1. A grip mechanism for an end effector, the end effector including an effector body having a first end, a second end opposite the first end and a proximal side extending between the first and second ends, the end effector operative to handle an object disposed within a retaining region adjacent to the proximal side, the grip mechanism comprising:
a grip member configured to be coupled to the effector body and including a gripper, wherein the grip member is movable in a first direction away from the first end toward the second end and wherein a first portion of the grip member is moveable relative to the effector body along a first travel path based on movement of the grip member in the first direction; and
a grip guide operatively coupled to the grip member, wherein the grip guide is configured to guide a movement of a second portion of the grip member along a second travel path based on movement of the grip member in the first direction, wherein the grip member and grip guide are configured such that the gripper is movable to a first engagement position along a first engagement path based upon movement of the first and second portions along the first and second travel paths, the first engagement path extending away from the proximal side of the effector body and toward the retaining region, and
wherein, at the first engagement position, the gripper is configured to engage an object disposed within the retaining region.
2. The grip mechanism of claim 1, wherein first portion of the grip member is immovable relative to the second portion of the grip member.
3. The grip mechanism of claim 1, wherein the grip member and grip guide are configured such that the gripper is translatable relative to the effector body.
4. The grip mechanism of claim 3, wherein the grip member and grip guide are configured such that the gripper is rotatable relative to the effector body.
5. The grip mechanism of claim 1, wherein the grip member and grip guide are configured such that the gripper is rotatable relative to the effector body.
6. The grip mechanism of claim 5, wherein the gripper is rotatable relative to the effector body about an axis of rotation arranged at an angle of greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees relative to the first direction in which the grip member is movable.
7. The grip mechanism of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first travel path is not parallel to at least a portion of the second travel path.
8. The grip mechanism of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first travel path is parallel to at least a portion of the second travel path.
9. The grip mechanism of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first travel path and the second travel path includes a linear portion.
10. The grip mechanism of claim 9, wherein the second travel path includes at least two linear portions extending along different directions.
11. The grip mechanism of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first travel path and the second travel path includes a curved portion.
12. The grip mechanism of claim 1, wherein the grip guide comprises:
a first support rail configured to be coupled to the effector body;
a first slot formed in the first support rail; and
a first pin coupled to the second portion of the grip member and slideably received within the first slot.
13. The grip mechanism of claim 12, wherein the grip guide comprises:
a second support rail spaced apart from the first support rail; and
a third slot formed in the second support rail,
wherein the guide member is disposed between the second support rail and the first support rail and wherein the first pin is slideably received within the third slot.
14. The grip mechanism of claim 12, wherein the grip guide further comprises:
a second slot formed in the first support rail; and
a second pin coupled to the first portion of the grip member and slideably received within the second slot.
15. The grip mechanism of claim 1, wherein the grip member and grip guide are configured such that the gripper is movable to a second engagement position along a second engagement path based upon movement of the first and second portions along the first and second travel paths, the second engagement path extending away from the first engagement position and toward the proximal side of the effector body.
16. The grip mechanism of claim 1, wherein:
wherein the grip member is movable in a second direction away from the second end toward the first end, and
the gripper is configured to disengage an engaged object disposed within the retaining region based upon movement of the grip member in the second direction.
17. An end effector operative to handle a substrate disposed within a retaining region adjacent thereto, the end effector comprising:
an effector body having a first end, a second end opposite the first end and a proximal side extending between the first and second ends and adjacent to the retaining region; and
a grip mechanism including:
a grip member coupled to the effector body and including a gripper, wherein the grip member is movable in a first direction away from the first end toward the second end and wherein a first portion of the grip member is moveable relative to the effector body along a first travel path based on movement of the grip member in the first direction; and
a grip guide operatively coupled to the grip member, wherein the grip guide is configured to guide a movement of a second portion of the grip member along a second travel path based on movement of the grip member in the first direction,
wherein the grip member and grip guide are configured such that the gripper is movable to a first engagement position along a first engagement path based upon movement of the first and second portions along the first and second travel paths, the engagement path extending away from the proximal side of the effector body and toward the retaining region, and
wherein a substrate is retainable within the retaining region when the gripper is at the first engagement position.
18. The end effector of claim 17, further comprising a plurality of grip mechanisms.
19. The end effector of claim 17, wherein the grip member and grip guide are configured such that the gripper is movable to a second engagement position along a second engagement path based upon movement of the first and second portions along the first and second travel paths, the second engagement path extending away from the first engagement position and toward the proximal side of the effector body.
20. The end effector of claim 17, wherein the grip member and grip guide are configured such that the gripper is translatable relative to the effector body, rotatable relative to the effector body or a combination thereof.
21. An end effector operative to handle a substrate disposed within a retaining region, the end effector comprising:
an effector body adjacent to the retaining region;
a grip member coupled to the effector body and including a gripper, wherein the grip member is movable along a first axis; and
a grip guide operatively coupled to the grip member, wherein the grip guide is configured to rotate the grip member about a second axis to a first engagement position based on movement of the grip member along the first axis, the second axis arranged at an angle of greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees relative to the first axis,
wherein the grip member and grip guide are configured such that the gripper is movable to a first engagement position along a first engagement path based upon movement of the grip member, the engagement path extending away from the proximal side of the effector body and toward the retaining region,
wherein a substrate is retainable within the retaining region when the gripper is at the first engagement position.
22. The end effector of claim 21, wherein the grip member and grip guide are configured such that the gripper is movable to a second engagement position along a second engagement path based upon movement of the grip member, the second engagement path extending away from the first engagement position and toward the proximal side of the effector body.
23. A method of handling a substrate, comprising:
arranging an end effector over a substrate, the end effector including:
an effector body having a first end, a second end opposite the first end and a proximal side extending between the first and second ends; and
a grip member coupled to the effector body, the grip member having a gripper;
moving the grip member in a first direction away from the first end and toward the second end, wherein moving the grip member includes:
moving the gripper to a first engagement position along a first engagement path, the engagement path extending away from the proximal side of the effector body and toward the retaining region; and
retaining the substrate within the retaining region when the gripper is at the first engagement position.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein moving the grip member in the first direction further includes:
moving the gripper to a second engagement position along a second engagement path, the second engagement path extending away from the first engagement position and toward the proximal side of the effector body.
25. The method of claim 23, further comprising releasing the substrate from the retaining region.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. Steering column switch, comprising:
a keyed blinker switch, and
a keyed wiperwasher switch, a common housing for housing both the keyed blinker switch and the keyed wiperwasher switch,
wherein each switch includes a switch lever coupled to a universal joint and engaged with a rotating switching element and sliding switching element, a carrier, wherein the switch lever, the rotating switching element and sliding switching element, the carrier of each switch are designed identically, and wherein the carrier of each switch is essentially shaped in the form of a Z having first and second legs joined by a bridge, wherein the first leg is used to engage the sliding switching element; the second leg is engaged by the housing; and the bridge supports the rotating switching element.
2. Steering column switch according to claim 1, wherein the first leg of the carrier, guiding the rotating switching element includes at least a first locking sleeve adapted to engage a locking member of the switch lever.
3. Steering column switch according to claim 2, wherein the first leg of a carrier guiding the rotating switching element includes at least a first and second locking sleeve, wherein said second locking sleeve is adapted to engage a locking member of the rotating switching element.
4. Steering column switch according to claim 2, wherein said locking member is designed in the shape of a V.
5. Steering column switch according to claim 1, wherein the rotating switching element is constructed in the shape of an L,wherein in the respectively associated switch lever is inserted in the second leg in such a way that it can move by swiveling, and the first leg is supported in the respectively associated carrier.
6. Steering column switch according to claim 5, wherein the first leg of the rotating switching element has switching contacts, designed as contact springs, for the contacting of correlated contact tracks of the bridge of the respectively associated carrier.
7. Steering column switch according to claim 6, wherein the first leg of the rotating switching element includes a recess, into which the carrier springs protrude.
8. Steering column switch according to claim 7, wherein the carrier springs are affixed on one side of the recess and are provided, on a free end, with a V-shaped bend, whose tip acts on the correlated contact track.
9. Steering column switch according to claim 5, further including an actuation device for switch contacts is correlated with the first leg of the rotating switching element, wherein said switch contacts are situated on the bridge of the carrier.
10. Steering column switch according to claim 9, wherein the actuation device includes two spring arms for acting on said switch contacts, wherein the free end of each spring arm carries a boss, which works together with switch bosses of the rotating switching element.
11. Steering column switch according to claim 5, wherein the second leg of the rotating switching element carries a support pin, wherein the support pin meshes into a corresponding support borehole of at least one of the housing and the carrier.
12. Steering column switch according to claim 1, wherein the sliding switching element includes a recess for an actuation projection of the respectively associated switch lever.
13. Steering column switch according to claim 12, wherein the recess is designed in the shape of an elongated hole and is correlated with a horizontal bridge of the sliding switching element.
14. Steering column switch according to claim 13, wherein the sliding switching element is provided with switching contacts situated perpendicular to the recess and designed as contact arms, which work together with correlated contact tracks of the corresponding first leg of the carrier.
15. Steering column switch according to claim 1, wherein the blinker switch and the wiperwasher switch are correlated with a common circuit board which is connected to a power supply of the motor vehicle.
16. Steering column switch according to claim 14, wherein the circuit board is provided with boreholes for one or more terminal contacts of the blinker switch and one or more terminal contacts of the wiperwasher switch.