Traction device for picking or packing objects

Abstract

A traction device for use in picking or gripping or packaging objects. The traction device draws an object ( 4 ) into its interior. It comprises ( 16 ) a surface of deformable material, shaped substantially as a tube with an end portion turned inside-out, forming an opening to an interior and an actuator ( 6 ) for moving the surface to draw the object into the interior. The surface of deformable material may be a part of a fluid-filled ( 20 ) toroid body. The traction device can be used in combination with a bag ( 42 ) to bag an object.

1 . A traction device, for drawing an object into its interior, comprising: 
 a surface of deformable material, shaped substantially as a tube with an end portion turned inside-out, forming an opening to an interior and an actuator for moving the surface to draw the object into the interior.    
     
     
         2 . A traction device as claimed in  claim 1  comprising a tube of deformable material with an end portion turned inside-out.  
     
     
         3 . A traction device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein both end portions of the tube are turned inside out and joined to form a toroid.  
     
     
         4 . A traction device as claimed in  claim 1  comprising a toroid made from deformable material and providing the surface.  
     
     
         5 . A traction device as claimed in  claim 3  or  4 , wherein the toroid is filled with fluid.  
     
     
         6 . A deformable bag for use with a traction device as claimed in any preceding claim formed from a water impermeable material and sized to fit, inside out, over the opening such that as the surface at the opening moves into the interior it draws the object into the bag and moves the bagged object into the interior.  
     
     
         7 . A deformable bag as claimed in  claim 6  sized to fit snugly, inside out, onto the body and cover the opening.  
     
     
         8 . A deformable bag as claimed in  claim 6  or  7  with an exterior or interior surface having surface irregularities which, in use, provide a frictional force between the exterior surface of the bag and the first and second movable surface portions of the traction device or the object to be collected.  
     
     
         9 . A deformable bag as claimed in any one of  claims 6  to  8  comprising adhesive so that when the traction device draws a bagged object into its interior, the bag seals.  
     
     
         10 . A traction device, for drawing an object at least partially into its interior, comprising: 
 a body having a length and comprising an opening at one end of its length, an interior accessible through the opening, a first flexible movable surface portion extending lengthwise at least from the interior to the opening and at least a second flexible movable surface portion extending lengthwise at least from the interior to the opening, wherein the first and second surface portions, as they extend from the interior diverge and form the opening; and an actuator for moving the first and second flexible movable surface portions at the opening together into the interior.    
     
     
         11 . A traction device as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the body comprises a tube of deformable material and the first and second movable surface portions are portions of a surface of the tube.  
     
     
         12 . A traction device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the first and second movable surface portions are portions of an interior surface of the tube, and an end portion of the tube is turned inside out.  
     
     
         13 . A traction device as claimed in  claim 11  or  12  wherein both end portions of the tube are turned inside out and joined to form a toroid.  
     
     
         14 . A traction device as claimed in  claim 10  or  11  wherein the body comprises a toroid made from deformable material, the exterior surface of the toroid providing the first and second flexible surface portions.  
     
     
         15 . A traction device as claimed in  claim 13  or  14 , wherein the toroid is filled with fluid.  
     
     
         16 . A deformable bag for use with a traction device as claimed in any preceding claim formed from a water impermeable material and sized to fit, inside out, onto the body and cover the opening such that as the first and second flexible movable surface portions at the opening move together into the interior they draw the object into the bag and move the bagged object into the interior.  
     
     
         17 . A deformable bag as claimed in  claim 16  sized to fit snugly, inside out, onto the body and cover the opening.  
     
     
         18 . A deformable bag as claimed in  claim 16  or  17  with an exterior and or interior surface having surface irregularities which, in use, provide a frictional force between the exterior surface of the bag and the first and second movable surface portions of the traction device or the object to be collected.  
     
     
         19 . A deformable bag as claimed in any one of  claims 16  to  18  comprising adhesive so that when the traction device draws a bagged object into its interior, the bag seals.  
     
     
         20 . A frictional traction device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         21 . A deformable bag, for use with a friction traction device, sized to fit, inside out, over the opening of the traction device and comprising material on the exterior and or interior surface of the bag having an irregular surface which, in use, provides friction between the exterior surface of the bag and the traction device and or the object being collected.  
     
     
         22 . A faeces collector comprising the traction device as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  5  or  10  to  15 .  
     
     
         23 . A system for faeces collection comprising the traction device as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  5  and at least one bag as claimed in any one of  claims 6  to  9  or the traction device as claimed in any one of  claims 10  to  15  and at least one bag as claimed in any one of  claims 16  to  19 .  
     
     
         24 . A medical prosthesis comprising the traction device as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  5  or  10  to  15 .  
     
     
         25 . A system for packaging an object comprising: 
 a fluid filled body comprising deformable material and having a substantially toroidal shape with an opening to the interior of the body; and    an attachable/detachable actuator for pulling the deformable material to draw an object through the opening into the interior of the body.    
     
     
         26 . A body of substantially toroidal shape for use in the system of  claim 25 .  
     
     
         27 . A packaged object comprising an object housed in the interior of a fluid filled body of substantially toroidal shape.  
     
     
         28 . A method of packaging an object comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a fluid filled body comprising deformable material and having a substantially toroidal shape with an opening to the interior of the body    b) placing the opening of the body over the object; and    c) moving the deformable material to draw the object into the interior.    
     
     
         29 . A method of picking, gripping or packaging an object or substance comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a body with a surface, shaped as a tube with an end portion turned inside-out, forming an opening to the interior of the body;    b) placing the opening of the body over the object or substance so that the object or substance touches the surface; and    c) moving the surface to draw the object into the interior.    
     
     
         30 . A method of bagging faeces comprising the method as claimed in  claim 29 , but further comprising, before step b) placing a bag, inside out, over the body so that it covers the opening.  
     
     
         31 . A method of manufacturing a traction device comprising the steps of: 
 forming a body by turning both the end portions of a tube of deformable material inside-out and joining the ends;    filling the body with fluid; and    attaching an actuator to the body.    
     
     
         32 . A traction device, for drawing an object into its interior, comprising: 
 a toroid body of deformable material having an opening to the interior and an actuator for rolling the surface of the toroid.    
     
     
         33 . A traction device as claimed in  claim 32  wherein the toroid body comprises fluid over which the surface rolls.