Clamping-type holder
US4320914A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 9, 1980 |
| Grant date | Mar 23, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 9, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G47/90
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A clamping-type article holder is described particularly useful for clamping test tubes in a conveyor system, the holder comprising a sleeve axially movable within a housing from a first position to a second position, and a plurality of balls carried by the housing and adapted to project through openings formed in one end of the sleeve for clamping the article when the sleeve is in the first position. The latter end of the sleeve is formed with a cam surface effective, upon axial movement of the sleeve to the second position, to withdraw the balls from the opening and thereby to release the article. The holder further includes an electro-magnet effective, when energized, to retain the sleeve in the article-releasing position, which electro-magnet is incapable, when the sleeve is in the article-clamping position, of moving the sleeve to the article-releasing position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.