Patent ID: 8172292

Claim:
An end of arm tool for packing article bearing trays in boxes, said tool comprising: (a) a tool platform: (b) a pair of spaced apart, opposed clamping end members having at least an extended position, a semi-retracted position and a fully retracted position, and each comprising: (1) an end plate having a major upper portion that is positioned in a perpendicular relationship to said trays and having a lower portion slanted inwardly at an angle to said upper portion; (2) at least two spaced apart powered cylinders mounted on said end plate and having a cylinder rod; (3) at least one finger member mounted on the cylinder rod of each of said powered cylinders; (c) a pair of cylinder assemblies, each secured to said tool platform and one of said end members and including a powered cylinder apparatus for causing said end members to move first from said extended position to said semi-retracted position for picking up a tray and then to secondly move to said fully retracted position to cause said tray to bend for placing said tray in said box; and (d) said finger members are vertically movable by said cylinders from an open position to a closed position adjacent the lower portion of said end plate to clamp one end of said tray therebetween.