Gripper and gripping assembly
AssigneeMillitec Food Systems Limited
InventorDaniel Mark Whitear
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a gripper assembly for gripping a product. The assembly comprises first and second mounting members; an actuator for causing relative movement between the first and second mounting members; and a plurality of gripper members spaced apart about a primary axis. At least one the gripper members comprise a resiliently deformable body comprising a distal end and first and second connection formations spaced from the distal end and from each other, the first and second connection formations being connected to the first and second mounting members respectively such that an axial component of movement between the first and second mounting members caused by the actuator in use imparts a rotation of the distal end of each gripper member in a direction towards and/or away from the primary axis.
Claims25
A gripper assembly for gripping a product, comprising:
- first and second mounting members;
- an actuator for causing relative movement between the first and second mounting members;
- and
- a plurality of gripper members spaced apart about a primary axis, wherein at least one of the gripper members comprises a resiliently deformable body comprising a distal end and first and second connection formations spaced from the distal end and laterally spaced from each other, the first and second connection formations being connected to the first and second mounting members respectively such that an axial component of movement between the first and second mounting members caused by the actuator in use imparts a rotation of the distal end of each gripper member in a direction towards and/or away from the primary axis;
- wherein one of the first or second connection formations is attached to the resiliently deformable body by a bridge formation of reduced width, and the bridge formation extends in the lateral direction.
A gripper member for use in a gripper assembly, the gripper member comprising a resiliently deformable body comprising:
- a distal end;
- and
- first and second connection formations spaced from the distal end and laterally spaced from each other, the first and second connection formations being arranged to be connected to first and second mounting members of an actuation mechanism, wherein an axial component of movement between the first and second connection formations imparts a rotation of the distal end of the gripper member relative to the axis;
- wherein the first and/or second connection formation is attached to the resiliently deformable body by a bridge formation of reduced width, and the bridge formation extends in the lateral direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.