US3613904A - Vacuum holder and control assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A work-engaging vacuum gripper including vacuum means for creating a vacuum within a vacuum cup and adapter assembly adjustably mounted upon a power-pivoted boom assembly projecting from a combination jaw body and actuating unit whereby longitudinally reciprocal power means from said actuating unit acting through said jaw body effects corresponding pivotal movements of the jaw arm and attached boom assembly which adjustably mounts the vacuum-operated workpiece-engaging gripper.

Description

iliiited States Patent Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented VACUUM HOLDER AND CONTROL ASSEMBLY 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 214/1 BV, 294/64 A Int. Cl B65g 47/91 Field of Search 214/ 1 BS, 1 B; 294/64 A References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,174,789 3/1965 Scherr 214/1 BS4 X 3,181,563 5/1965 Giffen 3,507,403 4/1970 Moore Primary ExaminerRobert G. Sheridan Assistant Examiner-George F. Abraham Att0rney-Cullen, Sloman & Cantor 294/64 A UX 214/1 B4 PATENTEUUBT 19 mn sum 10F 2 INVENTOR LELAND F. BLA BYg 1 427 ATTORNEYS VACUUM HOLDER AND CONTROL ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF INVENTION I-Ieretofore, vacuum-operated workpiece-engaging and holding cups have been provided for gripping and transporting a workpiece with normal power means for locating the vacuum gripper with respect to a pair of right angularly related planes such as shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,349,927, dated Oct. 31, 1967 entitled Material Handling Equipment.

Heretofore, there have been provided vacuum-operated workpieceengaging cups with a venturi control such as shown in my copending patent application, Ser. No. 814,687 filed Apr. 9, 1969 entitled Vacuum Cup Type Work Gripping Means.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved vacuum cup workpiece gripper with power operated pivotal boom assembly for positioning the vacuum cup gripping device in workpiece-engaging position and for pivotally retracting the same to a secondary position effecting corresponding movements of a work piece connected thereto.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specification and claims in conjunction with the appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the present vacuum gripper and boom assembly partly broken away for illustration.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawing, the present vacuum gripper and boom assembly includes jaw assembly II with connected actuating unit 12,boom assembly 13,bracket assembly 14 and vacuum cup assembly 15.

The aforesaid jaw assembly includesjaw body 16 having at one end apertured mounting flange 17 which employing fasteners 18 is adjustably secured to acorresponding flange 19 of the actuating unit 12.

The rod end 21 or end portion of a piston rod forming a part of power-operated cylinder and piston assembly, axially extends through the actuating unit 12 with the end portion of said rod end as in FIG. 1 secured toreciprocal clevis 22.

Said clevis is guidably positioned for reciprocal movements within a corresponding internal slot 22' shown in FIG. 2.

Anupper jaw plate 23, or a pair of said plates spaced apart by suitable spacers are pivotally mounted as at 24 upon said jaw body project forwardly thereof.

One or a pair of links 25, FIG. 1, pivotally connected at 26 to one end ofclevis 22 and at their respective other ends are pivotally connected at 27 to an end portion ofjaw arms 23.

In the illustrative embodiment there is shown schematically, an inactivelower jaw 28 similarly pivoted or otherwise connected to thejaw body 16 as atpivot 24. An additional set of corresponding links 25 are adapted to pivotally interconnect between said clevis and end portions of the secondary orlower jaw element 28 in the same manner as thepivot 27.

Upon the reciprocal movements of the piston rod end 21 in a manner forming no part of the present application, there is effected a corresponding reciprocal movement ofclevis 22 in turn efiecting pivotal movements of thejaw arms 23 as in the arc designated at 29.

Boom assembly 13 upon the forward end ofarms 23 includes aclamp 30 slit at 31 and byfasteners 32 adapted to adjustably engage one end of theboom rod 33. Said rod extends forwardly ofarms 23, longitudinally thereof and at its outer end, mountsbracket arm 34. Said bracket arm, split at 35, employing fasteners as at 36, adjustably mountsspreader bar 37.

One or a pair of vacuum cup assemblies are adjustably mounted upon thespreader bar 37. One of such assemblies is described with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3. Mounted uponspreader 37 is thebracket assembly 14, FIG. 2. A venturicup body mount 38 includes a tapered or cone assembly 39 which projects within a corresponding bore in bracket assembly 40 and is adjustably secured thereto as by fastener 41.

The venturi cup body assembly also includes the venturi assembiy 42 including pressure air inlet port 43 adapted for connection to a source of air under pressure,suitable outlet 44 to atmosphere and apassage 45 for communicating low-pressure condition to the interior of the vacuum cup 47.

Asuitable adapter assembly 46 is adjustably mounted with respect to thecup body 38 for mounting the vacuum cup 47 and for establishing vacuum communication thereinto.

The detail and construction of the vacuum cup body and venturi structure is itself, not a part of the present application, and is disclosed in the aforesaid copending patent application.

OPERATION In a conventional manner, the actuating unit 12 employing itssupport rod 20 may be movably positioned longitudinally through the piston rod 21 which after a predetermined longitudinal feed, is adapted for operating the actuating unit 12 which in turn, controls reciprocal movements of theclevis 22.

Said clevis connected by links 25 to thearms 23 is adapted on reciprocal movement to effect corresponding arcuate power adjustments of theboom assembly arm 33.

With the vacuum cup assembly suitably bracketed and secured to the outer end of the boom construction, it appears that theboom assembly 33 may be tilted to a workpiece-en gaging position shown at 29 so that the vacuum cup, when properly activated, will engage and secure to a workpiece. Theboom assembly 33 is thus adapted to be pivoted upwardly to the position shown in FIG. I for movably positioning the workpiece secured thereby.

A pair of said vacuum cup assemblies may be employed as shown in 15, FIG. 3, for the purpose of more effectively engaging a workpiece to be transported or removed to and from a machine tool or other jig or assembly.

Having described my invention, reference should now be had to the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. In combination with a material-handling apparatus, a jaw body having an internal longitudinally extending guide slot;

a jaw arm within and pivotally mounted on said jaw body around a fixed pivot axis and projecting from said jaw y;

a boom assembly extending forwardly of said arm and adjustably secured thereto and including a bracket arm;

a spreader adjustably secured to said bracket arm;

a venturi containing cup mounting body adjustably secured to said spreader;

a vacuum cup assembly including an adapter secured to said venturi-containing cup mounting body;

a clevis longitudinally movably positioned within said jaw body guide slot and adapted for connection to a reciprocal power source; and

a link pivotally connected at one end to said clevis around a pivot axis lying in a plane containing said fixed pivot axis, the other end of said link being pivotally connected to said jaw arm rearwardly of and offset from said fixed pivot axis whereby reciprocal movement of said clevis effects corresponding pivotal movement of said jaw arm around said fixed pivot axis by displacement of said link pivot axis along said plane containing said fixed pivot axis.

2. In the combination of claim I, said boom assembly including a clamp secured upon one end of said jaw arm;

a rod adjustably secured to said clamp and extending longitudinally outward of said arm at its end and mounting said bracket arm.

3. In the combination of claim 2, the mounting of said venturi containing cup mounting body including a bracket adjustably secured to said spreader.

Claims (3)

1. In combination with a material-handling apparatus, a jaw body having an internal longitudinally extending guide slot; a jaw arm within and pivotally mounted on said jaw body around a fixed pivot axis and projecting from said jaw body; a boom assembly extending forwardly of said arm and adjustably secured thereto and including a bracket arm; a spreader adjustably secured to said bracket arm; a venturi containing cup mounting body adjustably secured to said spreader; a vacuum cup assembly including an adapter secured to said venturi-containing cup mounting body; a clevis longitudinally movably positioned within said jaw body guide slot and adapted for connection to a reciprocal power source; and a link pivotally connected at one end to said clevis around a pivot axis lying in a plane containing said fixed pivot axis, the other end of said link being pivotally connected to said jaw arm rearwardly of and offset from said fixed pivot axis whereby reciprocal movement of said clevis effects corresponding pivotal movement of said jaw arm around said fixed pivot axis by displacement of said link pivot axis along said plane containing said fixed pivot axis.

2. In the combination of claim 1, said boom assembly including a clamp secured upon one end of said jaw arm; a rod adjustably secured to said clamp and extending longitudinally outward of said arm at its end and mounting said bracket arm.

3. In the combination of claim 2, the mounting of said venturi containing cup mounting body including a bracket adjustably secured to said spreader.

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