Manipulator for handling objects within a sealed chamber
US4850779A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 12, 1986 |
| Grant date | Jul 25, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 12, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB25J21/005
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A manipulator for handling objects within a sealed environment, such as an ultra-high vacuum chamber, is mounted on a port of the chamber so that an active portion of the manipulator terminating in a set of gripping jaws is located within the chamber, while an operating portion of the manipulator is located externally of the chamber. The gripping jaws are mounted at one extremity of a shaft for rotation through at least 360.degree. irrespective of whether they are in an open or closed configuration. The jaws are opened and closed from the exterior of the chamber by means of a sleeve which is axially slidable on the shaft by means of a drive ring located on the operating portion of the manipulator. The interior of the manipulator is sealed against the environment external of both the manipulator and the chamber on which it is mounted by a continuous sealing boundary, which has no sliding seals and is made up of a series of rigid sections interconnected by metal bellows units, these latter permitting the rotation and axial shaft and sleeve displacements required for jaw rotation and for opening and closing movements of the jaws. Further metal bellows units in this continuous boundary…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.