Load retainer assembly and retaining apparatus
US5988718A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 30, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 23, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 30, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB66C1/0256
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A load retainer assembly includes a pair of lower and upper plates pivotably mounted on a main shaft, and an inverting mechanism provided between the lower and upper plates that, as the lower plate is driven to pivot, causes the upper plate to pivot in the opposite direction to the pivoting direction of the lower plate. The load retainer assembly further includes a first retaining member for interconnecting distal end portions of a pair of links pivotably connected to one end of the lower plate and one end of the upper plate, respectively, and a second retaining member for interconnecting distal end portions of another pair of links pivotably connected to the other end of the lower plate and the other end of the upper plate, respectively. A suction pad is attached to each of the retaining members to retain a load by suction. The first and second retaining members are movable toward and away from each other by causing the upper plate to pivot in the opposite direction to the pivoting direction of the lower plate, and with this arrangement the load retainer assembly can be moved between folded and unfolded positions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.