Freeze holding device and process

Abstract

A gripping device for grasping and releasing articles by freezing and thawing water between a gripping surface and the article. The device includes a base plate, a mesh like gripping surface, a water passage to the gripping surface, a freezing element for freezing the water and bonding the gripping surface to the article and a thawing element for melting the frozen bond for releasing the article. The cooling and thawing elements use semi-circular tubing extending from the base plate and adjacent the gripping surface, through which are introduced a coolant for freezing the water and a heated liquid for thawing. Upon movement of the water via an atomizer to the gripping surface, coolant is introduced into the tubing to freeze the same. Upon freezing, the article and gripping surface become bonded. To release the article, the heated fluid is moved through the tubing so as to thaw the frozen bond.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.