Nicholas Wayne Carter

US Patent:

20230014908, Jan 19, 2023

Filed:

Jul 18, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/866769

Inventors:

Nicholas Paul Carter - San Carlos CA, US
Mario Bogdan - Belmont CA, US
Craig Brinton - Belmont CA, US

International Classification:

B60P 1/42
B60P 3/00
B66F 9/075
B66F 9/06
B65G 59/06

Abstract:

Automated systems and methods for deployment of mounting tubs that support photovoltaic modules are provided in which a feeder assembly includes a screw thread assembly and a pivot arm. The screw thread assembly has at least one rotatable threaded component, and two such components in exemplary embodiments, positioned within the feeder assembly. The rotatable threaded component supports the stack of mounting tubs and rotates to separate the individual mounting tub from the stack of mounting tubs and lower the individual mounting tub onto the pivot arm. The pivot arm is configured to interact with an individual mounting tub and pivots to dispense the individual mounting tub onto a mounting surface. A sensor may be provided to detect the positions of the individual mounting tubs as they are moved, and a control system communicates with the sensor and the feeder assembly. The feeder assembly and a hopper holding the stack of mounting tubs may be mounted on an autonomous cart.