Crown Centering Magnetic Gripper for Battery Cell Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing magnetic grippers for battery cells have a solid structure that complicates the gripping process and do not ensure safe handling, requiring precise alignment and movement of the battery towards the contact surface.

Innovation Solution

A magnetic gripper with a contact surface and a magnet, accompanied by centering elements arranged like a crown around the contact surface, allowing the battery cell to slide into position and be centered automatically, ensuring safe and reliable gripping with minimal design effort and space usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If a solid magnetic gripper structure is used, then the gripping force is sufficient, but the device complexity and installation space increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegripping forceVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic gripper is divided into a magnet unit and a separate support structure with centering elements. This segmentation allows the magnet to be compact while the support structure provides positioning functions, reducing overall device complexity and installation space while maintaining sufficient gripping force through the concentrated magnet design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If precise alignment is required for the battery cell, then the gripping reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegripping reliabilityVSAvoidpositioning ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Centering elements are provided that preliminarily position and center the battery cell before the magnetic gripping action occurs. These centering elements guide the battery cell into the correct position automatically, so that when the magnetic field is activated, the battery is already properly aligned, ensuring reliable gripping without requiring precise manual alignment operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the battery cell is moved toward the contact surface, then the gripping is achieved, but the risk of unintentional displacement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafe handlingVSAvoidunintentional displacement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The centering elements are arranged asymmetrically around the contact surface, creating a funnel-like guiding structure that naturally directs the battery cell toward the center position. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that during the approach movement, the battery cell is continuously guided and centered, reducing the risk of unintentional displacement while maintaining safe handling throughout the gripping process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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

Enables simple, safe, and reliable gripping of battery cells with reduced design complexity and space requirements, preventing unwanted displacement during handling and allowing for efficient positioning without exact alignment.

Implementation Method 1

The magnet is configured to generate a magnetic field which is designed to apply a magnetic force to the battery cell for the purpose of gripping the battery cell

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

the magnet generates a magnetic field which is designed to apply a magnetic force to the battery cell for the purpose of gripping the battery cell

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP4494819A1Magnetic gripper, gripping row, gripping system and gripping row system
Publication Date: 2025.01.22 J SCHMALZ GMBH
  • EP4494819A1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP4494819A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6
  • EP4494819A1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a magnetic gripper (10) for gripping a battery cell, comprising a contact surface (12) for contacting the battery cell to be gripped, a magnet for providing a magnetic effect on the contact surface for the purpose of gripping the battery cell, and a plurality of centering elements (22) for guiding the battery cell to the contact surface, wherein the plurality of centering elements are designed as projections that are arranged crown-like around the contact surface and each extend at least partially in a direction leading away from the contact surface. The invention also relates to a gripper array, a gripper system, and a gripper array system.