Patent ID: 8944481
Filing Date: 2015-02-03
Classification: B25J

Abstract:
1. A gripping device for manipulating flexible elements, comprising: a main rack and a plurality of gripping elements coupled in the main rack by means of respective operating mechanisms for gripping a flexible element; wherein the gripping device comprises at least four gripping elements for gripping the flexible element; wherein at least one gripping element is a multiposition gripping element independently displaceable with respect to the other gripping elements in at least one direction parallel to the plane defined by the other gripping elements by means of at least one displacement system assembled in the main rack and in a perpendicular direction to said plane by means of a vertical operating mechanism; wherein at least two of the other gripping elements defining said plane are independently displaceable in any direction within said plane by means of respective two-way additional displacement systems assembled in the main rack; wherein the gripping elements are automatically adjustable in their respective positions such that they are arranged in one and the same plane for capturing the flexible element in a flat two-dimensional configuration and, once the flexible element is captured, moving to generate a three-dimensional configuration in the flexible element without generating stretching forces on the flexible element; and wherein the multiposition gripping element can be deactivated independently of the other gripping elements for being released from the flexible element when placed in a mold, and is displaceable to other positions with respect to the flexible element still secured to the other gripping elements such that the multiposition gripping element is available to perform at least one additional process on the flexible element placed in the mold.