Apparatus for frictionally gripping the interior surface of a container during handling by an article transferring means

An apparatus employed with means for transferring open mouth containers, said apparatus comprising:

• a cup mounted to said transferring means, said cup having a hollow interior to provide a cylinder which is open at the bottom;
• a duct in said cup to connect said hollow interior to a controllable source of air pressure;
• post means mounted to said cup and extending exteriorly beneath the open bottom of said cup;
• a piston in said cup adapted to travel downwardly upon the application of air pressure through said duct;
• flexible means having a first portion secured to said piston, a second portion secured to said post means exteriorly of said cup and a central portion lying between said first and second portions;
• and
• means for urging said piston toward an elevated position within said cup;
• whereby upon application of air pressure to overcome said urging means said piston travels downwardly in said cup thereby expanding the central portion of said flexible means radially outwardly from said post means so as to frictionally grip the interior surface of an open mouth container which surrounds said post means exterior of said cup.

In an apparatus for transferring open mouth containers, said transferring apparatus being adapted for movement to a position withdrawn from a container, movement to a position overlying a container, movement to a position wherein at least an actuable means is partially lowered into the interior of a container for selective frictional gripping of the interior surface of a container and movement to a position of transfer for selective release of a container, the improvement in said actuable means comprising:

• a cup having a hollow interior to provide a cylinder which is open at the bottom;
• a duct in said cup communicating with a controllable source of air pressure;
• a piston in said cup adapted to travel downwardly upon the application of air pressure through said duct;
• post means mounted in a fixed position with respect to said cup, at least a section of said post means lying outside said hollow interior;
• flexible means having a first portion secured to said piston and a second portion secured to the section of said post means lying outside said hollow interior;
• and
• means disposed between said post means and said piston for urging said piston toward an elevated position within said cup;
• whereby upon application of air pressure to overcome said urging means said piston travels downwardly in said cylinder thereby expanding said flexible means radially outwardly for frictional gripping of the interior surface of a container and whereby upon removal of air pressure said urging means moves said piston upwardly in said cylinder thereby drawing said flexible means radially inwardly for releasing a container.

A gripping apparatus comprising:

• a downwardly opening cup;
• a post fixed to the center of said cup and depending therefrom, said post having a lower end beneath said cup;
• a piston in said cup;
• flexible means connected between the lower end of said post and said piston;
• and
• means for lowering said piston to expand said flexible means into a container gripping orientation.