Gripper with emergency release

A gripper for use in combination with a pin, the gripper comprising:

• a body extending along a body axis and having an axially open cavity in which the pin is engageable;
• jaws in the cavity, spaced about the axis, and radially displaceable between an inner holding position bearing radially inwardly on and gripping the pin and an outer release position in which the pin can be removed axially from the cavity;
• an actuating element in the body, engageable with the jaws, and shiftable between end positions corresponding to the inner and outer positions of the jaws;
• an actuator connected to the actuating element and energizeable to move it from one of the end positions into the other of the end positions;
• an externally accessible connecting or operating member on the chuck body;
• and
• an emergency release independent of the actuator, operable by the member, and directly connected to the actuating element for moving the jaws into the outer release position as the result of connection to or operation of the member.