Patent ID: 7694492

Claim:
A gripping device for placing a box having two opposite sides and a base in an outer packaging for the box, the gripping device comprising: a mobile frame having two opposite frame sides and a frame axis that extends substantially vertically; first and second sets of discrete grippers connected to respective opposite sides of the frame such that in a use position each set of grippers is situated on opposite sides of the box; each discrete gripper having a slender pen-shaped body and a hook-shaped distal end, the slender pen-shaped body of each gripper having a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to the vertical frame axis, and the hook-shaped distal end of each gripper extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the associated pen-shaped body; each discrete gripper being rotatable along a rotation axis that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pen-shaped body so that each discrete gripper can be rotated between a box supporting position in which the hook shaped ends extend substantially perpendicular to the opposite sides of the frame and hence substantially perpendicular to the opposite sides of the box and under the base of the box, and an unloading position in which the hook-shaped ends extend substantially parallel to the opposite sides of the frame and hence substantially parallel to the opposite sides of the box; and the discrete grippers of the first set connected on one opposite side of the frame are positioned staggeringly in relation to the grippers of the second set connected on the other opposite side of the frame.