Tomahawk Holdings LLC gripper Patent (US20230292773A1)
US20230292773A1 · Tomahawk Holdings LLC
- Patent number
- US20230292773A1
- Applicant
- Tomahawk Holdings LLC
- Filing date
- 2022-09-26
- CPC class
- B65G47/90
- Pillar
- Muscle
A specialized robot gripper designed to handle and transfer stacked food patties from a conveyor to packaging equipment without damaging the product. It addresses challenges in automated food processing by providing reliable, non-destructive gripping for irregularly stacked or delicate items.
Claims
1. A robot gripper comprising a plurality of gripping elements configured to engage stacked patties on a conveyor. 2. The gripper includes mechanisms for precise positioning and release into packaging trays. Key independent claims focus on the gripper's ability to handle multiple stacked items simultaneously while maintaining product integrity.
Technical analysis
The patent describes an end-of-arm tooling system optimized for food industry robotics, likely incorporating vacuum, mechanical fingers, or hybrid actuation for gentle yet secure handling. It builds on prior art in conveyor-integrated robotics by improving stacking and transfer efficiency in high-speed production lines.
Commercial impact
Enables automation in meat/poultry processing plants, reducing labor costs and contamination risks. Potential for licensing in food packaging robotics, with applications extending to other delicate item handling in logistics and manufacturing.
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