US 12,447,633 B2
High speed manipulation of non-uniform objects
Derek Wayne Robinson, Marcola, OR (US); and Kienan C. Brotherton, Eugene, OR (US)
Assigned to Emerging Acquisitions, LLC, Eugene, OR (US)
Filed by Emerging Acquisitions, LLC, Eugene, OR (US)
Filed on May 7, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/657,573.
Application 18/657,573 is a division of application No. 18/488,033, filed on Oct. 17, 2023.
Application 18/488,033 is a division of application No. 16/890,497, filed on Jun. 2, 2020, granted, now 11,787,066, issued on Oct. 17, 2023.
Application 16/890,497 is a division of application No. 15/946,627, filed on Apr. 5, 2018, granted, now 10,668,630, issued on Jun. 2, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/548,817, filed on Aug. 22, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2024/0286296 A1, Aug. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. B25J 15/06 (2006.01); B25J 15/00 (2006.01); B65B 35/36 (2006.01); B65B 35/56 (2006.01); B65G 47/22 (2006.01); B65G 47/91 (2006.01); B65H 29/32 (2006.01)
CPC B25J 15/0658 (2013.01) [B25J 15/0071 (2013.01); B65B 35/56 (2013.01); B65G 47/22 (2013.01); B65G 47/91 (2013.01); B65G 47/911 (2013.01); B65G 47/917 (2013.01); B65H 29/32 (2013.01); B65H 2301/44514 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vacuum pick-up apparatus usable in a material handling system, the vacuum pick-up apparatus comprising:
a vacuum pump system operable for applying a vacuum air flow; and
a suction head including a flexible suction cup, the suction head operably coupled to the vacuum pump system and receiving the vacuum air flow from the vacuum pump system, wherein the flexible suction cup includes a flexible lip at a distal end thereof having a top surface and an opposite object-contacting bottom surface, the flexible lip including a plurality of offset radial segments disposed on the top surface thereof, wherein concavity of the flexible lip is actively controlled through application of a moment force to one or more radial segments of the plurality of offset radial segments, and wherein the vacuum air flow passes through the flexible suction cup and draws an object into contact with the flexible suction cup along the object-contacting bottom surface of the flexible lip.