Automated mechanical gripper with universal gripping

An apparatus for automated gripping of a component in a work environment, which comprises:

• a first moveable gripper positioned opposite a second moveable gripper, each of the first and the second moveable grippers including actuatable pins arranged in an array, the arrays of actuable pins being in opposed relation to one another, the actuatable pins being movably attached to a backplate on each of the first and second moveable grippers to slide in an inward direction into respective apertures in the backplates when compressed by an inward force, the actuatable pins of the first moveable gripper being in opposed relation to the actuatable pins of the second moveable gripper;
• a device communicates with the actuatable pins via the back plates, the device adapted to maintain actuation of the actuatable pins in an outward direction from the backplates;
• and
• the first and second moveable grippers being connected to arms, respectably, and the arms being connected to a tool, the tool being adapted to move the first and the second moveable grippers and the actuatable pins, respectively, toward and away from each other, and the actuatable pins of the first and second moveable grippers being depressed inwardly when the first and second moveable grippers grasp an object therebetween.

A computer system for mechanical gripping of a component in an automated work environment, comprising:

• a processor set, a computer-readable storage medium, and program instructions stored on the computer-readable storage medium to cause the processor set to perform operations comprising:
• moving first and second moveable grippers in opposed relation to one another towards one another, each of the first and the second moveable grippers including actuatable pins arranged in an array, and the arrays of actuable pins being in opposed relation to one another, and the actuatable pins being movably attached to a backplate on each of the first and second moveable grippers to slide in an inward direction into apertures, respectively, in the backplate when compressed by an inward force;
• and
• in response to the actuable pins contacting an object between the first and second moveable grippers when the first and second movable grippers are moved toward each other to grasp the object, the actuatable pins contacting the object depressing inwardly into the backplates on each of first and second moveable grippers, respectively.