Articulating Gripper Jaw Tooling for Contour Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gripper jaw tooling is costly and ineffective in maximizing grip force due to the need for custom designs to accommodate workpieces of varying size, shape, draft, material, and mass, limiting its adaptability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The development of articulating gripper jaw tooling that pivots and adjusts to match workpiece contours, featuring a mounting block with rotational limiting and adjustment members, allowing for customizable articulation angles and a quick-change feature for maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If custom gripper jaw tooling is designed to match each workpiece contour, then force transmission is maximized, but manufacturing cost increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper jaw tooling incorporates an articulating section that can pivot relative to the mounting block, allowing the tooling to dynamically adapt its orientation to match workpiece contours. This dynamic adjustment mechanism enables the same tooling design to effectively grip various workpiece shapes without requiring custom tooling for each contour type.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulating gripper jaw tooling is designed as a universal component that can accommodate multiple workpiece types through its pivoting capability. The mounting block with articulating section serves multiple functions: providing structural support, enabling contour adaptation, and maintaining secure attachment, thereby eliminating the need for multiple specialized tooling designs.
2Productivity
If custom gripper jaw tooling is designed for each workpiece type, then grip effectiveness is maximized, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single articulating gripper jaw tooling design can effectively grip various workpiece types by pivoting the articulating section to match different contours. This universal design approach eliminates the need to manufacture multiple custom tooling sets, significantly reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining high grip effectiveness across different workpiece types.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic pivoting mechanism allows the tooling to adapt to different workpiece contours without requiring custom manufacturing for each type. The articulating section can be positioned at different angles to match the specific contour being gripped, providing customized fit using a single standardized tooling design.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed gripper jaw tooling is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but adaptability to varying workpieces is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper jaw tooling incorporates an articulating section that can pivot relative to the mounting block, allowing the tooling to dynamically adapt its orientation to match workpiece contours. This dynamic adjustment mechanism enables the same tooling design to effectively grip various workpiece shapes without requiring custom tooling for each contour type.
Solution Approach 2:
The tooling is divided into separable components: a mounting block and an articulating section that can pivot relative to it. This segmentation allows the tooling to maintain manufacturing simplicity through standardized components while achieving adaptability through the relative motion between segments.
4Adaptability or versatility
If articulating section is added to match workpiece contours, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tooling is divided into separable components: a mounting block and an articulating section that can pivot relative to it. This segmentation allows the tooling to maintain manufacturing simplicity through standardized components while achieving adaptability through the relative motion between segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripper jaw tooling incorporates an articulating section that can pivot relative to the mounting block, allowing the tooling to dynamically adapt its orientation to match workpiece contours. This dynamic adjustment mechanism enables the same tooling design to effectively grip various workpiece shapes without requiring custom tooling for each contour type.
Data Source
AI summary
Articulating gripper tooling for gripping an object, the articulating gripper tooling comprising: an articulating finger jaw including a slot; a gripping element including a shaft and at least one finger attached to the shaft, the shaft having a longitudinal axis; and a locking pin disposed through the slot and coupling the shaft to the articulating finger jaw; wherein the gripping element is free to rotate a predetermined amount about the longitudinal axis of the shaft, limited by the locking pin contacting a surface of the articulating finger jaw and/or an adjustment element.