Handling: hand and hoist-line implements – Hook – hoistline – or grab type – Locking device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-10
2002-05-28
Cherry, Johnny D. (Department: 3652)
Handling: hand and hoist-line implements
Hook, hoistline, or grab type
Locking device
C294S119100, C901S037000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06394521
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a gripper for use with robotic type tooling and more specifically to a parallel gripper having enhanced gripping power, accuracy and repeatability.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various types of grippers for use with-robotic type tooling or machines are known. Variations of the known grippers are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,593,948; 4,741,568; 4,874,194; 5,125,708; 5,163,729; 5,529,359; 5,572,915; 5,976,581 and 6,003,431. While the known grippers are operative for their intended purposes, efforts persist to obviate certain noted problems and/or to improve the operation thereof so as to enhance the accuracy and/or to provide for a more positive and/or enhanced gripping action while maintaining the parameters of the known grippers, i.e. in keeping within the physical limitations of the known grippers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to provide a gripper for use with robotic type tooling or machines capable of having an enhanced gripper force for positively retaining a workpiece.
Another object of this invention is to provide a gripper having means for enhancing repeatability of the movable finger carriers.
Another object of this invention is to provide a gripper with a relatively inexpensive and positive means for minimizing any play of the movable finger carriers to enhance the accuracy thereof.
The foregoing objects and other features and advantages, as will be apparent, are attained by a gripper having a housing provided with a piston or cylinder chamber having a piston reciprocally mounted therein, which is driven by means of a fluid medium imparting a fluid pressure on said piston to effect the reciprocation thereof. Connected to the piston is a piston rod having its free end operatively connected to a pair of pinion gears which are rotatably mounted within a gear chamber disposed adjacent. to the piston chamber. The arrangement is such that the piston rod extends through an opening formed in a partition or wall which separates the piston chamber from the gear chamber.
Journalled within the gear chamber are a pair of pinion gears which are operatively connected to the piston rod so as to oscillate in one direction or the other as the piston is displaced within the piston chamber in accordance with the direction in which the piston is being displaced by the pressure of the actuating fluid medium acting thereon. The connection between the piston rod and the pair of pinion gears is in the form of a toggle type linkage. The arrangement comprises a cross link fixed to the free end of the piston rod which extends into the gear recess. A connecting link pivotally connected to each end of the cross link is pivotally connected to the adjacent pinion gear so that when the piston rod is projected into the gear housing, the respective pinion gears are oppositely rotated in one direction and when the piston rod is shifted in the opposite direction, the pinion gears are oppositely rotated in the other or opposite direction.
Formed in the end of the housing is a cruciform transversely extending, guide way for accommodating a pair of finger carriers which are slidably mounted therein for reciprocal movement between an open and closed position. The respective finger carriers are provided with a rack disposed in meshing relationship with a corresponding pinion gear whereby the respective finger carriers are shifted between open and closed positions within the guide way in accordance to the direction of rotation of the pinion gears.
The cruciform guide way is formed so that the tolerance between the respective finger carriers and guide way are maintained to an absolute minimum on at least three contacting surfaces to minimize any play therebetween relative to the X, Y and Z axes thereof.
A cover plate having a pair of guide slots formed on the inner side thereof is provided to seal the gear housing. The cross link in turn is provided with a pair of guide pins arranged to be received in the respective guide slots of the cover plate so as to prohibit any flexing or deviation of the respective finger carriers so as to enhance the repeatability thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4304433 (1981-12-01), Langowski
patent: 4544193 (1985-10-01), Dunn et al.
patent: 4593948 (1986-06-01), Borcea et al.
patent: 4741568 (1988-05-01), Borcea et al.
patent: 4874194 (1989-10-01), Borcea et al.
patent: 5125708 (1992-06-01), Borcea et al.
patent: 5163729 (1992-11-01), Borcea et al.
patent: 5529359 (1996-06-01), Borcea et al.
patent: 5572915 (1996-11-01), Bertini
patent: 5967581 (1999-10-01), Bertini
patent: 6003431 (1999-12-01), Bertini
patent: 2263618 (1974-07-01), None
patent: 3325921 (1985-01-01), None
patent: 317989 (1989-12-01), None
patent: 1034894 (1983-08-01), None
Cherry Johnny D.
Fattibene Arthur T.
Fattibene Paul A.
Fattibene & Fattibene
LandOfFree
Gripper with enhanced gripping power accuracy and repeatability does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Gripper with enhanced gripping power accuracy and repeatability, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Gripper with enhanced gripping power accuracy and repeatability will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2884411