Abstract: Certain embodiments of tongs are disclosed herein having a locking feature disposed upon an arm thereof.

Abstract: Provided is a multi-fingered type hand device that facilitates arrangements of wirings connecting driving members which drive fingertips and the like of a robot with members which control the driving members. The multi-fingered type hand device 1 includes a wrist portion 10, a base portion 20, and a plurality of finger mechanisms 30, the wrist portion 10 having therein a wrist sensor 12, at least one of the plurality of finger mechanisms 30 having therein a fingertip sensor 321, the base portion 20 including a frame-shaped frame portion 21, a tactile sensor 25, a first substrate 23 that controls outputs of the wrist sensor 12, the fingertip sensor 321, and the tactile sensor 25, and a second substrate 24, the first substrate 23 and the second substrate 24 being disposed opposite to each other so as to sandwich the frame portion 21 from the upper and lower.

Abstract: The gripping device is provided with a rod portion which is movable vertically along a rod axis, to the lower end is mounted a connecting block. A pair of opening and closing lever portions is disposed to face each other along the direction of a fore-to-aft or lateral axis, with intermediate portions which are pivotal about a fulcrum support shaft portion parallel to a left-right or longitudinal axis. A link mechanism connects the connecting block and the upper ends of the pair of the opening and closing lever portions and pivots the pair of the opening and closing lever portions in the direction of the fore-to-aft axis in response to the vertical movement of the rod portion. The pair of the opening and closing lever portions is formed with a cutout or notch at least extending from the intermediate portions to upper ends and is disposed against each other with the rod portion.

Abstract: A foam affixing mechanism employed to affix foam to a workpiece, includes a robot arm, a foam supplying assembly and a clamping assembly. The foam supplying assembly is located adjacent to the robot arm to supply foam pieces. The clamping assembly is mounted on the robot arm. The clamping assembly includes a fixing frame, a driving member, a pair of fixing members, and a pair of clamping subassemblies. The driving member is mounted on the fixing frame, the pair of fixing members are fixed to the fixing frame. The clamping subassembly includes a first linking member rotatably connected to the driving member and a second linking member rotatably connected to the first linking member. The second linking member is rotatably connected to the fixing member by a middle portion thereof, the second linking member includes a clamping portion at an end. The present invention further discloses a clamping assembly.

Abstract: A hand-held remote access device, such as a gripping tool, includes a jaw portion having a pair of jaws movable relative to each other between fully clamped and fully opened positions thereof, a handle portion spaced apart from the jaw portion by a bendable central portion that has a hollow, corrugated member having alternating ridges and grooves that is bendable so as to attain a predetermined shape.

Abstract: A gripper for capturing and transporting a food product. In one implementation the gripper has first and second arms having first end portions that cooperate with each other to capture the food product. In a first pivot position the first end portion of the first arm is positioned to cooperate with the first end portion of the second arm to capture the food product, whereas in a second pivot position the first end portion of the first arm is positioned not to cooperate with the first end portion of the second arm. The gripper has an expandable fluid chamber that in an expanded state acts on a portion of the first arm to cause the first arm to assume the first pivot position.

Abstract: A system, mechanism, and method for physically manipulating media, especially in a data storage environment.

Abstract: A gripper for grasping and conveying objects while retaining the objects, and to a corresponding conveyor system and an operating method. The gripper has a gripper body and first and second gripper jaws. The gripper jaws each include at least one respective clamping region, can assume an open state and a closed state relative to each other, and can exert a clamping force on each other or on the object to be grasped. At least one of the gripper jaws includes a jaw body that is elastically deformable and is supported on the gripper body such that the body assumes a defined spatial position (resting position) when force is not applied to a control element and deforms and is deflected from the resting position when force is applied to the control element.

Abstract: A gripping assembly with gripping members, as part of a grapple attachment, used to grasp and manipulate elongated objects, for example pipe, is described. Due to the gripping action of the gripping members and tilt control capabilities of the grapple attachment, total positive control of the pipe is maintained, even if the gripping assembly picks up pipe off center. The grapple attachment is able to be used on all pipe surface types, including pipe surfaces that are dirty, snow or ice covered. The gripping members are configured to prevent damage to the pipe and to adjacent pipes, and will not crush the pipe.

Abstract: A reconfigurable gripping device for securely gripping, lifting, and transporting a work piece is provided. The reconfigurable gripping device may include at least a first finger and a second finger each secured to a base platform with a base support. Each of the respective fingers may have a first link, a second link, and a third link each having a corresponding drive mechanism to individually drive the respective link. The first link drive mechanism and second link drive mechanism are configured to control the grasp and adaptability of each of the respective fingers to place the third link upon a work piece. The third link drive mechanism is configured to drive the third link of each of the respective fingers to apply a clamping force upon the work piece.

Abstract: A hand-held reacher for gripping an object comprises a handle portion, a jaw portion, and a shaft extending between the handle portion and the jaw portion. The jaw portion has jaws moveable between an open position and a closed position. The handle portion has a manually-operable trigger for moving the jaws between the open and closed position, and a locking member for releasably locking the jaws in a closed or partially closed position.

Abstract: The invention is a new container clip or clamp in a container conveying apparatus which is designed to have only a single clamp out of a group of clamps to release a container in the case of a failure of the single clamp thereby allowing the remainder of the system to continue. The invention includes a bearing block having holding elements and in the event of exceeding a lateral pivoting range the holding elements are at least partially detached from the bearing block to be released so as to pivot sideways.

Abstract: A gripping assembly with gripping members, as part of a grapple attachment, used to grasp and manipulate elongated objects, for example pipe, is described. Due to the gripping action of the gripping members and tilt control capabilities of the grapple attachment, total positive control of the pipe is maintained, even if the gripping assembly picks up pipe off center. The gripping members are used at least in pairs and are mounted on a common main beam structure so that they are separated from each other. The gripping members are interchangeable with other gripping members to permit the grapple attachment to grasp different sized objects, thereby providing modularity to the grapple attachment. In one embodiment, the gripping members include a support member having a main beam structure opening extending laterally therethrough that is configured to receive a main beam structure of the gripping assembly.

Abstract: A seat assembly machine includes a plurality of grippers useful for securing a piece of trim to a seat cushion. In a disclosed example, each gripper includes a plurality of prongs that are moved between neutral, closed and released positions that each facilitate a different portion of the assembly process. In one example, each gripper includes a sleeve within which the prongs are moveable so that the prongs are manipulated between the neutral, closed and released positions. A disclosed example sleeve includes an interior channel having a contour that manipulates the prongs between the different positions based on the location of the prongs within the sleeve.

Abstract: A gripper for retaining containers includes gripper arms extending from corresponding rotation axes. Each gripper arm ends in a free claw and has a pair of permanent magnets. Adjacent poles of adjacent magnets have opposite polarities. The gripper also has a carrier plate for the gripper arms. This carrier plate has two pairs of permanent magnets oriented parallel to the rotation axes.

Abstract: A pipe gripping assembly for handling a pipe includes at least two gripping members, wherein each gripping member comprises a pipe engaging portion engageable with the outer circumference of a pipe, wherein at least one gripping member is rotatable about a pivot axis, and wherein the pipe gripping assembly further comprises actuation means to rotate the at least one rotatable gripping member such that the pipe gripping assembly is movable between an open position for receiving a pipe and a closed position in which the pipe engaging portions engage with a pipe, wherein each rotatable gripping member further comprises a locking body engaging portion and the pipe gripping assembly further comprises a movable locking body and associated displacement means to move the locking body such that the pipe gripping assembly is lockable in the closed position by moving the locking body to a locking position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a capture mechanism for capturing and locking onto the Marman flange located on the exterior surfaces of spacecraft/satellites. The capture mechanism achieves its goal of quickly capturing a target spacecraft by splitting the two basic actions involved into two separate mechanisms. One mechanism performs the quick grasp of the target while the other mechanism rigidises that grasp to ensure that the target is held as firmly as desired. The jaws can be set up to grasp gently, firmly, or even not close completely on the target. Once the jaws have sprung shut, a second mechanism draws the jaws (and their closing mechanism) back into the body of the tool pulling the captured target onto two rigidisation surfaces. The mechanism keeps pulling backwards until a pre-established preload is reached at which point the target is considered suitably rigidised to the capture mechanism.

Abstract: A grasping apparatus includes a robot and a grasping assembly. The grasping assembly is rotatably mounted to the robot and includes a cylinder, two grasping plates, two grasping blocks and two first resilient members. The cylinder is secured to the robot. The two grasping plates are rotatably attached to the cylinder. The cylinder is capable of driving the two grasping plates to rotate towards each other. Each grasping block is slidably attached to each grasping plate. Each first resilient member is secured between each grasping block and each of the two grasping plates. When the two grasping plates are rotated towards each other, the two grasping blocks are adapted to sandwich a product therebetween.

Abstract: A hand-held remote access device, such as a gripping tool, includes a jaw portion having a pair of jaws movable relative to each other between fully clamped and fully opened positions thereof, a handle portion spaced apart from the jaw portion by a bendable central portion that has a hollow, corrugated member having alternating ridges and grooves that is bendable so as to attain a predetermined shape.

Abstract: A gripper for a toy has a base body, and two gripping bodies. Each gripping body is connected by a respective gripping body connecting joint to the base body is movable between a release position with an opened gripper and a gripping position with a closed gripper. At least one gripping body is formed as a lever body and has a jaw portion and a lever portion. The associated gripping body connecting joint is arranged between the jaw portion and the lever portion. A control rod is connected to the gripping bodies by a respective control rod connecting joint and, when the gripper is open, is arranged between the gripping bodies in a freely accessible jaw encompassing region. By contact with an item to be gripped, the control rod can be moved between a release position with an opened gripper and a gripping position with a closed gripper.

Abstract: A gripping device includes a gripping-device body mounted to an end of a working arm; two gripping members pivotably supported by this body in an opening-closing direction; and a driver that drives the gripping members to open and close them. At least one of the gripping members includes one of various kinds of detachable sections each including a gripping segment; a holding section pivotably connected to the gripping-device body about a central pivot shaft and selectively holding the detachable section in a detachable manner; and a coupling member for detachable coupling. The detachable section has a restrained segment having a detachable-section through-hole extending parallel to the central pivot shaft. The holding section has an opening-closing-direction restraining segment that restrains the restrained segment in the opening-closing direction and a holding wall to which the restrained segment is fastened with the coupling member from a direction parallel to the detachable-section through-hole.

Abstract: A humanoid electric hand includes a metacarpophalangeal joint and an interphalangeal joint. The interphalangeal joint bends or extends together with a bending or extending operation of the metacarpophalangeal joint, by linking a finger motor for driving a finger to a worm deceleration mechanism, an output gear of which moves rotationally to bend or extend the metacarpophalangeal joint, and by linking the metacarpophalangeal joint to the interphalangeal joint via a link mechanism.

Abstract: A grasping apparatus includes a base unit, left and right parallel links, and a driving unit that is housed in the base unit and drives the first link of the right parallel link and the first link of the left parallel link in the open/close direction. Each of the left and right parallel links has a first link attached pivotably in an open/close direction about a base shaft of the base unit, a second link attached pivotably in the open/close direction about an auxiliary shaft located on an outer side in the open/close direction, a finger unit supported pivotably at an end of the first link and an end of the second link, and a claw projecting toward the inner side in the open/close direction and disposed along an end face of the grasping surface of the finger unit of each of the left and right parallel links.

Abstract: A gripping device includes a spring member provided between a gripping member body and a shaft so that driving of a gripping driving cylinder causes a driving force to be transmitted from the gripping driving cylinder to the body while the shaft and the body are held in a predetermined positional relationship; so that the body is allowed to retreat with respect to the shaft by elastically deforming the spring member by an opposing force received from a processing object that contacts the body as a result of rotating the body; and so that contact pressure of the body with respect to the processing object is increased by an elastic force of the spring member as the body retreats.

Abstract: A fluid pressure transmission device is equipped with a plurality of driving fluid pressure cylinders 371, 372, a plurality of driven fluid pressure cylinders 23, 24 with cylinder chambers 23a, 24a thereof being communicated with cylinder chambers 3711, 3712 of the main driving fluid pressure cylinders 371, 372 via fluid pressure transmission pipes 381, 382, and a sub driving fluid pressure cylinder 41 which is divided into two cylinder chambers 41a, 41b by a piston 412, and the fluid pressure generated by the main driving fluid pressure cylinders 371, 372 is transmitted to the driven fluid pressure cylinders 23, 24. Pistons 3711, 3712 are driven by the main motor 40, and the piston 412 is driven by the assistant motor 43. The fluid pressure transmission pipes 381, 382 and the cylinder chambers 41a, 41b of the sub driving fluid pressure cylinder are connected via connecting pipes 421, 422.

Abstract: Container clamp grip for a container transport system having two grip arms that can be swiveled about one or about two axles between a grip position and a release position, the two grip arms being applied with springiness in the direction toward the grip or toward the release position by a force storing unit presenting at least one pair of mutually repelling permanent magnets. The container clamp grip is controlled by a control cam. In the container grip position, a first air gap is provided between the permanent magnets, and in an extreme closed position of the clamp grip, if there is no container, a second, smaller air gap is provided between the permanent magnets.

Abstract: A five-fingered hand device suitably applicable to a humanoid robot is provided. The device includes a hand body (2) which has a base (4) and five finger mechanisms (5) to (9), a drive unit (3) which drives the finger mechanisms, and a control unit (36) which controls bending and stretching of the finger mechanisms. The drive unit (3) has driven fluid pressure cylinders provided inside the hand body (2) and driving fluid pressure cylinders (37) provided outside the hand body (2), the driven fluid pressure cylinders being connected to the driving fluid pressure cylinders via fluid pressure transmission pipes (45).

Abstract: An improved robotic hand in which the palm section enables it to be capable of a wide range of movement with the ability to have good precision and control. The palm section consists of a plurality of parts which are able to move or flex relative to each other. Preferably, it is constructed as five bar spherical linkage having two degrees of freedom.

Abstract: The gripping device is provided with a rod portion which is movable vertically along a rod axis, to the lower end is mounted a connecting block. A pair of opening and closing lever portions is disposed to face each other along the direction of a fore-to-aft or lateral axis, with intermediate portions which are pivotal about a fulcrum support shaft portion parallel to a left-right or longitudinal axis. A link mechanism connects the connecting block and the upper ends of the pair of the opening and closing lever portions and pivots the pair of the opening and closing lever portions in the direction of the fore-to-aft axis in response to the vertical movement of the rod portion. The pair of the opening and closing lever portions is formed with a cutout or notch at least extending from the intermediate portions to upper ends and is disposed against each other with the rod portion.

Abstract: A gripper for petroleum pipes, the gripper including a housing and two gripper arms. The gripper arms are provided, at end portions, with gripping surfaces and are pivotable, at opposite end portions, around respective first axes. Each of the gripper arms is connected to the housing by respective first pivotal links, each of the first pivotal links being pivotably connected to the respective gripper arm around a second axis which is between the gripping surface and the first axis. Each of the first pivotal links is pivotably connected to the housing around a third axis, and each of the gripper arms is connected to the housing by a respective second pivotal link around the first axis. Each of the second pivotal links is pivotably connected to the housing on respective fourth axis fixed relative to the housing, the two first pivotal links being independently pivotable.

Abstract: A grapple is provided having (a) a first jaw hinged together with a second jaw and (b) a pair of hydraulic cylinders disposed on opposite sides of the jaw. Both of the cylinders are capable of opening and closing the hinged jaws without the use of a stiff arm. In one embodiment of the invention, the pair of hydraulic cylinders are fully enclosed within a compartment within one of the jaws.

Abstract: A pile clamp assembly to clamp a pile that consists of the following main components; top pile clamp device, the bottom pile clamp device, a plurality clamp wedges and a plurality vertical hydraulic clamps which combines to make a flat clamp wedge contact with the surface of a deviated and twisted pile. This clamping mechanism reduces bending in the driven pile by enabling the next adjoining pile to conform as much as possible to the alignment of the existing driven pile and gradually corrects the pile's vertical alignment and twist as it penetrates the ground through interactions of the unique swiveling clamp wedges.

Abstract: A mechanized gripping apparatus for grabbing collection containers of a range of sizes is disclosed. The apparatus has converging opposed cylinder-operated finger arrangements which pivot together to close about a container for gripping and open to release a container.

Abstract: A robotic gripper (10) has fingers (12) that are configured to grasp an object, and an actuator (20) for driving the fingers. The actuator has a drive train (30) connected to the fingers for driving the fingers, an impact mechanism (40) mechanically connected to the drive train for driving the drive train, and a motor (50) connected to the impact mechanism for driving the impact mechanism. The impact mechanism generates a series of impacts that are delivered to the drive train when the impact mechanism is loaded beyond a threshold torque. The drive train is a back-drive inhibited drive train provided by a worm drive (32, 34) that is mechanically coupled to the impact mechanism.

Abstract: A crucible handling shuttle includes a pair of opposed dual crucible-gripping arms mounted on a rotatable head and moves between an induction furnace pedestal and a crucible loading station, such that one pair of arms pick up a crucible loaded with a preweighed sample, the shuttle moves to the induction furnace, where the other pair of arms grip and remove a spent crucible. The shutter head then rotates to deposit the new sample-holding crucible onto the pedestal and subsequently moves out of the furnace area to a sample disposal chute positioned between the crucible loading station and the furnace, whereupon the spent crucible is dropped for disposal. The shuttle head is then rotated and moved to the loading station to pick up a new crucible.

Abstract: A clamp grip for a container transport system including rare earth permanent magnets encapsulated in non-magnetic material such as high quality steel. Flexible positioning of the magnets allow for adapting to varied design specifications. A rotatable control cam or cams may be used to adjust grip arms between a grip and a release position. Air gap distances between permanent magnets may be designed to maximize repelling force to assist in the functioning of clamp grip mechanism.

Abstract: A grasping apparatus includes a robot and a grasping assembly. The grasping assembly is rotatably mounted to the robot and includes a cylinder, two grasping plates, two grasping blocks and two first resilient members. The cylinder is secured to the robot. The two grasping plates are rotatably attached to the cylinder. The cylinder is capable of driving the two grasping plates to rotate towards each other. Each grasping block is slidably attached to each grasping plate. Each first resilient member is secured between each grasping block and each of the two grasping plates. When the two grasping plates are rotated towards each other, the two grasping blocks are adapted to sandwich a product therebetween.

Abstract: A gripping tool includes a bracket for connecting the gripping tool to a crane. The gripping tool further includes a main body connected to the bracket and a plurality of jaw members pivotally arranged on the main body. The plurality of jaw members are controlled by a plurality of actuators and are arranged to cooperatively grip and hold goods to be lifted or manipulated. A supplementary jaw member is displaceably connected to a first jaw member of the plurality of jaw members. The supplementary jaw member is displaced from a position where a gripping surface of the supplementary jaw member rests against a gripping surface of an outer surface of the first jaw member to a position where the gripping surface of the supplementary jaw member is separated by a distance from the gripping surface of the first jaw member.

Abstract: A separator separates sheets from a bundle. Slack in the strap used to raise and lower a clamp is used to determine when the clamp reaches the bundle. A non-horizontal conveyor tilts beneath the clamp to receive multiple articles, and then tilts over another bin to deposit the articles. The second bin includes an angled surface, which is straightened to shift the articles for clamping. The clamp is supported by, but not attached to, a support connected with the drive. When the clamp reaches the pile, the clamp stops but the support may continue to move. The clamp is tillable. The article is transferred by an air jet onto a surface with a roller separated from the surface. Upon transfer, the roller forms a nip with the surface. The article is deposited on an exit conveyor having a flexible, raised portion.

Abstract: A gripper for capturing and transporting a food product. In one implementation the gripper has first and second arms having first end portions that cooperate with each other to capture the food product. In a first pivot position the first end portion of the first arm is positioned to cooperate with the first end portion of the second arm to capture the food product, whereas in a second pivot position the first end portion of the first arm is positioned not to cooperate with the first end portion of the second arm. The gripper has an expandable fluid chamber that in an expanded state acts on a portion of the first arm to cause the first arm to assume the first pivot position.

Abstract: A gripper is disclosed. The gripper has a frame which is connected to a mobile subassembly including a fixed end and a mobile end respectively secured to a fixed arm and a mobile arm, and an actuator supported on the fixed arm for moving the mobile arm and end relative to the fixed arm and end, along a first degree of freedom, in translation or rotation, and a balancing module introducing an additional degree of freedom, in translation or rotation, which is offset outwards of the assembly formed by the mobile subassembly and the frame.

Abstract: A clamp grip for a container transport system including rare earth permanent magnets encapsulated in non-magnetic material such as high quality steel. Flexible positioning of the magnets allow for adapting to varied design specifications. A rotatable control cam or cams may be used to adjust grip arms between a grip and a release position. Air gap distances between permanent magnets may be designed to maximize repelling force to assist in the functioning of clamp grip mechanism.

Abstract: A gripper device is provided for picking up and releasing an article. The device includes a support (15, 16) and a pair of grippers (10, 11) pivotally mounted on the support for movement of their distal ends towards and away from each other. A belt (1) is belt arranged to extend across the gap defined between the distal ends of the grippers when they are spaced apart so that the belt is able to extend over the article to be picked up and to extend around the article when the grippers have been moved towards each other to pick up the article.

Abstract: A pneumatically actuated area vacuum gripper for gripping and, if necessary, separating workpieces is provided by the present disclosure. In particular, the vacuum gripper is used with thin, flexible workpieces, and has a suction chamber, which has a suction wall with perforations, to be placed on the workpiece. An ejector nozzle has a connection and an outlet, the ejection nozzle being connected to the suction chamber via its connection, and the outlet of the ejector nozzle opening to the outside or into an exhaust air duct, and the suction inlet of the ejector nozzle empties into the suction chamber, whereby the direction of the air stream in the connection coming from the suction chamber corresponds to the direction of the main air conveyance in the ejector nozzle.

Abstract: An electric machine device includes: a rotor including a rotor magnet arranged along the outer circumference of a center shaft; a stator arranged on the outer circumference of the rotor; a rotating mechanism coupled to the rotor and used for transmission of rotation driving force; and a load connecting section that connects the rotating mechanism and a load. In the rotor, a housing space that is opened on one side in an axis direction of the center shaft and houses at least a part of the rotating mechanism is formed between the center shaft and the rotor magnet. The rotating mechanism includes: an input section connected to or formed integrally with the rotor; a fixed section connected to or formed integrally with the stator; and an output section connected to or formed integrally with the load connecting section. The rotting mechanism functions as a speed-increasing gear or a reduction gear.

Abstract: A gripper unit includes a gripper body and first and second arcuate fingers that are pivotally mounted on the gripper body for rotation about parallel first and second axes. The first and second fingers have inner surfaces that face each other, each of the inner surfaces including longitudinal grooves. A gripper assembly of this configuration may be particularly suited for gripping bottles of different sizes and configurations, particularly those that have a lip or ridge on the bottle neck.

Abstract: The medicament dispensing machine enables to use vials having various sizes and shapes without changing a part in the machine or without performing a special operation. The medicament dispensing machine contains a discharging unit that receives a vial filled with a medicament from a medicament filling means and discharges out of a vial discharging window. The discharging unit contains a vial gripping means having a pair of gripping arms that grip a vial, a body of gripping means having the vial gripping means, a moving means that moves the vial gripping means from the medicament filling means to the vial discharging window, and an orientation changing mechanism that changes the orientation of the body of gripping means. With a coordination of the movement of the body of gripping means toward the vial discharging window, the orientation changing mechanism makes the gripping arms orient to the vial discharging window.

Abstract: A fluid pressure transmission device is equipped with a plurality of driving fluid pressure cylinders 371, 372, a plurality of driven fluid pressure cylinders 23, 24 with cylinder chambers 23a, 24a thereof being communicated with cylinder chambers 3711, 3712 of the main driving fluid pressure cylinders 371, 372 via fluid pressure transmission pipes 381, 382, and a sub driving fluid pressure cylinder 41 which is divided into two cylinder chambers 41a, 41b by a piston 412, and the fluid pressure generated by the main driving fluid pressure cylinders 371, 372 is transmitted to the driven fluid pressure cylinders 23, 24. Pistons 3711, 3712 are driven by the main motor 40, and the piston 412 is driven by the assistant motor 43. The fluid pressure transmission pipes 381, 382 and the cylinder chambers 41a, 41b of the sub driving fluid pressure cylinder are connected via connecting pipes 421, 422.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gripping device, comprising a proximal member (10), a medial member (20), and a distal member (30), which are each pivotably supported on each other, and comprising an actuator (80), which is coupled to a slidably supported coupling element (50), wherein the coupling element (50) is arranged between the proximal member (10) and the distal member (30) and is connected in a force-transmitting manner both to the proximal member (10) and to the distal member (30). According to the invention, at least one lever (40) is arranged on the coupling element (50), which lever is connected both to the proximal member (10) and to the distal member (30) and kinematically couples the proximal member (10) with the distal member (30).

Abstract: A gripper for petroleum pipes, the gripper including a housing and two gripper arms. The gripper arms are provided, at end portions, with gripping surfaces and are pivotable, at opposite end portions, around respective first axes. Each of the gripper arms is connected to the housing by respective first pivotal links, each of the first pivotal links being pivotably connected to the respective gripper arm around a second axis which is between the gripping surface and the first axis. Each of the first pivotal links is pivotably connected to the housing around a third axis, and each of the gripper arms is connected to the housing by a respective second pivotal link around the first axis. Each of the second pivotal links is pivotably connected to the housing on respective fourth axis fixed relative to the housing, the two first pivotal links being independently pivotable.