Patent ID: 7988404

Claim:
An apparatus for transporting a workpiece within a three-dimensional volume, comprising: a first rail extending in a generally horizontal direction; a first carriage that is slidably connected to the first rail for movement in the horizontal direction; a second rail attached to the first carriage and extending in a generally vertical direction; a second carriage that is slidably connected to the second rail for movement in the vertical direction; a traveler unit mounted to and revolvable along a generally horizontal annular path about the second carriage; and a gripper unit mounted to the traveler unit configured to grip the workpiece, the gripper unit including a pair of opposed jaws; wherein the traveler unit is revolvable relative to the second carriage; and wherein the gripper unit includes a clutch mechanism that ceases inward movement of the jaws after a predetermined magnitude of compression exerted by the jaws on a workpiece is reached.