Patent ID: 11992955

Abstract:
A spearing end effector for a robotic spearing device capturing and sorting a selected item from a mass of items and having a robotic manipulator with the spearing end effector mounted at an end thereof. The robotic spearing device comprises: a spearing end effector body; a spike; a linear actuator having the spike mounted thereon; and a propeller. The spike is configurable between a retracted configuration where it is entirely located inside the spearing end effector body and an extended configuration where it extends outwardly from therefrom. The spike is engageable to the selected item when configured in the extended configuration. The linear actuator is movable to configure the spike between the retracted configuration and the extended configuration. The propeller is selectively activatable to propel the selected item in a propelling direction during an ejection of the selected item from the spearing end effector.