US 12,304,062 B2
Part transfer system
James R. Kendall, Mt. Pleasant, SC (US); Paul D. Shaw, Seattle, WA (US); Raviendra S. Suriyaarachchi, Kirkland, WA (US); Santiago M. Mejia, Johns Island, SC (US); Samantha Eberhardt, Charleston, SC (US); Samuel J. Knutson, Charleston, SC (US); Brian S. Carpenter, Summerville, SC (US); and Byron J. Autry, Charleston, SC (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Sep. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/470,435.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/133,553, filed on Jan. 4, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0212352 A1, Jul. 7, 2022
Int. Cl. B25J 15/06 (2006.01); B25J 13/08 (2006.01); B25J 15/00 (2006.01); B64F 5/10 (2017.01)
CPC B25J 15/0633 (2013.01) [B25J 13/087 (2013.01); B25J 15/0052 (2013.01); B64F 5/10 (2017.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A part transfer system, comprising:
a movable support;
a plurality of arms coupled to the movable support;
an end effector coupled to each of the plurality of arms, the end effector includes a body and a plurality of dividers each coupled to the body, the plurality of dividers divides the body into a plurality of partitions, and the end effector includes a plurality of vacuum ports each in fluid communication with one of the plurality of partitions;
a vacuum source in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of vacuum ports, wherein each of the plurality of vacuum ports is configured to draw a fluid from the plurality of partitions to establish a vacuum between the end effector and a part that is engaged with the end effector, thereby securing the part to the end effector;
a kitting tray configured to receive the part; and
an indexing mechanism configured to align the end effector with a former and with the kitting tray.