End effector with multiple pick-up members
DCFirst Claim
1. An end effector for use with a moving device, said end effector comprising:
- a) a frame;
b) a plurality of operational members configured for longitudinal movement on said frame;
c) an actuation mechanism connected to a first operational member of said plurality of operational members and configured and operable to move said first operational member from a first position to a second position;
d) a linking apparatus for linking said first operational member to a second operational member of said plurality of operational members said second operational member not directly connected to said actuation mechanism;
said actuation mechanism being configured and operable to move said first operational member from said first position to said second position, such that said second operational member is operable to be moved by said linking apparatus from a third position to a fourth position;
and wherein said actuation mechanism comprises;
i) at least one cam block having a cam slot in an upper surface of said at least one cam block said cam slot extending in a generally transverse direction that is generally orthogonal to the direction of longitudinal movement, said at least one cam block also being configured for longitudinal movement relative to said frame;
ii) a generally longitudinally oriented member attached to and extending between said at least one cam block and said first operational member;
iii) a rotary cam configured and operable for rotation about an axis that is generally orthogonal to said direction of longitudinal movement and said transverse direction, said rotary cam being configured for connection to a rotatable drive shaft that is also rotatable generally about said axis;
said rotary cam having at least one cam follower protruding from said rotary cam, wherein said at least one cam follower is configured and operable for movement transversely inside said cam slot of said at least one cam block and thus is operable to move said at least one cam block in a longitudinal direction during rotation of said rotary cam.
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Abstract
An end effector for use with a moving device has a frame and a plurality of operational members mounted for movement on the frame. The effector also has an actuation mechanism directly connected to a first operational member and is operable to move the first operational member from a first position to a second position, and from the second position to the first position. A linking apparatus is provided for linking the first operational member to a second operational member. The actuation mechanism moves the first operational member from the first position to the second position, and results in the second operational member being moved by the linking apparatus from a third position to a fourth position. The operational members can be pick up members for picking up items at one pitch and releasing them at a second pitch.
60 Citations
45 Claims
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1. An end effector for use with a moving device, said end effector comprising:
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a) a frame; b) a plurality of operational members configured for longitudinal movement on said frame; c) an actuation mechanism connected to a first operational member of said plurality of operational members and configured and operable to move said first operational member from a first position to a second position; d) a linking apparatus for linking said first operational member to a second operational member of said plurality of operational members said second operational member not directly connected to said actuation mechanism; said actuation mechanism being configured and operable to move said first operational member from said first position to said second position, such that said second operational member is operable to be moved by said linking apparatus from a third position to a fourth position; and wherein said actuation mechanism comprises; i) at least one cam block having a cam slot in an upper surface of said at least one cam block said cam slot extending in a generally transverse direction that is generally orthogonal to the direction of longitudinal movement, said at least one cam block also being configured for longitudinal movement relative to said frame; ii) a generally longitudinally oriented member attached to and extending between said at least one cam block and said first operational member; iii) a rotary cam configured and operable for rotation about an axis that is generally orthogonal to said direction of longitudinal movement and said transverse direction, said rotary cam being configured for connection to a rotatable drive shaft that is also rotatable generally about said axis;
said rotary cam having at least one cam follower protruding from said rotary cam, wherein said at least one cam follower is configured and operable for movement transversely inside said cam slot of said at least one cam block and thus is operable to move said at least one cam block in a longitudinal direction during rotation of said rotary cam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for moving a plurality of items comprising:
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a) a frame; b) a plurality of operational members mounted to said frame for movement generally in a longitudinal direction on said frame; c) an actuation mechanism mounted to said frame and connected to a first operational member of said plurality of operational members and configured and operable to move said first operational member longitudinally from a first position to a second position, and from said second position to said first position; d) a linking apparatus for linking longitudinally said first operational member to a second operational member of said plurality of operational members, said second operational member being not directly connected to said actuation mechanism; wherein said actuation mechanism comprises i) at least one cam block having a cam slot in an upper surface of said at least one cam block said cam slot extending in a generally transverse direction that is generally orthogonal to the direction of longitudinal movement and across said upper surface of said at least one cam block, said at least one cam block also being configured for longitudinal movement relative to said frame; ii) a connector connecting said at least one cam block and said first operational member; iii) a rotary cam configured and operable for rotation about an axis that is generally orthogonal to said direction of longitudinal movement and said transverse direction, said rotary cam having at least one cam follower protruding from said rotary cam, wherein said at least one cam follower is configured and operable to move transversely inside said cam slot of said at least one cam block and thus is operable to move said at least one cam block in said longitudinal direction during rotation of said rotary cam; said rotary cam being configured for connection to a rotatable drive shaft that is also rotatable generally about said axis; said rotary cam being configured and operable to rotate and thereby cause movement of said actuation mechanism and said actuation mechanism being configured and operable to move said first operational member longitudinally from said first position to said second position, such that said second operational member may be moved in said direction of longitudinal movement by said linking apparatus from a third position to a fourth position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A moving apparatus comprising:
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a. frame; b. an operational member configured for movement generally in a longitudinal direction relative to said frame; c. an actuator configured and operable to move said operational member from a first position to a second position, and wherein said actuator comprises; i) at least one cam block having a cam slot extending in a generally transverse direction that is generally orthogonal to said longitudinal direction, said at least one cam block also being mounted for movement in said longitudinal direction relative to said frame; ii) a connector connecting said at least one cam block to said operational member; iii) a rotary cam configured and operable for rotation about an axis that is generally orthogonal to said longitudinal direction and said transverse direction; said rotary cam being configured for connection to a rotatable drive shaft that is also operable for rotation generally about said axis; said rotary cam having at least one cam member, wherein said at least one cam member is configured and operable to move generally transversely inside said cam slot of said at least one cam block and thus said rotary cam is operable to move said at least one cam block generally in said longitudinal direction during rotation of said rotary cam, and thereby, due to said connector connecting said at least one cam block to said operational member, said rotary cam is operable to move said operational member generally in said longitudinal direction relative to said frame. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for lifting and transferring an item from a first location to a receptacle, said method comprising:
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a) moving a robot to position an end effector of a robot above said item; b) moving a first operational member of said end effector that is movable generally longitudinally using an actuator to a position directly above said item; c) lowering said end effector so that first operational member can pick up said item; d) raising said end effector; e) moving said robot to reposition said end effector above a receptacle; f) moving said first operational member with said actuator; g) moving said end effector toward said receptacle so that said item may be loaded inside said receptacle; h) releasing said item from said first operational member to load said receptacle with said item; and wherein said end effector comprises; I) a frame; II) a first operational member configured for movement relative to said frame generally in a first direction; III) an actuator operable to move said first operational member generally in said first direction from a first position to a second position; wherein said actuator comprises; i) a cam device having a cam surface oriented generally in a transverse direction that is orthogonal to said first direction, said cam device being configured for movement relative to said frame generally in said first direction; ii) a connector connecting said cam device to said operational member; iii) a rotary device configured to rotate about an axis of the rotary device and said rotary device being configured for connection to a rotatable drive shaft; said rotatable drive shaft being operable to rotate about a shaft axis; said shaft axis being configured generally orthogonal to said transverse direction and said first direction; said rotary device having at least one moving element; said rotary device being operable to be driven to rotate about said axis of said rotary device by rotation of said rotatable drive shaft such that; said at least one moving element is moved generally against and along said cam surface of said cam device to move said cam device generally in said first direction; and due to said connector connecting said operational member to said cam device, said at least one moving element is also operable to move said operational member generally in said first direction from said first position to said second position.
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23. A moving apparatus comprising:
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a frame; an operational member configured for movement generally in a first direction relative to said frame; an actuator operable to move said operational member from a first position to a second position relative to said frame, and wherein said actuator comprises; a) a first actuation device being configured and operable for movement generally in said first direction relative to said frame; b) a second actuation device being configured and operable for rotation about an axis that is generally orthogonal to said first direction;
said second actuation device being configured for connection to a rotatable drive shaft that is also operable for rotation generally about said axis;a connector connecting said actuator to said operational member; said second actuation device being configured and operable to rotate about said axis to move said first actuation mechanism said first direction, resulting in movement of said operational member; and
wherein;one of said first actuation device and said second actuation device comprises a cam surface oriented generally in a transverse direction; the other of said first actuation device and said second actuation device comprises an engagement element operable to engage said cam surface during rotation of said second actuation device about said axis; wherein said axis is generally orthogonal to both said first direction and said transverse direction, and said transverse direction is also generally orthogonal to the first direction; said second actuation device being operable to be driven to rotate about said axis such that; said engagement element is operable to move generally along said cam surface to move said first actuation device generally in said first direction; and due to said connector connecting said operational member to said actuator, said engagement element is also operable to move said operational member generally in said first direction from said first position to said second position. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A moving apparatus comprising:
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i) a frame; ii) an operational member configured for movement relative to said frame generally in a first direction; iii) an actuator operable to move said operational member generally in said first direction from a first position to a second position; said actuator comprising; a) a cam device having a cam surface oriented generally in a transverse direction that is orthogonal to said first direction, said cam device being configured for movement relative to said frame generally in said first direction; b) a connector connecting said cam device to said operational member; c) a rotary device configured to rotate about an axis of the rotary device and said rotary device being configured for connection to a rotatable drive shaft; said rotatable drive shaft being operable to rotate about a shaft axis; said shaft axis being configured generally orthogonal to said transverse direction and said first direction; said rotary device having at least one moving element; said rotary device being operable to be driven to rotate about said axis of said rotary device by rotation of said rotatable drive shaft such that; said at least one moving element is operable to move generally against and along said cam surface of said cam device to move said cam device generally in said first direction; and due to said connector connecting said operational member to said cam device, said at least one moving element is also operable to move said operational member generally in said first direction from said first position to said second position. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for manufacturing a packaged product comprising loading an item into a receptacle using a moving apparatus, said moving apparatus comprising:
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I) an end effector having a frame and at least one operational member configured for movement generally in a first direction relative to said frame; II) an actuator operable to move said operational member generally in said first direction; and wherein said actuator comprises; i) a cam device having a cam surface oriented generally in a transverse direction that is orthogonal to said first direction, said cam device being configured for movement relative to said frame generally in said first direction; ii) a connector connecting said cam device to said operational member; iii) a rotary device configured to rotate about an axis of the rotary device and said rotary device being configured for connection to a rotatable drive shaft; said rotatable drive shaft being operable to rotate about a shaft axis; said shaft axis being configured generally orthogonal to said transverse direction and said first direction; said rotary device having at least one moving element; said rotary device being operable to be driven to rotate about said axis of said rotary device by rotation of said rotatable drive shaft such that; said at least one moving element is operable to move generally against and along said cam surface of said cam device to move said cam device generally in said first direction; and due to said connector connecting said operational member to said cam device, said at least one moving element is also operable to move said operational member generally in said first direction from said first position to said second position, said method comprising; a) positioning said operational member above an item; b) using said operational member to pick up said item; c) raising said item with said operational member; d) positioning said operational member above a receptacle; e) releasing said item from said operational member to load said receptacle with said item; f) during at least one of (a) to (e) above, rotating said rotary device about said axis thereby moving said at least one moving element against said cam surface of said cam device and thus moving said cam device and said operational member in said first direction. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification