Adjustable gripper arm

A method of operating a collation machine of the type wherein a gripper arm is associated with an aritcle storage hopper for engaging and retrieving articles from said hopper, said method comprising the steps:

• (1) loading articles of a first thickness into said hopper;
• (2) operating said gripper arm to engage and retrieve articles from said hopper in a manner whereby prior to article engagement first and second jaws comprising said gripper arm are separable by a gap of a first predetermined distance, said first predetermined distance being related to said first thickness;
• (3) emptying said hopper;
• (4) loading articles of a second thickness into said hopper;
• (5) adjusting the size of the gap which separates said first and second jaws prior to article engagement to a second predetermined distance by displacing a jaw movement actuator relative to a drive shaft to which said gripper arm is affixed, said second predetermined distance being related to said second thickness, said adjustment being accomplished by displacing a bracket translatably mounted with respect to a drive shaft to which said gripper arm is affixed, said bracket being connected to one of said jaw members and the degree of displacement of said bracket being related to the size of said gap separating said jaw members;
• and,
• (6) operating said gripper arm to engage and retrieve articles from said hopper in a manner whereby prior to article engagement said first and secon jaws are separable by said gap of said second predetermined distance.

A gripper arm for selectively engaging and retrieving articles from a station proximate the gripper arm, said gripper arm having:

• a gripper arm housing having a first end and a second end;
• means at the second end of said housing for securing said gripper arm to a drive shaft;
• a first jaw member proximate said first end of said gripper arm housing;
• a second jaw member proximate said first end of said gripper arm housing, said second jaw member being selectively movable with respect to said first jaw member for the engagement of articles therebetween;
• an actuator mounted with respect to said gripper arm housing, said actuator being actuatable to a first position and to a second position;
• linkage means for connecting said actuator to said movable second jaw member whereby said movable second jaw is selectively moved toward and away from said first jaw member in response to the position of said actuator;
• confinement means for confining said actuator to a location within said housing, said confinement means being attachable to said housing by the engagement of first mating means provided on said confinement means with second mating means provided on said housing and,
• means for translating said actuator relative to said shaft, and wherein said confinement means confines said actuator to one dimensional motion.

A gripper arm for selectively engaging and retrieving articles from a station proximate the gripper arm, said gripper arm having:

• a gripper arm housing having a first end and a second end;
• means at the second end of said housing for securing said gripper arm to a drive shaft;
• a first jaw member proximate said first end of said gripper arm housing;
• a second jaw member proximate said first end of said gripper arm housing, said second jaw member being selectively movable with respect to said first jaw member for the engagement of articles therebetween;
• an actuator mounted with respect to said gripper arm housing, said actuator being actuatable to a first position and to a second position;
• linkage means for connecting said actuator to said movable second jaw member whereby said movable second jaw is selectively moved toward and away from said first jaw member in response to the position of said actuator;
• confinement means for confining said actuator to a location within said housing, said confinement means being attachable to said housing by the engagement of first mating means provided on said confinement means with second mating means provided on said housing;
• and,
• a translatable bracket having said actuator means mounted thereon, and wherein said confinement means has provided therein at least one bearing point which contacts said bracket.

A method of operating a collation machine of the type wherein a gripper arm is associated with an article storage hopper for engaging and retrieving articles from said hopper, said method comprising the steps of:

• (1) loading articles of a first thickness into said hopper;
• (2) electrically signalling an electrically-operated jaw movement actuator to enable said gripper arm to engage and retrieve articles from said hopper in a manner whereby prior to article engagement first and second jaws comprising said gripper arm are separable by a gap of a first and second predetermined distance, said first predetermined distance being related to said first thickness;
• (3) emptying said hopper;
• (4) loading articles of a second thickness into said hopper;
• (5) adjusting the size of the gap which separates said first and second jaws prior to article engagement to a second predetermined distance by displacying an electrically-operated jaw movement actuator relative to a drive shaft to which said gripper arm is affixed, said secodn predetermined distance being related to said second thickness;
• and,
• (6) electrically signalling said electically-operated jaw movement actuator to enable said gripper arm to engage and retrieve articles from said hopper in a manner whereby prior to article engagement said first and second jaws are separable by said gap of said second predetermined distance.

A gripper arm for selectively engaging and retrieving articles from a station proximate the gripper arm, said gripper are comprising:

• a gripper arm housing having a first end and a second end;
• means at the second end of said housing for securing said gripper arm to a drive shaft;
• a first jaw member proximate said first end of said gripper arm housing;
• a second jaw member proximate said first end of said gripper arm housing, said second jaw member being selectively movable with respect to said first jaw member for the engagement of articles therebetween;
• a solenoid actuator having a plunger which is actuatable to said first position when an electical signal is supplied to said solenoid and to said second position in the absence of said electrical signal;
• a linkage for connecting said actuator to said movable second jaw member whereby said movable second jaw is selectively moved toward and away from said first jaw member in response to the position of said solenoid plunger, said first jaw member and said second jaw member being separated by a gap of a predetermined distance when said actuator is in the one of said positions whereat said second jaw member is moved away from said first jaw member;
• a translatable bracket, said bracket having said solenoid actuator mounted thereon, said bracket being mounted relative to said housing in a manner whereby said bracket is translatable with respect to said housing to permit said solenoid actuator to be translatable in a direction coaxial with a major axis of said plunger comprising said actuator, said translation of said bracket enabling the adjustment of the magnitude of the predetermined distance associated with said gap and facilitating the accommodation of articles of differing thickness between said jaws;
• and,
• a guide member for confining said solenoid actuator to one dimensional motion within said housing, said guide member having two side panels and a front panel, said side panels having proximal portions thereof connected to said front panel and being essentially perpendicular to said front panel, said side panels having edges formed at distal portions thereof, said edges being bent with respect to said side panel whereby said edges are essentially parallel to said front panel, and wherein said housing has ridges thereon which are engageable by said edges of said guide member.