End effector

摘要

An end effector for the packaging industry comprises has a frame, a bridge on top of the frame, a rack and pinion assembly, actuation rods, carrier assemblies, and vacuum ports. The rack and pinion assembly is configured to be operatively connected to a robot's rotatable shaft, and to the actuation rods. The actuation rods are fixedly connected to one or more of the carrier assemblies. As the robot's shaft rotates, the rack and pinion assembly is actuated, which actuates the actuation rods, which causes the carrier assemblies fixedly connected to the actuation rods to move longitudinally along the frame. Each carrier assembly includes a carrier block and at least one pick-up member. Each carrier block has at least one arm with a grabber to cooperate with an adjacent arm with grabbers of an adjacent carrier block(s) of the same subgroup.

主权项

1. An end effector comprising:
a frame; a plurality of carrier assemblies slidingly engaged with the frame and configured for longitudinal sliding movement along the frame, the plurality of carrier assemblies comprising a first carrier assembly, and a second carrier assembly; a first actuation device operably attached to the first carrier assembly and configured to move the first carrier assembly in a reciprocating motion; the first carrier assembly comprising a first carrier block having a first arm extending laterally therefrom towards the second carrier assembly, the first arm having a first grabber; and the second carrier assembly comprising a second carrier block having a second arm extending laterally therefrom towards the first carrier assembly, the second arm having a second grabber configured to engage the first grabber.