Patent ID: 6533104
Filing Date: 2003-03-18
Classification: B65G,B65H,H01L

Abstract:
A device for receiving and transporting objects, comprising:a pair of parallel carriers situated opposite each other and adapted to be driven in synchrony, the pair of parallel carriers defining a transport path between them along which an object is transportable from a point of receipt to a point of release; a pair of grippers, each coupled to a respective one of the pair of parallel carriers and disposed opposite the other of the pair of grippers, each gripper being rotationally movable about a pivot axis toward the other gripper, thereby enabling the pair of grippers to grip and hold an object to be transported, each gripper having a respective guide assembly fixed thereto, the guide assembly adapted to control a rotational motion of the gripper about the pivot axis; and a pair of first guide elements, each disposed along at least a portion of a length of a respective one of the pair of parallel carriers and defining a first guide path for guiding the guide assembly of the respective one of the pair of grippers and imparting a rotational motion to the gripper, each first guide path including a first sloped path section adapted to impart a rotational motion to the gripper such that at a moment of initial contact between the gripper and an object to be transported, the rotational motion of the gripper and the translational motion of the gripper substantially counterbalance each other.