A clamping apparatus includes a frame and two or more clamping arms supported by the frame for movement into and out of contact with a load. An internal support is supported by the frame for reinforcing inner walls of a cavity in the object to be lifted. The internal support may be supported by the frame for vertical movement with respect to the frame so that when the internal support is not needed, it can be raised above the load. The internal support may passively reinforce a cavity, or it may be equipped with movable reinforcing portions which can be moved into and out of contact with the walls of the cavity which is to be reinforced. The frame of the clamping apparatus may have an opening in which the lower end of the internal support can be received over all or most of the depth of the lower end.

A clamping apparatus includes a frame and two or more clamping arms supported by the frame for movement into and out of contact with a load. An internal support is supported by the frame for reinforcing inner walls of a cavity in the object to be lifted. The internal support may be supported by the frame for vertical movement with respect to the frame so that when the internal support is not needed, it can be raised above the load. The internal support may passively reinforce a cavity, or it may be equipped with movable reinforcing portions which can be moved into and out of contact with the walls of the cavity which is to be reinforced. The frame of the clamping apparatus may have an opening in which the lower end of the internal support can be received over all or most of the depth of the lower end.

A mandrel suitable for supporting and unwinding a convolutely wound web material is disclosed. The mandrel has a mandrel shaft with a longitudinal axis, a plurality of mandrel arms extending from the mandrel shaft, and at least one expansion element disposed upon one of the mandrel arms. The mandrel shaft is capable of rotating about the longitudinal axis. Each of the mandrel arms is disposed and rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The at least one expansion element is expandable radially away from the mandrel arm relative to the longitudinal axis. The convolutely wound web material is disposable about each of the mandrel arms. Further, the at least one expansion element is expandable into contacting and releasable engagement with the convolutely wound web material. The convolutely wound web material is fixably and releasably disposed about each of the mandrel arms.

A mechanical device for grasping an object that includes a receiver, an actuator, a rotatable sleeve, a pilot, and a grasping device. The receiver includes a distal end shaft having an internal bore. The internal bore defines a recessed track. The actuator is slidably engaged with the receiver. The rotatable sleeve is disposed within the internal bore of the receiver and is coupled to the actuator. The rotatable sleeve includes at least one protrusion. The protrusion is disposed within the recessed track of the receiver. The pilot is secured to a distal end portion of the receiver. The grasping device is mounted to the pilot.

A mechanical device for grasping an object that includes a receiver, an actuator, a rotatable sleeve, a pilot, and a grasping device. The receiver includes a distal end shaft having an internal bore. The internal bore defines a recessed track. The actuator is slidably engaged with the receiver. The rotatable sleeve is disposed within the internal bore of the receiver and is coupled to the actuator. The rotatable sleeve includes at least one protrusion. The protrusion is disposed within the recessed track of the receiver. The pilot is secured to a distal end portion of the receiver. The grasping device is mounted to the pilot.

A mandrel suitable for supporting and unwinding a convolutely wound web material is disclosed. The mandrel has a mandrel shaft with a longitudinal axis, a plurality of mandrel arms extending from the mandrel shaft, and at least one expansion element disposed upon a respective each of the mandrel arms. The mandrel shaft is capable of rotating about the longitudinal axis. Each of the mandrel arms is disposed and rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The at least one expansion element is expandable radially away from the respective mandrel arm relative to the longitudinal axis. The convolutely wound web material is disposable about each of the mandrel arms. Further, the at least one expansion element is expandable into contacting and releasable engagement with the convolutely wound web material. The convolutely wound web material is fixably and releasably disposed about each of the mandrel arms.

A gripper, a gripper station and a method for gripping an annular tire component, wherein the gripper has a plurality of gripper members distributed in a circumferential direction about a gripper axis and movable with at least a vector component in a radial direction perpendicular to the gripper axis over a main range with a radially inner endpoint and a radially outer endpoint. The gripper further has a limiter for limiting the movement of the plurality of gripper members in the radial direction to a subrange within the main range, wherein the subrange has an adjustable subrange position relative to the main range. The gripper has a synchronization member for synchronizing movements of the plurality of gripper members in the radial direction, wherein the synchronization member defines the main range, and wherein the limiter is arranged for limiting the synchronization member to define the subrange.

A gripping system for gripping a label roll with a ring-shaped roll core. The gripping system has an inner gripper which has a plurality of inner clamping jaws which are arranged distributed in a circumferential direction around a central axis of the gripping system and can be moved radially with respect to the central axis to grip the inside of the label roll on an inner circumferential face of the annular roll core. The gripping system further has at least one distance sensor, which is arranged for detecting a distance between the gripping system and the label roll.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a clutch assembly (100) for handling a container, and an associated method for using the clutch assembly. The clutch assembly includes a shaft (102) configured to rotate in a first direction and a second direction, opposite from the first direction. The clutch assembly further includes a clutch coupled to a first end of the shaft. The clutch includes at least two rollers (108) configured to move into a first position, extending radially beyond a periphery of the clutch, and out of the first position, extending radially flush with or inward from the periphery of the clutch.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a clutch assembly (100) for handling a container, and an associated method for using the clutch assembly. The clutch assembly includes a shaft (102) configured to rotate in a first direction and a second direction, opposite from the first direction. The clutch assembly further includes a clutch coupled to a first end of the shaft. The clutch includes at least two rollers (108) configured to move into a first position, extending radially beyond a periphery of the clutch, and out of the first position, extending radially flush with or inward from the periphery of the clutch.