Handling: hand and hoist-line implements – Hook – hoistline – or grab type – Locking device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-16
2001-08-14
Cherry, Johnny D. (Department: 3652)
Handling: hand and hoist-line implements
Hook, hoistline, or grab type
Locking device
C294S119100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273485
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to automatic grippers having a body, at least two jaws, which can move linearly in opposite directions for their action of clamping and releasing a piece and at least one pneumatic piston for controlling the movements of said jaws by means of connection elements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the pneumatic grippers of the type mentioned above, the body and jaws are usually made of steel and have a rather complicated and difficult design which is created by means of machining. These grippers are inverted to create in the body a chamber for each control piston and for the guides for the jaws, and to provide complementary guide jaws for joining and sliding in the body. In addition, the mutual guide means between the body and jaws thus obtained are not always reliable and precise as desired.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to propose a pneumatic gripper with a simple and even economical design without the need for significant machinings, in which the guide means between the body and the jaws are highly precise, reliable and adjustable, and where the chamber for at least one control piston is defined directly by two heads inserted on opposite sides of the body.
According to the invention a parallel pneumatic gripper is provided with a body and at least two jaws that can move linearly in opposite directions for their closing and opening on a piece to be gripped and to be released. A pneumatic piston is provided for controlling the movements of the jaws by means of connection elements. The body and the jaws are formed by pieces of extruded elements made of aluminum or its alloys, which are finished by extrusion and are designed to be joined in a complementary manner. The pneumatic piston accommodates and is moved in a chamber that is defined by two heads that are inserted and are fixed to the opposite ends of the body.
Correspondingly and advantageously, the body and the jaws, which can be joined in a sliding manner, are formed by extruded elements that are made of aluminum or its alloys, respectively. The extruded elements may be obtained and finished directly by extrusion with a degree of precision and surface finish at least comparable to that which can be obtained, in the known embodiments, by machining on steel. Thus, specific restarts and machinings of the pieces intended to be joined are so eliminated. Moreover, the body on the one hand, and each jaw on the other hand, consist of a single piece, complete with related guide sections, without having to insert additional parts. Moreover, the surfaces of such extruded pieces may be subjected to treatment to increase their resistance to wear due to sliding.
The sections for guiding the pieces to be joined may be configured as desired and with a precision already when extruding the starting extrusions, and the body may be provided with molded terminal heads, which are structured to complete the body and at the same time to form a chamber for the pneumatic piston for controlling the jaws, without then having to machine such a chamber directly in the body.
Greater details of the present invention shall still become more evident from the description below with reference to the attached 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 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.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5529359 (1996-06-01), Borcea et al.
patent: 5595413 (1997-01-01), McGeachy et al.
patent: 5620223 (1997-04-01), Mills
patent: 5839770 (1998-11-01), Zajac et al.
patent: 6092848 (2000-07-01), Maffeis et al.
Bellandi Giuseppe
Maffeis Giuseppe
Cherry Johnny D.
Gimatic S.p.A.
McGlew and Tutle, P.C.
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