Methods for gripping inserts
AssigneeFirst Data Corporation
InventorsBruce Bennett, Dave Butler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present application discloses gripping systems and various uses thereof. As one example, a gripping system including a gripping jaw and an extensible bar is disclosed. The gripping jaw includes two opposing members that are operable to grasp a gripped object between the opposing members. The system further includes a bar that includes an upper portion and a lower portion that are coupled via an extensible joint. A distance between the upper portion and the lower portion of the bar at the extensible joint is proportional to a distance between the opposing members when the gripping jaw is in a closed position. Various methods utilizing a gripping system similar to the aforementioned to select mailing inserts are also disclosed.
Claims10
A method for selecting inserts for insertion, the method comprising:
- providing a first holding location that is adapted to hold a stack of first inserts;
- providing a second holding location that is adapted to hold a stack of second inserts;
- providing a first gripping mechanism, wherein the first gripping mechanism includes:
- a first gripping jaw, wherein the first gripping jaw includes a first opposing member and a second opposing member, and wherein the first opposing member and the second opposing member are operable to grasp at least one of the first inserts between the first opposing member and the second opposing member at a first contact location;
- and
- a first bar coupled to at least the first opposing member, wherein the first bar comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion is coupled to the lower portion via an extensible joint, and wherein a distance from the upper portion to the lower portion at the extensible joint is proportional to the thickness of the at least one of the first inserts;
- providing a second gripping mechanism, wherein the second gripping mechanism includes:
- a second gripping jaw, wherein the second gripping jaw includes a third opposing member and a fourth opposing member, and wherein the third first opposing member and the fourth opposing member are operable to grasp at least one of the second inserts between the third opposing member and the fourth opposing member at a second contact location;
- a second bar coupled to at least the third opposing member, wherein the bar comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion is coupled to the lower portion via an extensible joint, and wherein a distance from the upper portion to the lower portion at the extensible joint is proportional to the thickness of the at least one of the second inserts;
- and
- wherein the first gripping mechanism and the second gripping mechanism are associated with a common rod.
A method for selecting inserts for insertion, the method comprising:
- providing a holding location that is adapted to hold a stack of inserts;
- providing a gripping mechanism, wherein the gripping mechanism includes:
- a gripping jaw, wherein the gripping jaw includes a first opposing member and a second opposing member;
- and
- a bar coupled to at least the first opposing member, wherein the bar comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, and wherein the upper portion is coupled to the lower portion via an extensible joint,
- advancing the gripping mechanism such that the gripping jaw moves toward the holding location with the gripping jaw in an open position;
- and
- closing the gripping jaw, wherein at least one of the inserts is grasped between the first opposing member and the second opposing member, and wherein the extensible joint adjusts itself to vary a distance between the upper portion and the lower portion of the bar as the gripping jaw closes, and wherein the distance from the upper portion to the lower portion of the bar at the extensible joint is proportional to the thickness of the at least one of the inserts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.