Patent ID: 11884497
Assignee: ACCU-ASSEMBLY INCORPORATED
Field: Audio-visual technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  H | IPC B  H

Claim 21:
22. A component reel picking system, comprising:
a base configured to support a vertical stack of component reels;
a rod extending from the base and positioned to extend through aligned holes of a vertical stack of component reels supported on the base; and
a component reel pick assembly comprising
a controllably movable picking arm;
a plurality of tabs carried by the picking arm, the tabs spaced apart to receive the rod therebetween as the picking arm is lowered over a distal end of the rod, the tabs actuatable to engage opposite sides of the rod to align the arm and the rod with the picking arm lowered; and
a reel gripper carried by the picking arm and comprising two portions configured to receive the rod therebetween as the arm is lowered, the reel gripper operable to separate the portions to receive the rod, and then to narrow a gap between the portions to insert the portions into a top reel of a vertical stack of reels supported on the base, and then to expand the gap to grip opposing surfaces of the top reel, such that subsequent raising of the arm lifts the top reel from the stack.