Gripper

Claim 2

A bottle gripper element comprising a closed-perimeter frame defining an open region therein and formed to provide opposite, substantially parallel faces, each face defining an imperforate region extending perimetrally about said open region, a closure member spanning the open region of each such frame face and sealingly bearing upon the perimetral region of such face, at least one of said closure members being a rubberoid, elastic diaphragm, said closure members cooperating with the open region of said frame to define a chamber with said diaphragm being inflatable to expand outwardly from the plane of its respective face when fluid under pressure is injected into said chamber, said chamber having a port opening through a point in said frame perimeter, and a perimetral ring for securing said diaphragm in sealing engagement with its respective frame face, said perimetral ring having a rigid, non-yielding outer surface for engaging and guiding bottles for movement along said gripper element before inflation of said diaphragm.

Claim 3

The gripper element of claim 1 in which the other of said closure members is substantially rigid.

Claim 4

The gripper element of claim 1 in which each of said closure members is a rubberoid, elastic diaphragm.

Claim 5

A ware gripper assembly comprising a plurality of gripper elements, each gripper element comprising a plate formed to provide a perforate region and an imperforate region extending perimetrally about said perforate region, said imperforate perimetral region providing opposite, substantially parallel faces, a closure member spanning the perforate region of each such face and sealingly bearing upon the perimetral region of such face, at least one of said closure members being a rubberoid, elastic diaphragm, said closure members cooperating with the perforate region of said plate to define a chamber, said chamber having a port opening through a point in its perimeter, and each gripper element having an end extension on its plate, an elongated base having a longitudinal slot, a block for each gripper element, each block having a batten protruding from one face and slidably recieved in said slot, each block having a groove in its opposite face and transversely arranged relative to said batten and supportingly receiving said extension of a gripper element plate, each block and batten being formed with an internally threaded opening communicating with the port of its gripper element, an externally threaded tubular fitting seated in said opening and extending beyond the remote face of said base, clamp means for each fitting sleeved on its fitting and spanning said slot to bear on said base remote face, and means adjustable mounted on each fitting to bear on its associated clamp means to urge such clamp means into clamping engagement with said base.

Claim 6

A ware gripper assembly comprising a plurality of gripper elements, each gripper element comprising a plate formed to provide a perforate region and an imperforate region extending perimetrally about said perforate region, said imperforate perimetral region providing opposite, substantially parallel faces, a closure member spanning the perforate region of each such face and sealingly bearing upon the perimetral region of such face, at least one of said closure members being a rubberoid, elastic diaphragm, said closure members cooperating with the perforate region of said plate to define a chamber, said chamber having a port opening through a point in its perimeter, and each gripper element having an end extension on its plate, an elongated base having a longitudinal slot, a block for each gripper element, each block having a batten protruding from one face and slidably recieved in said slot, each block having a groove in its opposite face and transversely arranged relative to said batten and supportingly receiving said extension of a gripper element plate, each block and batten being formed with an internally threaded opening communicating with the port of its gripper element, an externally threaded tubular fitting seated in said opening and extending beyond the remote face of said base, clamp means for each fitting sleeved on its fitting and spanning said slot to bear on said base remote face, and means adjustable mounted on each fitting to bear on its associated clamp means to urge such clamp means into clamping engagement with said base.

Claim 7

A ware gripper assembly comprising a plurality of gripper elements, each gripper element comprising a plate formed to provide a perforate region and an imperforate region extending perimetrally about said perforate region, said imperforate perimetral region providing opposite, substantially parallel faces, a closure member spanning the perforate region of each such face and sealingly bearing upon the perimetral region of such face, at least one of said closure members being a rubberoid, elastic diaphragm, said closure members cooperating with the perforate region of said plate to define a chamber, said chamber having a port opening through a point in its perimeter, an elongated base having a longitudinal slot, a block for each gripper element, each block having a batten protruding from one face and slidably received in said slot, each block having one of said gripper elements secured to and projecting away from its opposite face, each block and batten being formed with an internally threaded opening communicating with the port of its gripper element, an externally threaded tubular fitting seated in said opening and extending beyond the remote face of said base, clamp means for each fitting sleeved on its fitting and spanning said slot to bear on said base remote face, and means adjustably mounted on each fitting to bear on its associated clamp means to urge such clamp means into clamping engagement with said base.

Claim 8

A ware gripper assembly comprising a plurality of gripper elements, each gripper element comprising a plate formed to provide a perforate region and an imperforate region extending perimetrally about said perforate region, said imperforate perimetral region providing opposite, substantially parallel faces, a closure member spanning the perforate region of each such face and sealingly bearing upon the perimetral region of such face, at least one of said closure members being a rubberoid, elastic diaphragm, said closure members cooperating with the perforate region of said plate to define a chamber, said chamber having a port opening through a point in its perimeter, an elongated base having a longitudinal slot, a block for each gripper element, each block having a batten protruding from one face and slidably received in said slot, each block having one of said gripper elements secured to and projecting away from its opposite face, each block and batten being formed with an internally threaded opening communicating with the port of its gripper element, an externally threaded tubular fitting seated in said opening and extending beyond the remote face of said base, clamp means for each fitting sleeved on its fitting and spanning said slot to bear on said base remote face, and means adjustably mounted on each fitting to bear on its associated clamp means to urge such clamp means into clamping engagement with said base.

Claim 9

The assembly of claim 5 in which said adjustably mounted means is a nut threadedly mounted on its fitting outboard relative to its associated clamp means.