Patent ID: 7018163

Claim:
A robotic implement for attachment to a robotic mechanism such as a robotic arm, and for qualifying stacks of generally flat items, said implement comprising: a) a first support barrier in the form of a first multi-prong fork, said first fork being adapted for insertion into the grooves of a pallet supporting the stacks; b) a second support barrier in the form of a second multi-prong fork, said second fork being disposed in spaced apart relation with said first fork and adapted for insertion into the grooves of a pallet supporting the stack; c) a third support barrier extending generally between said first and second support barriers and defining therewith a containment bay for receiving a stack of generally flat items, wherein said containment bay has an open end section disposed opposite of said third support barrier; and d) a qualifying assembly operably coupled to said implement comprising: i) a moveable first side wall to qualify stacks positioned in said containment bay by said first and second support barriers, said first side wall being moveable toward said first and second support barriers; ii) a second side wall disposed opposite of said first side wall; and iii) a third side wall that is substantially horizontal and positioned proximate to the open end of said containment bay opposite said third support barrier; wherein said first and second support barriers can be positioned substantially between said side walls and said stack qualified by movement of said first side wall relative to said second side wall.