Center expanding chuck
AssigneeThe Steelastic Company
InventorEric William Gorham
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for handling an object comprises a guide plate, a center hub rotatable relative to the guide plate, a plurality of slots disposed in the guide plate, and a plurality of arms each having first and second ends. The first end of each of the plurality of arms is coupled to the center hub, and the second end of each of the plurality of arms is coupled to an associated slot of the plurality of slots. Rotation of the center hub in a first direction causes the second end of each of the plurality of arms to move radially outward within the associated slot in an extended state. An outer surface of a first arm of the plurality of arms may be nested against an inner surface of a second arm of the plurality of arms in a retracted state.
Claims20
A system for handling an object, the system comprising:
- a guide plate;
- a center hub rotatable relative to the guide plate;
- a plurality of slots disposed in the guide plate;
- and
- a plurality of arms, each having first and second ends, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of arms is coupled to the center hub, and the second end of each of the plurality of arms is coupled to an associated slot of the plurality of slots,
- wherein rotation of the center hub in a first direction causes the second end of each of the plurality of arms to move radially outward within the associated slot in an extended state,
- wherein an outer surface of a first arm of the plurality of arms is nested against an inner surface of a second arm of the plurality of arms in a retracted state, and
- wherein the center hub is provided between the guide plate and the plurality of arms.
A method for handling an object, the method comprising:
- providing a guide plate, and a plurality of slots disposed in the guide plate;
- coupling first ends of a plurality of arms to a center hub, and coupling second ends of the plurality of arms to an associated slot of the plurality of slots;
- nesting an outer surface of a first arm of the plurality of arms against an inner surface of a second arm of the plurality of arms in a retracted state;
- and
- rotating the center hub in a first direction relative to the guide plate to cause the second ends of each of the plurality of arms to move radially outward within the associated slots in an extended state,
- wherein the center hub is provided between the guide plate and the plurality of arms.
A system for handling an object, the system comprising:
- a guide plate;
- a center hub rotatable relative to the guide plate;
- a plurality of slots disposed in the guide plate;
- a plurality of arms, each having first and second ends, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of arms is coupled to the center hub, and the second end of each of the plurality of arms is coupled to an associated slot of the plurality of slots;
- and
- a rotary actuator aligned with the center hub, wherein the rotary actuator rotates the center hub in a first direction to cause the second end of each of the plurality of arms to move radially outward within the associated slot in an extended state, and further rotates the center hub in a second direction opposing the first direction to achieve a retracted state,
- wherein the second end of one of the arms lacks radial overlap with an angle formed in an adjacent arm in the retracted state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.