Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods of manufacturing an article using electroadhesion technology for the pick-up and release of materials, respectively.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 9, 2018
Date of Patent:
May 24, 2022
Assignee:
Grabit, Inc.
Inventors:
Harsha Prahlad, Richard J. Casler, Susan Kim, Matthew Leettola, Jon Smith, Kenneth Tan, Patrick Wang, John Mathew Farren, Patrick Conall Regan, Po Cheng Chen, Howard Fu, Dragan Jurkovic, Aishwarya Varadhan, Chang-Chu Liao, Chih-Chi Chang, Kuo-Hung Lee, Ming-Feng Jean
Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods of manufacturing an article using electroadhesion technology, either as a sole modality of handling such materials or in concert with vacuum for the pick up and release of materials, respectively.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 9, 2018
Date of Patent:
December 21, 2021
Assignee:
Grabit, Inc.
Inventors:
Harsha Prahlad, Richard J. Casler, Susan Kim, Matthew Leettola, Jon Smith, Kenneth Tan, Patrick Wang, John Mathew Farren, Patrick Conall Regan, Po Cheng Chen, Honam Ko, Dragan Jurkovic, Aishwarya Varadhan, Tsung Tai Chien, Chang-Chu Liao, Chih-Chi Chang, Kuo-Hung Lee, TaeHoun Kim
Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods of manufacturing an article using electroadhesion technology, either as a sole modality of handling such materials or in concert with at least one mechanically actuated modality for the pick-up and release of materials, respectively. The mechanically actuated modality in one embodiment is configured as a netting configured to be placed over a contact surface of an electroadhesive plate to facilitate the handling of an object.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 9, 2018
Date of Patent:
April 27, 2021
Assignee:
Grabit, Inc.
Inventors:
Harsha Prahlad, Richard J. Casler, Susan Kim, Matthew Leettola, Jon Smith, Kenneth Tan, Patrick Wang, John Mathew Farren, Patrick Conall Regan, Po Cheng Chen, Howard Fu, Honam Ko, Dragan Jurkovic, Aishwarya Varadhan, Tsung Tai Chien, Chang-Chu Liao, Chih-Chi Chang, Kuo-Hung Lee, Ming-Feng Jean, TaeHoun Kim, Qingde Chen, Greg Miller
Abstract: Provided herein are solutions to automated material handling comprising systems that allow automated “each pick handling” without requiring the complexity of robotic grasping. Numerous examples of pre-configurable and reconfigurable transport containers, partitioning devices, and automated container configuration stations are described in addition to methods of use and associated material handling systems that utilize such containers. Further described are containers that are individually configured or customized according to specific lot sizes to more efficiently and optimally contain, store and distribute articles as a component of a picking system. Configurable containers or “totes” may be customized on a per-order basis to create optimally configured containers that maximize the use of space in a container, on a single-item-per-space basis, regardless of item quantity, size or volume, by customizing the size of each space within a container or tote.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 21, 2016
Date of Patent:
August 18, 2020
Assignee:
Grabit, Inc.
Inventors:
Harsha Prahlad, Susan Kim, Matthew Leettola, Steven J. Annen, Charlie S. Duncheon, Eric Winger, Robert Roy, Pat Bournes, Patrick Wang
Abstract: A system to sort packages or parcels into chutes includes a package and parcel transporting component with a plurality of zones, each coupled to an electroadhesive material. The package and parcel transporting component is operable to move the plurality of zones. The electroadhesive material includes electrodes to exert an electroadhesive force and dynamically electrically couple to be energized by an applied voltage on demand. The system includes a controller to determine chutes into which to release packages or parcels and determine zones associated with packages or parcels. The controller selects zones associated with the packages or parcels to transport or release packages or parcels. The controller operates the electrodes to alter the electroadhesive material in the zones associated packages or parcels to transport and release the packages or parcels to one or more chutes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 25, 2019
Date of Patent:
September 24, 2019
Assignee:
Grabit, Inc.
Inventors:
Harsha Prahlad, Matthew Thomas Leettola, Teh Kian Weng
Abstract: A system utilizes electroadhesive surfaces for braking and metering objects in an automated environment. An electroadhesive surface can include electrodes that are configured to induce an electrostatic attraction with nearby objects upon application of voltage to the electrodes. The systems described utilize various configurations of electroadhesive surfaces, sensors, controllers and programmable processors to create smart braking, capturing and metering systems for improved automated material handling.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 17, 2015
Date of Patent:
June 5, 2018
Assignee:
GRABIT, INC.
Inventors:
Harsha Prahlad, Charlie Duncheon, Steve Annen, Matthew Leettola, Jonathan Andrew Smith, Bobby Neil Roy