Patent ID: 7069794

Claim:
An apparatus for detecting force associated with an article, comprising: (a.) an article engagement mechanism having: at least one stationary member; at least one rotatable member which is moveable in relation to the stationary member; a plurality of segments, each having a predetermined shape with a proximal end and a distal end, each segment having a distal point and a proximal point, the distal point being pivotally coupled to the stationary member and the proximal point being movably coupled to the rotatable member; the segments being arranged so that the segment distal ends are disposed adjacent a central aperture; and the segment distal ends moving to engage an article disposed in the central aperture upon rotation of the rotatable member in a predetermined direction; (b.) an actuator for rotating the rotatable member; and (c.) a transducer communicatively connected to the actuator for detecting force associated with rotating the rotatable member.