Automated glove application device

Abstract

A glove donning system for automated donning of gloves includes a robotic arm equipped with grippers configured to select a glove from a glove supply, a glove donning device configured to receive the glove from the robotic arm and prepare the glove for a user's hand, control system configured to control the robotic arm and the glove donning device, and one or more sensors in communication with the control system to provide real-time feedback and ensure smooth operation of the system.

1 . A glove donning system for automated donning of gloves, comprising:
 a. a robotic arm equipped with grippers configured to select a glove from a glove supply;   b. a glove donning device configured to receive the glove from the robotic arm and prepare the glove for a user's hand;   c. a control system configured to control the robotic arm and the glove donning device; and   d. one or more sensors in communication with said control system to provide feedback of the operation of the system.   
     
     
         2 . The glove donning system of  claim 1 , wherein the glove donning device comprises:
 a. a first subassembly including a plurality of arms supported between a stationary plate and a rotating plate to clamp onto the glove;   b. a second subassembly including a plurality of glove positioning fingers configured to wrap around the glove and open its cuff, allowing the user to insert their hand.   
     
     
         3 . The glove donning system of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second subassemblies are formed by radially arranged arms, which open and close to clamp and open the glove. 
     
     
         4 . The glove donning system of  claim 1 , wherein said glove supply comprises a compartment or rack with a plurality of gloves. 
     
     
         5 . The glove donning system of  claim 4 , wherein said glove supply includes carts and rails. 
     
     
         6 . The glove donning system of  claim 1 , further comprising an alignment stopper with a limit switch or sensor to ensure proper glove positioning. 
     
     
         7 . The glove donning system of  claim 6 , wherein the alignment stopper includes (1) at least one proximity sensor or (2) at least one proximity sensor and limit switches to detect obstructions. 
     
     
         8 . The glove donning system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor to detect a user's presence, wherein said control system initiates the glove application sequence upon detecting the user's presence via said sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The glove donning system of  claim 2 , wherein said first subassembly includes a plurality of glove opening fingers, said glove positioning fingers made of an elastomer material to allow movement of said positioning fingers around said glove opening fingers. 
     
     
         10 . The glove donning system of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator to change the angle of the glove donning device. 
     
     
         11 . A glove donning system comprising:
 a. two glove donning devices, each glove donning device of said glove donning devices configured for donning a glove onto a user's hand;   b. a housing with front panel forming two glove cavities, each glove cavity of said glove cavities aligned with a respective glove donning device of said glove donning devices; and   c. a control system to manage the operation of the glove donning devices and components.   
     
     
         12 . The glove donning system of  claim 11 , wherein said housing includes a frame and a panel with hinges to form an access door for access to an interior of said housing. 
     
     
         13 . The glove donning system of  claim 11 , further comprising a storage drawer with multiple glove storage receptacles for storing packaged glove pairs. 
     
     
         14 . The glove donning system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a. a selection gantry configured to select and transport a packaged glove pair based on user input to said control system;   b. a sensor to verify the correct orientation of a selected packaged glove pair;   c. a package opening device to remove packaging from the selected packaged glove pair.   
     
     
         15 . The glove donning system of  claim 14 , wherein said package opening device includes articulated grippers and a package cutter to remove the packaging. 
     
     
         16 . The glove donning system of  claim 14 , wherein said selection gantry includes a motorized gantry to pick up and transport the selected packaged glove pair. 
     
     
         17 . The glove donning system of  claim 14 , wherein the lift platform is operated by a motorized rail to position the gloves for subsequent manipulation. 
     
     
         18 . The glove donning system of  claim 17 , further comprising a glove manipulator gantry to retrieve gloves from said lift platform and position them in the glove donning devices. 
     
     
         19 . The glove donning system of  claim 18 , wherein said glove manipulator gantry includes a glove manipulator gripper configured to manipulate the glove from a flat horizontal position to a vertical open cuff position. 
     
     
         20 . The glove donning system of  claim 19 , further comprising a vacuum pump to inflate or expand the glove for easier donning by the user. 
     
     
         21 . The glove donning system of  claim 20 , further comprising a vacuum valve to switch airflow from said vacuum pump on or off to assisting in glove removal from the glove donning devices. 
     
     
         22 . The glove donning system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a. at least one user input device selected from the group consisting of (1) a touch display, (2) a microphone, (3) a pedal switch, and (4) an RFID reader; and   b. said control system managing said display and indicating system readiness and/or glove inventory status through one or more indicators.   
     
     
         23 . The glove donning system of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a. receive glove usage data including the type of glove used, the quantity of gloves used, and date and time stamps of when the gloves were donned, linked to the identity of the user;   b. collect user data from the RFID reader, touchscreen display, and microphone;   c. store the collected data locally within the control system;   d. transmit the collected data to a remote server for further review.   
     
     
         24 . The glove donning system of  claim 22 , further comprising a hand sanitizer dispenser actuated by a sensor to dispense sanitizer to the user's hand. 
     
     
         25 . The glove donning system of  claim 22 , further comprising a motion sensor to prevent unsafe actuation of the system when hands are inserted a user input device for example. 
     
     
         26 . The glove donning system of  claim 22 , further comprising a UV sterilizer to sterilize the components of the glove donning system.