJECTS

• US 20080131254A1
• Filed: 11/13/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Hi Bred International Inc (Corteva, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Hi Bred International Inc (Corteva, Inc.)
• Inventors: KURTH, DAVID, COPE, JASON
• Granted Patent: US 7,735,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/754
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/46 Means for holding or retaining the loads in fixed position on the load-carriers, e.g. magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0202 Agricultural and processed food products
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/044 Optical
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 37/005 comprising two or more co-operating conveying elements with parallel longitudinal axes the conveying elements being endless surfaces B65G15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/04 in the solid state, e.g. by cutting
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/28 Preparing specimens for investigation including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Qmounting specimens on microscopic slides G02B21/34; means for supporting the objects or the materials to be analysed in electron microscopes H01J37/20 ; laboratory gas handling apparatus B01L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0077 Testing material properties on individual granules or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00 Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0098 involving analyte bound to insoluble magnetic carrier, e.g. using magnetic separation magnetic particles used in immunoassays G01N33/54326; magnetic separation in general B03C

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatic positioning and/or orientation of an object. The method includes applying a substance or component to an object, or takes advantage of a substance or component already on or associated with an object. The substance or component has a characteristic that can be utilized to automatically attract the substance or component. That characteristic is used to position, move, and/or orient the object automatically, without requiring manual handling. The object can then be further processed or handled. In one embodiment, the substance or component is a magnetically active substance or component. The attraction can be actuated by a magnet.

Claims

1. A method of automatic orientation of an object comprising:

a. adding a substance or component to the object, the substance or component having a characteristic that can be utilized to automatically attract the substance or component; and

b. utilizing the characteristic to automatically position the object.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the substance or component comprises a magnetically active substance or component.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the magnetically active substance or component comprises iron-based paint or particles.

4. The method of claim 1 where the magnetically active substance or component is applied to the object to automatically orient the object relative to a reference position.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the reference position is correlated to a further operation relative to the object.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying steps a. and b. to at least a second object.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising automatically attracting each object serially.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising automatically attracting the objects concurrently.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the positioning is used in a manufacturing or assembly process.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the object comprises one of a part, a seed, or a package.

11. An apparatus for automatic orientation of an object, wherein said object includes or is adapted to include a substance or component having a characteristic that is automatically attracted by an attraction force and having a position on the object related to a pre-determined desired orientation of the object comprising:

a. an attracting device adapted to generate the attraction force; and

b. a translating device adapted to move said object into proximity of the attracting means or vise versa;

wherein said object can be automatically oriented relative to the attracting device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the attracting device comprises a magnet adapted to generate a magnetic field which can attract a magnetically active substance or component.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the magnet is one of a permanent magnet or electromagnet.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the magnetically active substance or component comprises magnetically active paint or particles.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 in combination with the object and wherein the magnetically active particles are held on the object by an adhesive.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 further in combination with the object and wherein the object comprises one of a part, a seed, or a package.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the translating device to move the object comprises a conveying system.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the conveying system comprises a conveyor belt with a plurality of attracting devices adapted to each attract an object.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the conveying system comprises a wheel with a plurality of attracting devices adapted to each attract an object.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 further in combination with the object and further comprising a means to separate the object from the attracting device.

21. An apparatus for handling and automatic orientation of one or more objects each of which includes or is adapted to include a substance or component having a characteristic that is automatically attracted by an attraction force and having a relatively consistent position on each object related to a pre-determined desired orientation of each object, comprising:

a. a conveying mechanism including a plurality of attracting devices each adapted to generate the attraction force to attract the substance or component and move said one or more objects at least between first and second locations; and

b. a feed mechanism adapted to serially present said one or more objects to the conveying mechanism;

so that each of said one or more objects is automatically and relatively consistently positioned and oriented when moved by the conveying mechanism.

22. An apparatus for handling and automatic orientation of one or more objects each of which includes or is adapted to include a substance or component having a characteristic that is automatically attracted by an attraction force and having a relatively consistent position on each object related to a pre-determined desired orientation of each object comprising:

a. a conveying mechanism including a plurality of attracting devices each adapted to generate the attraction force to attract the substance or component and move said one or more objects at least between first and second locations;

b. a feed mechanism adapted to serially present said one or more objects to the conveying mechanism; and

c. an operation station adapted to perform a function on any or all of said one or more objects;

so that each of said one or more objects is automatically and relatively consistently positioned and oriented when moved by the conveying mechanism to the operation station.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the operation station comprises a tool, a cutting device, an assembly system, a packaging system, a robot, or an inspection system.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the substance or component comprises a magnetically active substance or component and the attraction devices comprise magnets adapted to generate a magnetic attraction force.

24. An apparatus for automatic orientation of one or more objects each of which includes or is adapted to include a substance or component having a characteristic that is automatically attracted by an attraction force and having a relatively consistent position on each object related to a pre-determined desired orientation of each object comprising:

a. an orientation mechanism including a plurality of attracting devices each adapted to generate the attraction force to attract the substance or component and said one or more objects;

so that each of the said one or more objects is automatically, concurrently, and relatively consistently positioned and oriented when attracted to the orientation mechanism.