Abstract: A workpiece gripper head comprises a body including side plates interiorly slotted on a longitudinal axis adapted to slidably support a selectively reciprocal rod end. A pair of opposed jaw assemblies are guidably mounted within the body and connected thereto for alternate inward and outward movements in a path at right angles to the axis. Each jaw assembly includes a pair of jaw plates having an angular cam slot and a pair of aligned guide slots at right angles to the longitudinal axis. A series of cam rollers upon the rod end are nested within the cam slots and additional rollers are mounted upon the side walls and nested within the guide slots whereby movement in the rod end in one direction moves the jaws towards each other and movement in the opposite direction moves the jaws away from each other.

Abstract: In a vacuum cup assembly including a body having a vacuum chamber and a vacuum cup communicating with the vacuum chamber for supporting a workpiece, a venturi jet connected to a source of pressurized air and the vacuum chamber and an air outlet, there is provided an air blow-off silencer having an inlet mounted upon the air outlet, an intermediate apertured web and a silencer chamber containing an air silencer assembly. A poppet valve is guidably positioned within the web having an advanced rest position and retractable relative to a pressure chamber in the web to an air blocking position. Application of pressurized air to the pressure chamber moves the poppet valve to close the air outlet of the vacuum cup assembly, the pressurized air to the venturi assembly by-passing to the vacuum chamber to blow off the workpiece.