Abstract: A clip with a light comprises a body including a first and a second clip members to be flexibly pressed, and an illuminating device disposed between the first and second clip members and having a receiving cylinder, a light received in the receiving cylinder and provided with a first and a second connecting legs, a cell set received in the receiving cylinder to supply power to the light, a power circuit mounted in the receiving cylinder and provided with an electrode of a rear end of the cell set electrically connected to the first connecting leg of the light and the second connecting leg electrically coupled to an electrode of a front end of the cell set, an actuating member series connected onto the power circuit and having pressing blocks extending out of the receiving cylinder to press and release the first and second clip members, controlling the actuating member.

Abstract: A gripper has a pair of supports 22A, 22B positioned on opposite sides of a bottle made of resin, and abutments 24A, 24B disposed respectively on the supports 22A, 22B for holding the bottle 4 made of resin, each of the abutments 24A, 24B have two thin plates 26A, 28A, 26B, 28B which are vertically spaced from each other. The abutments 24A, 24B hold the bottle 4 by gripping a neck 4a of the bottle 4 on its opposite sides. While holding the bottle 4, the supports 22A, 22B are held out of contact with an outer surface of the bottle 4, allowing the electron beam to travel around the neck 4a to sterilize the entire surface of the bottle 4.

Abstract: The apparatus serves for blow molding containers. Preforms of a thermoplastic material are heated in the region of a heating zone and subsequently transferred to a blow molding device. The blow molding device is provided with at least one blow molding station for transforming the preforms into the containers. Provided for handling the preforms is a gripper-like transporting element (41) with two gripper arms (45, 46), which are arranged pivotably in relation to a gripper carrier (42). Each of the gripper arms can be pivoted by means of at least one lever and is coupled with a central element (49). The central element is arranged at least partly between the gripper arms. Each of the gripper arms is resiliently clamped with respect to the central element by at least one spring (56, 57).

Abstract: A clamp for holding containers, having two rigid gripping arms that are pivotably supported about at least one axis in opposite direction and have clamp structures at one end, a force accumulator which is operative between the gripping arms, gripping-arm closing levers as extensions of the gripping arms towards the other axis side, a closing cam which is rotatable between the closing levers, with at least one closing lever being actuatable by the closing cam via an elastic deformation area, the deformation area is a section of an arm which acts on the closing cam and which is constructionally separated from the gripping arm and which is positively coupled with the gripping arm for joint pivotable movement, and a defined deformation space is provided at least in a substantially undeformed state of the section between a stop on the closing lever and the section.

Abstract: An installation tool may include an extension member, a body portion disposed on the extension member, and a plurality of fingers flexibly protruding from the body portion. The plurality of fingers are adapted to releasably engage a cover assembly. The plurality of fingers and the body portion cooperate to retain the cover assembly in a first direction and allow disengagement of the cover assembly in a second direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a robot gripper having a fixing flange for detachably attaching it to a robot manipulator arm, and at least one actuator element which is supported in a frame, that actuates at least two gripper jaws indirectly or directly kinematically via at least one articulated unit. At least the fixing flange, the frame and the actuator element are manufactured integrally using a generative manufacturing method, and the actuator element is in the form of a bellows, enclosed an internal volume, which can be filled with a medium via at least one opening, and is capable of expanding, when filled with a medium, along a linear axis predetermined by the bellows design of the actuator element and of contracting, when the volume is emptied, in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A pick up tool with illuminating and magnet attracting functions comprises a cylindrical member including cells provided therein, a control member disposed at the rear end of the cylindrical member and including a bolt for fitting a spring thereon, as the bolt is pressed to move, it may contact with the electrode output end of the cells, a sleeve mounted at the front end of the cylindrical member for confining the cells and including a spring fitted thereon and a string fixed at the front end thereof, the string including an expandable claw attached at the front end thereof, a tube secured at the front end of the sleeve for inserting the string and positioning the claw, a bulb affixed on the tube and including anode and cathode output wires, the anode output wire fixed on the tube, while the cathode output wire passing through the sleeve and contacting with the cathode output end of the cells, thereby simultaneously obtaining the picking and illumining purpose.

Abstract: A vascular occlusion device deployment system is provided for deploying an embolic device at a preselected site within the vasculature of a patient. The deployment system includes a tubular element having a catch movably located within the tubular element. The catch has a normal open configuration and a closed configuration. When in the closed configuration, the catch grasps a headpiece of an embolic device. The tubular element has a constraining section and a releasing section. When the catch is within the constraining section of the tubular element, the constraining section acts upon the catch to keep the catch in a closed configuration. When the catch is moved to the releasing section, the catch returns to its normally open configuration and releases its grasp of the embolic device headpiece.

Abstract: Clamp (1) for holding a container (2) by a neck (3) in a container handling machine (5), said clamp comprising a body (7) for mounting the clamp (1) on a rotary support (4), and a pair of resilient arms (11) protruding sidewise from the body (7) and each provided with a gripping jaw (12), wherein each resilient arm (11) comprises: an inner section (13) extending along the body (7) and connected thereto at a first back end junction (16); an intermediate section (14) extending substantially parallel to the inner section (13) and connected thereto at a front end junction (17); an outer section (15), provided, at a front end, with a gripping jaw (12), and extending substantially parallel to the intermediate section (14) and connected thereto at a second back end junction (18).

Abstract: A gripping device for gripping a printed product including a rotatable first gripper arm having a first gripper pad and a pivot, a rotatable second gripper arm having a second gripper pad and a pivot, a first link connecting the first gripper arm and second gripper arm and a second link having a spring connected to the first link. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A disk chucking mechanism constructed with first, second and third link members forms a slider crank mechanism and the third link member is rotated by a drive of a forward/rearward actuator such as an air cylinder and chucking nails are provided which protrude perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the first or second link member. A rotation of the chucking nail protruded perpendicularly is stopped by engagement with a disk and a spring member is bent by further forward or rearward movement of the second link member to energize a first chucking nail in a direction for maintaining an engagement with the disk. The disk is chucked with a predetermined force by only the drive of the forward/rearward actuator.

Abstract: An installation tool may include an extension member, a body portion disposed on the extension member, and a plurality of fingers flexibly protruding from the body portion. The plurality of fingers are adapted to releasably engage a cover assembly. The plurality of fingers and the body portion cooperate to retain the cover assembly in a first direction and allow disengagement of the cover assembly in a second direction.

Abstract: A gripper for use with a robot includes a support body for removably attaching the gripper to a moveable arm and a workpiece contact body having a groove extending along at least a portion of the contact body for engaging a curved outer edge of the workpiece. A coupling member connects the support body to the workpiece contact member and includes a flexure component that flexes to allow radial and/or tangential relative movement of the workpiece contact body with respect to the support body to diminish slippage between the workpiece and the contact body as the gripper engages the workpiece.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to self-orienting object-grasping devices that facilitate grasping and raising of objects by individuals. Certain embodiments of the present invention are directed to self-orienting golf-flagpole-retrieving devices that are affixed to flagpoles to allow a golf player to raise the flagpole, using a golf club or similar object, to a height convenient for grasping the flagpole by a golf player.

Abstract: A tool for hoisting a coated steel belt of an elevator system that includes a back plate to which a plurality of clamp assemblies is mounted. Each of the clamp assemblies includes a clamp plate biased by a biasing member to resiliently secure each of the belts.

Abstract: A device for gripping a cylindrical object comprises two gripping springs and an actuator, wherein: each gripping spring comprises a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an arcuate section disposed therebetween; the gripping springs are disposed on the device such that the first ends are pivotally coupled to the device, and the arcuate sections oppose each other so as to define an opening through which the cylindrical object is inserted; and the actuator is mechanically coupled to at least one of the second ends of the gripping springs such that movement of the actuator causes the arcuate sections of the gripping springs to grip the cylindrical object when inserted into the opening.

Abstract: A multi-joint drive mechanism includes a bone-member layer member (101) in which a plurality of bone members are arranged in arrays and in a generally planar fashion, the plurality of bone members being movably coupled at coupling portions (3A), and elastically expanding/contracting members (3) which are arranged so as to stretch over the coupling portions on one side or both sides of the bone-member layer member and moreover which are fixed between the plurality of bone members, wherein the multi-joint drive mechanism drives flexural motions of joints between the plurality of adjoining bone members by expanding or contracting the elastically expanding/contracting member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reusable device for securely holding at least one fragile object against a functional surface solidly fixed to the structure of a satellite or spacecraft during at least one operational phase relating to this satellite, making the objects thus held more accessible and intervention on these objects easier, while at the same time preventing damage to these objects under the effect of sudden accelerations, both during this (these) operational phase(s) and while the hold is being established or while the hold is being released. The device according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a rigid structure which partially grips this (these) object(s) and which supports at least one fixed jaw and at least one moving jaw substantially facing the fixed jaw(s), the object being immobilized between the fixed jaw and the moving jaw throughout the period of firm holding.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for picking up, transporting and depositing microscopic samples. Such an apparatus includes at least one interchangeable adhesive body and a gripping tool for picking up, transporting and depositing the adhesive body, the adhesive body having at least one outwardly curved surface which is at least partially adhesive with respect to the sample. In this method, a gripping tool picks up an adhesive body having an at least partially outwardly curved surface which is at least partially adhesive with respect to the sample. The gripping tool then guides the adhesive body to above the sample. The at least partially curved surface of the adhesive body is then brought into contact with the sample, the sample adheres to the surface of the adhesive body when this is being removed from the sample location, and is finally deposited at the depositing location.

Abstract: A nanotweezer (1) according to the present invention includes: a supporting member (25); an observation probe (10) that projects out from the supporting member (25), and is used when observing a surface of a specimen; a movable arm (20) that is arranged next to the observation probe (10) projecting out from the supporting member (25), and makes closed or opened between the observation probe (10) and the movable arm (20) to hold or release the specimen held between the observation probe (10) and the movable arm (20); and a drive mechanism that drives the movable arm (20) so as to make closed or opened between the observation probe (10) and the movable arm (20), and the supporting member (25), the observation probe (10) and the movable arm (20) are each formed by processing a semiconductor wafer (30) through a photolithography process.

Abstract: Small tweezers having a pair of arms openable and closable is moved closer to a sample and grips a particle attached on a surface of the sample and carries it onto an adhesion member to attach it thereto. The small tweezers are opened to release the particle and brought away from the adhesion member to leave the particle on the adhesion member. A particle removing device includes small tweezers having a pair of arms openable and closable; an opening/closing driving unit that drives the arm or arms to open/close the small tweezers; a stage mounting an adhesion member that attaches thereto a particle to withdraw the particle; and a moving mechanism that moves the small tweezers between the sample and the adhesion member mounted on the stage. Also, an atomic force microscope and a charged ion beam apparatus that include the particle removing device are disclosed.

Abstract: A microgripper device includes a microactuator member and a microgripper member. The microactuator member includes an actuating portion adapted to output a driving force to the microgripper member. The microgripper member includes a main flame, an engaging portion, a pair of lateral shifting portions and a gripping portion. The main frame of the microgripper member mounts the microactuator member therein, and the engaging portion of the microgripper member connects to the actuating portion of the microactuating member. Each of the lateral shifting portions includes three connection portions linking the main frame, the engaging portion and the gripping respectively. The gripping portion of the microgripper member includes a pair of resilient arms and a pair of pivot portions. Each of the pivot portions connects to a first end of the corresponding resilient arm so that the second ends of the resilient arms are able to generate a gripping movement.

Abstract: A clamping mechanism having clamping jaws is provided for holding an object. The clamping mechanism comprises a solenoid pad connected to at least one of the clamping jaws which is operative to actuate movement of the clamping jaw, and a solenoid motor that is operative to attract the solenoid pad towards it when it is energized. Further, a voice coil motor is rigidly coupled to the solenoid pad to drive the solenoid pad in directions towards or away from the solenoid motor.

Abstract: A workpiece transfer assembly for manipulating one or more workpieces, such as semiconductor wafers includes a plurality of coacting arms that include one or more arcuate portions corresponding to an outer diameter of a workpiece. The arcuate portion has a workpiece engaging surface adapted to engage an outer edge of the workpiece. At least one of the coacting arms includes a flexure assembly that allows deformation of the workpiece engaging surface in a direction away from the workpiece in response to pressure on the outer edge of the workpiece from the workpiece engaging surface.

Abstract: A gripping and holding device in the handling system of a machine tool. The device comprises at least one preferably plate-like support member provided with at least two retainer fingers spreadable against a return force and defining a common accommodation orifice for a component to be clamped. At least one resiliently displaceable retainer finger is integrally formed with the support member and can be locked in its clamping position by a locking element.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a bottle gripping device that grips a bottle at discrete points comprising a minimal area of the bottle. More specifically, the gripping device typically contacts the bottle at four discrete points and such total area of contact is preferred to be less than 25% of the total circumference of the bottle neck.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for gripping nano-scale objects, wherein the apparatus includes a probe including a base portion and a terminal portion. First and second nanotubes are secured to the base portion of the probe, wherein each of the first and second nanotubes include a protruding portion which extends past the base portion and the terminal portion of the probe. First and second electrodes are formed on the base portion of the probe and electrically connected to the first and second nanotubes. A third electrode is disposed on the terminal portion of the probe. A control circuit applies a voltage to the first, second and third electrodes to close the protruding portions of the first and second nanotubes by charging the first and second nanotubes to a first polarity and charging the third electrode to a second polarity opposite to the first polarity.

Abstract: A tool changer for machine tools having at least two tong-shaped grippers, the legs of which are formed for engaging with the ring groove at a broader end of a tool taper. The grippers are symmetrically mounted about the central axis of a carrier and are rotatable around the central axis with their legs pointing outward. The carrier is mounted on a support structure that has a drive for moving the carrier. In order to enable an earlier release of the tool taper from the collet chuck in the work spindle, and thus faster tool changes, at least one leg of the grippers is extended to form a protruding holding finger.

Abstract: An artificial hand includes a finger group which is pivotally connected to a thumb. The finger group and thumb are resiliently biased toward one another. The finger group and thumb have hooked articulated distal ends. When the artificial hand and the object are brought together, the finger-group and the thumb part to allow the object to pass into a capture zone. The articulated distal ends bend inwardly to assist in the passage of the object. Once in the capture zone the finger group and thumb close about the object thereby holding it is place. The hooked distal ends also serve to retain the object within the capture zone. In another aspect of the invention the finger group includes two finger subgroups which are also resiliently biased together to hold objects.

Abstract: Electric tweezers 1 includes a gripping member 13 for releasing/gripping an object, a base member 11 having an engagement portion to be engaged with the one end portion of the gripping member, a holder member 62 for fixedly coupling one end portion of the gripping member 13 and having a penetrating hollow cylindrical portion, a switch 57 for rotating and stopping a motor, a transformation mechanism 30 coupled with a shaft 52a of the motor 52 for transforming a rotation of the motor 52 in one direction into a quantity of translational displacement in a predetermined reciprocating direction with respect to the other end portion 13g of the gripping member, and an attaching section for attaching the base member 11 to a plurality of different positions relative to the holder member 62.

Abstract: The operation method of nanotweezers including the steps of: confirming the position of a nanoscale material by way of imaging the surface of a specimen by a scanning type probe microscope; moving the nanotweezers to the position over the nanoscale material; descending the nanotweezers which are in an opened state and then closing the nanotweezers so as to hold the nanoscale material; raising the nanotweezers that hold the nanoscale material and then moving the nanotweezers to an objective position; and descending the nanotweezers that hold the nanoscale material and then opening the nanotweezers, thus releasing the nanoscale material on the objective position which is on the surface of the specimen and is where a nanoscale construction is constructed.

Abstract: A handling device includes a gripping member and a support structure that supports the gripping member. The gripping member includes a flexible, substantially toroidal wall member having an outer wall portion and an inner wall portion that defines an axial passageway through the gripping member. A fluid fills the volume enclosed by the wall member. The support structure includes a drive mechanism that engages the wall member and is constructed and arranged to provide relative axial movement between the inner and outer wall portions.

Abstract: Diode-type nanotweezers including a first arm and a second arm that project from a holder and are opened and closed by an electrostatic force so as to hold a nanosubstance. The first arm is formed by a gate nanotube fastened at its base end to the holder, and its tip end protrudes from the holder. The second arm is formed by a nanotube diode fastened at its two base ends to the holder and have a diode characteristic portion at its tip end. Diode current and diode voltage applied between the base ends of the arms shows a non-linear diode characteristic such as varistor and rectification. When a gate voltage is applied between the gate nanotube and the nanotube diode, the arms are controlled and a grip strength for a nanosubstance held by the arms is detected by changes in the gate voltage or the diode current.

Abstract: The present invention is a gripper comprising a motor 12 for driving a connecting nut 126 that is translated, a gripping finger 103 having at least two sides of substantial V shape and a shared portion 103g for joining one ends of the two sides, and provided with the other ends of the sides, a base member 110 with a notch 110c for engaging the other end portion of the gripping member 103, a holder member 145 having a groove 145e for engaging the base member 110 detachably and the hollow portions 145m and 145h that are penetrated, and a magnetic member 128 composed of a permanent magnet inserted into the hollow portions 145m and 145h of the holder member 145, with one end connected to the connecting nut 126, and the other end magnetically connected to the shared portion 103g of the gripping finger 103.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved fuse and relay puller, consisting of a puller especially adapted to handle given electronic components such as fuses and relays due to the fact that it adjusts to characteristic shapes and dimensions thus making it possible to manipulate said elements in boxes and housings not easily accessible.

Abstract: A handling apparatus for groups of thermoformed object constantly held in a correct axial alignment. The apparatus include at least one picking up and release head having as many receiving seats extending parallel to one another from the head as are the stacks to be handled, and a drive apparatus arranged to move a respective pick up and release head between a stack pick up station and a stack release station of one or more stacks of thermoformed objects and to position it correctly both at the stack pick up station and at the stack release station. At least one mobile pusher member is arranged to engage the stacks of thermoformed objects located in each receiving sear, and control drive apparatus for each mobile pusher member to follow and hold down each stack while each stack is being released from its respective receiving seat.

Abstract: A tool changer for machine tools having at least two tong-shaped grippers, the legs of which are formed for engaging with the ring groove at a broader end of a tool taper. The grippers are symmetrically mounted about the central axis of a carrier and are rotatable around the central axis with their legs pointing outward. The carrier is mounted on a support structure that has a drive for moving the carrier. In order to enable an earlier release of the tool taper from the collet chuck in the work spindle, and thus faster tool changes, at least one leg of the grippers is extended to form a protruding holding finger.

Abstract: A clutching mechanism includes at least one elastic layer with a deformable area in which at least two micro/nano pins are erected. A driving mechanism is utilized to deform the deformable area in a way that those micro/nano pins move closer to each other. The distance between the tips of those micro/nano pins, namely, the clutching points, is thereby reduced, so as to grasp a micro/nano object. Further, to fit in with the shape of a micro/nano object, those micro/nano pins can be made into various shapes. It is a further effect that, when the driving mechanism is a vacuum pump or a pneumatic pump, the clutching force exerted on a micro/nano object can be adjusted by varying the pressure difference produced by the pump.

Abstract: To provide nanotweezers and a nanomanipulator which allow great miniaturization of the component and are capable of gripping various types of nano-substances such as insulators, semiconductors and conductors and of gripping nano-substances of various shapes. Electrostatic nanotweezers 2 are characterized in that the nanotweezers 2 are comprised of a plurality of nanotubes whose base end portions are fastened to a holder 6 so that the nanotubes protrude from the holder 6, coating films which insulate and cover the surfaces of the nanotubes, and lead wires 10, 10 which are connected to two of the nanotubes 8, 9; and the tip ends of the two nanotubes are freely opened and closed by means of an electrostatic attractive force generated by applying a voltage across these lead wires.

Abstract: To provide nanotweezers and a nanomanipulator which allow great miniaturization of the component and are capable of gripping various types of nano-substances such as insulators, semiconductors and conductors and of gripping nano-substances of various shapes. Electrostatic nanotweezers 2 are characterized in that the nanotweezers 2 are comprised of a plurality of nanotubes whose base end portions are fastened to a holder 6 so that the nanotubes protrude from the holder 6, coating films which insulate and cover the surfaces of the nanotubes, and lead wires 10, 10 which are connected to two of the nanotubes 8, 9; and the tip ends of the two nanotubes are freely opened and closed by means of an electrostatic attractive force generated by applying a voltage across these lead wires.

Abstract: A gripper comprises a motor 25, contained within a case 32, for driving a translational nut 23 that is moved in translation, a finger 20 having one end connected to the translational nut 23, with the other end being connected to the case 32, in which when the one end is pulled upon a movement of the translational nut, the finger is expanded in the amount of displacement at a top end, a plate-like stopper member 26 connected to one end of the finger 20 and having a projecting piece 26b around the outer periphery thereof, a holder member 22 for inserting loosely the projecting piece 26b, a locating nut 28 for adjusting a predetermined gap from the stopper member 26 by being threadingly engaged with a threaded portion of the holder member 22, and a spring 29 for pressing the locating nut 28.

Abstract: A material holding implement including a material holding member adapted for holding a material. The material holding member is made of a thermoplastic resin. The thermoplastic resin is deformable to a material holding configuration at a temperature greater than a constant temperature, and fixable to form a material holding region adapted to apply holding forces on a circumference of the material in a using temperature range lower than the constant temperature. Furthermore, a method of changing a form of the material holding member is provided. The method includes softening the resin by increasing a temperature above the constant temperature, molding the resin into a flat plate by pinching together upper and lower dies having flat surfaces opposing each other, pinching the resin using the upper and lower dies to form a material holding configuration, and fixing the resin by decreasing the temperature below a softening point of the resin.

Abstract: A sheet material conveying apparatus has at least one pocket running along a track, the pocket including a base section for receiving sheet material and an upper section including at least one upper gripper for holding an edge of the sheet material. The at least one upper gripper is movable between a gripping position and a non-gripping position, and the upper section is movable with respect to the base section to alter a distance of the at least one upper gripper with respect to the base section.

Abstract: A device including adjustably opposing jaws for grasping a lighting tube for insertion into or removal from a lighting fixture. The device includes a handle having a head bracket attached to or formed at a first end of the handle. The head bracket supports adjustably opposing jaws including a first jaw pivotally attached to the head bracket and a second jaw hingedly attached to the first jaw and thereby pivotably attached to the head bracket. A control rod is connected to the first and second jaws and may be used for rotation or pivotal movement of the opposing jaws relative to the head bracket by pushing or pulling the control rod, and adjustment of the distance between the faces of the opposing first and second jaws by rotation of the control rod about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Diode-type nanotweezers including a first arm and a second arm that project from a holder and are opened and closed by an electrostatic force so as to hold a nanosubstance. The first arm is formed by a gate nanotube fastened at its base end to the holder, and its tip end protrudes from the holder. The second arm is formed by a nanotube diode fastened at its two base ends to the holder and have a diode characteristic portion at its tip end. Diode current and diode voltage applied between the base ends of the arms shows a non-linear diode characteristic such as varistor and rectification. When a gate voltage is applied between the gate nanotube and the nanotube diode, the arms are controlled and a grip strength for a nanosubstance held by the arms is detected by changes in the gate voltage or the diode current.

Abstract: To provide nanotweezers and a nanomanipulator which allow great miniaturization of the component and are capable of gripping various types of nano-substances such as insulators, semiconductors and conductors and of gripping nano-substances of various shapes. Electrostatic nanotweezers 2 are characterized in that the nanotweezers 2 are comprised of a plurality of nanotubes whose base end portions are fastened to a holder 6 so that the nanotubes protrude from the holder 6, coating films which insulate and cover the surfaces of the nanotubes, and lead wires 10, 10 which are connected to two of the nanotubes 8, 9; and the tip ends of the two nanotubes are freely opened and closed by means of an electrostatic attractive force generated by applying a voltage across these lead wires.

Abstract: To provide nanotweezers and a nanomanipulator which allow great miniaturization of the component and are capable of gripping various types of nano-substances such as insulators, semiconductors and conductors and of gripping nano-substances of various shapes.

Abstract: To provide nanotweezers and a nanomanipulator which allow great miniaturization of the component and are capable of gripping various types of nano-substances such as insulators, semiconductors and conductors and of gripping nano-substances of various shapes.

Abstract: An edge gripping device for a robot arm grips and ungrips substrates, such as semiconductor wafers. A base is fixed to an end of the robot arm. A blade, having a distal contact location thereon, and a pusher bar, having preferably two proximal contact locations thereon, are movably mounted to the base via a linkage mechanism. The linkage mechanism includes two four-bar linkages. The first four-bar linkage has a stationary link and three movable links connected in a parallelogram configuration. The pusher bar is fixed to one of the movable links of the first linkage for movement therewith. The second four-bar linkage has a stationary link and three movable links connected in a trapezoidal configuration. The blade is fixed to one of the movable links of the second linkage for movement therewith. The two linkages share a stationary pivot point.

Abstract: Preform gripper comprising a handling arm (1) and a preform support plate (2) that has at an extremity thereof a semi-circular aperture (7) that is adapted to accommodate a cylindrical portion (28) of the collar of the preform. Hinged on said plate there are provided two parallel side gripping members (5, 6), two end portions of which (13, 14) are in the shape of an arc of a circle and are adapted to elastically move closer to each other up to a pre-established position. The gripper is adapted to, enable said cylindrical portion (28) of the collar of the preform to be fitted into and removed from, with a snap-like action, said semi-circular aperture (7) by pressing and pulling, respectively, the preform against two opposite, elastically enlargeable outer edges (31, 32) of said two side gripping members (5, 6).