Earl J Baer

Author:

Earl E. Baer

ISBN #:

0471040045

Author:

Earl E. Baer

ISBN #:

0876200722

Author:

Earl E. Baer

ISBN #:

0876205414

US Patent:

47750464, Oct 4, 1988

Filed:

Jan 17, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/819674

Inventors:

Daniel J. Gramarossa - Moorpark CA
Earl G. Baer - Garden Grove CA

Assignee:

Future Automation, Inc. - Simi Valley CA

International Classification:

B65G 1720

US Classification:

1988038

Abstract:

An improved transport belt is provided for gripping and carrying parts such as thin and fragile electronic components through production processes including, for example, electroplating steps and the like. The transport belt comprises an elongated upright web carrying a succession of depending gripper units, each including first and second fingers for gripping and carrying the production parts. The first finger is formed generally coplanar with the belt web, whereas the second finger has a generally U-shaped configuration with depending legs on the leading and trailing sides, respectively, of the first finger. The legs are deformed laterally from the plane of the belt web and interconnected at their lower ends by a cross bar which is urged by the legs into spring-loaded contact with the lower end or tip of the first finger. The fingers are separable at a loading station to permit insertion of a thin and/or fragile production part which is gripped, upon closure of the fingers, with directly opposed forces thereby avoiding part distortion as it is carried through production processes.