Handling: hand and hoist-line implements – Grapple – Slideable jaws
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-05
2001-05-01
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 3652)
Handling: hand and hoist-line implements
Grapple
Slideable jaws
C901S037000, C294S082230
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224123
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gripper apparatus with a housing body and with at least two gripper fingers, which can be moved in a synchronized manner in the opening, or respectively closing direction.
2. Background Art
Gripper devices of this type are known in large numbers.
In accordance with EP 0 532 174 A1, the gripper fingers are guided by means of rods, which can be displaced in the housing and which also cause synchronization, and can be moved back and forth by means of piston rods, which enter cylinder chambers in the housing body. The stroke is short, compared with the structural chamber of the gripper device.
Gripper devices furthermore have become known, wherein the gripper fingers are moved apart, or respectively toward each other by means of base cheeks, which are arranged next to each other and are displaceable. This is disadvantageous in that it is necessary to provide angled end sections for the gripper fingers, if their gripping areas are to be aligned with each other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a gripper apparatus of the type mentioned at the outset which is inproved in such a way that it can be produced more cost-effectively and has a reduced structural chamber, so that the apparatus as a whole appears more compact.
This object is attained by a gripper apparatus of the type mentioned, which is distinguished in that respectively one control rod fixed on the housing extends away in the stroke direction in a respectively opposite direction from a center part, which is fixed in place on the housing, and engages a recess of a respective gripper finger constituting a cylinder chamber.
It is possible by means of the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention to considerably reduce the gripper chamber volume in relation to the work stroke of the gripper apparatus, and therefore the apparatus can be embodied to be more symmetrical, which has been shown to be advantageous from a manufacturing point of view. By means of the center part fixed in place on the housing, which absorbs forces being created when operating the apparatus, the kinematic properties of the gripper apparatus are also improved. The remaining components are stressed less extensively or not at all, and accordingly can be designed with a reduced wall thickness.
On its free end, the respective control rod advantageously has a fixed first sealing element, which is sealingly seated against the recess, against which the respective gripper finger can be moved in the stroke direction. In this way it is assured that the gripper fingers can be moved back and forth without a pneumatic or hydraulic medium, which is used in this connection, being able to escape.
It has been shown to be structurally simple and therefore advantageous that the respective control rod has a first sealing element on its free end, which sealingly rests against the recess and against which the respective gripper finger can be moved in the stroke direction.
For opening the gripper fingers, a flowable medium is introduced into the cylinder chamber between the front face of a respective control rod and the bottom of the recess, in order to move the gripper finger with respect to the control rod. To this end a feed line could be provided inside the gripper finger. In contrast to this, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention the control rod has a channel extending in its longitudinal direction for introducing the flowable medium into the cylinder chamber sealed by the sealing element. In this way it is possible to omit interfering hose connections to the gripper fingers.
It would be possible to evacuate the above described cylinder chamber for closing the gripper fingers, or the gripper fingers could be moved toward each other in another way, for example by providing a prestress. This is realized in an advantageous manner in accordance with a further concept of the present invention in that the recess of the gripper finger is sealed against the control rod by means of a second sealing element which, together with the gripper finger, can be moved against the control rod and delimits a control chamber between itself and the first sealing element. This control chamber is charged with a pneumatic or hydraulic medium for closing the gripper fingers, so that the second sealing element acts as a piston surface and moves the respective gripper finger in the closing direction.
In this case it has been shown to be advantageous if the second sealing element is maintained in the opening area of the respective gripper finger by means of a securing element.
In a very particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control rod has a second channel, extending in the longitudinal direction, which terminates radially outward into the control chamber in the direction toward the free end of the control rod ahead of the sealing element. This channel, or respectively the flowable pneumatic or hydraulic medium contained therein, is then put under pressure for closing the gripper fingers, and the other channel is made pressureless, so that the respective gripper finger can be pushed on the respective control rod.
In an advantageous manner the gripper apparatus can have a cover, extending over the control rods and the areas of the gripper fingers which are movable on the control rods, which can be fixed on the center part fixed in place on the housing. Preferably the cover can be easily removed and gives the apparatus a compact appearance.
According to a further development of the present inventive concept, the cover rests with its opposite front faces against the holding sections of the gripper fingers when the gripper apparatus is closed, i.e. when the gripper fingers are in their position where they have been moved toward each other.
For this reason it has furthermore been shown to be advantageous if in their closed position the gripper fingers rest against the center section fixed on the housing with their front faces facing each other. An unambiguous reference position is created by this.
Further characteristics, details and advantages of the present invention ensue from the attached claims and from the drawing representation and a subsequent description of a preferred embodiment of the parallel gripper in accordance with the present invention.
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Franz Michael
Übele André
Chin Paul T.
Fritz Schunk GmbH & Co. KG Fabrik fur Spann-und Greifwerkzeuge
Jones Tullar & Cooper P.C.
Olszewski Robert P.
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