Nail removal system and method

A method of removing a nail having a head from a surface, the method comprising:

• providing a nail removal system including:
• a tube having an open end and a bore forming an inner surface, a plurality of fingers disposed in the bore and having a gripping portion extending through the open end of the tube, the gripping portion movable between an opened position and a closed position, the gripping portion biased laterally outwardly toward the opened position, the gripping portion configured to grip the head of the nail for removal of the nail when in the closed position, the plurality of fingers coaxially movable within the tube between a first position and a second position, the first position permitting the gripping portion of the fingers to be biased outwardly to the opened position, and the second position causing the gripping portion to be moved to the closed position by contact between the inner surface of the bore and the plurality of fingers;
• and
• a spring coupled to the tube and the plurality of fingers, the spring biasing the tube and the plurality of fingers towards one of the first position and the second position, wherein the nail removal system is coupled to a drill spindle;
• disposing the nail removal system adjacent the nail;
• moving the tube of the nail removal system from the first position to the second position, whereby the plurality of fingers grasp the head of the nail;
• moving the nail removal system away from the surface to remove the nail from the surface;
• and
• moving the tube of the nail removal system from the second position to the first position, whereby the plurality of fingers of the nail removal system release the head of the nail for disposal of the nail.

A nail removal system for a nail having a head, comprising:

• a tube having an open end and a bore forming an inner surface, wherein the tube is coupled to a robot, the robot having a controller configured to move the robot to a location of the nail;
• a plurality of fingers disposed in the bore and having a gripping portion extending through the open end of the tube, the gripping portion movable between an opened position and a closed position, the gripping portion biased laterally outwardly toward the opened position, the gripping portion configured to grip the head of the nail for removal of the nail when in the closed position, the plurality of fingers coaxially movable within the tube between a first position and a second position, the first position permitting the gripping portion of the fingers to be biased outwardly to the opened position, and the second position causing the gripping portion to be moved to the closed position by contact between the inner surface of the bore and the plurality of fingers;
• and
• a spring coupled to the tube and the plurality of fingers, the spring biasing the tube and the plurality of fingers towards one of the first position and the second position.

A method of removing a nail having a head from a surface, the method comprising:

• providing a nail removal system including:
• a tube having an open end and a bore forming an inner surface, a plurality of fingers disposed in the bore and having a gripping portion extending through the open end of the tube, the gripping portion movable between an opened position and a closed position, the gripping portion biased laterally outwardly toward the opened position, the gripping portion configured to grip the head of the nail for removal of the nail when in the closed position, the plurality of fingers coaxially movable within the tube between a first position and a second position, the first position permitting the gripping portion of the fingers to be biased outwardly to the opened position, and the second position causing the gripping portion to be moved to the closed position by contact between the inner surface of the bore and the plurality of fingers;
• and
• a spring coupled to the tube and the plurality of fingers, the spring biasing the tube and the plurality of fingers towards one of the first position and the second position,
• wherein the nail removal system is coupled to a robot, the robot having a controller configured to move the robot to a location of the nail;
• and
• disposing the nail removal system adjacent the nail, wherein the robot is moved to place the nail;
• moving the tube of the nail removal system from the first position to the second position, whereby the plurality of fingers grasp the head of the nail;
• moving the nail removal system away from the surface to remove the nail from the surface;
• and
• moving the tube of the nail removal system from the second position to the first position, whereby the plurality of fingers of the nail removal system release the head of the nail for disposal of the nail.