Manipulator device particularly for handling metal sheets during folding operations

Claim 1

A manipulator device particularly for handling metal sheets during folding operations, comprising a pair of holding members and means for displacing the holding members along three cartesian axes to a plurality of different positions, wherein said holding members are rotatable through 360° about an axis parallel to the plane in which they lie and wherein said means for displacing said holding members comprise: a pair of independent extensible arms each having a free and carrying one of said holding members, said extensible arms being disposed parallel to one another; a horizontal cross-piece, said arms being slidably mounted perpendicularly of and projecting from said horizontal cross-piece, said cross-piece being rotatable about an axis along which said arms slide; and independent motor means for controlling independently said cross-piece, said extensible arms and said holding members, said device further comprising: (a) interconnecting means for linking said independent extensible arms for simultaneous displacement of said holding members in a specularly symmetrical manner with respect to a plane of symmetry of said device passing between said arms; (b) a rotatable base disposed adjacent said cross-piece in correspondence with said plane of symmetry and able to rotate about a vertical axis; and (c) a table able to be detachably fitted on said base, said motor means being sized to accomplish detachment of said table by gripping it with said holding members and lifting said arms.