High speed gripper

1. A gripper assembly comprising:

at least one gripper jaw that is movable between an open position and a closed position;

a fluid-driven actuator operative for moving the at least one gripper jaw between the open position and the closed position;

a valve adjacent the fluid-driven actuator, the valve being operable to selectively deliver a fluid to the fluid-driven actuator, wherein the valve includes a valve chamber, a valve member that is disposed within the valve chamber, and an electrically operated solenoid that mechanically actuates movement of the valve member; and the fluid-driven actuator and the valve include a common wall there between.

2. The gripper assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the valve is fixed to the fluid-driven actuator.

3. The gripper assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an electronic controller connected with the valve for selectively switching the valve.

4. The gripper assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the valve member comprises a valve spool that is moveable within the valve chamber between a first position and a second position.

5. The gripper assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the valve includes a first port that fluidly connects the valve to the fluid-driven actuator for selectively retracting the fluid-driven actuator and a second port that fluidly connects the valve to the fluid-driven actuator for selectively extending the fluid-driven actuator.

6. The gripper assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

a housing having the valve chamber of the valve defined therein, the valve member of the valve disposed therein, and the fluid-driven actuator disposed therein.

7. A gripper assembly comprising:

at least one gripper jaw;

a fluid-driven actuator operative for moving the at least one gripper jaw; and

a valve adjacent the fluid-driven actuator, the valve being operable to selectively deliver a fluid to the fluid-driven actuator, the valve including a valve chamber, a valve spool that is moveable within the valve chamber between a first position and a second position, a first port that fluidly connects the valve chamber and a gripper retraction chamber of the fluid-driven actuator when the valve spool is in the first position, a second port that fluidly connects the valve chamber and a gripper extension chamber of the fluid-driven actuator when the valve spool is in the second position, a first exhaust port that fluidly connects the valve chamber and the gripper retraction chamber of the fluid-driven actuator with an exhaust region when the valve spool is in the first position, and a second exhaust port that fluidly connects the valve chamber and the gripper extension chamber of the fluid-driven actuator with the exhaust region when the valve spool is in the second position.

8. A gripper assembly comprising:

at least one gripper jaw;

a fluid-driven actuator operative for moving the at least one gripper jaw; and

a valve adjacent the fluid-driven actuator, the valve being operable to selectively deliver a fluid to the fluid-driven actuator, the valve including a valve chamber, a valve spool that is moveable within the valve chamber between a first position and a second position, and a lever having a first end that is pivotally coupled to a solenoid and a second end that is pivotally coupled to the valve spool.

9. A gripper assembly comprising:

at least one gripper jaw;

a fluid-driven actuator operative for moving the at least one gripper jaw;

a valve adjacent the fluid-driven actuator, the valve being operable to selectively deliver a fluid to the fluid-driven actuator; and

a housing having the fluid-driven actuator and the valve disposed therein, the housing including at least one port along which the fluid is selectively delivered to the fluid-driven actuator.

10. The gripper assembly as recited in claim 9 , wherein the housing is a unitary housing.

11. The gripper assembly as recited in claim 9 , wherein the at least one gripper jaw is movable between an open position and a closed position, and the fluid-driven actuator is operative for moving the at least one gripper jaw between the open position and the closed position.

12. The gripper assembly as recited in claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the fluid-driven actuator and at least a portion of the valve are disposed at fixed positions with respect to one another.

13. A gripper assembly comprising:

at least one gripper jaw;

a fluid-driven actuator operative for moving the at least one gripper jaw;

a valve adjacent the fluid-driven actuator, the valve being operable to selectively deliver a fluid to the fluid-driven actuator; and

a unitary housing having the valve and the fluid-driven actuator disposed therein, wherein the unitary housing defines a valve chamber of the valve, a gripper retraction chamber of the fluid-driven actuator, and a gripper extension chamber of the fluid-driven actuator.

14. The gripper assembly as recited in claim 13 , wherein the at least one gripper jaw is movable between an open position and a closed position, and the fluid-driven actuator is operative for moving the at least one gripper jaw between the open position and the closed position.

15. The gripper assembly as recited in claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the fluid-driven actuator and at least a portion of the valve are disposed at fixed positions with respect to one another.

16. A gripper assembly comprising:

at least one gripper jaw;

a fluid-driven actuator operative for moving the at least one gripper jaw;

a valve adjacent the fluid-driven actuator, the valve being operable to selectively deliver a fluid to the fluid-driven actuator;

a housing having the valve and the fluid-driven actuator disposed therein; and

a structure that is fixedly connected to the housing, the at least one gripper jaw being pivotally connected to the structure.

17. The gripper assembly as recited in claim 16 , wherein the housing is a unitary housing.

18. The gripper assembly as recited in claim 16 , wherein the at least one gripper jaw is movable between an open position and a closed position, and the fluid-driven actuator is operative for moving the at least one gripper jaw between the open position and the closed position.

19. The gripper assembly as recited in claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the fluid-driven actuator and at least a portion of the valve are disposed at fixed positions with respect to one another.