Piercing element gripping apparatus
US5054831A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 7, 1989 |
| Grant date | Oct 8, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 7, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S294/907
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A gripping apparatus has at least two elongated piercing elements which slide in elongated collars or sleeves between open retracted positions and closed gripping positions. The piercing elements define an angle and they move toward the vertex of the defined angle when they move from the open position to the closed position. The orientation of the piercing elements and their path of travel are such that objects are reliably and securely held when the piercing elements are in their closed positions and positively released when the piercing elements are in their open positions. A sensor may be provided with the gripping apparatus to sense the presence or condition of the gripped object. The gripping apparatus is especially useful in grasping the root masses of plants for transplanting purposes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.