Robotic gripping device

A robotic gripping device for gripping, manipulating, placing, and releasing packages of various shapes and sizes, said gripping device comprising:

• a fixed frame;
• a hold down plate operatively retained by said fixed frame in vertically displaceable relation thereto between a first raised release position and a second lowered hold down position;
• a moveable support platform having a first end and a second end, and being retained in load bearing relation by said fixed frame so as to be moveable in opposed first and second directions along an axis of movement between a first extended position where said moveable support platform is opposed to said hold down plate in spaced apart relation thereto so as to thereby permit the retention of packages therebetween, and a second retracted position where said moveable support platform is no longer opposed to said hold down plate so as to thereby no longer permit the retention of packages therebetween;
• at least one first roller member disposed at said first end of said platform for rotation about a first axis of rotation oriented generally transversely to said axis of movement of said support platform;
• at least one second roller member disposed at said second end of said platform for rotation about a second axis of rotation oriented generally transversely to said axis of movement of said support platform;
• a belt member operatively retained on said first and second roller members in looped relation therearound, said belt member having a package receiving portion that generally faces said hold down plate when said support platform is in its first extended position;
• and
• a securing member secured at one end thereof to said fixed frame and secured at its opposite other end thereof to a fixed end portion of said package receiving portion of said belt member, so as to thereby secure said fixed end portion of said package receiving portion of said belt member in horizontally stationary relation with respect to said hold down plate;
• whereby the segment of said package receiving portion of said belt member that is facing said hold down plate, remains horizontally stationary during horizontal movement of said support platform.