To provide a gripping force adjusting mechanism of a catcher arm which achieves an opening and closing mechanism of the arm and adjustment of gripping force in a simple mechanism.

A cylinder 15 is lowered by clockwise rotation of a motor 10, and the arm 17 is opened on an arm shaft 18 as a fulcrum. The cylinder 15 is elevated by counter-clockwise rotation of the motor 10 and the arm 17 is closed to be stopped by restriction at the side of a catcher frame 20. Further the cylinder 15 is elevated and a coiled spring 16 is extended to increase the gripping force of the arm 17. The gripping force of the arm can be adjusted by previously selecting the drive time from the start of generating gripping force by the motor 10 and the stop thereof.

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