US 11,945,100 B2
Systems and methods for providing high flow vacuum acquisition in automated systems
Thomas Wagner, Concord, MA (US); Kevin Ahearn, Nebo, NC (US); Benjamin Cohen, Somerville, MA (US); Michael Dawson-Haggerty, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Christopher Geyer, Arlington, MA (US); Thomas Koletschka, Cambridge, MA (US); Kyle Maroney, North Attleboro, MA (US); Matthew T. Mason, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Gene Temple Price, Cambridge, MA (US); Joseph Romano, Arlington, MA (US); Daniel Smith, Canonsburg, PA (US); Siddhartha Srinivasa, Seattle, WA (US); Prasanna Velagapudi, Pittsburgh, PA (US); and Thomas Allen, Reading, MA (US)
Assigned to Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc., Bedford, MA (US)
Filed by Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc., Bedford, MA (US)
Filed on Oct. 23, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/078,348.
Application 17/078,348 is a continuation of application No. 16/704,463, filed on Dec. 5, 2019, granted, now 10,857,682.
Application 16/704,463 is a continuation of application No. 16/124,982, filed on Sep. 7, 2018, granted, now 10,576,641, issued on Mar. 3, 2020.
Application 16/124,982 is a continuation of application No. 15/260,014, filed on Sep. 8, 2016, granted, now 10,118,300, issued on Nov. 6, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/262,136, filed on Dec. 2, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/215,489, filed on Sep. 8, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2021/0039267 A1, Feb. 11, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B25J 15/06 (2006.01); B25J 9/16 (2006.01); B25J 13/08 (2006.01)
CPC B25J 15/0616 (2013.01) [B25J 9/1612 (2013.01); B25J 13/085 (2013.01); B25J 15/0625 (2013.01); B25J 15/0658 (2013.01); B25J 15/0675 (2013.01); B25J 15/0683 (2013.01); B25J 15/0691 (2013.01)] 36 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for grasping and moving objects using a programmable motion device, said system comprising:
a high vacuum source for selectively providing a first vacuum pressure with a first maximum air flow rate at an end effector of the programmable motion device, wherein the high vacuum source comprises an elector coupled to a compressor;
a high flow source comprising a blower for selectively providing a second vacuum pressure with a second maximum air flow rate at the end effector, the second vacuum pressure being higher than the first vacuum pressure, and the second maximum air flow rate being greater than the first maximum air flow rate;
a release source for selectively providing a positive pressure air flow at the end effector of the programmable motion device;
a passive selection system comprising a non-return valve for passively selecting between coupling the end effector to any of the ejector of the high vacuum source and the blower of the high flow source responsive to changes in air flow at the end effector of the programmable motion device; and
an active selection system comprising a solenoid valve for actively selecting between coupling the end effector to either the release source or the non-return valve of the passive selection system.