Container Gripping Device with Radial Sliders for Stable Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container supporting and gripping devices are unsuitable for handling containers with small heightwise dimensions or those that can only be stably gripped at sections close to the support surface, leading to instability during transportation and cap screwing.
Innovation Solution
A device with a base featuring a cross-shaped frame and sliding sliders with jaws and high-friction elements, allowing for stable gripping and retention of containers along their entire travel path, including during cap screwing, using a combination of slots, racks, and actuating mechanisms for precise positioning and gripping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional worm screws and rotating star-wheels are used for container handling, then the device structure is simple and widely applicable, but containers with small heightwise dimensions cannot be stably retained during cap screwing
Solution Approach 1:
The base is divided into multiple arms (at least two arms extending from central axis), with each arm containing a guide for slider movement. This segmentation allows independent control of multiple gripping points around the container, providing stable retention even for small containers during rotation and cap screwing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces radial movement of sliders along guides in the arms, adding a dimensional degree of freedom. The sliders can move radially inward to grip the container body or radially outward to release it, enabling stable handling of small containers without requiring complex vertical adjustment mechanisms.
2Reliability
If conventional gripping devices are used for containers with limited gripping zones, then the device structure remains simple, but stable gripping is only possible at sections close to the support surface
Solution Approach 1:
The sliders with jaws can grip containers at multiple locations along their travel path, not just at the bottom. The radial movement capability allows the gripping mechanism to adapt to different container heights and shapes, providing universal gripping capability for various container types including those with limited gripping zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliders are designed to move dynamically along the guides in the arms, transitioning between radial positions to adjust gripping location. This dynamic adjustment allows the device to grip containers at optimal positions regardless of container height, ensuring stable handling throughout the entire travel path including during cap screwing.
3Reliability
If a device with multiple arms and sliding sliders is implemented, then stable retention of small containers is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slider contains nested components including the jaw, rack, and pin assembly within a compact structure. The jaw can be retracted into the slider body when not in use, and the rack-and-pinion mechanism is integrated within the slider housing, reducing overall space requirements and simplifying the appearance of complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack-and-pinion mechanism automatically converts the rotational movement of the base into radial movement of the sliders, eliminating the need for separate actuators on each slider. The high-friction elements automatically engage with the container surface when radial force is applied, providing self-adjusting grip without additional control systems.
4Reliability
If high-friction elements are added to the jaws for improved gripping, then retention stability increases, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The friction coefficient of the jaw surfaces is modified by adding high-friction elements or coatings, changing the surface property parameter to enhance gripping capability. This allows the same jaw geometry to effectively handle containers with different materials and surface properties, including small containers that require higher friction for stable retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The jaw structure combines base material with high-friction surface layers or coatings, creating a composite structure that provides both mechanical strength and enhanced friction. This allows the gripping surface to be optimized for container contact while the bulk material maintains structural integrity, and the high-friction layers can be applied using standard coating techniques.
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
Ensures firm and stable retention of containers with small dimensions during transportation and cap screwing, suitable for both cylindrical and polygonal forms, and can be easily integrated into existing machines with standardized connections.
Implementation Method 1
the provision of high-friction elements, such as rubber or the like, on the gripping surfaces of the jaws
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Device for supporting and gripping containers (1,1a), comprising: - a base (10;110;210) which defines an upper surface (15;115,215) supporting a container (1;1a); - means (20;120;220) for gripping the container (1,1a), associated with the said base (10;110;210); - means (30;130;230) for actuating the means (30;130;230) for gripping the container (1,1a).