Abstract: An electrically driven gripper has a housing, a gearmotor attached to the housing, a cam engaged to the gearmotor, a pair of opposing jaws slidingly mounted to the housing, a cam follower secured to one of the jaws and in sliding contact with the cam; and a spring configured to impart a force to the jaws such that the jaws are pulled toward each other. The gearmotor drives the cam to force the jaws to a maximum open position. Continued rotation of the cam allows the spring to pull the jaws closed to grasp an object with the jaws. Sensors mounted to the housing determine whether the jaws are in an open or closed state. A simple circuit on a printed circuit board mounted to the housing is used to control the electric gearmotor.

Abstract: An electrically driven gripper has a housing, a gearmotor attached to the housing, a cam engaged to the gearmotor, a pair of opposing jaws slidingly mounted to the housing, a cam follower secured to one of the jaws and in sliding contact with the cam; and a spring configured to impart a force to the jaws such that the jaws are pulled toward each other. The gearmotor drives the cam to force the jaws to a maximum open position. Continued rotation of the cam allows the spring to pull the jaws closed to grasp an object with the jaws. Sensors mounted to the housing determine whether the jaws are in an open or closed state. A simple circuit on a printed circuit board mounted to the housing is used to control the electric gearmotor.