Patent ID: 6416100
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A gripper mechanism for devices for handling objects in the form of sheets or plates, in particular for post processing machines, comprising:a gripper arm which can pivot about a pivot axis on a gripper arm pivoting shaft, the gripper arm having a pivot end for pivoting about the pivot axis and a free gripper arm end; a pivoting drive which is coupled to the gripper arm; a gripper hand which is located at the free gripper arm end, the gripper hand having a pair of interacting gripper claws having a first gripper claw member attached to the gripper hand and a second gripper claw member pivotally attached to the gripper hand, wherein the second gripper claw member cooperates with the first gripper claw member for handling an object, the second gripper claw member having a gripper claw pivoting shaft for pivoting about a gripper claw pivot axis for pivoting into a plurality of positions including pivoting in an opening direction to an open position and pivoting in a closing direction to a closed position; prestressing means for initially clamping the second gripper claw member in the closed position; and a gripper claw operating drive operatively connected to the second gripper claw member for pivoting the second gripper claw member about the gripper claw pivoting shaft, which is parallel to the gripper arm pivoting shaft, in the opening direction against the force of the prestressing means; wherein the gripper claw operating drive includes a first operating lever having a first side and a second side which is mounted on the gripper arm such that it can be pivoted by a claw operating drive apparatus about an operating shaft during the pivoting movements of the gripper arm, and is connected via a coupling linkage to the second gripper claw member with sufficient play to allow a specific opening of the pair of gripper claws against the force of the prestressing means irrespective of the position of the first operating lever; and further comprising a manual second operating lever having a first side piece and a second side piece, the first side piece adjacent to the first side of the first operating lever and the second side piece adjacent to the second side of the first operating lever each side piece having a recess for accepting the operating shaft, the second side piece having a linkage bore for accepting a linkage shaft operatively connected to the coupling linkage; wherein the play is provided between the linkage shaft and the first operating lever, and the manual second operating lever can be pivoted about the operating shaft of the first operating lever in the opening direction and within the play using a handle attachment for manual operation of the second gripper claw member.