Patents by Inventor Christian Fonade

Christian Fonade has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4730862
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic gripper comprising at least one movable finger of which the clamping force is controlled by the weight of the object handled. Each movable finger includes a pneumatic actuator (1) of which the movable member (2) is solidly joined to a flexible blade (4). A stop member (4) is fastened to the free portion of this blade (4) and will touch the object to be seized. Two potentiometers (9, 11) are located on the sides of this blade (4) and their respective outlets (9b, 11b) are connected to an actuation chamber of the actuator so as to achieve a pressure difference between these chambers (1a, 1b) and hence a clamping force directly related to the blade bending. Each finger furthermore includes proximity sensors (7) for the object to be seized, whereby this object can be approached rapidly without danger of tipping it over when making contact with it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Robert Caen, Christian Fonade