Rotating tension latch

Abstract

A delivery apparatus, in one instance, includes suspension means configured to hold a package that is to be delivered or picked up, a locking mechanism in the suspension means configured to securely hold the package onto the suspension means, and a package delivery mechanism configured to control a movement of the suspension means for delivering the package on a delivery area at a delivery destination, or for picking up the package. The locking mechanism is gravity activated to hold and release the package from the suspension means, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to hold the package locked to the suspension means when a force exerted on the locking mechanism exceeds a first value due to a weight of the package, and rotate to release the package from the suspension means when the force exerted on the locking mechanism drops below a second value due to the package weight.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A delivery apparatus, comprising:
 suspension means configured to hold a package that is to be delivered or picked up;   a locking mechanism in the suspension means configured to securely hold the package onto the suspension means; and   a package delivery mechanism configured to control a movement of the suspension means for delivering the package on a delivery area at a delivery destination, or for picking up the package;   wherein the locking mechanism is gravity activated to hold and release the package from the suspension means;   wherein the locking mechanism is configured to:   hold the package locked to the suspension means when a gravitational force exerted on the locking mechanism exceeds a first specified value due to a weight of the package; and   automatically rotate to release the package from the suspension means when the gravitational force exerted on the locking mechanism drops below a second specified value due to the weight of the package.   
     
     
         2 . The delivery apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the suspension means is a cable. 
     
     
         3 . The delivery apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the suspension means is a positioning arm. 
     
     
         4 . The delivery apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the suspension means includes a first end that is attached to the package delivery mechanism and a second end that is attached to the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The delivery apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is configured to:
 couple with a coupling mechanism of the package to hold the package securely onto the suspension means, and   decouple with the coupling mechanism to release the package from the suspension means.   
     
     
         6 . A delivery apparatus, comprising:
 suspension means configured to hold a workpiece that is to be delivered or picked up;   a locking mechanism coupled to the suspension means and configured to securely hold the workpiece onto the suspension means; and   an automated machine configured to control a movement of the suspension means for delivering the workpiece on a delivery area at a delivery destination, or for picking up the workpiece;   wherein the locking mechanism is gravity activated to hold and release the workpiece from the suspension means;   wherein the locking mechanism is configured to:   hold the workpiece locked to the suspension means when a force exerted on the locking mechanism due to a weight of the workpiece exceeds a first specified value; and   automatically rotate to release the workpiece from the suspension means after the force exerted on the locking mechanism due to a weight of the workpiece drops below a second specified value.   
     
     
         7 . The delivery apparatus as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the suspension means is a cable. 
     
     
         8 . The delivery apparatus as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the suspension means is a positioning arm. 
     
     
         9 . The delivery apparatus as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the suspension means includes a first end that is attached to the package delivery mechanism and a second end that is attached to the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The delivery apparatus as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the locking mechanism is configured to:
 couple with a coupling mechanism of the workpiece to hold the workpiece securely onto the suspension means, and   decouple with the coupling mechanism to release the workpiece from the suspension means.   
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 loading a package onto a delivery apparatus, wherein the package is locked to a suspension means of the delivery apparatus using a gravity activated locking mechanism,   wherein the gravitational force exerted on the locking mechanism due to the weight of the package holds the package locked to the suspension means;   lowering, by a package delivery mechanism of the delivery apparatus, the suspension means to deliver the package at a delivery area in a delivery destination; and   releasing, by the locking mechanism, the package from the suspension means, wherein, when the package rests on the delivery area, the weight of package is off the suspension means, which enables the locking mechanism to automatically rotate and disengage from the package such that the package is released from the suspension means.   
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the suspension means is a cable. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the suspension means is a positioning arm. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the suspension means includes a first end that is attached to the package delivery mechanism and a second end that is attached to the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . A pick-and-place system, comprising:
 a hook member including two pins;   a latch member having a central axis and a surface surrounding the central axis, the latch member having a first upper portion and second and third lower portions extending radially from the surface, the second and third lower portions circumferentially spaced from one another and axially spaced from the first upper portion, guide and limit surfaces of the second and third lower portions facing respective guide and limit surfaces of the first upper portion that cooperate to form first and second channels, the first and second channels being substantially identically shaped, each of the first and second channels having in order a first upwardly sloping path defined by a respective first upwardly slanting guide surface and a first limit surface of the first upper portion, a second downwardly sloping path defined by a respective second downwardly slanting guide surface and a second limit surface of a respective lower portion, and a third upwardly sloping path defined by a respective third upwardly slanting guide surface and a third limit surface of the first upper portion, the first and second channels configured to each receive one of the two pins of the hook member and cause the latch member to rotate relative to the hook member, wherein the latch member and the hook member alternate between latched and unlatched configurations as the latch member reciprocates substantially along the central axis relative to the hook member, the latch member and the hook member configured to temporarily engage one another when latched; and   one or more electronic or optical sensors associated with the hook member or the latch member, the one or more electronic or optical sensors configured to assist a control system or user in recognizing a position of least one of the two pins relative to at least one of the first or second channels.   
     
     
         16 . The pick-and-place system as recited in  claim 15  wherein the latch member is a female latch member and the hook member is a male latch member. 
     
     
         17 . The pick-and-place system as recited in  claim 16  wherein the two pins extend radially outward from the male latch member. 
     
     
         18 . The pick-and-place system as recited in  claim 15  wherein the latch member is a male latch member and the hook member is a female latch member. 
     
     
         19 . The pick-and-place system as recited in  claim 18  wherein the two pines extend radially inward from the female latch member. 
     
     
         20 . The pick-and-place system as recited in  claim 15  wherein the latch member is configured to be driven to reciprocate by gravity.