Patent ID: 7854456

Claim:
A gripper assembly, comprising: a piston moveable between an extended position and a retracted position; a first rod and a second rod each connected to the piston; a first jaw and a second jaw connected to the first rod and the second rod, respectively, for movement over a range of motion in response to movement of the piston, wherein the range of motion of each of the first jaw and the second jaw is independently adjustable from the range of motion of the other of the first jaw and the second jaw; wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are in an open position when the piston is in the extended position and the first jaw and the second jaw are in a closed position when the piston is in the retracted position; and wherein the piston synchronously moves the first rod and the second rod when the first jaw and the second jaw are near the closed position and asynchronously moves the first rod and the second rod when the first jaw and the second jaw are near the open position during movement of the first jaw and the second jaw toward the closed position from the open position.