Container Gripping Device Thrust Surface Vibration Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gripping devices for containers, such as test tubes and bottles, often cause vibrations and instability during rotation, especially when the gripping surface does not perfectly match the container's surface, obstructing visual inspection and affecting the accuracy of purity and filling degree checks.

Innovation Solution

A gripping device with clamping means comprising movable arms and a pressor with a thrust surface, which contacts the container to secure it firmly, and a fluid-dynamic activation system for precise movement, allowing for stable container handling and rotation without obstructing visual inspection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a gripper with two opposite arms is used to hold the container, then the container can be gripped and held, but the container may vibrate or move during rotation if the gripping surface is not perfectly shaped to match the container surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer holding stabilityVSAvoidcontainer vibration and movement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing a dedicated pressor element with a specifically shaped thrust surface that matches the container's surface geometry. This localized matching surface eliminates vibrations and movements at the critical gripping interface, while the rest of the gripper structure maintains its simple two-arm configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If the gripping surface is made to perfectly match the container surface to prevent vibration, then container stability improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer vibration reductionVSAvoidgripper structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the gripping function into two distinct elements: the conventional two opposite arms for holding the container, and a separate pressor element with a specialized thrust surface for preventing vibration. This segmentation allows each element to be optimized independently, keeping the overall device relatively simple while achieving the desired stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If a pressor with thrust surface is added to the gripper, then container gripping stability improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer gripping stabilityVSAvoidgripper component count
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the pressor element with the existing gripper arms by integrating it into the same gripping assembly. The pressor is positioned to work in conjunction with the two opposite arms, allowing all three elements to be actuated together as a unified gripping system, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 provides a stable and rigid handling of containers, reducing vibrations and enabling effective visual inspection by ensuring the container is securely gripped and rotated without obstruction, allowing for accurate detection of impurities.

Implementation Method 1

a pressor (23) with a thrust surface (230) of the container. In the gripping configuration the thrust surface (230) is intended to come into contact with the container

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

The movement means (4) comprise a rod (40). Conveniently, the pressor (23) is constrained to an end of the rod (40). Conveniently, the first and second arm (21, 22) are hinged to the rod (40)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid pressure: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP2479008B1A gripping device of a container
Publication Date: 2012.12.12 GF SRL
  • EP2479008B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2479008B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2479008B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A gripping device of a container, of a type comprising: i) clamping means (2) of the container, which clamping means (2) are mobile between a rest configuration and a container gripping configuration and comprising: - a first arm (21) comprising a first gripping zone (210) of the container; - a second arm (22) comprising a second gripping zone (220) of the container; in the gripping configuration the first and the second gripping zones (210, 220) being reciprocally neared with respect to the rest configuration in order to retain the container therebetween; ii) shaking means (3) of the container which move at least the first and the second arm (21, 22) in the gripping configuration. The clamping means (2) comprise a pressor (23) in turn comprising a thrust surface (230) of the container, said thrust surface (230) in the gripping configuration being intended to come into contact with the container. [Figure 2]