Patent ID: 8210587

Claim:
A device for engaging objects which comprise a bundle of feed-through tubes extending between two end plates, said device comprising at least one gripper provided with: at least a first and a second gripper arm, at least one of which is movable with respect to the other gripper arm for enclosing at least one object therebetween; and a driving mechanism connected to at least one end of said first and second gripper arms for closing or opening the gripper as needed, wherein at least one of said first and second gripper arms comprises a first gripper arm part having a first end and a second end and a second gripper arm part having a first end and a second end, wherein an end of the first gripper arm part is pivotally connected to an end of the second gripper arm part, and wherein an end of the second gripper arm part forms an end part of the gripper arm, wherein the first and second gripper arm parts are arranged to be adjusted relative to each other by an adjusting mechanism, such that said gripper arms can be adjusted in dependence on the diameter of the object to be engaged prior to engaging said object and such that said object is enclosed, and wherein the driving mechanism comprises a linkage which is pivotally coupled to the first and second gripper arms, which can define a parallelogram configuration in combination with the gripper arms, as well as a driving element, a cylinder, which acts on pivot points in the parallelogram configuration.