Continuous Motion Article Arranging Sytems and Methods

摘要

A system, method and an end effector may arrange into a group two articles within a stream of articles moving spaced apart and in a line in a conveying direction on a conveyor. The system, method, and end effector may contact and slow the more downstream of the two articles and then contact the more upstream of the two articles without substantially slowing the more upstream article to form the group. The end effector may include a downstream stop portion for contacting at least one of the articles.

主权项

1. A system for arranging articles within a stream of articles moving spaced apart and in a line in a conveying direction on a conveyor, the system comprising:
an object manipulation device including a robot arm assembly with a first, proximal end mounted adjacent to the stream and a second, distal end having an end effector, the robot arm assembly movable and configured to form a group of two of the articles in the line together by contacting and slowing the more downstream of the two articles via the end effector and then contacting the more upstream of the two articles without substantially slowing the more upstream article so that the group moves with constant motion at the speed of the more upstream of the two articles and synchronized with the conveyor.