Gripper mechanism for devices for handling objects in the form of sheets or plates, in particular for post processing machines

US6425617B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Pitney Bowes Technologies GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Martin Sting · Bad Vilbel, DE
• Christian Botschek · Rödermark, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 13, 2000
• Grant date: Jul 30, 2002
• Expiry date: Jun 13, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65H5/14
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

In a gripper mechanism for devices for handling sheet-like or plate-like articles, particularly for mail-processing machines, simple and reliable setting for the handling of light, thin and also heavy, thick articles can be effected by the use of pivotable gripper claws on the gripper hand provided at the end of a pivotable gripper arm, by virtue of the fact that a plane which is oriented approximately perpendicular to the gripper arm longitudinal axis, and in which the contact area between articles to be handled and a pivotable gripper claw also lies, is at such a distance in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the gripper arm from the pivot axis of this pivotable gripper claw that an additional pivoting moment acts on the latter in the closure direction, generated under the effect of tensile forces which seek to remove the articles to be handled from the gripper claws when these are closed, as a result of which articles of widely varying weight and varying thickness are at all times gripped securely.