Patent ID: 8240353

Claim:
A gripper assembly for a tray sealing machine, the gripper assembly comprising: a carriage movable between extended and retracted positions; at least one gripper arm attached to the carriage and movable between gripping and releasing positions; and first and second independently operable drives separate from the carriage but coupled thereto via respective first and second drive train assemblies, wherein the first drive train assembly is adapted to move the carriage between the first and second positions in response to the operation of the first drive, and the second drive train assembly is further adapted to cause the at least one gripper arm to move between the open and closed positions in response to operation of the first and second drives at differing speeds, wherein the second drive train assembly comprises a gripper arm actuation mechanism coupled to the at least one gripper arm via a drive member of a respective gripper arm linkage, the gripper arm actuation mechanism being adapted to convert rotary motion into movement of the at least one gripper arm between the open and closed positions.