Gripper With Adhesive Suction Jaws For Secure Item Handling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grippers for small items, such as pharmaceutical packs, face challenges in securely moving heavy items due to insufficient static friction, requiring pivoting of clamping jaws, which can be inefficient and may fail to handle items with complex shapes or surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A gripper design featuring suction jaws with an adhesive surface having a high coefficient of static friction, allowing for safe movement of small items with reduced energy expenditure, and the option to pivot jaws for handling unusual items, along with integrated suction lines to manage stress and adapt to various item shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If clamping jaws are used to move small items, then the gripper can handle various shapes of items, but static friction is insufficient during rapid return movement causing items to be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper jaw is segmented into multiple functional zones: a suction jaw portion with suction openings for generating negative pressure, and an adhesive portion with adhesive material for providing static friction. This segmentation allows each zone to contribute its specific function to reliably retain items during rapid movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction jaw portion and adhesive portion are merged into a single integrated gripper jaw structure. The suction jaw provides holding force through negative pressure while the adhesive portion simultaneously provides static friction, combining both mechanisms to ensure reliable item retention during rapid return movement.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If suction devices are used to move small items, then gentle handling is achieved, but high energy consumption at high vacuum levels is required
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive material is applied locally at the suction jaw surface where items are contacted. This local application of adhesive complements the suction effect precisely at the contact point, enhancing static friction without requiring the entire suction system to operate at high vacuum levels, thus reducing energy consumption.
3Reliability
If clamping jaws are pivoted to move heavy items, then items can be secured, but the forces generated are sometimes insufficient to pull heavy items from storage location
Solution Approach 1:
The suction jaw portion generates holding force through negative pressure while the adhesive portion simultaneously generates static friction force. The combined effect of these two forces provides sufficient total force to securely pull and transport heavy items from storage locations without requiring excessive pivoting motion.
4Ease of operation
If suction jaws are used to move small items, then only the front item in a row can be safely moved, but pivoting is necessary to move items in unfavorable positions
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper jaw can pivot relative to the storage table, providing dynamic adaptability. This pivoting capability allows the suction jaw with adhesive portion to adjust its angle and access items in unfavorable positions or tightly packed rows, enabling safe selection and movement of any item rather than only the front item.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The gripper effectively handles both lightweight and heavy items with reduced energy consumption and increased flexibility, ensuring secure movement of items with complex shapes without the need for excessive pivoting, while maintaining gentle handling and low maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
The small item is primarily held in place by the pressure difference between the evacuated space of the suction device and the surrounding environment
Implementation Method 2
an adhesive with a higher coefficient of static friction than that of a suction jaw surface is arranged adjacent to a suction surface
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
Gripper comprising a storage table (10) extending in a first horizontal direction (X-direction) and a second horizontal direction (Y-direction), orthogonal to the first horizontal direction, a gripper jaw guide arrangement (30) with two gripper jaws extending over the storage table (10) in the first horizontal direction, wherein at least one of the gripper jaws is movable in the second horizontal direction, and a drive unit (60, 61a, 61b) coupled to the gripper jaw guide arrangement (30), by which the gripper jaw guide arrangement (30) is movable in the first horizontal direction, wherein one of the gripper jaws is designed as a suction jaw (20a, 20b) and has a suction device (70a, 70b) with a suction surface (72a, 72b) for suctioning a small item, wherein the suction device (70a, 70b) is connected to a suction line (81a, 81b) with a can be subjected to negative pressure