Articulable lifting attachment
AssigneeTw Dean Group Limited
InventorNeil James Beard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An articulable lifting attachment is provided for a mechanical articulated arm. The articulable lifting attachment comprises an attachment body, a clamping head and a drivable articulator coupling interposed between the attachment body and the clamping head. The clamping head is configured to provide two different clamping forces from different directions to ensure that irregular objects can be lifted safely.
Claims16
An articulable lifting attachment for a mechanical articulated arm, the articulable lifting attachment comprising:
- an attachment body having a mechanical-articulated-arm connector;
- a clamping head having a primary clamping element and a secondary clamping element, the primary clamping element comprising a pair of clamping jaws for applying a first clamping force to an object to be lifted, the secondary clamping element being activatable to apply a second clamping force in a different direction relative to the first clamping force;
- and
- a drivable articulator coupling interposed between the attachment body and the clamping head to permit relative articulation between the attachment body and the clamping head;
- wherein the pair of clamping jaws comprises a first arm having a first clamp portion and a second arm having a second clamp portion, the first and second clamp portions being actuatable relative to one another;
- wherein at least one of the first and second clamp portions comprises a rotatable clamping pad comprising a support portion aligned to an axis of rotation of the rotatable clamping pad and a gripping portion which is an angle relative to the support portion;
- and
- wherein each rotatable clamping pad is attached to a respective first or second arm via an elongate member about which the rotatable clamping pad is rotatable.
An articulable lifting attachment for a mechanical articulated arm, the articulable lifting attachment comprising:
- an attachment body having a mechanical-articulated-arm connector;
- a clamping head having a plurality of clamping element connectors;
- a drivable articulator coupling interposed between the attachment body and the clamping head to permit relative articulation between the attachment body and the clamping head;
- and
- a plurality of sets of clamping elements, wherein each set of clamping elements is releasably engagable with the plurality of clamping element connectors to selectably alter a clamping profile created by the clamping head.
An articulable lifting attachment for a mechanical articulated arm, the articulable lifting attachment comprising:
- an attachment body having a mechanical-articulated-arm connector;
- a clamping head having a primary clamping element and a secondary clamping element, the primary clamping element comprising a pair of clamping jaws for applying a first clamping force to an object to be lifted, the secondary clamping element being activatable to apply a second clamping force in a different direction relative to the first clamping force;
- and
- a drivable articulator coupling interposed between the attachment body and the clamping head to permit relative articulation between the attachment body and the clamping head;
- wherein two said pairs of clamping jaws are provided;
- and
- wherein the clamping head provides five points of contact with the object to be lifted, the two pairs of clamping jaws providing four of the points of contact and the secondary clamping element providing a further point of contact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.