Gripper with conformal spring fingers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9505135-B1
Application number	US-201514839101-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 28, 2015
Priority date	Aug 28, 2015
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

A gripper section for use with a clamp arm for use with automated machinery. The gripper section includes a plurality of beam members which extend from a base, with each beam member of the plurality of beam members having a fixed end and a free end. The gripper section also includes a plurality of gripper surfaces proximate to the free ends, with each gripper surface attached to a respective beam member of the plurality of beam member. Each gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces and its respective beam member move independently of the other plurality of gripper surfaces and plurality of beam members. Wherein the plurality of gripper surfaces and the plurality of beam members conform to the shape of an object/part to be manipulated by the gripper section.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A gripper section for use with a clamp arm for use with automated machinery, the gripper section comprising:
a plurality of beam members which extend from a base, each beam member of the plurality of beam members having a fixed end and a free end;
a plurality of gripper surfaces proximate to the free ends, each gripper surface attached to a respective beam member of the plurality of beam members;
each gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces and its respective beam member move independently of the other plurality of gripper surfaces and plurality of beam members;
engagement portions provided on respective beam members of the plurality of beam members;
wherein the plurality of gripper surfaces and the plurality of beam members conform to the shape of an object/part to be manipulated by the gripper section and the engagement portions engage surfaces of the base or other of the plurality of beam members to provide increased grip force and control deflection of the plurality of beam members.

2. The gripper section as recited in claim 1 , wherein each beam member of the plurality of beam members has a first section which extends from the fixed end, a second section which extends from the free end and a bend provided between the first section and the second section.

3. The gripper section as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one beam member of the plurality of beam member has a positioning member to properly maintain at least one gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces in position.

4. The gripper section as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces is angled relative to another gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces to influence the movement of the object/part to the center of the plurality of gripper surfaces.

5. The gripper section as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces is parallel relative to another gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces.

6. The gripper section as recited in claim 1 , wherein a first gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces is angled relative to second gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces and a third gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces is parallel relative to the second gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces.

7. The gripper section as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of gripper surfaces have grooves, serrations, or projections provided thereon to facilitate the gripping of the object/p art.

8. The gripper section as recited in claim 1 , wherein a stop surfaces is provided to prevent adjacent gripper sections from moving to closely together.

9. The gripper section as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of gripper surfaces move, pivot or rotate relative to the base.

10. The gripper section as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of gripper surfaces move, rotate or pivot independently from each other.

11. A gripper section for use with a clamp arm for use with automated machinery, the gripper section comprising:
a plurality of beam members which extend from a base, each beam member of the plurality of beam members having a fixed end and a free end with an engagement portion positioned therebetween;
a plurality of gripper surfaces proximate to the free ends, each gripper surface attached to a respective beam member of the plurality of beam members;
each gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces and its respective beam member move independently of the other plurality of gripper surfaces and plurality of beam members;
wherein as the plurality of gripper surfaces conform to the shape of an object/part to be manipulated by the gripper section, the engagement portions of the plurality of beam members engage surfaces of the base or portions of other of the plurality of beam members to provide increased force to the object/part.

12. The gripper section as recited in claim 11 , wherein each beam member of the plurality of beam members has a first section which extends from the fixed end, a second section which extends from the free end and a bend provided between the first section and the second section.

13. The gripper section as recited in claim 11 , wherein at least one gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces is angled relative to another gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces to influence the movement of the object/part to the center of the plurality of gripper surfaces.

14. The gripper section as recited in claim 11 , wherein at least one gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces is parallel relative to another gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces.

15. The gripper section as recited in claim 11 , wherein a first gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces is angled relative to second gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces and a third gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces is parallel relative to the second gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces.

16. The gripper section as recited in claim 11 , wherein the plurality of gripper surfaces have grooves, serrations, or projections provided thereon to facilitate the gripping of the object/part.

17. The gripper section as recited in claim 11 , wherein the plurality of gripper surfaces move, pivot or rotate relative to the base and move, rotate or pivot independently from each other.

18. A gripper section for use with a clamp arm for use with automated machinery, the gripper section comprising:
a plurality of beam members which extend from a base, each beam member of the plurality of beam members having a fixed end and a free end with an engagement portion positioned therebetween, each beam member of the plurality of beam members move independently of the other beam members;
a plurality of gripper surfaces proximate to the free ends, each gripper surface attached to a respective beam member of the plurality of beam members, the plurality of gripper surfaces move, pivot or rotate relative to the base and move, rotate or pivot independently from each other;
wherein the plurality of gripper surfaces and the plurality of beam members conform to the shape of an object/part to be manipulated by the gripper section;
wherein as the plurality of gripper surfaces conform to the shape of an object/part to be manipulated by the gripper section, the engagement portions of the plurality of beam members engage surfaces of the base or portions of other of the plurality of beam members to provide increased force to the object/part.

19. The gripper section as recited in claim 18 , wherein at least one gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces is angled relative to another gripper surface of the plurality of gripper surfaces to influence the movement of the object/part to the center of the plurality of gripper surfaces.

Assignees

• Tyco Electronics Corp

Inventors

• Malstrom Charles Randall
• Hudson Richard Earl

Classifications

• B25J15/12 Primary

  with flexible finger members · CPC title

• B25J15/0028

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

• B25J15/0033

  with gripping surfaces having special shapes · CPC title

• B25J15/0042

  V-shaped gripping surfaces · CPC title