Gripper Portion Biased To Load Engaging Position Patents (Class 198/867.05)
  • Patent number: 8960416
    Abstract: Disclosed is a grip width adjusting mechanism incorporated in a packaging machine having a grip unit. The grip width adjusting mechanism includes a plurality of grip width adjusting plates disposed at the steps and set with distances between the guide rail and the grip width adjusting plates according to the work content of the steps, respectively and a grip width adjusting lever having a distal end having a grip width adjusting roller abutting against each grip width adjusting plate by a biasing force of the spring, respectively. The grip width adjusting lever is located on either one of the arms so as to be rotated with the arm. A rotational movement angle of the grip width adjusting lever is set according to the distance between the guide rail and the grip width adjusting plate, with the result that the grip width is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Packer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8905224
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a clamping mechanism for clamping a liquid crystal panel of a LCD, the clamping mechanism includes a base, a clamping member mounted on the base, and an elastic member connected to the base and applying a drawing force onto the clamping member to allow the clamping member under balanced outer force. With the clamping mechanism, the vertical position of the clamping mechanism can be adjusted as the height of the liquid crystal panel changes, thus, the clamping member can be kept coplanar with the liquid crystal panel, to avoid the fracture of the liquid crystal panel; meanwhile, with the elastic member, the frequency and the precision of adjusting the clamping mechanism can be decreased to reduce the maintaining cost of the clamping mechanism. The present disclosure further provides a carrying device and a transferring apparatus with the clamping mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong Li
  • Patent number: 8794424
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying and discharging flat, preferably flexible articles, in particular printed products, the apparatus including a plurality of grippers which can be moved in a conveying direction (F) along a continuous conveying path (U) defined by a conveying mechanism. The grippers include a first gripper jaw and a second gripper jaw, which can assume a clamping position and an open position relative to one another. The first gripper jaw is longer than the second gripper jaw and includes a first gripper part, which in the clamping position interacts with the second gripper jaw, and a second gripper part, which in the clamping position projects beyond the second gripper jaw. The orientation of the first and second gripper parts of the first gripper jaw relative to one another is variable and can be adjusted by a control means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Hans Ulrich Stauber
  • Patent number: 8794425
    Abstract: An apparatus for gripping a PET bottle in a bottling plant includes gripper arms and a holding element for holding the gripper arms. The holding element is mounted to deflect by rotating around a vertical axis. The apparatus also includes a centering device that forces the gripper arms back into a centered position after a deflection thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Fahldieck
  • Patent number: 8776988
    Abstract: A transfer apparatus for transferring an item includes a rail (3) forming an endless track (4) along which the item (100) is transferred, a transporter (41, 42) which is movable along the rail and includes at least one gripper (10) for gripping the item, a driver (7) for moving the transporter along the rail, wherein the transporter includes at least two carriers (8) engaging the rail and located at a distance from each other, neighboring carriers are coupled to each other by a coupler (9), at least one coupler is carrying at least one gripper, the rail includes a first face (12) and a second face (13), each carrier includes a first engage member (14) and a second engage (15) member (15) engaging the first face (12) and a third engage member (16) engaging the second face (13), the engage members of each carrier are positioned relative to each other such that the engage members form a triangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Sluis Cigar Machinery B.V.
    Inventors: Albert van der Vliet, Jeroen Aart Jan Slobbe, Oscar Slurink
  • Publication number: 20140158504
    Abstract: A container transport device includes a counter support along a section thereof, and holding devices arranged opposite the counter support for holding and transporting containers. Each holding device has a base body separate from the container transport device. The base body, which includes spring elements, is configured to engage the counter support at least in a direction toward a center of the container transport device, to make contact underneath a neck ring of a container, and to automatically adapt to a container diameter of the container with the support thereof. The holding device is detachably connectable to the transport device. The base body, which, together with its components is made in one piece from plastic, is elastically pliable in the radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Fahldieck, Dieter-Rudolf Krulitsch
  • Patent number: 8413799
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container clamp (2) or container clip provided on conveying elements in container filling installations for receiving the neck of a container, particularly a bottle, each clamp (2) or clip comprising a bearing block (3). The aim of the invention is to protect such installations by special clamping designs so that improper strain would result in the failure of only a single clamp and any further damage to the installations could be avoided. Said aim is achieved in that the bearing block (3) comprises holding elements (8, 9) which detach at least partially from the bearing and holding device (10, 11) when a lateral pivoting range or a lateral force is exceeded, wherein the bearing block (3) or the container clamp (2) or container clip is released to fall on the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventor: Renate Bodtländer
  • Patent number: 8302760
    Abstract: Device (6) for transferring candy articles, in particular lollipops provided with a stick, from a feed location to an exit location spaced apart therefrom, comprising at least one conveyor with candy article holders (23a, 23b), wherein the device is provided with first operation means for at the location of a reception location (H) at the conveyor setting candy article holders in a receiving position for receiving a stick coming from the feed location and with second operation means for at the location of a discharge location (I) at the conveyor setting the candy article holders in a discharge position for discharging the stick to the exit location, wherein the device is furthermore provided with third operation means (4) positioned between the reception location and the discharge location for, upstream from the discharge location, setting the candy article holders in a discharge position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: CFS Weert B.V.
    Inventor: Leonardus Hermanus Maria Cuypers
  • Patent number: 8256605
    Abstract: In order to transport printed circuit boards (30) through a processing system (12), printed circuit boards (30) lying one behind another can be connected by means of holding clips (22) to form a type of chain. The outer ends of the holding clips (22) are suspended on two spaced-apart transport chains (16) which provide for transport and mounting. The holding clips are formed in two parts with a lower holding part (22) and an upper holding part (40), between which a printed circuit board (30) is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Gebr. Schmid GmbH & co.
    Inventor: Laurent Nicolet
  • Patent number: 8146731
    Abstract: Apparatus for transporting containers with a transport device, which transports a multiplicity of holding devices for the containers individually along a pre-specified transport path. At least one of these holding devices comprises at least two holding elements for gripping the containers. The holding device can be rotated in relation to the transport device about a pre-specified common rotary axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Bruno Landler
  • Patent number: 7404549
    Abstract: A transporting mechanism includes a link chain and clamps which are attached to a chain link of the link chain and which are capable of gripping at least one printed product. At least two clamps are attached to each chain link of the link chain, wherein the clamps in the link chain are spaced apart from one another by equal spacings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Müller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Jörg Meier, Jean-Claude Oppliger
  • Patent number: 7398875
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tensioning piece, a conveyor chain, and to a means for opening and closing the tensioning piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: CFS Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Jürgen Niesar
  • Patent number: 7261199
    Abstract: A conveyor is disclosed suitable for conveying objects such as containers to a processing station. The conveyor includes a plurality of connected links, and at least one gripping member extending from each of the links. Each gripping member is movable relative to its respective link for gripping a container by the neck of the container. A guide structure is disposed on the link for mating a component of the processing station to the neck of the container for processing the container. The processing station may be a filler such as a rotary filler, a capper, or a rinser. Related individual links, conveying systems, and filler components are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Hartness International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hartness, William R. Hartness, III, Mark W. Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert C. Beesley
  • Patent number: 7185753
    Abstract: Various shuttle conveyor designs are disclosed. The conveyors are suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction. The shuttle conveyors may include a track extending along a conveying path, the track defining a length, and a plurality of shuttle elements independently movable along the track. Each shuttle element may define mating structure for following the track along the conveying path. Each shuttle element may include at least one movable gripping member for selectively gripping conveyed objects. The shuttle elements may define a collective length less than the length of the track. A drive mechanism moves the shuttle elements along the track. The shuttle elements may include a plurality of links. The shuttle elements may be driven faster on at least a portion of a return portion of the track than on the conveying portion of the track, and the shuttle element flow along the track may be modulated in various ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Hartness International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hartness, Olivier Duterte
  • Patent number: 7097028
    Abstract: An envelope insert conveyor assembly includes a first pair of rotation members and a second pair of rotation members spaced apart from one another. A first conveying member is disposed around the first pair of rotation members, and a second conveying member is disposed around the second pair of rotation members, so that the conveying members rotate around the first rotation member and the second rotation member. A plurality of pusher members are fixed to each of the first conveying member and second conveying member. The pusher members each have paired sidewalls, a cross-wall connecting the paired walls, and an indented portion provided in each of the paired sidewalls. A gripping element is disposed adjacent an indented portion of one of the paired sidewalls and biased toward an interior surface of the indented portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Bowe Bell + Howell Company
    Inventors: Bradford D. Henry, Penny P. Fusco, Frank Shinn
  • Publication number: 20040134761
    Abstract: A device (1) for conveying objects (2) having at least one open end (200) (for example plastic bottles and corresponding semi-finished products throughout their production process), comprising picking-up means (20) suitable for gripping and withholding the object from inside the open end (200), and further comprising a protective sliding sleeve (7, 70) suitable for covering and protecting a pre-determined portion of the object (2) in the proximity of the open end (200) is characterised in that the actuation for picking up or releasing the object (2) by the picking-up and withholding means (20) is independent of the movements of sliding of the sleeve (7, 70), which can be raised or lowered, the object (2) at the same time continuing to be firmily gripped. The device is suitable to be used on a chain conveyor. Also described herein is a method for the use of said device (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Matteo Zoppas, Marco Leonardi, Andrea Saran, Alberto Armellin, Paola Tamagnone
  • Patent number: 6629403
    Abstract: An automatic packaging machine has mandrels with a plurality of fingers for gripping an object. A cam track has contours which defines the location of positions along a conveyor carrying the mandrels. The fingers are closed by a spring and opened by a cam follower encountering a contour of cam track. This way a plurality of objects having a variety of widths may be carried by the fingers without requiring a readjustment of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Tisma
  • Patent number: 6622852
    Abstract: A continuous container-supplying apparatus in which a plurality of container holding assemblies, each comprising right-side and left-side holding members are provided on conveyor belts that run as an integral unit along an annular track that has a pair of parallel sections. Containers are intermittently supplied to the container holding assemblies on one side of the parallel sections, and then converted into a continuous movement in a single row on another side of the parallel sections so that containers are continuously supplied to a filling and packaging system. The right-side holding members are provided on the upper conveyor belt, and the left-side holding members are provided on the conveyor belt. When containers of different width are to be supplied, the relative positional relationship of the upper and lower conveyor belts in the conveying direction is adjusted so as to change the spacing between the right-side and left-side holding members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shoji Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 6520315
    Abstract: The invention provides a gripper assembly comprising a mounting base having a first magnet coupled thereto and having a moveable gripper coupled to the mounting base. The moveable gripper has a second magnet coupled thereto and comprises an end effector adapted to contact a wafer. The first and second magnets are adapted so that the magnetic force therebetween biases the end effector away from the mounting base. An inventive method of gripping a substrate comprises coupling a moveable gripper to a mounting base and magnetically biasing the moveable gripper in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sugarman, Boris I. Govzman
  • Patent number: 6435335
    Abstract: A device for transporting printed products including a plurality of individual pocket grippers, each pocket gripper having a first connector on one side and a second connector on a second side, and having gripping elements for gripping a printed product. A plurality of transport units is also provided, with each transport unit being movable along a track and being releasably attached to the first connector of a respective one of the plurality of pocket grippers. Also disclosed is a method for transporting printed products including the steps of gripping a printed product in a gripper pocket, moving the gripper pocket along a track, and releasing the gripper pocket while the printed product remains gripped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Robert Paul Cassoni, John Lawrence Herman
  • Patent number: 6321897
    Abstract: A device for transporting printed products including a plurality of individual pocket grippers, each pocket gripper having a first connector on one side and a second connector on a second side, and having gripping elements for gripping a printed product. A plurality of transport units is also provided, with each transport unit being movable along a track and being releasably attached to the first connector of a respective one of the plurality of pocket grippers. Also disclosed is a method for transporting printed products including the steps of gripping a printed product in a gripper pocket, moving the gripper pocket along a track, and releasing the gripper pocket while the printed product remains gripped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, AG
    Inventors: Robert Paul Cassoni, John Lawrence Herman
  • Patent number: 6321430
    Abstract: A system for holding or transporting engraveable workpieces of different configurations is provided. The system includes a first workpiece carrier that has an internal relief configured to receive a first workpiece having a first configuration. The system also includes a second workpiece carrier that has an internal relief configured to receive a second workpiece having a second configuration. The outer surface of the second workpiece carrier is substantially the same as the outer shape of the first workpiece carrier, to thereby provide a carrier of uniform outer dimensions regardless of the workpiece configuration. The carrier may hold the workpiece within the internal relief through a snap lock and in such a manner as to avoid contact with and possible damage from an adjacently stored workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Axxess Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Goldman, Michael A. Mueller