Patent ID: 11865727
Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A robotic picking assembly comprising:
a robotic manipulator;
a vacuum suction system configured to provide negative air pressure;
a picking assembly coupled to the robotic manipulator and the vacuum suction system, the picking assembly configured to pick up and release individual items, the picking assembly comprising:
a first suction cup assembly having a first flow rate, the first suction cup assembly comprising a first suction cup and a first mesh filter disposed in the first suction cup;
a second suction cup assembly having a second flow rate, the second suction cup assembly comprising a second suction cup and a second mesh filter disposed in the second suction cup, wherein the first flow rate is at least five times greater than the second flow rate, and wherein the second suction cup assembly is a center suction cup assembly; and
a third suction cup assembly having a third flow rate, the third suction cup assembly comprising a third suction cup and a third mesh filter disposed in the third suction cup, wherein the first suction cup, the second suction cup, and the third suction cup have a same diameter;
wherein the first flow rate, second flow rate, and third flow rate are different flow rates;
wherein the picking assembly is configured to move the first suction cup assembly, the second suction cup assembly, and the third suction cup assembly together; and, a controller configured to:
identify a first item;
determine one or more characteristics of the first item; and
determine that the item is to be grasped using the first suction cup assembly instead of the second suction cup assembly based at least in part on the first flow rate and the one or more characteristics.