Extensible manipulator unit
OwnerAl L. Valentine, Bernard Rinke +1inventors
InventorsAl L. Valentine, Bernard Rinke, Chester M. Wenzel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pair of clamping jaws for gripping a work piece are coupled by a link mechanism to a fluid operated piston and cylinder assembly which opens and closes the jaws. The jaws and cylinder are mounted on a unitary support having a cavity therein within which the cylinder is received. The jaws and link mechanism are mounted on a head which is slidably carried on the support by guide rods fixedly secured to the head. The link mechanism includes an overcenter link arrangement which locks the jaws in a closed, gripping position in the event that the cylinder fails due to loss of fluid pressure.
Claims4
Apparatus for manipulating a workpiece, comprising:
- a fluid operated motor having a reciprocable output shaft;
- means for gripping said workpiece, including first and second jaws shiftable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position;
- and
- means for drivingly connecting said gripping means with said output shaft, including
- (1) a mounting head having a generally U-shaped cross section defined by a base and a pair of sides extending outwardly from said base, said first jaw being pivotally mounted on said head,
- (2) a pair of spaced apart guides each having a way therein and being mounted on said base between said sides,
- (3) a pair of gibs slideably mounted in said ways,
- (4) a shaft extending between and connected to each of said gibs,
- (5) a block drivingly connecting said shaft with said output rod, said block being disposed between and spaced inwardly from each of said guides, and
- (6) means connected between said shaft and said first jaw for pivoting said first jaw upon reciprocation of said output shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.