Mss, Inc.

Gregory J Thibado

Arthur G Doak

Caleb H Blackwell

A robotic end effector apparatus and method of replacing a first flexible gripper sheet of a robotic end effector apparatus for grasping an article using a suction effect is disclosed herein. The robotic end effector may include a suction tube having an open lower end, a mounting flange fixed to the suction tube adjacent the open lower end, a clamping ring slidable received around the suction tube above the mounting flange, a biasing spring biasing the clamping ring downward toward the mounting flange, and a flexible sheet having a center opening smaller than the mounting flange in a relaxed state of the flexible sheet, the flexible sheet being stretchable so that the flexible sheet can be pulled upward over the mounting flange. The flexible sheet may be clamped between the clamping ring and the mounting flange with the flexible sheet extending radially outward beyond the mounting flange.

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Mt. Juliet, TN, United States of America

Gregory J Thibado