Gripping mechanism and assembly apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11247346-B2
Application number	US-202016799562-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 24, 2020
Priority date	Feb 25, 2019
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

A gripping mechanism includes a holder, a gripping roller, and a lever. The gripping roller is housed within the holder and grips an object between the roller and an inner surface of the holder. The lever releases gripping of the object by pushing the gripping roller upward. Preferably, the holder includes two plate sections which support a weight of the gripping roller. An opening is located between the two plate sections. The opening receives insertion of the object. One of the two plate sections is inclined relative to a vertical direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gripping mechanism comprising:
a frame;
a magnet fixed to the frame;
a roller housed within the frame and configured to grip an object between the roller and an inner surface of the frame; and
a lever configured to release gripping of the object by pushing the roller upward, wherein
the magnet draws the lever such that the lever keeps pushing the roller upward.

2. The gripping mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein
the frame has two plate sections which support a weight of the roller,
an opening is located between the two plate sections, the opening receiving insertion of the object, and
one of the two plate sections is inclined relative to a vertical direction.

3. The gripping mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein
the frame and the lever include a support mechanism which supports the lever so as to freely move up and down relative to the frame.

4. An assembly apparatus for assembling a first member and a second member, the assembly apparatus comprising:
a gripping mechanism configured to grip the first member; and
a drive mechanism configured to drive the gripping mechanism, wherein
the gripping mechanism includes:
a frame; and
a roller housed within the frame, the roller gripping the first member between the roller and an inner surface of the frame,

the drive mechanism moves the gripping mechanism relative to the first member such that the first member is gripped by the gripping mechanism,
the drive mechanism moves the first member gripped by the gripping mechanism relative to the second member such that the first member and the second member are assembled,
the gripping mechanism further includes a lever which releases gripping of the first member by pushing the roller upward, and
the lever is pushed upward by a protrusion provided on the second member so as to release the gripping of the first member.

5. The assembly apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
the frame includes two plate members which support a weight of the roller,
an opening is located between the two plate sections, the opening receiving insertion of the first member, and
one of the two plate sections is inclined relative to a vertical direction.

6. An assembly apparatus for assembling a first member and a second member, the assembly apparatus comprising:
a gripping mechanism configured to grip the first member; and
a drive mechanism configured to drive the gripping mechanism, wherein
the gripping mechanism includes:
a frame; and
a roller housed within the frame, the roller gripping the first member between the roller and an inner surface of the frame,

the drive mechanism moves the gripping mechanism relative to the first member such that the first member is gripped by the gripping mechanism,
the drive mechanism moves the first member gripped by the gripping mechanism relative to the second member such that the first member and the second member are assembled,
the gripping mechanism further includes a magnet fixed to the frame and a lever that releases gripping of the first member by pushing the roller upward, and
the magnet draws the lever such that the lever keeps pushing the roller upward.

7. The assembly apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein
the drive mechanism pushes the lever downward so as to release drawing of the lever by the magnet.

Assignees

• Kyocera Document Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Izumi Koji
• Mori Hayato
• Takagi Masaru
• Yamakawa Tomohiko

Classifications

• B25J9/1055

  by gravity · CPC title

• B65G47/90

  Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials · CPC title

• B25J15/0028

  with movable, e.g. pivoting gripping jaw surfaces · CPC title

• B25J15/0608 Primary

  with magnetic holding means · CPC title

• B25J15/00 Primary

  Gripping heads {and other end effectors (grippers used in machine tools B23Q7/04; gripping members fitted on cranes B66C1/42, B66C1/44; gripping means used for mounting electrical components H05K13/04; gripping means used in the manufacture of semiconductors H10P72/7602)} · CPC title