US 11,745,360 B2
Compliant inner lip on a vacuum gripper
James D. Wilson, II, Collinsville, IL (US); and Matthew Brandriff, St. Louis, MO (US)
Assigned to INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLC, Mason, OH (US)
Filed by INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLC, Mason, OH (US)
Filed on Oct. 19, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/74,178.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/928,698, filed on Oct. 31, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0129354 A1, May 6, 2021
Int. Cl. B25J 15/06 (2006.01); B65H 67/06 (2006.01); B25J 15/04 (2006.01); B66C 1/02 (2006.01)
CPC B25J 15/0683 (2013.01) [B25J 15/04 (2013.01); B65H 67/065 (2013.01); B66C 1/0206 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
gripping one or more types of packages using a suction device attached to an end of robotic manipulator, the suction device comprising:
a main body;
a lip assembly attached to the main body, wherein the lip assembly comprises:
an outer lip;
an inner lip; and
a collar attached to the main body that defines a first cavity into which a top portion of the inner lip is inserted and locked,
wherein a bottom portion of the inner lip in a second cavity and the outer lip are configured to grasp a package such that a surface of the package contacts an inner surface of the inner lip inside the second cavity, and
wherein a diameter of an inner surface of the main body is greater than a diameter of an opening formed by the inner lip of the lip assembly, and
wherein the inner lip is formed of a first material more flexible than a second material of the lip assembly surface.