Food-grade robotic gripper for automated production work cell

An automated food production work cell includes a robotic system that utilizes a food-grade robotic gripper to transfer individual food items. The robotic gripper is constructed using food-grade materials and includes finger structures that are linearly movably connected by linear bearings to parall...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors Keselman, Leo, Evans, Kent A, Stelzner, Laura, Sullivan, Laura L, Smith, Clinton J, Paulson, Christopher A, Choi, Nicholas L
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 03.01.2023
Subjects
CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES
CONVEYING
HAND TOOLS
HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
MANIPULATORS
PACKING
PERFORMING OPERATIONS
PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS
SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS
STORING
TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING ORTIPPING
TRANSPORTING
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Summary:An automated food production work cell includes a robotic system that utilizes a food-grade robotic gripper to transfer individual food items. The robotic gripper is constructed using food-grade materials and includes finger structures that are linearly movably connected by linear bearings to parallel guide rods and are independently driven by a non-contact actuating system to grasp targeted food items disposed on a first work surface, to hold the targeted food items while the robotic system moves the gripper to a second work surface, and to release the targeted food items onto the second work surface. Encoding and external sensing systems facilitate fully automated food transfer processes. Optional sensor arrays are disposed on tip portions of the finger structures to provide feedback data (e.g., grasping force/pressure). Two or more pairs of independently controlled finger structures are provided to facilitate the transfer of multiple food items during each transfer process.
Bibliography:Application Number: US202117389088