Automated cage cleaning apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An apparatus for cleaning animal cage components comprising:
- a soil side robot having a robotic arm assembly for removing soiled bedding from at least one of said cage components, and placing said at least one of said cage components upon a tunnel conveyer for advancing said at least one of said cage components through a tunnel washing system;
an optical arranger robot system for detecting said at least one of said cage components exiting said tunnel washing system, and placing said at least one of said cage components upon a re-grip station;
a clean side robot for removing said at least one of said cage components from said re-grip station, and placing said at least one of said cage components on a rack, pallet, or fixture; and
said soil side robot has a robotic arm assembly having a base slidably mounted and attached to a substantially horizontal track on a stationary mounting section.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The automated cage cleaning system is comprised of a pair of robotic arms, a soil side robot and a clean side robot. The soil side robot is utilized for removing the dirty cage bottoms from a cart, rack, pallet, or fixture, emptying soiled bedding from the cage bottoms, and placing the cage bottoms on a conveyer leading to the tunnel washing equipment. The clean side robot is used to grip the clean cage bottoms, and place the cage bottoms on a cart, rack, pallet, or fixture. Additionally, the present invention comprises an optical arranger robot with vision processing for detecting, and moving skewed cage bottoms to a re-grip station. From the re-grip station, the clean side robot places the cage bottoms on a rack, pallet, fixture, or any other device suitable for holding a plurality of cage bottoms.
20 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for cleaning animal cage components comprising:
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a soil side robot having a robotic arm assembly for removing soiled bedding from at least one of said cage components, and placing said at least one of said cage components upon a tunnel conveyer for advancing said at least one of said cage components through a tunnel washing system; an optical arranger robot system for detecting said at least one of said cage components exiting said tunnel washing system, and placing said at least one of said cage components upon a re-grip station; a clean side robot for removing said at least one of said cage components from said re-grip station, and placing said at least one of said cage components on a rack, pallet, or fixture; and said soil side robot has a robotic arm assembly having a base slidably mounted and attached to a substantially horizontal track on a stationary mounting section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12)
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11. An apparatus for cleaning animal cage components comprising:
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a soil side robot for removing soiled bedding from at least one of said cage components, and placing said at least one of said cage components upon a tunnel conveyer for advancing said at least one of said cage components through a tunnel washing system; an optical arranger robot system for detecting said at least one of said cage components exiting said tunnel washing system, and placing said at least one of said cage components upon a re-grip station; a clean side robot having a robotic arm assembly for removing said at least one of said cage components from said re-grip station, and placing said at least one of said cage components on a rack, pallet, or fixture; and said clean side robot has a robotic arm assembly having a base slidably mounted and attached to a substantially horizontal track on a stationary mounting section. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification