Patent ID: 7281739
Filing Date: 2007-10-16
Classification: B25J,B65G,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A material handling device for engaging and moving an object, said material handling device being attachable to a support assembly that is configured to movably support said material handling device, said material handling device comprising: a vacuum cup having a perimeter seal for engaging and substantially sealing at an object surface, said vacuum cup being attached to a swivel member; an object sensor positioned at least partially within said vacuum cup and directed generally toward an object engaging end of said vacuum cup, said object sensor being operable to sense one of a thickness of an object at said vacuum cup and a proximity of an object at said vacuum cup; a receiving collar having an aperture for pivotally receiving said swivel member, said swivel member having an outer surface that movably engages an inner surface of said receiving collar to allow multi-axis pivoting of said swivel member relative to said receiving collar; a post fixedly attached to and extending from said receiving collar, said post being generally parallel to and spaced from a generally central axis of said aperture of said receiving collar; a mounting collar slidably attached to said post; a biasing element at least partially along said post, said biasing element biasing said mounting collar along said post and away from said receiving collar; and wherein said mounting collar is configured to attach to the support assembly, whereby movement of the support assembly moves said mounting collar and said post to move said vacuum cup toward and into engagement with an object, further movement of the support assembly after said vacuum cup is engaged with the object imparts movement of said mounting collar along said post and toward said receiving collar, said swivel member of said vacuum cup being pivotable within said receiving collar so that said vacuum cup pivots as said material handling device is moved toward an object having a non-level surface and thereby pivots to engage the object.