초록 ▼

A dispensing apparatus for selectively dispensing articles from an inner cavity of a bin. The apparatus includes a pick-up head having a plurality of spaced suction cups which is moveably supported by a positioning assembly. The positioning assembly locates the pick-up head at various positions rela

A dispensing apparatus for selectively dispensing articles from an inner cavity of a bin. The apparatus includes a pick-up head having a plurality of spaced suction cups which is moveably supported by a positioning assembly. The positioning assembly locates the pick-up head at various positions relative to the inner cavity of the bin to retrieve randomly organized articles within the bin. The dispensing apparatus includes a vacuum control assembly which is coupled to a vacuum source for selectively applying a suction pressure to the suction cups of the pick-up head. The suction pressure attracts the articles stored in the bin towards the suction cups to retrieve an article from the bin to be dispensed. A sensing assembly is coupled to each of the suction cups to determine whether an article is attached to the suction cup. The vacuum control assembly is coupled to the sensing assembly to selectively apply and release suction pressure to the suction cups. When the sensing assembly senses at least one suction cup having an article attached thereto, the vacuum control assembly releases pressure to all but one designated suction cup having an article attached thereto to dispense a single article.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An apparatus for retrieving randomly organized articles stored in an inner cavity of a bin comprising:a frame;a pickup head having a plurality of spaced suction cups;a positioning assembly operably coupled with the pick-up head and moveably supported relative to the frame

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An apparatus for retrieving randomly organized articles stored in an inner cavity of a bin comprising:a frame;a pickup head having a plurality of spaced suction cups;a positioning assembly operably coupled with the pick-up head and moveably supported relative to the frame for selectively positioning the pick-up head relative to the inner cavity of the bin for retrieving articles;a vacuum source coupled to each suction cup for supplying suction pressure to each suction cup to attract articles stored in the bin towards the suction cups;means for sensing whether an article is coupled to each of the suction cups; anda vacuum control assembly for selectively supplying suction pressure from the vacuum source to each suction cup, the vacuum control assembly being operably coupled to the vacuum source and the means for sensing for selectively controlling suction pressure to each suction cup, the vacuum control assembly supplying suction pressure to each suction cup to attract articles to each suction cup and releasing suction pressure in response to the means for sensing having detected that at least one suction cup has an article coupled thereto, the vacuum control assembly releasing suction pressure to all but one designated suction cup having an article coupled therewith to dispense a single article.