Bundling Tool Device

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an automatic bundling tool device (ABT) for bundling a bundling good by means of a one-piece-tie (OPT). In an aspect, an ABT includes: a holding unit configured to receive, hold, and release a respective OPT which is provided to the ABT from an external reservoir of OPTs; a linear motion guiding unit configured to linearly guide the holding unit in a longitudinal direction while moving between a receiving position where the holding unit receives, during intended use, the respective OPT and a releasing position where the holding unit releases, during intended use, the respective OPT; and a drive unit configured to move the holding unit along the linear motion guiding unit.

Claims

1. An automatic bundling tool device (ABT) configured for bundling a bundling good by means of a one-piece-tie (OPT), the ABT comprising: a holding unit configured to receive, hold, and release a respective OPT which is provided to the ABT from an external reservoir of OPTs; a linear motion guiding unit configured to linearly guide the holding unit in a longitudinal direction while moving between a receiving position where the holding unit receives, during intended use, the respective OPT and a releasing position where the holding unit releases, during intended use, the respective OPT; and a drive unit configured to move the holding unit along the linear motion guiding unit, wherein the holding unit comprises two gripping elements which are arranged movably on a common base element, each gripping element with a respective gripping contour for accommodating the respective OPT, and configured to each be moved, in a translational movement in a lateral direction running traverse to the longitudinal direction, from an open position for receiving and releasing the respective OPT to a closed position for holding the respective OPT and vice versa.

2. The ABT of claim 1, wherein the gripping contours of the two gripping elements face each other.

3. The ABT of claim 2, wherein the gripping contours of the two gripping elements are symmetric with regards to a middle plane perpendicular to the lateral direction, and are configured to be at least partly form fit with outer surfaces of at least two given different types of OPTs in the closed position.

4. The ABT of the claim 3, wherein the gripping contours are formed such that, for the given different types of OPTs, a window in respective head parts of the respective OPTs is always arranged, when the respective OPTs are held by the gripping elements in the closed position, in the same position relative to the base element.

5. The ABT of claim 2, wherein the gripping contours comprise at least one of: parallel flanks that are configured to mechanically interact with a head part of the respective OPT; wedge flanks that are configured to mechanically interact with a neck part of the respective OPT; or one or more additional flanks adapted to a shape of a foot part of one or more respective given different types of OPTs.

6. The ABT of claim 1, wherein the gripping contours comprise at least one of: parallel flanks that are configured to mechanically interact with a head part of the respective OPT; wedge flanks that are configured to mechanically interact with a neck part of the respective OPT; or one or more additional flanks adapted to a shape of a foot part of one or more respective given different types of OPTs.

7. The ABT of claim 1, wherein the holding unit comprises a slider element, the slider element mechanically coupled to the drive unit and movable with respect to the gripping elements and the base element, and the slider element comprising two pin elements that each engage with a respective slit of one of the gripping elements, where the slits extend in a main plane spanned by the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction and are configured to translate a longitudinal movement of the slider element relative to the gripping elements into a lateral movement of the gripping elements with respect to each other.

8. The ABT of claim 7, wherein at least one spring loaded pivoting pawl element is arranged on the base element with a pivoting axis of the pawl element running traverse the longitudinal direction, where a spring load of the pawl element pushes an end of the pawl element towards a housing of the ABT such that in the releasing position of the holding unit the end engages with a protrusion of the housing and hinders the base element from being moved in the longitudinal direction from the releasing position towards the receiving position, in a backward direction, and the slider element is configured to engage with the pawl element when the slider element is moved relative to the base element in the backward direction at the releasing position such that the end of the pawl element disengages from the protrusion and the base element is no longer hindered from being moved in the backward direction.

9. The ABT of claim 7, wherein the common base element is arranged movably on the slider element, with a spring element exerting a spring force on base element and slider element that actuates, via the pin elements engaged with the slits, the gripping elements into the closed position.

10. The ABT of claim 9, wherein: at least one spring loaded pivoting pawl element is arranged on the base element with a pivoting axis of the pawl element running traverse the longitudinal direction, where: a spring load of the pawl element pushes an end of the pawl element towards a housing of the ABT such that in the releasing position of the holding unit the end engages with a protrusion of the housing and hinders the base element from being moved in the longitudinal direction from the releasing position towards the receiving position, in a backward direction, and the slider element is configured to engage with the pawl element when the slider element is moved relative to the base element in the backward direction at the releasing position such that the end of the pawl element disengages from the protrusion and the base element is no longer hindered from being moved in the backward direction.

11. The ABT of claim 10, wherein the at least one spring loaded pivoting pawl element comprises two spring loaded pivoting pawl elements.

12. The ABT of claim 10, wherein at least one spring loaded pivoting locking element is arranged on the base element with a pivoting axis of the locking element running traverse the longitudinal direction, where a spring load of the locking element pushes an end of the locking element towards the slider element such that in the open position of the gripping elements the end engages with a protrusion of the slider element and hinders a relative movement of slider element and base element into a position corresponding to the closed position of the gripping elements.

13. The ABT of claim 12, wherein a further protrusion of the housing of the ABT is configured to engage with the locking element if slider element and base element are locked in a position corresponding to the open position of the gripping elements by the locking element when the base element is moved in the backward direction along the linear motion guiding unit such that the end of the locking element disengages from the protrusion of the slider element and the base element is no longer hindered from being moved, relative to the slider element, into the position corresponding to the closed position of the gripping elements.

14. The ABT of claim 13, wherein the drive unit comprises: a control unit configured to control the drive unit independently of a tool cycle of the ABT by at least one of: controlling a speed of the motion of the holding unit in the longitudinal direction along the linear motion guiding unit between receiving position and releasing position; or controlling an absolute position of the receiving position on the linear motion guiding unit.

15. The ABT of claim 13, wherein the control unit control is in dependence upon an OPT type information regarding one or more given different types of OPTs provided to the ABT during intended use.

16. The ABT of claim 1, wherein the drive unit comprises a belt drive to which the holding unit is attached.

17. A system comprising: a holding unit configured to receive, hold, and release a respective one-piece-tie (OPT) provided from an external reservoir of OPTs, the holding unit comprising: two gripping elements which are arranged movably on a common base element, each gripping element with a respective gripping contour for accommodating the respective OPT, and configured to each be moved, in a translational movement in a lateral direction running traverse to a longitudinal direction, from an open position for receiving and releasing the respective OPT to a closed position for holding the respective OPT and vice versa; a linear motion guiding unit configured to linearly guide the holding unit in a longitudinal direction while moving between a receiving position where the holding unit receives, during intended use, the respective OPT and a releasing position where the holding unit releases, during intended use, the respective OPT; a drive unit configured to move the holding unit along the linear motion guiding unit; and a flexible OPT reservoir configured to provide OPTs of different types of OPTs to the ABT, where OPTs of all types have outer surfaces that form-fit at least partly the contours of the gripping elements in the closed position.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the OPTs of the different types differ at least in one of: a head part shape; a neck part shape; a foot part shape; a strap part length; a strap part thickness; or a strap part broadness.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising: one or more OPTs of at least one type with outer surfaces that form-fit at least partly the contours of the gripping elements in the closed position.

20. A system comprising: a holding unit configured to receive, hold, and release a respective a one-piece-tie (OPT) provided from an external reservoir of OPTs, the holding unit comprising: two gripping elements which are arranged movably on a common base element, each gripping element with a respective gripping contour for accommodating the respective OPT, and configured to each be moved, in a translational movement in a lateral direction running traverse to a longitudinal direction, from an open position for receiving and releasing the respective OPT to a closed position for holding the respective OPT and vice versa; a linear motion guiding unit configured to linearly guide the holding unit in a longitudinal direction while moving between a receiving position where the holding unit receives, during intended use, the respective OPT and a releasing position where the holding unit releases, during intended use, the respective OPT; a drive unit configured to move the holding unit along the linear motion guiding unit; and one or more OPTs of at least one type with outer surfaces that form-fit at least partly the contours of the gripping elements in the closed position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Example embodiments are further described in the following by means of schematic drawings. Therein,

[0035] FIG. 1 shows an example embodiment of an automatic bundling tool device, ABT,

[0036] FIG. 2 shows an example embodiment of a holding unit, a linear motion guiding unit and a drive unit,

[0037] FIG. 3 shows an example embodiment of two gripping elements with a first example type of one-piece-tie,

[0038] FIG. 4 shows the gripping elements of FIG. 3 with a second example type of one-piece-tie,

[0039] FIG. 5 shows the example gripping elements of FIGS. 3 to 5 in a closed position,

[0040] FIG. 6 shows a single one of the gripping elements of FIGS. 3 and 4,

[0041] FIG. 7 shows an example embodiment of a holding unit with gripping elements in a closed position,

[0042] FIG. 8 shows the holding unit of FIG. 7 with the gripping elements in an open position,

[0043] FIG. 9 shows another example embodiment of a holding unit with the gripping elements in the closed position, and

[0044] FIG. 10 shows the example embodiment of FIG. 9 with the gripping elements in the open position.

[0045] In the different figures, identical or functionally identical features may have the same reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] The disclosure relates to an automatic bundling tool device for bundling a bundling good by means of a one-piece-tie, in particular by means of a cable tie. The automatic bundling tool device comprises a holding unit configured to receive, hold, and release a respective one-piece-tie which is provided to the automatic bundling tool device from an external reservoir of one-piece-ties, a linear motion guiding unit configured to linearly guide the holding unit in a longitudinal direction while in motion back and forth between a receiving position where the holding unit receives, during intended use, the respective one-piece tie and a releasing position where the holding unit releases, during intended use, the respective one-piece-tie, as well as a drive unit configured to move the holding unit along the linear motion guiding unit.

[0047] FIG. 1 shows an example embodiment of an automatic bundling tool device 1, ABT 1, for bundling a bundling good 2 by means of a one-piece-tie 11 (FIG. 2), OPT 11. Therein, two guiding claws 3a, 3b are configured to grab around the bundling good 2 and guide said one-piece-tie 11 around the bundling good 2 before it is pulled back into a housing 4 of the ABT 1 in order to form a loop around the bundling good 2. In the present example, the ABT 1 is also connected with a control unit 5 that provides control signals to the ABT 1.

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view on an example embodiment of a holding unit 10 configured to receive, hold, and release a respective OPT 11 which is provided to the ABT 1 from an external reservoir of OPTs 11, an example embodiment of a linear motion guiding unit 12 configured to linearly guide the holding unit 10 in a longitudinal direction LO, here parallel to the x-axis, while in a motion between a receiving position where the holding unit 10 receives, during intended use, the respective OPT 11, and a releasing position where the holding unit 10 releases, during intended use, the respective OPT 11, and an example embodiment of a drive unit 13 with a belt drive 13a to which the holding unit 10 is attached in the present example.

[0049] The holding unit 10 comprises two gripping elements 10a, 10a′ which are arranged movably on a common base element 10b of the holding unit 10. Each gripping element 10a, 10a′ is provided with a respective gripping contour 10a*, 10a*′ for accommodating the respective OPT 11, in particular a head part 11b and/or a neck part 11c and/or a foot part 11d of the OPT 11. Each gripping element 10a, 10a′ is configured to each be moved, in a translational movement, that is, a straight movement, in a lateral direction LA perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LO here, from an open position of the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ for receiving and releasing the respective OPT 11 to a closed position of the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ for holding the respective OPT 11 and vice versa. In the shown example, the lateral direction LA is parallel to the z-axis.

[0050] In the present example, the holding unit 10 comprises a slider unit 10c which is mechanically coupled to the drive unit 13 and movable with respect to the base element 10b and the gripping elements 10a, 10a′. The slider element 10c comprises two pin elements 10f, 10f (FIG. 7) that each engage with a respective slit 10a#, 10a#′ of one of the gripping elements 10a, 10a′, where the slits 10a#, 10a#′ extend in a main plane spanned by the longitudinal direction LO and the lateral direction LA, i.e. in the x-z-plane. The slits 10a#, 10a#′ are configured to translate a longitudinal movement of the slider element 10c relative to the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ into a lateral movement of the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ with respect to each other.

[0051] In the present example the base element 10b, which may comprise several sub-elements, holds the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ and comprises elongate protrusions orientated perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LO, which act as guides and offer the gripping elements 10a, 10a′, in the present example, exactly one degree of freedom in their movement relative to the base element 10b. The base element 10b comprises a sub-element sitting on the linear motion guide unit 12, and has itself, in the present only one degree of freedom in its movement relative to the linear motion guide unit 12. It is thus able to move forwards and backwards in the longitudinal direction LO.

[0052] Correspondingly, the gripping elements 10a, 10a′, in the present example, contain grooves engaging with said protrusion of the base element 10b and, by this, are restricted to said one degree of freedom in their movement relative to the base element 10b. This means the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ can follow an in and out motion perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LO, basically acting as a parallel gripper. By pushing the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ of the parallel gripper firmly together, they act on outer surfaces of the OPT 11 and enclose parts such as head part 11b and/or foot part 11c in a form-fit connection. Thus, the OPT 11 can be held in place reliably by a corresponding gripping force.

[0053] The slider element 10c is attached to the drive unit 13, in particular the belt 13a in the present example, by a corresponding connecting element. It therefore follows any motion performed by the drive unit 13, that is, the belt 13a along the longitudinal direction LO. Furthermore, the slider element 10c can execute a forward backward motion relative to the base element 10b in the longitudinal direction LO, as the base element 10b is not fixed onto the belt 13a here.

[0054] In the present example, the holding unit 10 comprises also a spring element 10g, 10g′ (FIG. 7) exerting a spring force on base element 10b and slider element 10c that actuates, by pushing slider element 10c relative to base element 10b, via the pin elements 10f, 10f′ engaged with the slits 10a#, 10a#′, the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ into the closed position. In the present example, the spring element 10g, 10g′, by acting upon the slider element 10c, pushes the slider element 10c forward, that is, in a negative x-direction parallel to the longitudinal direction LO to the base element 10b and thereby pushes the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ together. Therefore, in a resting position without any additional external force, the slider element 10c keeps up the gripping force and secures the OPT 11 in place between the gripping elements 10a, 10a′. During operation of the drive unit 13, due to the spring load, the base element 10b will follow the slider element's motion without relative motion between slider element 10c and base element 10b. Thus, the OPT 11 can be conveyed safely from the receiving position to the releasing position. By moving the slider element 10c backwards, that is, in positive x-direction, with respect to the base element 10b, the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ will be moved, in this example, in an open position.

[0055] Namely, during a tool cycle, the OPT 11 has to be inserted and, after bundling, released from the gripping elements 10a, 10a′. This requires the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ to be opened. As described above, any backwards motion of the slider element 10c relative to the base element 10b will open the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ in the shown example. However, due to the spring load, in the present example the base element 10b follows the slider element's movement, inhibiting relative motion. Hence, in order to allow for relative motion between base element 10b and slider element 10c, the base element 10b has to be kept in a fixed position, leaving only the slider element 10c to be able to move along the longitudinal direction LO. For this, spring loaded pivoting pawl elements 10d, 10d′ are arranged, in the present example, on the base element 10b with a pivoting axis of the pawl elements 10d, 10d′ running traverse the longitudinal direction LO, here running in the y-direction. Consequently, the pawl elements 10d, 10d′ are able to rotate in the horizontal x-z-plane in the present example. The pawl elements 10d, 10d′ are spring loaded such that their rear ends 10d*, 10d*′ are pushed outwardly to the housing 4 of the ABT 1 such that in the releasing position of the holding unit 10, the end 10d*, 10d*′ engages with a corresponding protrusion of the housing 4 and hinders the common base element 10b from being moved backwards in the longitudinal direction LO, that is in positive x-direction towards the receiving position. This is described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0056] After releasing the OPT 11 in the maximum forward position, the releasing position, the slider element 10c and the base element 10b have to move further backwards until the whole holding unit 10 reaches its initial position, the receiving position. As the bundle with bundling good 2 and OPT 11 with its foot part 11d may still be in place in the ABT 1 at this time, the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ have to remain in the open position until they clear the foot part 11d in order to avoid pull on the bundling good 2. To this end, at least one, in the present example two spring loaded pivoting locking elements 10e, 10e′ are arranged on the base element 10b with a pivoting axis of the locking elements 10e, 10e′ running traverse the longitudinal direction LO, along the y-direction in the present example. In the present example these locking elements 10e, 10e′ rotate inwards and slide into grooves of the slider element 10c thus engaging with protrusions 10c#, 10c#′ of the slider element 10c, as soon as the slider element 10c has covered a certain distance during backward/release motion. With the locking elements 10e, 10e′ resting against the protrusion of the slider element 10c, it is jammed and cannot move forwards relative to the base element 10b, keeping the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ open.

[0057] So, the spring load of the locking element 10e, 10e′ pushes an end 10e*, 10e*′ of the locking element 10e, 10e′ towards the slider element 10c such that in the open position of the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ the end 10e*, 10e*′ engages with the protrusion of the slider element 10c and hinders a relative movement of the slider element 10c and base element 10b into a position corresponding to the closed position of the gripping elements 10a, 10a′. This is explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

[0058] Consequently, an example complete holding, transport, and release process consists of several steps as follows:

Loading

[0059] The cable tie 11 has to be inserted into the gripping elements 10a, 10a′. For this the drive unit 13 will pull the slider element 10c backwards from its resting position. Consequently, due to the spring element 10g, 10g′ exerting the spring force on base element 10b and slider element 10c, the base element 10b is pushed backwards in the x-direction against a stopper, which prevents it from moving further backwards. Thus, the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ open and the OPT 11 can be transferred from the external reservoir device to the ABT 1. When the OPT 11 is positioned between the gripping elements 10a, 10a′, the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ have to be closed in order to secure the OPT 11. To do so, the drive unit 13 reverses its direction and moves the slider element 10c forwards, in a negative x-direction, back to its initial position. Due to the spring force of the spring elements 10g, 10g′, slider element 10c and base element 10b are moved back in a relative position that corresponds to the closed position of the gripping elements 10a, 10a′.

Moving Forward

[0060] The OPT 11 has to be moved forward in the negative x-direction into guides such as the guide claws 3a, 3b around the bundle good 2. To do so, the drive unit 13 moves the slider element 10c forwards, carrying the base element 10b along without relative motion between base element 10b and slider element 10c, so that the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ remain closed and hold the OPT 11.

Reaching Releasing Position

[0061] When the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ reach their maximum forward position, the releasing position, the tip of the strap part 11a of the OPT 11 will be threaded through a window of the OPT 11 and the strap will be tensioned. During tensioning, the OPT 11 has to be kept in place. Therefore, the holding unit 10 stays in the release position without any motion.

Releasing

[0062] After tensioning is completed, the OPT 11 has to be released from the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ for the bundle to be freed. In order to do so, the drive unit 13 moves the slider element backwards to open the gripping elements 10a, 10a′. Due to the spring load, the base element 10b will follow the backward motion. After a minimal travel, the pawl elements 10d, 10d′ jam against the housing 4 and prevent further backward motion of the base element 10b, while the slider element 10c is driven further backwards relative to the base element 10b by the drive unit 13, as explained in more detail referring to FIGS. 7 and 8. With the slider element 10c moving backwards relative to the base element 10b, the locking elements 10e, 10e′ will rotate inwards, thereby blocking the slider element 10c in a position corresponding to the open position of the gripping elements 10a, 10a′. Doing so, the actuator slider element 10c cannot move forwards relative to the base element 10b so that the clamping jaws, the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ stay in the open position.

Moving Backwards/Closing the Gripping Elements

[0063] Further backward motion of the slider element 10c pushes it against the pawl elements 10d, 10d′ and rotates said pawl elements 10d, 10d′ so that they clear the protrusion of the housing 4 and unblock the base element 10b from backward motion, as shown in FIG. 8. Now, the holding unit 10 can freely move backwards to its initial position. After a certain backwards travel, the locking elements 10e, 10e′ get in contact with a further protrusion of the housing 4. Doing so the locking elements 10e′ are rotated, in the present example, outwards so that they free the blocked slider element 10c, allowing it to move forward again with respect to the base element 10b and thus, due to the spring force of the spring elements 10g, 10g′, close the gripping elements 10a, 10a′.

[0064] FIG. 3 shows an example embodiment of two gripping elements 10a, 10a′ with respective gripping contours 10a*, 10a*′ that are configured to be at least partly form-fit with outer surfaces of at least two given different types of OPTs 11 in the closed position. In the present example, said outer surfaces are surfaces of the foot part 11d and the head part 11b of the OPT 11. In the shown example, the gripping contours 10a*, 10a*′ are symmetric with regard to the middle plane perpendicular to the lateral direction. Also, in the plane of lateral and longitudinal direction, the x-z-plane, each of the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ features slit 10a#, 10a#′ that is inclined relative to both longitudinal direction LO and lateral direction LA to translate a longitudinal movement of the slider element 10c relative to the base element 10b into a lateral movement of the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ with respect to each other via the guidance provided by the pin elements 10f, 10f of the slider element 10c and the above-mentioned elongate protrusions of base element 10b.

[0065] FIG. 4 shows the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ of FIG. 3 with an OPT 11 of a different type. Thus, the example gripping elements 10a, 10a′ can be used to hold OPTs 11 of different OPT types firmly in the desired position. The positions of the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ relative to each other in the closed position may differ from OPT type to OPT type.

[0066] FIG. 5 shows in more detail how such an increased flexibility is possible. Namely the contours 10a*, 10a*′ comprise respective different contour sections, first contour sections 10ax, 10ax′, second contour sections 10ay, 10ay′, and third contour sections, 10az, 10az′ in the present example. The first contour sections 10ax, 10ax′, in the present example, are designed to provide a form-fit hold on the head part 11b of the two different types of OPTs. This is possible as, in the present example, the head part 11b of the two different OPTs shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are of identical or very similar shape. The second contour sections 10ay, 10ay′ are used to provide a form-fit grip on the foot part 11d of the OPT 11 of FIG. 3, i.e. the OPT type of FIG. 3. When the OPT 11 of FIG. 4 is held by the gripping elements 10a, 10a′, the second contour sections 10ay, 10ay′ do not have any particular function except for providing space for the OPT 11 of FIG. 4. The third contour sections 10az, 10az′, vice versa, are configured to provide a form-fit grip on the OPT 11 of FIG. 4, i.e. the OPT type of FIG. 4, in the closed position of the gripping elements 10a, 10a′, but do not have a function when the OPT 11 of FIG. 3 is held by the gripping elements 10a, 10a′. Furthermore, in the present example, the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ of the present example provide respective recesses 10aw, 10aw′ that just give space and enable the holding of very large OPTs 11.

[0067] FIG. 6 gives a more detailed view on a gripping element 10a with a specific example contour 10a*, which is used in the present example to enable a form-fit mechanical connection between gripping contours 10a*, 10a*′ of the two gripping elements 10a, 10a′ of FIG. 5. Note that, in the present example, the gripping contours 10a*, 10a*′ are symmetric with regard to a middle plane perpendicular to the lateral direction, that is, with regard to a x-y plane.

[0068] FIGS. 7 and 8 show an example embodiment of a holding unit 10 with the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ in a closed and open position, respectively.

[0069] In FIG. 7, the ends 10d*, 10d*′ of the respective pawl elements 10d, 10d′ are pushed, by a spring load indicated by the arrows P, towards a housing of the ABT 1, in the present example outwardly, protrusions of the housing 4 arranged such that in the releasing position of the holding unit 10, the ends 10d*, 10d*′ engage with said protrusion of the housing 4 and hinder the base element 10b from being moved backwards in the longitudinal direction LO towards the receiving position, that is, in positive x-direction.

[0070] Thus, when the slider element 10c is moved backwards as indicated by the arrow S, the base element 10b cannot follow this movement, with the resulting relative movement of slider element 10c with respect to base element 10b moving the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ in an open position via the pin elements 10f, 10f′. This is due to the pawl elements 10d, 10d′ compensating the force exerted on the base element 10b through the backwards motion of the slider element 10c via the spring elements 10g, 10g′.

[0071] As the base element 10b needs to be moved backwards to the receiving position at some point, the holding unit 10 of the present example is configured to disengage the ends 10d*, 10d*′ of the pawl elements 10d, 10d′ as shown in FIG. 8. Namely, the backward end section 10c* of the slider element 10c is configured to interact, at some point when being moved backwards in the longitudinal direction, with the pawl elements 10d, 10d*, in particular with front ends 10d#, 10d#′ of said pawl elements 10d, 10d* such that they are pushed, as indicated by the arrows R, outwardly, resulting in a rotation of the pawl elements 10d, 10d′ as indicated by the arrows Q, that moves the ends 10d*, 10d*′ inwardly. Thus, the ends 10d*, 10d*′ disengage the protrusion of the housing 4. Consequently, the holding unit 10 may move in the positive x-direction backwards to the receiving position actuated by the slider element 10c.

[0072] FIGS. 9 and 10 show example embodiments of the holding unit 10 where, starting from a situation similar to that shown in FIG. 8, the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ remain in the open position while the slider element 10c and the base element 10b can be moved freely along the linear motion guiding unit in spite of the spring force of the spring elements 10g, 10g′. In particular, the holding unit 10 of FIG. 9 comprises at least one, in the shown example two spring loaded pivoting locking elements 10e, 10e′ which are arranged on the base element 10b with a pivoting axis of the locking elements 10e, 10e′ running traverse the longitudinal direction LO. Therein, a spring load of the locking element 10e, 10e′ actuates respective ends 10e*, 10e*′ of the locking elements 10e, 10e′ towards the slider element 10c, that is, inwards in the present example. The motion initiated by said spring load is indicated by the arrows T here. Consequently, similar to FIG. 7, the slider element 10c can be moved in the positive x-direction relative to the base element 10b if said base element 10b is for instance held, as described with reference to FIG. 7, in a fixed position relative to the housing.

[0073] Thus, as described above, the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ can be moved in the open position, which is also shown in FIG. 10. Here it is shown that in a relative position of slider element 10c and base element 10b with respect to each other that correspond to the open position of the gripping elements 10a, 10a′, the ends 10e*, 10e*′ interact with respective protrusions 10c#, 10c#′ of the slider element 10c and hinder a relative movement of slider element 10c and base element 10b into a position corresponding to the closed position of the gripping elements 10a, 10a′, as indicated by the crossed-out arrow U.

[0074] Consequently, the complete holding unit can be, in the shown configuration, moved back and forth in the longitudinal direction LO while keeping the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ in the shown open position.

[0075] In order to allow the holding unit 10 to change its configuration back into a closed configuration of the gripping elements 10a, 10a′, a further protrusion of the housing 4 of the ABT is configured to engage with ends 10e#, 10e#′ of the locking elements 10e, 10e′ when the base element 10b is moved in the backward direction along the linear motion guiding unit 12 such that the first end 10e*, 10e*′ of the locking element disengages from the protrusions 10c#, 10c#′ of the slider element 10c. Then, the base element 10b is no longer hindered from being moved, relative to the slider element 10c, into the position corresponding to the closed position of the gripping elements 10a, 10a′ as a consequence of the spring force of the spring elements 10g, 10g′.

[0076] The use of “example,” “advantageous,” and grammatically related terms means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and not “preferred” or “advantageous over other examples.” Items represented in the accompanying figures and terms discussed herein may be indicative of one or more items or terms, and thus reference may be made interchangeably to single or plural forms of the items and terms in this written description. The use herein of the word “or” may be considered use of an “inclusive or,” or a term that permits inclusion or application of one or more items that are linked by the word “or” (e.g., a phrase “A or B” may be interpreted as permitting just “A,” as permitting just “B,” or as permitting both “A” and “B”), unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used herein, a phrase referring to “at least one of” a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. For instance, “at least one of a, b, or c” can cover a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c, as well as any combination with multiples of the same element (e.g., a-a, a-a-a, a-a-b, a-a-c, a-b-b, a-c-c, b-b, b-b-b, b-b-c, c-c, c-c-c, or any other ordering of a, b, and c).