Clamping device with air conduit

Abstract

Disclosed is a gripping device using an air conduit. This device can quickly complete the "release" of the gripping state of an article. After compressed air for gripping flows into a first pipe, the compressed air is accumulated in a side wall expansion space of a cylindrical air conduit, and the compressed air is moved through a second pipe and the air conduit, which are opened by a reverse valve, to be instantaneously discharged to the outside. Therefore, the "release" of the article can be quickly completed. Finally, in a transfer operation in which the gripping, transfer, release, and reset processes of the article are repeatedly performed, the operation time can be greatly shortened.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a clamping device for holding and transferring articles, and in particular, to a clamping device that utilizes the expansion pressure of an air tube for holding. Background Technology

[0002] In automated processes, gripping devices are needed to hold items in order to perform tasks such as securing, transferring, packaging, boxing, and other operations. The appropriate gripping structure may vary depending on the type or shape of the item. This invention proposes a gripping device that, while not limited to any particular type of item, is especially suitable for bottle-shaped items.

[0003] Prior art documents 1 and 2 disclose clamping devices for holding bottle-shaped items, which are equipped with a pair of symmetrical gripping plates that can operate organically together to ensure that the neck portion is surrounded. Prior art document 3 discloses a vacuum clamping device that can wrap around the entire head portion of the bottle for negative pressure gripping.

[0004] However, aside from its usefulness, the structure and installation of this type of clamping device are both complex and cumbersome. Therefore, it is impractical to apply it in the field. For reference, prior art documents 4 and 5 disclose clamping devices using suction pads, but they are not related to the technology of this patent.

[0005] In addition, a clamping device utilizing an "air conduit" has recently been proposed. This device injects compressed air into the air conduit through the injection port of a solenoid valve and uses the resulting expansion pressure to hold the bottle head.

[0006] This device, used for "holding" objects, is simple to design and utilize, and is highly stable. Therefore, it is expected to have considerable advantages compared to the devices disclosed in the prior art documents. However, when the holding state is "released," the compressed air injected into the conduit flows back in reverse and is then discharged through the outlet of the solenoid valve. This results in a slow release speed, ultimately increasing the operation time in repeated holding, transferring, releasing, and resetting operations.

[0007] <Prior Technology Documents>

[0008] 1. WO 2008 / 093548

[0009] 2. WO 2014 / 156562

[0010] 3. Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2020-0010923

[0011] 4. Korean Patent Registration Publication No. 10-1502791

[0012] 5. Korean Patent Registration Publication No. 10-1906474. Summary of the Invention

[0013] Technical issues

[0014] This invention is proposed to solve the problems existing in the prior art. The object of this invention is to provide a clamping device based on a structure that uses an air duct to hold an article, and in particular, a clamping device that can quickly handle article transfer operations by accelerating the release speed of the grip.

[0015] Technical solution

[0016] The clamping device of the present invention includes: a clamping housing comprising a supply pipe and a cover portion, the supply pipe comprising a first pipe and a second pipe formed vertically, the cover portion extending downwardly outside the supply pipe; a valve disposed inside the supply pipe between the first pipe and the second pipe, which moves upward or downward along the pressure direction of compressed air to close the first pipe or the second pipe; an air duct, as a cylindrical member having a space reserved with the inner wall of the cover portion, communicating with the second pipe, and having a plurality of clamping expansion portions formed on its side wall; and a flow path formed on one side of the supply pipe, connecting the first pipe to the space or the space to the second pipe along the movement direction of the valve.

[0017] During the "holding" process, compressed air is supplied through the first pipe. Under the pressure of the incoming air, the valve drops to close the second pipe. Then, the compressed air is supplied through the flow path to the space between the cover and the air duct, and pressurizes the expansion section to expand it.

[0018] When “released”, the supply of compressed air through the first pipe stops, the compressed air accumulated in the space flows in reverse, and under the action of the exhaust air pressure at this time, the valve rises to close the first pipe. Then the compressed air is supplied to the second pipe through the flow path and then discharged to the outside through the air duct, causing the expansion section to contract.

[0019] Preferably, the valve is a check valve, comprising a skid formed on the side of the body and moved by the pressure of compressed air, thereby contacting or disengaging from the side wall of the supply pipe. The skid is disengaged when "held" to open the path between the first pipe and the space, and is contacted when "released" to close the path and raise the valve.

[0020] According to an embodiment, the first tube is integrally formed in the central portion of the outer casing, and the second tube is formed on a separate mounting bracket, which is connected to the lower part of the first tube body. In this case, the air duct can be installed using the mounting bracket, for example, by means of compression generated by the fastening between the lower end of the first tube body and the upper end of the mounting bracket when the upper flange of the air duct is inserted between the mounting bracket and the first tube, or by means of bolts sequentially connected through the mounting bracket, flange, and first tube body.

[0021] An end-lock that supports the lower end of the air duct can be fastened to the lower part of the cover, in which case the inner end of the end-lock forms a downwardly expanding slope.

[0022] Invention Effects

[0023] The clamping device of the present invention is based on a structure that uses an air conduit operated by compressed air to hold an article. In particular, it can quickly discharge compressed air, thereby accelerating the release of the grip. Ultimately, it has the effect of effectively shortening the operation time in the transfer operation of repeatedly performing the steps of holding, transferring, releasing, and resetting an article. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the clamping device according to the present invention.

[0025] Figure 2 It is a display Figure 1 Cross-sectional view of the outer shell of AA.

[0026] Figure 3 Yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional diagram illustrating the "holding" function.

[0027] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of BB.

[0028] Figure 5 Yes Figure 3 A cross-sectional diagram illustrating the "release" function.

[0029] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0030] 10. Clamping device 11. Housing

[0031] 12. Valves 13. Air ducts

[0032] 14. Flow path 15. Supply pipe

[0033] 16. Pipe 1 17. Pipe 2

[0034] 18. Covering part 19. Expanding part

[0035] 20. Main body 21. Skirt

[0036] 22. Passageway 23. Fixture

[0037] 24. Flange 25. Bolt

[0038] 26. End lock 27. Bevel

[0039] 28. Fastening part S. Space Detailed Implementation

[0040] The features and effects of the present invention, whether described above or not, "clamping device using an air duct" (hereinafter referred to as "clamping device"), will become clearer through the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 Hereinafter, the clamping device of the present invention will be indicated by the symbol 10.

[0041] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 It can be seen that the clamping device 10 of the present invention has organically designed the clamping shell 11, valve 12, air duct 13 and flow path 14.

[0042] Specifically, the clamp housing 11 includes: a supply pipe 15, which includes a first pipe 16 and a second pipe 17 formed in a vertical direction; and a cover portion 18 extending downward outside the supply pipe 15. Additionally, a valve 12 is disposed inside the supply pipe 15 between the first pipe 16 and the second pipe 17, and moves upward or downward depending on the pressure direction of the compressed air to close either the first pipe 16 or the second pipe 17.

[0043] The air duct 13, a cylindrical component that maintains a certain space S with the inner wall of the cover portion 18 and is disposed therein, is a polyurethane tube. Its hollow portion communicates with the second tube 17. Multiple clamping expansion portions 19 are formed on the sidewall of the air duct 13, expanding towards each hollow side. The flow path 14 is a passageway formed radially on one side or towards the periphery of the supply tube 15. The flow path 14 is configured to connect the first tube 16 to the space S or the space S to the second tube 17 along the moving direction of the valve 12.

[0044] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 As can be seen, when the item is "held," compressed air is supplied through the first pipe 16. Under the pressure of the incoming air, the valve 12 descends, closing the end of the second pipe 17. Then, compressed air is supplied through the flow path 14 to the space S between the cover 18 and the air duct 13, pressurizing the outer surface of the clamping expansion part 19, causing it to expand towards the center (refer to arrow ①). The expansion pressure can be used to hold the item, such as the bottle head, placed inside the air duct 13.

[0045] In the automated process, after the held item is moved to the designated location, the holding state of the item is released, and the clamping device 10 returns to its original position.

[0046] Reference Figure 5 It is understood that when the object is "released" after being held, and the supply of compressed air through the first pipe 16 is stopped, the compressed air accumulated in the space S will flow in reverse. Under the action of the discharged air pressure at this time, the valve 12 rises, thereby closing the first pipe 16. The compressed air is supplied to the second pipe 17 via the flow path 14 (refer to arrow ②), and then discharged to the outside through the air duct 13 (refer to arrow ③), thereby causing the expansion section 19 to contract.

[0047] This structure and its function provide considerable benefits in terms of the rapid discharge of compressed air accumulated in the space S and the speed of its release. Symbol 22 is a discharge passage formed by a recess below the second tube 17 to address the situation where the head surface of the article blocks the lower end of the second tube 17.

[0048] In this embodiment, the valve 12 is a check valve, comprising a baffle 21 disposed on the side of the main body 20 and moved by the pressure of compressed air, thereby contacting or disengaging from the side wall of the supply pipe 15. In this case, the baffle 21 contracts and disengages under the influence of the inflow air pressure when "held," thereby opening the air passage between the first pipe 16 and the space S and causing the valve 12 to descend (see reference). Figure 3Conversely, during "release," it expands and "contacts" under the influence of the exhaust air pressure, thereby closing the air passage and causing valve 12 to rise naturally under the influence of the exhaust air pressure (see reference). Figure 5 ).

[0049] Furthermore, the first tube 16 is integrally formed with the central portion of the outer casing 11, and the second tube 17 is formed on a separate mounting bracket 23, which is connected to the lower portion of the main body of the first tube 16. In this case, the air duct 13 can be installed using the mounting bracket 23, as shown in the figure, with the upper flange 24 of the air duct 13 inserted into... In the state between the fixed bracket 23 and the first tube 16, the tube is fixed by the compression generated by the screw fastening part 28 between the lower end of the first tube 16 body and the upper end of the fixed bracket 23, or by the bolts 25 of the fixed bracket 23-flange 24-first tube 16 body in sequence.

[0050] This structure is not only very useful for the design and assembly of the elements of the first pipe 16, the second pipe 17, and the air duct 13, but it is also the best design in terms of the configuration and setting of the valve 12.

[0051] Additionally, an end-lock 26, in a U-shape or other form, is securely fastened to the lower part of the cover 18 to provide robust support to the lower end of the air duct 13. In this case, the inner end of the end-lock 26 can be designed as a downwardly expanding ramp 27 that allows objects to enter and exit safely and conveniently.

Claims

1. A clamping device utilizing an air duct, characterized in that, include: The clamping housing (11) includes a supply tube (15) and a cover (18), the supply tube (15) including a first tube (16) and a second tube (17) formed vertically, and the cover (18) extending downward outside the supply tube (15); A valve (12), which is disposed between the first pipe (16) and the second pipe (17) inside the supply pipe (15), moves upward or downward along the pressure direction of the compressed air to close the first pipe (16) or the second pipe (17); The air duct (13), which is a cylindrical member provided with a space (S) reserved in the inner wall of the cover (18), communicates with the second tube (17) and has a plurality of clamping expansion portions (19) formed on its side wall. A flow path (14), formed on one side of the supply pipe (15), connects the first pipe (16) to the space (S) or the space (S) to the second pipe (17) along the direction of movement of the valve (12). The first tube (16) is integrally formed in the central part of the outer casing (11), and the second tube (17) is formed in a separate " On the "shaped fixing bracket (23), the fixing bracket (23) is combined with the lower part of the main body of the first tube (16), The mounting bracket (23) includes a discharge passage (22) formed by a recess below the second tube (17) to accommodate the situation where the head surface of the article blocks the lower end of the second tube (17).

2. The clamping device using an air duct according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the item is being "held", when compressed air is supplied through the first pipe (16), the valve (12) drops under the pressure of the incoming air, so that the second pipe (17) is closed. The compressed air is supplied through the flow path (14) to the space (S) between the cover (18) and the air duct (13) and pressurizes the clamping expansion part (19) to expand it.

3. The clamping device using an air duct according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the item is "released", when the supply of compressed air through the first pipe (16) is stopped, the compressed air stored in the space (S) flows in the opposite direction. Under the action of the exhaust air pressure at this time, the valve (12) rises to close the first pipe (16). The compressed air is supplied to the second pipe (17) through the flow path (14) and then discharged to the outside through the air duct (13), causing the expansion part (19) to contract.

4. The clamping device using an air duct according to claim 1, characterized in that, The valve (12) is a check valve, which includes a baffle (21) disposed on the side of the body (20) and moved by the pressure of compressed air, thereby contacting or disengaging from the side wall of the supply pipe (15). The baffle (21) is disengaged in a "holding" state to open the air passage between the first pipe (16) and the space (S), and is contacted in a "release" state to close the air passage and raise the valve (12).

5. The clamping device using an air duct according to claim 1, characterized in that, With the upper flange (24) inserted between the fixing frame (23) and the first tube (16), the air duct (13) is fixed by the compression generated by the fastening part (28) between the lower end of the first tube (16) body and the upper end of the fixing frame (23) or by the bolts (25) of the fixing frame (23) - flange (24) - first tube (16) body in sequence.

6. The clamping device using an air duct according to claim 1, characterized in that, An end lock (26) supporting the lower end of the air duct (13) is fastened at the lower part of the cover (18).

7. The clamping device using an air duct according to claim 6, characterized in that, The inner end of the end lock (26) is formed as a downwardly expanding slope (27).

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