Container Gripper Arm With Integrated Pivot Shaft for Miniaturization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gripping devices for containers, particularly those used in assembly line processing, are complex, difficult to maintain, prone to contamination, and not suitable for miniaturization due to their numerous components and space requirements, which is problematic in hygiene-sensitive processes.
Innovation Solution
A transport device with a gripper arm that integrates a bore for a bearing element and a receptacle for a locking means, controlled via a pivot shaft, eliminating the need for a control cam and allowing for miniaturization, reduced components, and improved hygiene by minimizing dirt accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a control cam and spiral spring are used in the gripping device, then the gripping device can reliably grip and hold containers, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the control cam and spiral spring from the gripping device, extracting the essential gripping function and replacing it with a simplified pivot shaft mechanism. This eliminates unnecessary components while maintaining the core functionality of gripping and holding containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into the pivot shaft mechanism. The pivot shaft serves as both the actuating mechanism for opening/closing the gripper arms and the bearing element for rotational support, merging the functions previously performed by separate control cam and spring components.
2Length of moving object
If the gripper arm is reduced in size for guiding small bottles, then miniaturization is achieved, but the space requirements for the spiral spring and control cam cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the control cam and spiral spring from the system, eliminating the space-consuming components that prevented miniaturization. The pivot shaft mechanism requires significantly less space than the traditional control cam and spring assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a planar control mechanism (control cam on a plane) to a three-dimensional pivot shaft mechanism that utilizes rotational movement in a different spatial arrangement, enabling compact integration within smaller dimensions.
3Reliability
If numerous components are used in the gripper arm and gripping device, then the gripping function is achieved, but manufacturing and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple components into fewer integrated elements. The pivot shaft mechanism combines the actuating mechanism and bearing function into a single component, reducing the number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and installed while maintaining the gripping function.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot shaft serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the actuating mechanism for opening/closing, provides rotational support as a bearing element, and serves as the connection point for the gripper arms. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count and simplifies manufacturing.
4Reliability
If numerous components are used in the gripping device, then the gripping function is achieved, but maintenance and cleaning effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the control cam and spiral spring, extracting the components that accumulate dirt in recesses and corners. The simplified pivot shaft mechanism has fewer recesses and corners where dirt can accumulate, making maintenance and cleaning easier.
Solution Approach 2:
By merging multiple components into the pivot shaft mechanism, the patent reduces the total number of surfaces that require cleaning and maintenance. The integrated design eliminates the dirt-trapping recesses between separate control cam and spring components.
5Ease of operation
If a control cam is used to open the gripping device, then the gripping device can be controlled, but the control mechanism becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the control cam, extracting the control mechanism that added complexity. The pivot shaft mechanism provides a simpler, more direct control approach for opening and closing the gripping device.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a control cam that moves in a complex planar path to actuate the gripper arms, the patent inverts the approach by using a pivot shaft that rotates directly to open and close the mechanism, simplifying the control geometry.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a gripping arm (4) for a gripping apparatus (2) for gripping, holding, and guiding containers, in particular bottle-type containers, which gripping apparatus comprises a bore (16) for holding a bearing element (18) for fastening the gripping arm (4) in the gripping apparatus (2), and comprises a holder (20) for a closing means (22) for moving the gripping arm (4) from an open position into a gripping position. With the goal of reducing the number of components and miniaturizing the gripping arm, the bore (16) is designed to hold a bearing element (18) designed as a pivot shaft and to connect to the bearing element (18) in a rotationally fixed manner in order to transfer a pivoting motion of the bearing element to the gripping arm (4) in order to move the gripping arm (4) from the gripping position into the open position. The gripping apparatus (2) has at least one gripping arm pair of the gripping arms (4) according to the invention. The transporting device has a plurality of gripping apparatuses (2).