Bernoulli Gripper With Needle Device For Flexible Materials

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional Bernoulli grippers face challenges in handling flexible or layered materials like textiles and fiber composites due to limited ability to transfer transverse forces, leading to material sagging and slipping during handling and relocation.

Innovation Solution

A suction gripping device with a Bernoulli gripper integrated with a needle device featuring protruding holding needles that absorb transverse forces, preventing slipping and sagging, and additional gripping needles for enhanced stability and energy-efficient handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If a Bernoulli gripper is used to handle flexible or layered materials, then the suction effect is generated effectively, but the gripper cannot reliably transfer transverse forces causing the material to slip and sag

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransverse force transmissionVSAvoidhandling reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a Bernoulli gripper with a needle device into a single integrated gripping device. The Bernoulli gripper provides suction force while the needle device provides transverse force transmission, creating a unified system that addresses both force transmission needs simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The gripping device uses a composite approach by integrating two different gripping mechanisms (suction and needle penetration) into one system, allowing it to handle both the lifting and lateral stabilization requirements of flexible materials

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Manufacturing precision

If conventional suction grippers are used, then the structure is simple, but the depth effect is limited and precise handling is only possible to a limited extent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling precisionVSAvoidgripper structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges a Bernoulli gripper with a needle device into one integrated system, achieving enhanced handling precision through the combination of suction and mechanical penetration without requiring multiple separate devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Force

If direct contact between suction cup and object is required, then transverse forces can be increased, but this is problematic with textile materials and limits depth effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransverse forceVSAvoidmaterial compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The needle device acts as an intermediary element that penetrates the material to provide transverse force transmission without requiring extensive direct contact between the suction surface and the object, making it suitable for textile and flexible materials

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution enables reliable and energy-efficient handling of flexible materials by preventing slipping and sagging, allowing for precise manipulation of limp or layered objects by absorbing lateral forces and maintaining contact over a greater depth.

Implementation Method 1

the suction effect is generated in that a flow of driving air is discharged to the outside from an outflow opening provided, for example, in the contact surface, for example along the contact surface. Due to the fast flow, a static negative pressure is generated based on the Bernoulli principle, which causes the suction effect.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBernoulli principle: Bernoulli Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2926956B1Gripping device
Publication Date: 2017.05.03 J SCHMALZ GMBH
  • EP2926956B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2926956B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2926956B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a gripping device with a suction gripping device (24) designed as a Bernoulli gripper, which has a first contact surface (14) to which an object to be gripped can be drawn, wherein an outlet opening (22) is provided in the first contact surface, which is designed to generate a suction effect in the direction of the contact surface according to the Bernoulli principle by the outflow of a motive flow. A needle device (30) with an associated second contact surface (16) and at least one retaining needle (32) is provided, which projects from the contact surface in the gripping direction (18).