Abstract: A conveyor assembly having a pallet including a deformable drive pin. The drive pin is comprised of urethane and is operable to deform as the pallet engages the teeth of a pallet driving sprocket employed to drive the pallet around curved end portions of the conveyor. The deformability of the drive pin enables smoother engagement of the pallet with the pallet driving sprocket teeth when the drive pin does not fall perfectly inbetween adjacent teeth of the pallet driving sprocket. The deformable drive pin is also disposed within oversized openings allowing the drive pin to be urged outwardly by a tooth of the pallet driving sprocket as the deformable drive pin comes into contact with the tooth. The pallet further includes a drive block for holding the deformable drive pin, the drive block having leg portions operable to circumscribe at least a portion of the pallet driving sprocket.

Abstract: A clutch device adapted for use with robotic tooling is disclosed. The clutch device, which is assembled in a housing having a longitudinal axis, includes a sensing device for detecting undesired pressure from an external source. A rod is fixably secured to the housing and extends along the longitudinal axis of the housing. A collar assembly is provided for connecting the clutch device to robotic tooling. The collar assembly is capable of being pivotally associated with the housing. A piston assembly, which is in communication with the sensing device, is disposed about the rod and moves the collar assembly between a first substantially static position to a second broken-away position upon receiving a signal from the sensing device.

Abstract: A gripper apparatus for use in robotic operations is disclosed. The gripper apparatus includes a body, a yoke member supported by the body member for linear reciprocation, finger members supported by the yoke members for a linear reciprocating stroke for grasping and releasing a workpiece. A cam mechanism is associated with the yoke members to drive the yoke members in a reciprocating linear stroke. A rotary actuator is associated with the cam mechanism for rotatably driving the cam mechanism, which, in turn, transmits rotary movement of the rotary actuator into reciprocating linear movement of the yoke members to drive the finger members to grasp or release a workpiece. Also disclosed is a lock mechanism for locking the cam mechanism against any undesired reverse rotation which, in turn, locks the finger members of the gripper apparatus along the stroke of the finger members.