Corning Incorporated
FLUID-OPERATED GRIPPING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HOLDING A WORKPIECE IN A WORKING ORIENTATION

Abstract:

A fluid-operated gripping apparatus for holding a workpiece having a curved sidewall in a working orientation, and associated methods for gripping and holding a workpiece, are provided. Three fluid-operated actuators, each including an actuator rod and a moveable piston arranged within a cylinder, are equally spaced around a perimeter of a workpiece and receive fluid from a single pressurized fluid source. A fluid (e.g., hydraulic or pneumatic) circuit causes the actuators to extend during a closing stroke of the gripping apparatus according to the force equalization principle. Each actuator includes an end effector pivotally coupled with an actuator rod and configured to contact a surface of the workpiece at exactly two points. A backstop configured to contact an end face of the workpiece is coupled with a rotational joint.