Abstract: With regard to an installation designed to handle sheet-like pieces by means of gripper arms (1) provided with gripper clutches (9, 10), a particularly simple and economical structure requiring less components can be obtained by a design according to which the distribution crankshaft gear carries a distributing disk with operating cams (18, 11a, 18a, 113) for enabling oscillatory movements by the gripper arm (1), said disk interacting with the cam follower (17) in an actuating mechanism which is coupled with the swivelling gripper clutch (10) of the clamping device (3) and mounted on the gripper arm (1). The distributing disk has been specially designed for that purpose.

Abstract: In a gripper mechanism for devices for handling objects in the form of sheets or plates, simple and easy operability of the gripper claws of pivoting gripper arms into the open position for adjustment purposes, test purposes and the like is achieved in that a manual operating element made of plastic is connected in the gripper claw operating drive between an operating lever which is mounted on the relevant gripper arm such that it can pivot, and a coupling linkage which is connected to one of the gripper claws which can pivot, and this manual operating element can pivot on the operating shaft of the gripper claw operating drive in such a manner that the claw can be caused to open easily while the machine is at rest, without any risk of injuries.