Gripper apparatus and method of gripping containers

摘要

Gripper apparatus and method of gripping containers for use in uncasers and the like for controllably gripping containers for transport and release as desired. Each individual gripper utilizes an over center toggle mechanism held to the open position by the toggle and triggerable by the contact of the center of the member with the top of one or more containers to allow a spring to cause the gripper to close on the container walls therebetween. The containers are releasable onto a delivery conveyor by depression of the center member at that point to reset the over center mechanism. The grippers and method are intended to provide for the gripping of multiple containers, typically two, by a single gripper so as to reduce the number of grippers required and to provide for the easy handling of containers not otherwise easily individually gripped. Alternate forms of grippers are described.