Gripper apparatus and method for containers of different sizes
US8910985B2 · kind B2 · utility
5Cited by
6References
15Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 13, 2013 |
| Grant date | Dec 16, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 13, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S901/38
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A gripper apparatus for removing and replacing objects such as containers or vials in an array of containers has a gripper head which extends downward from a support arm, a planetary gear assembly mounted in the gripper head including at least three planet gears, and at least one gripping grip extending downward from each planet gear and projecting beyond a lower end of the gripper head. A drive motor drives the planetary gear assembly to rotate the planet gears in opposite directions, moving the grips inward and outward along predetermined paths to grip and carry an object and release the object when in a desired location.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.