The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 05, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 01, 1996
James W Flannery, Jr, Stamford, CT (US);
Time Inc., New York, NY (US);
Abstract
A gripper-accumulator and system for gripping, accumulating and transporting two or more pieces along an production line. The gripper-accumulator is particularly useful in accomplishing higher production speeds in the production of periodicals and magazines. The gripper-accumulator has two or more gripper-fingers and a fixed support extending radially out of a hub. The gripper-fingers are capable of rotating around the hub from a initially open to a eventually closed position adjacent to the fixed support. At the closed position a piece is gripped between the fixed support and the gripper-finger, or between two adjacently located gripper-fingers. Thus, a single gripper-accumulator is provided that is capable of holding several pieces thereby speeding production.