Eletroadhesive gripping system with smart brake and metering
First Claim
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1. A system for metering a flow of a plurality of objects, the system comprising:
- an electroadhesive surface including a plurality of electrodes configured to apply electroadhesive force;
a controller configured to meter the flow of the plurality of objects across the electroadhesive surface by applying a voltage to one or more select electrodes of the plurality of electrodes that are in proximity to one or more objects of the plurality of objects, wherein a controller output to apply the voltage to the one or more select electrodes is triggered by object detection data from one or more of;
(i) a sensor detecting a presence of the one or more objects;
(ii) a control system which informs one or more of a measured weight, size, or other property of the one or more objects;
(iii) a rate of movement of the one or more objects or a different set of the plurality of objects;
or(iv) an acceleration of movement of the one or more objects or the different set of the plurality of objects; and
a processor configured to;
receive the object detection data, and output electroadhesive force application instructions to the controller based on the detection data, thereby metering the flow of the plurality of objects across the electroadhesive surface.
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Abstract
A system utilizes electroadhesive surfaces for braking and metering objects in an automated environment. An electroadhesive surface can include electrodes that are configured to induce an electrostatic attraction with nearby objects upon application of voltage to the electrodes. The systems described utilize various configurations of electroadhesive surfaces, sensors, controllers and programmable processors to create smart braking, capturing and metering systems for improved automated material handling.
34 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for metering a flow of a plurality of objects, the system comprising:
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an electroadhesive surface including a plurality of electrodes configured to apply electroadhesive force; a controller configured to meter the flow of the plurality of objects across the electroadhesive surface by applying a voltage to one or more select electrodes of the plurality of electrodes that are in proximity to one or more objects of the plurality of objects, wherein a controller output to apply the voltage to the one or more select electrodes is triggered by object detection data from one or more of; (i) a sensor detecting a presence of the one or more objects; (ii) a control system which informs one or more of a measured weight, size, or other property of the one or more objects; (iii) a rate of movement of the one or more objects or a different set of the plurality of objects;
or(iv) an acceleration of movement of the one or more objects or the different set of the plurality of objects; and a processor configured to;
receive the object detection data, and output electroadhesive force application instructions to the controller based on the detection data, thereby metering the flow of the plurality of objects across the electroadhesive surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification