Gripper apparatus for electric motor components
First Claim
1. Gripper apparatus for gripping an electric motor component, said component having an axis, a surface, and at least one depression in said surface, said gripper apparatus further being for rotationally indexing said component about said axis, said gripper apparatus comprising:
- first and second gripper arms for contacting said component surface parallel to said component axis, each of said gripper arms having a gripper surface shaped for contacting said component surface to prevent translation of said component, at least one of said gripper arms being movable toward and away from the other of said gripper arms;
means for moving said at least one of said gripper arms for causing said gripper arms to contact said component surface;
indexing means for engaging said component surface and causing rotation of said component about said component axis;
stopping means for stopping rotation of said component by said indexing means after said indexing means has rotated said component to a desired position; and
disengaging means associated with said stopping means for disengaging said indexing means when said stopping means stops said rotation.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Gripper apparatus for electric motor components that can be used to grip components of different sizes, and that can rotationally index electric motor components of different sizes, is provided. The gripper apparatus has two oppositely facing gripper arms with complementary V-shaped faces sized to accommodate a range of sizes of components. The arms are moved together in unison to center and grip the component. After the component has been gripped, an indexing pawl rotates the component. A tooth is urged against the component and stops the rotation when it enters a depression or slot in the component, indicating that the desired angular position has been reached.
46 Citations
27 Claims
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1. Gripper apparatus for gripping an electric motor component, said component having an axis, a surface, and at least one depression in said surface, said gripper apparatus further being for rotationally indexing said component about said axis, said gripper apparatus comprising:
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first and second gripper arms for contacting said component surface parallel to said component axis, each of said gripper arms having a gripper surface shaped for contacting said component surface to prevent translation of said component, at least one of said gripper arms being movable toward and away from the other of said gripper arms; means for moving said at least one of said gripper arms for causing said gripper arms to contact said component surface; indexing means for engaging said component surface and causing rotation of said component about said component axis; stopping means for stopping rotation of said component by said indexing means after said indexing means has rotated said component to a desired position; and disengaging means associated with said stopping means for disengaging said indexing means when said stopping means stops said rotation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. Gripper apparatus for gripping an electric motor component having a component surface, said gripper apparatus accommodating electric motor components of varying sizes and comprising:
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first and second gripper arms for contacting said component, each of said gripper arms having a gripper surface shaped for contacting said component surface to prevent translation of said component, at least one of said gripper arms being movable toward and away from the other of said gripper arms; means for moving said at least one of said gripper arms for causing said gripper arms to contact said component surface; means for measuring the degree to which said component has been gripped by said gripper arms; and means actuated by said measuring means for further acting on said component after said component has been gripped by said gripper arms;
wherein;the shape of said gripper surfaces accommodates components of varying sizes as a function of the spacing between said first and second gripper arms. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification