Case packing robot

• US 7,474,072 B1
• Filed: 10/27/2006
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AMF Automation Technologies LLC (Markel Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bakery Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Parnell, Geoffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Masih; Karen
• Application Number:
  US11/589,009
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 318/568.11, 318/568.12, 318/568.21, 901/27, 901/30, 702/150
• US Class Current: 318/568.11
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1065 with parallelograms
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 57/03 from above

Abstract

A case packing robot comprising a two dimensional articulated robot suspended from the top of a Cartesian gantry-type frame enclosure. All drive motors are fixed to the Cartesian gantry-type enclosure and all packing operations take place within the confines of the gantry frame structure that defines the operating envelope. Such a “hybrid” robot uses an open framework and all slanted or slantable surfaces that are easily sanitized thus providing all of the sanitary advantages of the most desirable articulating robots while supplying many of the operational and maintenance advantages of a Cartesian gantry-type robot, especially the ability to reach down into a packing container.

Claims

1. A case packing robot comprising:

a. a frame having a top, a bottom and vertical sides all defining an operating envelope;

b. two servo motors mounted to said top;

c. a two dimensional articulated robot suspended from said top inside of said operating envelope comprising;

i. a first arm having a first end proximate one of said servo motors and a remote end;

ii. a second arm having a first end proximate said remote end of said first arm and a second end remote from said remote end of said first arm;

iii. first and second first arm tie rods; and

iv. first and second arm tie rods; and

v. an end effector;

said first and second first arm tie rods connected to one of said servo motors so as to impart vertical movement of said first arm, and said first and second second arm tie rods connected to the other of said servo motors so as to impart horizontal movement of said second arm and product and said end effector attached to said remote end of said second arm.

2. The case packing robot of claim 1 wherein said second arm is offset.

3. The case packing robot of claim 2 further including utility lines within the space provided by said second arm offset.

4. The case packing robot of claim 1 wherein both of said servo motors are co-axial.

5. The case packing robot of claim 1 wherein said servo motors as both located on the same side of said first arm in staggered relationship.

6. A case packing robot comprising:

A) a frame having a top, a bottom and vertical sides all defining an operating envelope;

D) first and second servo motors mounted to said top; and

E) a two dimensional articulated robot suspended from said top inside of said operating envelope attached to and driven by said servo motors and including;

I) a generally horizontal first arm proximate said top having a first arm first end and first arm second end, driven by said first servo motor and attached to said first servo motor at said first arm first end;

II) a generally vertical second arm having a second arm first end attached to said first arm second end and a distal end, driven by said second servo motor imparting vertical movement; and

III) an end effector attached to said second arm distal end;

wherein said first arm imparts vertical movement to said end effector, said second arm imparts horizontal movement to said end effector and said second arm is offset.

7. The case packing robot of claim 6 further including utility lines within the space provided by said second arm offset.

8. The case packing robot of claim 6 wherein both of said servo motors are co-axial.

9. The case packing robot of claim 6 wherein said servo motors as both located on the same side of said first arm in staggered relationship.