Patent · US Active

Systems and methods for gripping a component

US8162366B1 · kind B1 · utility

21Cited by

3References

20Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Western Digital Technologies, Inc. · US

Inventors

Jit Han Tan · Petaling Jaya, MY
Wai Khuen Yee · Ampang Jaya, MY

Key dates

Filing date	Mar 26, 2010
Grant date	Apr 24, 2012
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Oct 23, 2030

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG11B5/4813
WIPO fieldHandling
WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A gripper assembly is provided. The gripper assembly comprises an actuator and a plurality of gripper fingers. The plurality of gripper fingers are slidably mounted on the actuator. The actuator is configured to slide each of the plurality of gripper fingers along a respective radial path perpendicular to a central axis of the gripper assembly. Each of the plurality of gripper fingers comprises a body and a vacuum evacuation path defined within the body. The body is configured to couple the vacuum evacuation path to a vacuum source and to evacuate particles from a grip area of the gripper assembly via the vacuum evacuation path when a vacuum is applied by the vacuum source.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.