US3714770A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inflatable gripper for handling spools of textile machines
Assignee: Oerlikon Textile GmbH and Co KG
•
Filing: 1970-11-09
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Granted: 1973-02-06
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Expires: 1990-11-09
Abstract
Abstract In a mandrel-like gripper assembly for firmly engaging the inner wall of a hollow spool, the inflatable hollow gripper body is formed of an expandable, resilient wall having, in cross section, an undulating, closed configuration.
Inventors
- 👤 E Rothke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 18:09
CPC Classifications
D; D01; D01H; D01H9/00; D01H9/001; D01H9/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
In an inflatable gripper assembly particularly for handling spools of textile machines, said gripper assembly being of the known type that is axially introduceable in a deflated condition into a spool and is inflatable therein to expand radially to firmly engage the inner wall of said spool, the improvement comprising a hollow gripper body having a longitudinal axis and a radially expandable wall, the cross section of which having a closed configuration surrounding said axis, said wall including a plurality of axially parallel, circumferentially spaced folds.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
In an inflatable gripper assembly particularly for handling spools of textile machines, said gripper assembly being of the known type that is axially introduceable in a deflated condition into a spool and is inflatable therein to expand radially to firmly engage the inner wall of said spool, the improvement comprising a hollow gripper body having a longitudinal axis and a radially expandable wall, the cross section of which having a closed configuration surrounding said axis, said wall including a plurality of axially parallel, circumferentially spaced folds.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
In an inflatable gripper assembly particularly for handling spools of textile machines, said gripper assembly being of the known type that is axially introduceable in a deflated condition into a spool and is inflatable therein to expand radially to firmly engage the inner wall of said spool, the improvement comprising a hollow gripper body having a longitudinal axis and a radially expandable wall, the cross section of which having a closed configuration surrounding said axis, said wall including a plurality of axially parallel, circumferentially spaced folds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
86 words
In an inflatable gripper assembly particularly for handling spools of textile machines, said gripper assembly being of the known type that is axially introduceable in a deflated condition into a spool and is inflatable therein to expand radially to firmly engage the inner wall of said spool, the improvement comprising a hollow gripper body having a longitudinal axis and a radially expandable wall, the cross section of which having a closed configuration surrounding said axis, said wall including a plurality of axially parallel, circumferentially spaced folds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein the cross section of said wall in the zone of said folds has an undulated configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said wall has a substantially uniform thickness at least in the zone of said folds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said wall that contains said folds is inscribable into a cylinder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An improvement as defined in claim 4, wherein at least said portion of said wall is formed of an elastic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein the number of said folds is at least four.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An improvement as defined in claim 6, wherein the number of said folds is at most six.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said gripper body includes a free terminal portion adjoining said first-named portion of said wall; said folds extend into and terminate in said free terminal portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3367098A
Cited
US3462934A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-06 | 1976-08-07 | 1977-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-06 | 1980-08-07 | 1981-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-06 | 1984-08-07 | 1985-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |