Fabrication method for miniature plastic gripper
Abstract
A miniature plastic gripper is described actuated by inflation of a miniature balloon and method of fabricating same. The gripper is constructed of either heat-shrinkable or heat-expandable plastic tubing and is formed around a mandrel, then cut to form gripper prongs or jaws and the mandrel removed. The gripper is connected at one end with a catheter or tube having an actuating balloon at its tip, whereby the gripper is opened or dosed by inflation or deflation of the balloon. The gripper is designed to removably retain a member to which is connected a quantity or medicine, plugs, or micro-components. The miniature plastic gripper is inexpensive to fabricate and can be used for various applications, such as gripping, sorting, or placing of micron-scale particles for analysis. 8 figs.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Univ. of California (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 672492
- Patent Number(s):
- 5783130
- Application Number:
- PAN: 8-753,720
- Assignee:
- Univ. of California, Oakland, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 21 Jul 1998
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 42 ENGINEERING NOT INCLUDED IN OTHER CATEGORIES; MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT; PLASTICS; ACTUATORS; DESIGN; FABRICATION; BALLOONS; OPERATION; PARTICULATES; MATERIALS HANDLING
Citation Formats
Benett, W J, Krulevitch, P A, Lee, A P, Northrup, M A, and Folta, J A. Fabrication method for miniature plastic gripper. United States: N. p., 1998.
Web.
Benett, W J, Krulevitch, P A, Lee, A P, Northrup, M A, & Folta, J A. Fabrication method for miniature plastic gripper. United States.
Benett, W J, Krulevitch, P A, Lee, A P, Northrup, M A, and Folta, J A. Tue .
"Fabrication method for miniature plastic gripper". United States.
@article{osti_672492,
title = {Fabrication method for miniature plastic gripper},
author = {Benett, W J and Krulevitch, P A and Lee, A P and Northrup, M A and Folta, J A},
abstractNote = {A miniature plastic gripper is described actuated by inflation of a miniature balloon and method of fabricating same. The gripper is constructed of either heat-shrinkable or heat-expandable plastic tubing and is formed around a mandrel, then cut to form gripper prongs or jaws and the mandrel removed. The gripper is connected at one end with a catheter or tube having an actuating balloon at its tip, whereby the gripper is opened or dosed by inflation or deflation of the balloon. The gripper is designed to removably retain a member to which is connected a quantity or medicine, plugs, or micro-components. The miniature plastic gripper is inexpensive to fabricate and can be used for various applications, such as gripping, sorting, or placing of micron-scale particles for analysis. 8 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jul 21 00:00:00 EDT 1998},
month = {Tue Jul 21 00:00:00 EDT 1998}
}