US4637494A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for moving carriages along ladders
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1984-11-14
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Granted: 1987-01-20
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Expires: 2004-11-14
Abstract
Abstract A carriage carrying a robot, a television camera, etc. is moved along a ladder having spaced ledges. The carriage has a number of gripper units moved in the direction of movement of the carriage by air cylinders or motor driven threaded rods. Each gripper unit is reciprocated toward and away from the ladder and provided with a motive device for opening and closing grippers for gripping or releasing the ledges.
Inventors
- 👤 Hitoshi Iida
- 👤 Ryoichi Nakayama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:57
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D57/00; B66; B66B; B66B9/00; B66B9/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
Apparatus for moving along a structure having ledges comprising: a carriage; a plurality of gripper units operatively associated with said carriage, each one of said gripper units including grippers for gripping a ledge of said structure; drive means for moving said carriage along said structure in one or another direction; reciprocating means carried by said carriage for reciprocatingly extending said gripper units toward and away from said ledges; motive means operatively associated with said gripper units for opening and closing said grippers for causing the same to grip and release said ledges; detecting means operatively connected to said carriage for detecting positions of said ledges; and means cooperating with said gripper units and said detecting means for halting extension of said gripper units toward said ledges when said gripper units are sufficiently close to grip one of said ledges.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
Apparatus for moving along a structure having ledges comprising: a carriage; a plurality of gripper units operatively associated with said carriage, each one of said gripper units including grippers for gripping a ledge of said structure; drive means for moving said carriage along said structure in one or another direction; reciprocating means carried by said carriage for reciprocatingly extending said gripper units toward and away from said ledges; motive means operatively associated with said gripper units for opening and closing said grippers for causing the same to grip and release said ledges; detecting means operatively connected to said carriage for detecting positions of said ledges; and means cooperating with said gripper units and said detecting means for halting extension of said gripper units toward said ledges when said gripper units are sufficiently close to grip one of said ledges.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said motive means for opening and closing said grippers comprises fluid pressure piston cylinder means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for reciprocating said gripper units comprises electric motors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 which further comprises a control means including a computer for controlling said drive means, said means for reciprocating said gripper units said motive means for opening and closing said grippers, and said halting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for reciprocating said gripper units comprises fluid pressure piston cylinder means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said detecting means comprises a photoelectric switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for moving said carriage comprises a plurality of electric motors carried by said carriage, threaded rods extending in the direction of movement of said carriage and respectively driven by said electric motors and nuts respectively mating with said threaded rods, each nut supporting said gripper unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 which further comprises a control means including an electric source and a source of compressed air, and air pipes and an electric cable for supplying compressed air and electric power to said drive means for moving said carriage, said gripper unit reciprocating means and said motive means for opening and closing said grippers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said drive means for moving said carriage comprises a plurality of fluid pressure piston cylinder means each including at least one piston rod and wherein each one of said gripper units is supported by said piston rods.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said piston rod comprises a plurality of parallel juxtaposed piston rods.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 which further comprises control means including a computer for controlling said reciprocating means, said motive means, and said halting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 which further comprises means for supplying outputs of said detecting means to said computer for controlling said means for reciprocating said gripper units, said motive means for opening and closing said grippers and said halting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said halting means comprises a limit switch means mounted on one of said gripper units for providing a signal to said reciprocating means upon contact with said ledges.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein each gripper unit is provided with a limit switch means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-01-19 | 1990-07-21 | 1991-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-01-19 | 1994-07-21 | 1995-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-01-19 | 1998-07-21 | 1999-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |