Electro-Adhesive Gripper for Textile Layer Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gripping apparatuses for textile materials, particularly semifinished fiber products, face challenges in reliably gripping and quickly depositing layers due to slow detachment and material displacement issues, leading to low laying speeds and inaccurate layer arrangement during the production of fiber composite components.
Innovation Solution
A gripping apparatus with a gripping face that grips textile materials on one side using an electrical contact device with electrodes, allowing for temperature control through current flow, which activates binders and fixes layers together during deposition, enabling rapid and precise layer placement without clamping, and employing various gripper types like adhesive, electro-adhesive, or suction grippers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If adhesion-based gripping is used to handle flexible textile materials, then the materials can be gripped without clamping, but the detachment process takes too much time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by switching the gripping mechanism from pure adhesion to electrostatic attraction. By applying voltage to the electrostatic gripping elements, the gripping force can be rapidly activated and deactivated, enabling fast detachment without the time-consuming processes associated with adhesion-based gripping while maintaining gentle handling of flexible textile materials
2Strength
If adhesion-based gripping is used for multiple layers, then materials can be handled gently, but material displacements occur during deposition and detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical adhesion-based gripping system with an electrostatic field-based gripping system. The electrostatic gripping elements generate controlled electrostatic forces that can precisely hold multiple textile layers in position during deposition. The electric field can be locally controlled and rapidly switched, preventing material displacements and ensuring accurate layer arrangement while still providing gentle handling without mechanical clamping forces
3Object-affected harmful factors
If slow detachment process is used to ensure controlled release, then material damage is reduced, but laying speed decreases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through pulsed voltage control of the electrostatic gripping elements. By applying voltage in controlled pulses during deposition and rapidly switching it off for detachment, the system achieves both gentle material release and high operational speed. The electrostatic field can be activated only when needed for holding materials, and deactivated instantly for rapid detachment, eliminating the trade-off between gentle handling and production speed
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 allows for reliable and quick gripping and deposition of textile layers, preventing material slippage and damage, ensuring accurate layer positioning and increasing process efficiency by activating binders for secure adhesion, thus enhancing the production speed and quality of fiber composite components.
Implementation Method 1
an electric electrode which is connectable to a source of voltage in order to apply voltage. The electric electrode is configured to come into contact with the textile material and interacts with a corresponding counterelectrode such that, when voltage is applied, a current flow in the textile material is brought about
Implementation Method 2
The gripping face of the electro-adhesive gripping device is in this case configured at least partially in a deformable manner such that it can adapt to the corresponding final contours of the materials to be transported
Data Source
AI summary
A gripping apparatus is disclosed for gripping and holding electrically conductive, textile materials. The gripping apparatus includes a gripping device which has a gripping face for gripping and holding the textile material. With the aid of an electrical contact device, electrodes can be brought into contact with the textile material in order to bring about a current flow in the textile material.