Power-driven gripper, especially for manipulating mould parts and cooperating components in an automated foundry plant
First Claim
1. A gripper (3) for manipulating objects or machine parts, such as a core mask (7) in an automated foundry plant and of the kind comprising(a) a gripper base (9),(b) a first gripping-jaw bearing (12) substantially fixedly positioned on said base (9),(c) a second gripping-jaw bearing (13) substantially fixedly positioned on said base (9) a distance from said first gripping-jaw bearing (12),(d) a first gripping jaw (5) having a first actuating pin (16) eccentrically spaced from said first gripping jaw bearing (12) and being pivotably supported about said first gripping-jaw bearing (12) and adapted to be moved between(d1) a gripping position extending from said gripper base (9), and(d2) a rest position withdrawn to said gripper base (9),(e) a second gripping jaw (6) having a second actuating pin (17) eccentrically spaced from said second gripping jaw bearing (13) and being pivotably supported about said second gripping-jaw bearing (13) and adapted to be moved between(e1) a gripping position extending from said gripper base (9), and(e2) a rest position withdrawn to said gripper base (9) and is positioned outside of and close to the withdrawn first gripper jaw (5), and(f) actuating means (18,19,22,24,26) for providing mutually coordinated movements of the two gripping jaws (5,6) between said gripping positions and rest positions, characterized in(g) that said actuating means comprises two mechanically interconnected knee-joint mechanisms (18,22a,19,22b), one for each said gripping jaw (5,6), each of said knee-joint mechanisms having a respective first end pivotably secured to a bearing (23) on said gripper base (9) and a respective second end pivotably connected with the respective actuating pin (16,17) of the respective gripping jaw (5,6), said knee-joint mechanisms being thus dimensioned and situated(g1) that when said actuating means is made to move the gripping jaws (5,6) from the gripping position to the rest position, the first gripping jaw (5) will initially move faster than the second gripping jaw (6), and(g2) that when this movement is completed, the second gripping jaw (6) will be positioned outside of the first gripping jaw (5).
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a gripper with two pivotable jaws (5,6) for engaging a core mask (7) or the like in an automated foundry plant, each jaw is actuated by a knee-joint linkage (18,22a and 19,22b respectively) with a common member (22) driven by a single hydraulic cylinder (24). By arranging the actuating mechanism as shown, it is possible
(a) to move the two jaws between their gripping positions shown and their position of rest (not shown) by a single hydraulic cylinder or equivalent motor, and
(b) to move the two jaws between said positions without risk of the jaws colliding with each other, as during the movement to the position of rest (not shown), the lower jaw (5) is swung into the gripper housing (9) before the upper jaw (6).
7 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A gripper (3) for manipulating objects or machine parts, such as a core mask (7) in an automated foundry plant and of the kind comprising
(a) a gripper base (9), (b) a first gripping-jaw bearing (12) substantially fixedly positioned on said base (9), (c) a second gripping-jaw bearing (13) substantially fixedly positioned on said base (9) a distance from said first gripping-jaw bearing (12), (d) a first gripping jaw (5) having a first actuating pin (16) eccentrically spaced from said first gripping jaw bearing (12) and being pivotably supported about said first gripping-jaw bearing (12) and adapted to be moved between (d1) a gripping position extending from said gripper base (9), and (d2) a rest position withdrawn to said gripper base (9), (e) a second gripping jaw (6) having a second actuating pin (17) eccentrically spaced from said second gripping jaw bearing (13) and being pivotably supported about said second gripping-jaw bearing (13) and adapted to be moved between (e1) a gripping position extending from said gripper base (9), and (e2) a rest position withdrawn to said gripper base (9) and is positioned outside of and close to the withdrawn first gripper jaw (5), and (f) actuating means (18,19,22,24,26) for providing mutually coordinated movements of the two gripping jaws (5,6) between said gripping positions and rest positions, characterized in (g) that said actuating means comprises two mechanically interconnected knee-joint mechanisms (18,22a,19,22b), one for each said gripping jaw (5,6), each of said knee-joint mechanisms having a respective first end pivotably secured to a bearing (23) on said gripper base (9) and a respective second end pivotably connected with the respective actuating pin (16,17) of the respective gripping jaw (5,6), said knee-joint mechanisms being thus dimensioned and situated (g1) that when said actuating means is made to move the gripping jaws (5,6) from the gripping position to the rest position, the first gripping jaw (5) will initially move faster than the second gripping jaw (6), and (g2) that when this movement is completed, the second gripping jaw (6) will be positioned outside of the first gripping jaw (5).
Specification