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US 4,607,196 AGranted
Lab bottle capper
AssigneeZymark Corporation
InventorsLouis Abrahams, Steven P. Carll
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A torque-sensing rotary tool for use in bottle-capping, and other such applications. The tool (10) is characterized by independent motors (30 and 40) means for gripping and rotating bottles or the like and a rotation-counter which forms means, with associated circuitry (FIG. 9), to determine when an object, e.g. a bottle cap, may be safely lifted by automatic machinery, e.g. by robot means.
Claims6
Unwinding apparatus for grasping and holding an object and rotating said object, said apparatus having
- a gripper assembly mounted for rotation on a turntable and comprising gripper means and an actuating means to open and close said gripper means;
- first motor means for rotating said turntable either clockwise or counterclockwise;
- a second motor means for moving said gripper means, acting through said gripper actuating means, between a closed position and an open position;
- a counter assembly forming means to count the number of revolutions made by each said motor means;
- and
- electrical motor control circuitry associated with at least one motor to form means to control said one motor in response to the amount of torque or pressure exerted on said object by said gripper actuating means on said turntable.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.