Container Gripper with Ascending Platform for Dual-Mode Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container grippers face challenges in maintaining the vertical posture of bottle-shaped cans and PET bottles during conveyance, particularly when gripping the neck parts, and require complex mechanisms and high costs due to the need for positioning members and guiding guides, especially when dealing with containers of varying aperture sizes and stability levels.
Innovation Solution
A container gripper with a pair of gripping pieces that alternately change their grip position, using an ascending/descending platform to support the bottom surface, allowing the gripper to adapt to both bottle-shaped cans and PET bottles by gripping at least half the circumference of the neck part, and using engineering or super engineering plastics like polyetheretherketone (PEEK) for durability and wear resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the upper part of the neck part is gripped, then the container can be held, but the posture may not become vertical and poor conveyance may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping piece is designed with a specific curvature that matches the lower part of the neck part, creating optimal local contact geometry. This localized geometric matching ensures both secure holding and proper vertical positioning without requiring additional positioning mechanisms.
2Reliability
If the lower part of the neck part is gripped, then the container can be held, but the contact width is short and poor conveyance may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping piece parameters (curvature radius, contact surface area, gripping force distribution) are optimized to match the container neck dimensions. This parameter optimization provides sufficient contact width for stable conveyance while maintaining a simple gripping structure without additional positioning members.
3Ease of operation
If positioning members and guiding guides are added to regulate container position, then conveyance quality improves, but the gripping mechanism becomes complicated and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for separate positioning members and guiding guides by integrating the positioning function directly into the gripping piece design. The gripping piece's geometry and motion control inherently provide both gripping and positioning functions, simplifying the overall mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning function is merged with the gripping function in a single integrated gripping piece. The gripping piece simultaneously performs container holding and vertical positioning through its designed curvature and controlled movement, eliminating the need for separate positioning mechanisms.
4Reliability
If the gripper is designed for bottle-shaped cans, then it can grip them effectively, but it cannot be used for PET bottles with different characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping piece is designed with universal characteristics that allow it to effectively grip both bottle-shaped cans and PET bottles. The curvature and dimensions are optimized to accommodate the common features of both container types, enabling a single gripper design to serve multiple container types without modification.
Data Source
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AI summary
A container gripper (1) is provided with an ascending/descending container platform (3) capable of supporting a bottom surface of a container held in grippers (6, 8). A gripping part of the first gripper (8) is provided with gripping pieces (8a, 8b) which have a gripping shape adapted to a neck part provided to a head part, and which grip at least half of the circumference of the neck part. A gripping part of the second gripper (6) is provided with gripping pieces (6a, 6b) which are adapted to a lower part of the neck part, and which grip at least half of the circumference of the lower part. When a bottle-shaped can (B) is being held, the gripping pieces (6a, 6b) grip the lower part of the neck part, and a bottom surface of the bottle-shaped can is supported by the container platform (3). When a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle (P) is being held, the gripping pieces (6a, 6b) come into contact with the underside of a neck ring of the PET bottle, and grip the lower part of the neck part, and the container platform (3) is withdrawn to a position in which no contact is made with a bottom surface of the PET bottle. The container gripper (1) can be used to grip both bottle-shaped cans (B) and PET bottles (P).