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:
Sep. 30, 2008
Filed:
Sep. 07, 2007
Lemuel J. Bell, Jr., Gurnee, IL (US);
Lemuel J. Bell, Jr., Gurnee, IL (US);
Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US);
Abstract
A self-energizing gripper is configured for use in a strapping machine that includes a rigid surface along which a strapping material traverses and against which the strapping material is clamped. The self-energizing gripper includes first and second links mounted at respective first ends to the strapping machine for pivotal movement and a gripping element pivotally mounted to respective second ends of each the first and second links. The gripping element includes a substantially planar gripping element surface. The first and second links are mounted to the gripping element for pivotal movement of the gripping element along an arcuate path toward and away from the rigid surface and the gripping element surface remains parallel as the gripping element moves along the arc between an open gripper position and a closed gripper position.