AUTOMATED ELECTROMECHANICAL GRIPPER FOR HANDLING A CONTAINER

• US 20200134961A1
• Filed: 12/31/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Drop Water Corporation
• Original Assignee: Drop Water Corporation
• Inventors: Edwards, Scott Paul
• Granted Patent: US 11,741,775 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/00 Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/02 Machines characterised by the incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/045 for filling flexible containers having a filling and dispensing spout, e.g. containers of the "bag-in-box"-type
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/16 Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/2835 applying and rotating preformed threaded caps for bottles or jars B67B3/20
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 7/182 power-operated
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/441 by reverse osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/10 as part of a potable water dispenser, e.g. for use in homes or offices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/10 with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/105 Heating or cooling means, for temperature and humidity control, for the conditioning of articles and their storage dispensers for food articles requiring a processing by temperature treatment or conditioning before they are ready for dispensing G07F17/0064

Abstract

The present invention is an automated electromechanical gripper for handling a container. In one embodiment, the gripper is used in an automated liquid dispenser. The gripper can grab a single container, remove the container from a nested stack of containers, and move the container in three directions (horizontally, laterally, and vertically).

Claims

1. An automated liquid dispensing device, comprising:

a lift plate;

a plurality of stacks of nested containers mounted on the lift plate;

a separator for separating a top container from one of the plurality of stacks of nested containers;

a gripper for grabbing the top container from the separator;

a motorized mechanism for moving the gripper in three dimensions;

a closing structure for receiving the selected container from the gripper and for closing a bottom flap of the top container;

a capper for removing a cap from the top container and for securing the cap back onto the top container; and

a filler for filling the container with liquid.