Handling: hand and hoist-line implements – Grapple – Fixed and moveable jaw
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-17
2001-05-08
Kramer, Dean J. (Department: 3652)
Handling: hand and hoist-line implements
Grapple
Fixed and moveable jaw
C294S099100, C198S803900
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227588
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gripper assembly for clamping a sheet material article such as a newspaper, a newspaper insert, a plurality of sheets or signatures, a magazine or the like that is to be transported by the gripper assembly.
Gripper systems are typically utilized by newspaper publishers for conveying newspapers, inserts or a plurality of sheets or signatures, hereinafter referred to as books, from one location to another. A gripper of that kind is known, for example, from European patent document EP 0 546 512 which describes a gripper assembly for clamping articles. The gripper assembly according to this document has a first and second clamp member where the second clamp member is able to pivot relative to the first clamp member where a coil or compression spring is compressed when the second clamp member is in its open position. To hold the second clamp member in the closed position it is necessary to provide a latch means. This latch means must be able to resist the torque that results from the entire clamp force. This configuration, however, suffers from its relatively inefficient clamping force. Furthermore, it is difficult to custom tailor grippers to specific applications and to create matched springs between right-hand and left-hand sides of the gripper.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved gripper assembly especially for gripping a plurality of sheets or signatures, newspapers, magazines or the like and further avoids a marking of the product.
A first aspect of the present invention is directed to a gripper assembly for clamping an article comprising a first clamp member mounted on a first shaft defining a first axis, a second clamp member, an actuator for pivoting said first clamp member relative to said second clamp member around said first axis from an open position to a closed position in which said gripper assembly is able to clamp an article, said actuator having a follower link being rotatably mounted on a second shaft defining a second axis different to said first axis, said actuator being coupled to said first clamp member by at least one guided compression spring.
According to another aspect of the present invention a gripper assembly for clamping an article comprises a plurality of first clamp members mounted on a first shaft defining a first axis, a second clamp member, a plurality of first actuators for pivoting each of said first clamp members relative to that second clamp member around said first axis independently from each other from an open position to a closed position in which said gripper assembly is able to clamp an article having a follower link and being rotatably mounted on a second shaft defining a second axis different to said first axis and where one of each of said plurality of actuators is coupled to one corresponding first clamp member by at least one guided compression spring.
A further aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for clamping an article with a gripper assembly comprising a first clamp member mounted on a first shaft defining a first axis, a second clamp member, an actuator for pivoting said first clamp member relative to said second clamp member around said first axis from an open position to a closed position in which said gripper assembly is able to clamp an article, said actuator having a follower link being rotatably mounted on a second shaft defining a second axis different to said first axis, said actuator being coupled to said first clamp member by at least one guided compression spring where the first clamp member is pivoted relative to said second clamp member around said first axis by said actuator from an open position to a closed position in which said gripper assembly is able to clamp an article, said actuator having a follower link being rotated about said second shaft, moving the center of a base spring shaft extending through a hole of said follower link along a continuous circle, continuously increasing the compression of a compression spring during the circular movement of said center of said base spring shaft and closing the gripper assembly by moving said center of said base spring shaft across a straight line between the center of the second shaft and the center of a spring boss shaft extending through a spring shaft boss mounted on said first clamp member.
The foregoing and other objects and the features of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description taken into connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3265429 (1966-08-01), Shatt
patent: 3614151 (1971-10-01), Shadle
patent: 5064187 (1991-11-01), Muller
patent: 5374093 (1994-12-01), Klopfenstein
patent: 5395151 (1995-03-01), Eberle
patent: 5871242 (1999-02-01), Whitney
patent: 0546512A1 (1993-06-01), None
Greenberg Laurence A.
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
Kramer Dean J.
Lerner Herbert L.
Stemer Werner H.
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