Traction device for drawing an object into its interior
OwnerGary Shuttleworthinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A traction device (102) for use in picking or gripping or packaging objects. The traction device (102) draws an object into its interior. It comprises a surface (16) of deformable material, shaped substantially as a tube with an end portion turned inside-out, forming an opening to an interior, and an actuator (6) for moving the surface to draw the object into the interior. The surface of deformable material may be a part of a fluid-filled toroid body (10). The traction device can be used in combination with a bag to bag an object.
Claims15
A traction device, for drawing an object into its interior, comprising a surface of deformable material, shaped substantially as a tube with an end portion turned inside-out and forming an opening to an interior, an actuator for moving the surface to draw the object into the interior, the device including a plurality of projecting members, which project from the surface to engage the object, the surface material including a the thinner regions being associated with the locations of creases formed when the surface moves into the interior.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.