Handling: hand and hoist-line implements – Hook – hoistline – or grab type – Locking device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-16
2001-02-27
Cherry, Johnny D. (Department: 3652)
Handling: hand and hoist-line implements
Hook, hoistline, or grab type
Locking device
C294S119100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193292
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to the pneumatic grippers for pressing pieces in fixtures for automatic machine and/or manipulation operations, and specifically, it pertains to an improved pneumatic gripper with three jaws.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Self-centering pneumatic grippers are already known which essentially comprise a support body, between coplanar, equidistant jaws which are guided and can be moved radially in the body between a closing position and an opening position, and a pneumatic piston accommodated in the body at right angles to the plane of the jaws and having a rod intended to control, by means of elbow-shaped relay rods, the simultaneous radial movements of the jaws when clamping and releasing a piece.
In the known pneumatic grippers of this type, the support body is made of metal and usually comprises at least two complementary elements, which together delimit a chamber for the piston for controlling the jaws. At least one of the elements of the body must be machined in order to produce seats and various accommodations for the rod of the piston, the jaws, the elbow-shaped relay rods, the pins for these rods, etc., the entire unit making the embodiment of the gripper rather complicated and difficult and its assembly laborious.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to propose a pneumatic gripper having a simpler and more economic embodiment and easier assembly thanks to the adoption of additional supports obtained from moldings made of a plastic material, which are joined in a complementary manner with the body made of metal and which already have in themselves seats and accommodations at least for some functional components of the gripper.
Advantageously, since they are obtained from molding, the additional supports made of the plastic material may be produced with surfaces, seats and accommodations with a high degree of precision, eliminating, moreover, a lot of machining of the body, thus also reducing the production times.
According to the invention, a gripper is provided, which has a body and jaws preferably three coplanar equidistant jaws), which are guided and can be moved radially in the body between a closing position and an opening position. A piston is accommodated in the body at right angles to the plane of the jaws. The piston has a rod which is intended to control, by means of elbow-shaped relay rods, the simultaneous radial movements of the jaws when clamping and releasing a piece. The body has two superimposed, complementary elements, made of metal, and two additional supports which are molded and formed of plastic material. The plastic supports are placed and clamped together between the said two superimposed elements. The two additional supports together define at least one guide seat for the rod of the piston, an accommodation for a seal for sealing around the rod and the seats for the pins carrying the elbow-shaped relay rods.
An exemplary embodiment of such a gripper will be described below in greater detail with reference to the attached indicative and non-limiting drawings.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. dr
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1
is a sectional view of the assembled pneumatic gripper;
FIG. 2
is a lateral view of a partial section of the gripper of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a sectional view of one of the two additional separate supports; and
FIG. 4
is a sectional view of another of the two additional separate supports.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4607873 (1986-08-01), Nusbaumer et al.
patent: 4621853 (1986-11-01), Fink
patent: 4729588 (1988-03-01), Kratzer
patent: 4892344 (1990-01-01), Takada et al.
patent: 4913481 (1990-04-01), Chin et al.
patent: 6092848 (2000-07-01), Maffeis et al.
Bellandi Giuseppe
Maffeis Giuseppe
Cherry Johnny D.
Gimatic S.p.A.
McGlew and Tuttle , P.C.
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