Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A handling apparatus, comprising: a guide rail (11), a frame (12) laterally movable along said guide rail, a hollow cylindrical arm (13) movable in a vertical direction, an operating rod (21) passing through said hollow cylindrical arm, an inner cylinder (17) positioned within said cylindrical arm and around said operating rod, a spring (23) disposed between ends of said inner cylinder and said cylindrical arm for biasing said inner cylinder downwardly, stop means for said spring, clamping means (20) coupled to a lower end of said inner cylinder for clamping a top one of stacked workpieces (31), a controller (22) having a frame coupled to an upper end of said inner cylinder and being operationally coupled to said operating rod for operating said clamping means, a contact portion of said clamping means for contacting and sensing the uppermost surface of the workpiece whereby when the contact portion abuts against the uppermost surface of the workpiece only said cylinderical arm may be further lowered, switch means (26, 27) mechanically coupled to said controller for controlling movements of said cylindrical arm, and dog means (29) coupled at one end portion to said cylindrical arm and having a second end portion positioned adjacent said switch means for operating said switch means in accordance with the relative vertical positions of said cylindrical arm and said inner cylinder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
A handling apparatus, comprising: a guide rail (11), a frame (12) laterally movable along said guide rail, a hollow cylindrical arm (13) movable in a vertical direction, an operating rod (21) passing through said hollow cylindrical arm, an inner cylinder (17) positioned within said cylindrical arm and around said operating rod, a spring (23) disposed between ends of said inner cylinder and said cylindrical arm for biasing said inner cylinder downwardly, stop means for said spring, clamping means (20) coupled to a lower end of said inner cylinder for clamping a top one of stacked workpieces (31), a controller (22) having a frame coupled to an upper end of said inner cylinder and being operationally coupled to said operating rod for operating said clamping means, a contact portion of said clamping means for contacting and sensing the uppermost surface of the workpiece whereby when the contact portion abuts against the uppermost surface of the workpiece only said cylinderical arm may be further lowered, switch means (26, 27) mechanically coupled to said controller for controlling movements of said cylindrical arm, and dog means (29) coupled at one end portion to said cylindrical arm and having a second end portion positioned adjacent said switch means for operating said switch means in accordance with the relative vertical positions of said cylindrical arm and said inner cylinder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The handling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said switch means comprises first and second limit switches mounted on an outer periphery of said controller, said first switch being porvided for decreasing the lowering speed of said cylindrical arm and the second switch being provided for stopping the lowering movement of said cylindrical arm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The handling apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for vertically moving said hollow cylindrical arm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The handling device according to claim 3 wherein said moving means comprising a rack member coupled to said cylindrical arm, a motor, and a pinion gear coupling said motor to said rack, said motor being controlled by said switch means.