US4727647A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
VCD tooling for DIP components of different widths
Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation Inc
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Filing: 1986-08-18
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Granted: 1988-03-01
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Expires: 2006-08-18
Abstract
Abstract The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for gripping DIP components automatically without the need for shutting down the machine to change the tooling assembly when handling components which differ in width. Two sets of fingers are provided, with one set inside the other, such that engagement of the inner pair with a wide component causes automatic retraction of them sufficiently for gripping of the component by the outer pair. In the absence of a component, the inner pair of fingers is automatically extended for subsequent component handling.
Inventors
- 👤 Crawford A. Matson
- 👤 Roy G. Space
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:01
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/04; H05K13/0478; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/4913; Y10T29/49139; Y10T29/4914; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/53174; Y10T29/53183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of handling components having bodies which may differ in at least one particular dimension, from component to component, and comprising the steps of: providing a gripper assembly having at least two pairs of fingers with a spacing between fingers of each pair of fingers providing a gripping range different from at least one other pair of fingers in order to grip components having said particular dimension corresponding to said gripping range of said each pair of fingers; selecting automatically between said pairs according to said particular dimension of each component; and gripping each said component upon actuation of said assembly.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of handling components having bodies which may differ in at least one particular dimension, from component to component, and comprising the steps of: providing a gripper assembly having at least two pairs of fingers with a spacing between fingers of each pair of fingers providing a gripping range different from at least one other pair of fingers in order to grip components having said particular dimension corresponding to said gripping range of said each pair of fingers; selecting automatically between said pairs according to said particular dimension of each component; and gripping each said component upon actuation of said assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method as in claim 1, and further comprising the steps of: positioning one of said pairs of fingers at an extended, component handling location relative to a support bracket, with remaining pairs of said fingers retracted away from said component handling location; and retracting said one pair of fingers and extending another pair of said fingers, automatically and according to said particular dimension, in order to accomplish said gripping.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 1, and further comprising the step of: engaging each component with at least one of said pairs of fingers in order to perform said selecting.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
116 words
A method as in claim 3, and further comprising the steps of: positioning an inside pair of said fingers having a narrower spacing between fingers thereof within an outside pair of said fingers having a wider said spacing; advancing said pairs toward a component for gripping thereof; gripping said component with said inside pair when said particular dimension of said component corresponds to said gripping range of said inside pair; and retracting said inside pair sufficiently and relative to said outside pair in order to allow gripping of said component by said outside pair and performing said gripping with said outside pair of fingers when said particular dimension is greater than said inside pair gripping range.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of handling components having bodies which may differ in at least one particular dimension, from component to component, and comprising the steps of: providing a gripper assembly having at least two pairs of fingers with each pair of fingers having a gripping range different from at least one other pair of fingers and being adapted to grip components having said particular dimension corresponding to said gripping range of said each pair of fingers; selecting automatically between said pairs according to said particular dimension of each component; positioning one of said pairs of fingers at an extended, component handling location relative to a support bracket, with remaining pairs of said fingers retracted a way from said component handling location; retracting said one pair of fingers and extending another pair of said fingers, automatically and according to said particular dimension, in order to accomplish gripping of each component; and gripping each said component upon actuation of said assembly.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of handling components having bodies which may differ in at least one particular dimension, from component to component, and comprising the steps of: providing a gripper assembly having at least two pairs of fingers with each pair of fingers having a gripping range different from at least one other pair of fingers and being adapted to grip components having said particular dimension corresponding to said gripping range of said each pair of fingers; selecting automatically between said pairs according to said particular dimension of each component; positioning one of said pairs of fingers at an extended, component handling location relative to a support bracket, with remaining pairs of said fingers retracted a way from said component handling location; retracting said one pair of fingers and extending another pair of said fingers, automatically and according to said particular dimension, in order to accomplish gripping of each component; and gripping each said component upon actuation of said assembly.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of handling components having bodies which may differ in at least one particular dimension, from component to component, and comprising the steps of: providing a gripper assembly having at least two pairs of fingers with a spacing between fingers of each pair of fingers providing a gripping range different from at least one other pair of fingers in order to grip components having said particular dimension corresponding to said gripping range of said each pair of fingers; engaging each component with at least one of said pairs of fingers in order to select automatically between said pairs according to said particular dimension of each component; and gripping each said component upon actuation of said assembly.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of handling components having bodies which may differ in at least one particular dimension, from component to component, and comprising the steps of: providing a gripper assembly having at least two pairs of fingers with a spacing between fingers of each pair of fingers providing a gripping range different from at least one other pair of fingers in order to grip components having said particular dimension corresponding to said gripping range of said each pair of fingers; engaging each component with at least one of said pairs of fingers in order to select automatically between said pairs according to said particular dimension of each component; and gripping each said component upon actuation of said assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
90 words
A gripper assembly for gripping components having bodies which may differ in at least one particular dimension from component to component, and comprising: plural pairs of component gripping fingers, with a spacing between said fingers differing from pair to pair in order to handle components within a certain size range of said particular dimension; and means, operatively associated with said plural pairs of fingers, for selecting automatically between pairs of component gripping fingers according to said particular dimension of each component and gripping said component upon actuation of said assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
90 words
A gripper assembly for gripping components having bodies which may differ in at least one particular dimension from component to component, and comprising: plural pairs of component gripping fingers, with a spacing between said fingers differing from pair to pair in order to handle components within a certain size range of said particular dimension; and means, operatively associated with said plural pairs of fingers, for selecting automatically between pairs of component gripping fingers according to said particular dimension of each component and gripping said component upon actuation of said assembly.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
An apparatus as in claim 7, and further comprising: means, operatively associated with said gripper assembly, for positioning one of said pairs of fingers at an extended, component handling location relative to a support bracket and remaining pairs of said fingers retracted away from said component handling location; and means, operatively associated with said gripper assembly, for retracting said one pair of fingers and extending another pair of said fingers, automatically and according to said particular dimension, in order to accomplish said gripping.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as in claim 7, and further comprising: means, operatively associated with said gripper assembly, for engaging each component with at least one of said pairs of fingers in order to perform said selecting.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
146 words
An apparatus as in claim 9, and further comprising: means, operatively associated with said gripper assembly, for positioning an inside pair of said fingers having a narrower spacing between fingers thereof within an outside pair of said fingers having a wider said spacing; means, operatively associated with said gripper assembly, for advancing said pairs toward a component for gripping thereof; means, operatively associated with said gripper assembly, for gripping said component with said inside pair when said particular dimension of said component corresponds to said gripping range of said inside pair; and means, operatively associated with said gripper assembly, for retracting said inside pair sufficiently and relative to said outside pair in order to allow gripping of said component by said outside pair and for gripping said component with said outside pair of fingers when said particular dimension is greater than said inside pair gripping range.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
186 words
An apparatus for handling components having bodies which may differ in at least one particular dimension, from component to component, and comprising: a gripper assembly having at least two pairs of fingers with fingers of each pair of fingers having a gripping range different from at least one other pair of fingers and being adapted to grip components having said particular dimension corresponding to said gripping range of said each pair of fingers; and means, operatively associated with said gripper assembly, for selecting automatically between said pairs according to said particular dimension of each component; means, operatively associated with said gripper assembly, for gripping each said component upon actuation of said assembly; means, operatively associated with said gripper assembly, for positioning one of said pairs of fingers at an extended, component handling location relative to a support bracket and remaining pairs of said fingers retracted away from said component handling location; and means, operatively associated with said gripper assembly, for retracting said one pair of fingers and extending another pair of said fingers, automatically and according to said particular dimension, in order to accomplish said gripping.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
186 words
An apparatus for handling components having bodies which may differ in at least one particular dimension, from component to component, and comprising: a gripper assembly having at least two pairs of fingers with fingers of each pair of fingers having a gripping range different from at least one other pair of fingers and being adapted to grip components having said particular dimension corresponding to said gripping range of said each pair of fingers; and means, operatively associated with said gripper assembly, for selecting automatically between said pairs according to said particular dimension of each component; means, operatively associated with said gripper assembly, for gripping each said component upon actuation of said assembly; means, operatively associated with said gripper assembly, for positioning one of said pairs of fingers at an extended, component handling location relative to a support bracket and remaining pairs of said fingers retracted away from said component handling location; and means, operatively associated with said gripper assembly, for retracting said one pair of fingers and extending another pair of said fingers, automatically and according to said particular dimension, in order to accomplish said gripping.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for handling components having bodies which may differ in at least one particular dimension, from component to component, and comprising: a gripper assembly having at least two pairs of fingers with each pair of fingers having a gripping range different from at least one other pair of fingers and being adapted to grip components having said particular dimension corresponding to said gripping range of said each pair of fingers; and means operatively associated with said gripper assembly, for engaging each component with at least one of said pairs of fingers in order to select automatically between said pairs according to said particular dimension of each component; and means, operatively associated with said gripper assembly, for gripping each said component upon actuation of said assembly.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for handling components having bodies which may differ in at least one particular dimension, from component to component, and comprising: a gripper assembly having at least two pairs of fingers with each pair of fingers having a gripping range different from at least one other pair of fingers and being adapted to grip components having said particular dimension corresponding to said gripping range of said each pair of fingers; and means operatively associated with said gripper assembly, for engaging each component with at least one of said pairs of fingers in order to select automatically between said pairs according to said particular dimension of each component; and means, operatively associated with said gripper assembly, for gripping each said component upon actuation of said assembly.
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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) | 1991-03-01 | 1991-08-31 | 1992-03-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-01 | 1995-08-31 | 1996-03-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-01 | 1999-08-31 | 2000-03-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |