# US 4,395,069 A · Pincers-type gripper for seizing objects and gripping head equipped with such grippers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,395,069 A - Document ID: US4395069A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/290,506 - Filed: 1981-08-06 - Granted: 1983-07-26 - Earliest claimed: 1980-09-30 - Assignees: E. P. Remy et Cie - Inventors: Gerard Lebret - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4395069A ## CPC - B66C 1/62: comprising article-engaging members of a shape complementary to that of the articles to be handled - B65B 21/12: using grippers engaging bottles, e.g. bottle necks - B65G 47/90: Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials - B65G 2201/0244: Bottles - B66C: CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES ({specially adapted for lifting invalids A61G7/10;} rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms, braking or detent devices therefor B66D; specially adapted for nuclear reactors G21) - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract A pincers-type gripper for seizing bottles includes an operating rod provided with a pin extending transversely to the rod and each end of which is loosely fitted in an aperture provided in each jaw, each aperture including two internal cam surfaces contacting the ends of the pin to allow the jaws to be moved towards or from one another when the operating rod is actuated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gripper for seizing elongated objects such as bottles, the gripper comprising: stationary support means having a central axis extending between a clevis end portion and an opposite end; a set of jaws hingedly mounted in said clevis end portion, each jaw being rotatable between an open position and a shut position about a respective pivot axis spaced from and lying in a plane perpendicular to said central axis; an operating rod slidably disposed in said stationary support coaxial with said central axis, said operating rod having a first end portion extending between said jaws and a second end portion; an actuating member fastened to said operating rod adjacent said first end and extending transversely to said rod, each of said jaws having an aperture loosely receiving said actuating member, the actuating member having two lateral contact surfaces parallel to each other, and the aperture of each jaw having a planar opening cam surface and an opposed planer closing cam surface, said cam surfaces being non-parallel and extending at an angle such that said opening cam surface is parallel to the contact surfaces of the actuating member when the jaws are in the open position and said closing cam surface is parallel to the contact surfaces of the actuating member when the jaws are in the shut position; stop means fixed on said operating rod; and spring means disposed between the stationary support means and said stop means and urging the operating rod in the direction such that one contact surface of the actuating member bears against the opening cam surfaces of said jaws for urging the jaws to said open position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A gripper according to claim 1 wherein the apertures of each jaw are located between the respective pivot axis and said opposite end of the stationary support means. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A gripper according to claim 1 wherein at least portions of the cam surfaces of said jaw apertures are located further away from the central axis than said pivot axes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A gripper according to claim 3 wherein the spacing between the planar cam surfaces of each jaw decreases with increasing distance from said central axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A gripper according to claim 1 wherein said stop means is located adjacent to the second end of said operating rod, such that the spring means urges the operating rod away from the clevis end portion of the stationary support means. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A gripper head for seizing a plurality of containers such as bottles, the gripping head being equipped with a plurality of grippers according to claim 1, said gripping head further comprising: a frame having stationary plate means, the opposite end of the stationary support means of each gripper being fastened to said stationary plate means; second plate means movable within said frame for actuating the operating rod of each gripper; and means for moving said second plate means within said frame.