660 results about "Pinch grip" patented technology

A system for implanting a repair device onto a native valve of a natural heart to repairing the native valve of a patient during a non-open-heart procedure. The system includes a surgical delivery instrument, a valve repair device, and a gripper control mechanism. The surgical delivery instrument has at least one lumen. The valve repair device is configured to be delivered through the lumen of the surgical delivery instrument and to be attached to a native valve of a patient. The valve repair device has a pair of paddles, and first and second gripping members. The paddles are movable between an open position and a closed position. The paddles and the first and second gripping members are configured to attach to the native valve of the patient. The gripper control mechanisms each include a suture and a wire having a loop at a distal end. The suture extends from the surgical delivery instrument and through the loop of the wire. The suture is removably attached to the gripping member. The loop of the wire is configured to engage the gripping member to move the gripping member between one or more positions.

A media storage system for an automated banking machine (10) includes a rotating flipper member (90, 178, 222) which is rotationally movable to engage sheets. A moveable gripper member (138, 182, 226) is movably mounted relative to the flipper member. The flipper member further includes an arcuately extending slot (92, 180, 232). A sheet extending in the slot is held in fixed engagement with the flipper member by the gripper member. Rotation of the flipper member to a releasing position causes the sheet to be engaged with a stop surface (160, 188, 284) as the gripper member moves to release the sheet. Sheets released by the flipper member are positioned in a stack (94, 184, 234). In alternative embodiments a flipper member (178, 222) includes a picker portion (202, 278). The picker portion is selectively operated to remove sheets from the stack for delivery to a user of the machine.

A magnetic oral retractor assembly for distending the cheek of a patient undergoing an oral dental / surgical procedure comprises a gripper element mounted to a support structure external of the patient's oral cavity and an intraoral retractor device for contacting the inner surface of the patient's cheek. The gripper element and the retractor device each include a magnetic member, at least one magnetic member being a magnet and the other being either another magnet or a non-magnetized magnetically permeable member. The magnetic members are positioned on the gripper element and the retractor device for magnetically coupling the gripper element to the retractor device through the patient's cheek. The invention has application in surgical procedures to secure patient tissue magnetically in place during surgical procedures or to distend an opening in a patient's body wall during an open surgical procedure.

A medical device assembly for cutting body tissue by means of electrotomy, includes a generator for a high frequency alternating current which can be delivered by way of a pole and an opposite pole, wherein each pole is connected to at least one respective output terminal of the generator; a gripping instrument with two gripping arms which each have at least one respective gripping surface and which are connected together in such a way that the gripping surfaces are movable towards each other, wherein the gripping surface is at least partially electrically conductive and each is individually electrically connected to a respective terminal or they are electrically connected to a common terminal for an electrical supply line; and a cutting instrument which has a handle and a cutting electrode, wherein in operation the cutting electrode is connected to a pole of the generator and both gripping surfaces are connected to the opposite pole of the generator.

This invention is a vending machine and components parts that include a sophisticated positioning system, gripper and trays for improved efficiency in product retrieval and delivery. Following product selection, the positioning system quickly transports the gripper through the X-Y plane to the front of a tray queue containing the selected product. The gripper is extended in the Z-direction, and its fingers grasp the foremost product container in the queue. The gripper then retracts, and the positioning system transports the gripper carrying the product container to a delivery port. The gripper then releases the product which slides down a chute into a delivery bucket that is then tilted outward for customer pick up. Unique product storage trays are provided which work in conjunction with the gripper to allow only the foremost product to be removed from a tray queue. A specially designed door is provided to accommodate the X-Y positioning system. A unique cabinet is also provided that includes an adjustable ventilation system, and a conveniently located compact, easily removable modular climate control unit. Related methods are also disclosed.

The present invention provides a connector tool capable of holding a cable connector, for coupling and / or decoupling the connector into or from a connector port in an area having a high density of connector ports. The connector tool comprises a sleeve and a gripper, wherein the gripper has at least two fingers that form a slot for engaging the connector. The fingers are capable of being drawn into the sleeve to form a compartment in interlocking engagement with the connector. In an embodiment, the connector tool is capable of handling a SC fiber optic cable connector. In another embodiment, the connector tool is capable of handling an electrical cable connector.

A system for implanting a repair device onto a native valve of a natural heart to repair the native valve of a patient during a non-open-heart procedure. The system includes a surgical delivery instrument, a valve repair device, and a gripper control mechanism. The surgical delivery instrument has at least one lumen. The valve repair device is configured to be delivered through the lumen of the surgical delivery instrument and to attach to a native valve of a patient. The valve repair device includes a pair of paddles, and a pair of gripping members. The paddles are movable between an open position and a closed position. The paddles and the gripping members are configured to attach to a native valve of the patient. The gripper control mechanism is configured to independently move the first and second gripping members.

A folding utility knife has a handle and a blade holder pivotally mounted on he handle. The blade holder is movable between (i) a closed position with the blade holder pivoted inwardly toward the handle, (ii) a cutting position with the blade holder pivoted outwardly relative to the handle, and (iii) a blade release position located between the closed position and the cutting position. A blade release actuator is located on the blade holder and is movable between (i) a first position preventing release of a utility knife blade located on the blade holder, and (ii) a second position permitting release of a utility knife blade located on the blade holder. A locking member is movable between (i) a blade locking position with the blade holder located in the cutting position that prevents movement of the blade release actuator from the first position to the second position, and (ii) a blade release position with the blade holder located in the blade release position that permits movement of the blade release actuator from the first position to the second position to, in turn, release a utility knife blade from the blade holder.

A polymer container suitable for hot-filling featuring a pinch-grip vacuum panel combination having a flexible-field and a generally ridged pinch-grip that accommodates vacuum related forces.

Disclosed are an orientation controller based on a parallelogram linkage, a mechanical arm, an anthropomorphic gripper and components thereof such as mechanical digits suitable for use, for example, in the field of keyhole surgery.

A clamp apparatus is disclosed that includes a body, first and second actuators, first, second, third and fourth gear sets, first and second movable grippers, and at least one leaf spring. The first gear set is coupled to the first actuator and the second gear set is coupled to the second actuator. The first gear set engages the second gear set. The first and second movable grippers are each operatively coupled to the body. The third gear set is coupled to the first movable gripper and the fourth gear set is coupled to the second movable gripper. The third gear set operatively engages the fourth gear set. The leaf spring engages with the third gear set and the fourth gear set to urge the first movable gripper and the second movable gripper toward a clamped position.

A gripper mechanism for manipulating tape cartridges in a tape library system, the tape library system having a plurality of storage cells for removably storing a tape cartridge therein, each tape cartridge formed with engageable side slots located at side portions of the cartridge designed for retaining a respective cartridge in a respective storage cell and including a downward sloped lower front edge portion. The gripper mechanism includes a pair of gripping fingers actuated for respectively engaging a respective side slot located at a side portion of the cartridge for manipulating the cartridge, and including support members extending outward from the gripper mechanism at a lower portion thereof for engagement with the sloped lower front edge portion of the cartridge.

A reticle transfer system is disclosed for transferring reticles between a reticle-carrying SMIF container and a process tool. The reticle transfer system according to the present invention includes an arm assembly having a transfer arm and a gripping mechanism affixed to the end of the transfer arm. Once the container carrying the reticle has been opened, the gripping mechanism is rotated and translated to a position adjacent the reticle so that it may access the reticle and transfer it into the minienvironment through an access port in the minienvironment. In order to precisely, easily and repeatedly position the gripping mechanism in the desired location to grip and transfer the reticle, the gripping mechanism includes four downwardly extending posts spaced apart from each other so as to contact an outer rim of the container door as the gripping mechanism is lowered into position to grip and transfer the reticle. Once the four posts are seated in contact with the outer rim of the container door, the gripping mechanism is fixed in the proper position so that a pair of grippers within the gripping mechanism may rotate inward and grip the reticle. The posts also allow proper positioning of the gripping mechanism with respect to the container door and support platform within the minienvironment when returning the reticle to the container door or depositing the reticle on the minienvironment support platform.

Methods for treatment and prevention of disorders resulting from hypertension of neck and shoulder muscles, in particular hypertension of the scalenius muscles, comprise administering a training regime to a subject suffering from the disorders, whereby the training regime comprises manipulating an object while maintaining a pinch-grip force exerted by the fingers on the object below a given threshold value. The object preferably has a pressure sensor that generates a signal when the pinch-grip force exceeds the threshold value. The object may be a writing instrument whereby the training may comprise writing exercises.

A method and unit for packing groups of products, whereby each group is fed, at a loading station, to a respective radial first seat of a first wheel, together with a relative blank, which is first folded into a U and then completely about the relative group to form a packed group, which is transferred, at a transfer station, to a respective radial second seat of a second wheel, together with a relative sheet of overwrapping material, which is first folded into a U and then completely about the relative packed group to form an overwrapped group; the blank and the sheet of overwrapping material both being fed successively to a respective same gripper associated with the relative first seat and fitted to the first wheel, downstream from the first seat.

A plastic container for a particulate product includes a base and a surrounding wall member upstanding therefrom which generally define a container main interior volume. A top connects to the surrounding wall member and includes a large opening sufficient to receive about a 5 inch cylinder therethrough. The surrounding wall member includes a pair of pinch pockets having a lateral opening separation W which is not greater than about 2.5 inches and / or a lateral minimum separation C of not greater than about 2.0. In some embodiment, a thumb receiving cavity is provided above the pinch pockets. The pinch pockets are configured and sized for easy grasping and holding of the container.

A reticle gripper to hold a reticle of a lithographic apparatus is presented. The reticle gripper includes three gripper structures to contact the surface of the reticle. Each of the three gripper structures determines a position with respect to the reticle gripper of one of the points on the surface of the reticle.

A gripper for gripping a workpiece includes a jaw assembly having an actuator with a housing and an elongate member axially slidably movable within the housing. A force-multiplying mechanism is interconnected between the elongate member and the housing. The force-multiplying mechanism is configured to add a mechanical force to the jaw assembly and thereby increase a gripping force on the workpiece during operation of the gripper.

A manipulator for servicing tubes extending through a tube sheet having three major components: a base member, a block member, and a foot member. The base member has a holder for supporting tooling or inspection devices. The base member also has at least one gripper for releasably gripping a tube extending through the tube sheet. The block member is connected to the base member for linear movement and rotation relative to the base member. The foot member is connected to the block member for linear movement relative to the block member. The foot member has at least one, and preferably two grippers, for releasably gripping a tube extending through the tube sheet. The manipulator supports itself using the two sets of expandable and translatable grippers that anchor into the tube ends and can move from tube to tube by alternately engaging each set of grippers.

A folding utility knife has a handle and a blade holder pivotally mounted on he handle. The blade holder is movable between (i) a closed position with the blade holder pivoted inwardly toward the handle, (ii) a cutting position with the blade holder pivoted outwardly relative to the handle, and (iii) a blade release position located between the closed position and the cutting position. A blade release actuator is located on the blade holder and is movable between (i) a first position preventing release of a utility knife blade located on the blade holder, and (ii) a second position permitting release of a utility knife blade located on the blade holder. A locking member is movable between (i) a blade locking position with the blade holder located in the cutting position that prevents movement of the blade release actuator from the first position to the second position, and (ii) a blade release position with the blade holder located in the blade release position that permits movement of the blade release actuator from the first position to the second position to, in turn, release a utility knife blade from the blade holder.

A segmented gripper is provided, having two arms (2;3) which are operated for closing and opening movement in an operational plane. The arms are flexible in the way of a finger; i.e. the geometry is variable to adapt to the external shape of the article to be gripped. This is accomplished by providing a structure for the arms, wherein an outer row of pivotally connected links (6) is interconnected with an inner row of pivotally connected links (7), the interconnecting elements (8) being pivotally attached to the link connecting points of each row of links. The lengths of the interconnecting elements are successively decreasing towards the free end of each arm, so that the arm displays a claw-like configuration. The arms are pivotally attached on a support, so that when an actuating force is applied tangentially to the outer row of links, the arms are operated for a closing motion. When the exterior of an article is engaged by any of the inner links, continued tangential force causes the inner row of links to bend about the corresponding link connection point, the outer links peripherally overrunning the inner links by rotation of the interconnecting elements about the attachment points (9,10,11).

A system for mounting a needle shield to a syringe. The system includes a syringe nest and a gripper having a gripping position and a release position. The gripper is movable between an aligned position and a spaced position. A shaker has a shaker axis that is generally coaxial with the syringe axis. The shaker is movable along the shaker axis. An inspection camera is positioned proximate the syringe axis and defines a line of sight. The syringe nest, gripper, shaker and cap plunger are generally aligned along the syringe axis in a placing configuration wherein the gripper is in the gripping position holding the needle shield. The gripper is in the spaced position and the distal end of the cap plunger is in engagement with the needle shield in a final cap mounting configuration.

An elongate member having a fixed end is passed through a plurality of grippers that impart tension in the elongate member and prevent the tension from being released. At least one gripper is movable while at least one other can be fixed. The movable gripper travels along the elongate member toward the fixed end then reverses direction, grips the elongate member, and carries the elongate member away from the fixed end, thereby creating tension in the elongate member. At least one gripper prevents the tension from being released. In some embodiments, the elongate member passes through a rotatable shaft with a lumen. The shaft can be in communication with a crank, whereby operation of the crank rotates the shaft.

A system for constructing wall panels comprising a plurality of structural members includes: a source of structural members of predetermined size; a horizontal table configured to support planks as they are being formed into a wall panel, the table including a stationary section and a movable carriage that is configured to move in a longitudinal direction toward and away from the stationary section; an articulated arm unit having a gripper, the articulating arm unit positioned to retrieve boards from the source with the gripper and place them on the table; at least one first clamping unit mounted to the stationary section for clamping structural members thereto; at least one second clamping unit mounted to the movable carriage for clamping structural members thereto; and a controller that controls the movement of the articulating arm unit and the movable carriage.

A polymer container suitable for hot-filling featuring a pinch-grip vacuum panel combination having a flexible-field and a generally ridged pinch-grip that accommodates vacuum related forces.

A novel handle tab or pull for a zipper which comprises a unitary wire-like resilient member having an integral spring member and including a pair of offset, spring biased gripper members which are squeezed together against the tension of the integral spring member so as to separate the gripper members so that the ends of the gripper members may then be introduced into the slide tang or loop of the zipper after which the tension of the spring biased grippers is released causing the gripper members to lock around the tang or loop of the zipper securing the novel handle, tab or pull to the zipper enabling the zipper to be operated as originally manufactured. A cover member may be employed to increase handling area of the pull. The novel zipper handle, tab or pull may be used by the zipper user to replace a lost, destroyed or damage zipper handle, tab or pull.