Material handling apparatus
AssigneeMatcon Limited
InventorEdward Piepereit
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to apparatus 1 for releasably securing the lid 2 of a receptacle 3 for removal or replacement of the lid, the apparatus 1 comprising means 6 defining first and second vacuum chambers 5,7, the second vacuum chamber 7 being adapted to contact and secure a lid 2 when a pressure drop occurs in said second chamber 7, the arrangement being such that creating of a vacuum in the first chamber 5 acts on the defining means 6 to create a pressure drop in the second chamber 7 without fluid flow between the chambers, the pressure drop being sufficient to secure the lid 2 for removal of the lid from the receptacle.
Claims12
Apparatus for releasably securing the lid of a receptacle for removal or replacement of the lid, the apparatus comprising:
- a first chamber defined by an upper member and a flexible lower member, a means for fluid flow into and from the first chamber whereby the first chamber may be pressurised or evacuated causing the flexible member to flex outwardly from or inwardly towards the upper member, respectively;
- a second chamber defined by the lid, a cylindrical member and the flexible member when the cylindrical member contacts the lid;
- whereby evacuation of the first chamber results in a pressure drop in the second chamber without fluid flow from the first chamber to the second chamber, or from the second chamber to the first chamber, the pressure drop being sufficient to secure the lid to the flexible member for removal of the lid from the receptacle.
Apparatus according to clam 1, further including means to move the apparatus once the lid has been secured, for removal and replacement of the lid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.