Systems and methods for gripping a component
AssigneeWestern Digital Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJit Han Tan, Wai Khuen Yee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gripper assembly is provided. The gripper assembly comprises an actuator and a plurality of gripper fingers. The plurality of gripper fingers are slidably mounted on the actuator. The actuator is configured to slide each of the plurality of gripper fingers along a respective radial path perpendicular to a central axis of the gripper assembly. Each of the plurality of gripper fingers comprises a body and a vacuum evacuation path defined within the body. The body is configured to couple the vacuum evacuation path to a vacuum source and to evacuate particles from a grip area of the gripper assembly via the vacuum evacuation path when a vacuum is applied by the vacuum source.
Claims20
A gripper assembly comprising:
- an actuator;
- and
- a plurality of gripper fingers slidably mounted on the actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to slide each of the plurality of gripper fingers along a respective radial path perpendicular to a central axis of the gripper assembly,
- wherein each of the plurality of gripper fingers comprises:
- a body;
- and
- a vacuum evacuation path defined within the body,
- wherein the body is configured to couple the vacuum evacuation path to a vacuum source and to evacuate particles from a grip area of the gripper assembly via the vacuum evacuation path when a vacuum is applied by the vacuum source.
A method for gripping a component, the method comprising:
- actuating a plurality of gripper fingers of a gripper assembly along respective radial paths perpendicular to a central axis of the gripper assembly to engage a component;
- and
- applying a vacuum to a vacuum evacuation path defined in a body of each of the plurality of gripper fingers to evacuate particles from a grip area of the gripper assembly.
A gripper assembly comprising:
- a pneumatic actuator;
- three gripper fingers slidably mounted on the pneumatic actuator, wherein the pneumatic actuator is configured to slide each of the three gripper fingers along a respective radial path perpendicular to a central axis of the gripper assembly, wherein the respective radial paths are equally spaced around a perimeter of the gripper assembly, and wherein each of the three gripper fingers comprises:
- a body;
- a vacuum evacuation path defined within the body, wherein the vacuum evacuation path comprises an intake port arranged on an inward-facing surface of the body and an exhaust port;
- and
- a fitting attached to the exhaust port of the vacuum evacuation path,
- wherein the fittings are configured to be coupled to a vacuum source to evacuate particles from a grip area of the gripper assembly via the vacuum evacuation paths when a vacuum is applied by the vacuum source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.