US 12,384,034 B2
Part manipulator for assembly machine
Sonny O. Osunkwo, Harrisburg, PA (US); Pablo Plascencia, Middletown, PA (US); Xianghao Bao, Shanghai (CN); Kellen Haile, Middletown, PA (US); Roberto Francisco-Yi Lu, Bellevue, WA (US); Swapnilsinh Solanki, Harrisburg, PA (US); Du Wen, Reading, PA (US); and Dongfang Zong, Shanghai (CN)
Assigned to TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH, (CH); and Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co Ltd, (CN)
Filed by TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH, Schaffhausen (CH); and Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Shanghai (CN)
Filed on May 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/326,106.
Prior Publication US 2024/0269848 A1, Aug. 15, 2024
Int. Cl. B25J 9/16 (2006.01); B25J 15/00 (2006.01)
CPC B25J 9/1669 (2013.01) [B25J 9/1661 (2013.01); B25J 9/1697 (2013.01); B25J 15/0028 (2013.01); B25J 15/0052 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A part manipulator comprising:
a robot arm movable in three dimensional space, the robot arm movable between a pick station and a place station;
an end effector coupled to a distal end of the robot arm, the end effector including a frame, a first clamp assembly coupled to the frame, and a second clamp assembly coupled to the frame, the first clamp assembly including a first part gripper configured to pick a first part, the first part gripper located a first distance from the distal end of the robot arm to pick the first part, the second clamp assembly including a second part gripper configured to pick a second part, wherein the second part gripper is movable relative to the frame in an actuation direction between a retracted position and an extended position, the second part gripper being located a second distance from the distal end of the robot arm in the retracted position, the second distance being less than the first distance, the second part gripper being located a third distance from the distal end of the robot arm in the extended position, the third distance being greater than the second distance, wherein the second part gripper is configured to pick the second part when the second part gripper is in the extended position.