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. 27, 2011
Filed:
Oct. 24, 2008
Applicant:
Lance T. Ransom, Essex, CA;
Inventor:
Lance T. Ransom, Essex, CA;
Assignee:
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B25J 15/06 (2006.01); B66C 1/02 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
A ratcheting end-of-arm (EOM) tool having a spring-loaded level compensator, a distally mounted gripper, and a ratcheting mechanism. In operation, upon a selectively adequate contact between the gripper and a payload, the ratcheting mechanism is engaged which holds the position of the gripper with respect to the robot arm at a fixed position, independent of spring biasing. Upon conclusion of robotic movement of the payload, the gripper is deactivated, the ratcheting mechanism is disengaged, and the spring returns the ratcheting EOA tool to its nominal configuration.