Forklift Gripper Clamping Panel Inclination Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing forklift grippers face challenges in ensuring uniform clamping force distribution due to manufacturing tolerances and assembly precision, requiring complex and laborious adjustments to achieve parallelism of clamping panels, which can lead to localized stresses and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A gripper design with clamping panels adjustable in inclination, utilizing elastic connecting members and adjustable spacers that allow for independent and rapid adjustment of panel position without loosening structural connections, ensuring uniform force distribution and reducing the risk of damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If threaded connecting members with locknuts are used to adjust clamping panel inclination, then the clamping panel can be adjusted in position, but the adjustment process is laborious and time-consuming requiring gradual individual adjustment of each member
Solution Approach 1:
The adjusting member is segmented into a body portion and a threaded portion, where the body portion allows for rapid positioning and the threaded portion enables fine-tuning. This segmentation allows the operator to quickly adjust the clamping panel inclination without having to gradually tighten each threaded connecting member individually, significantly reducing adjustment time while maintaining precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If significant inclination change is made by loosening all screws of threaded connecting members, then the clamping panel inclination can be significantly changed, but localized stresses occur that can damage the clamping panel
Solution Approach 1:
An elastic element is introduced as an intermediary between the adjusting member and the clamping panel. This elastic element acts as a buffer that distributes the adjustment forces uniformly across the clamping panel, preventing localized stress concentrations even when significant inclination changes are made. The elastic element absorbs shock and distributes load, allowing for large adjustment ranges without damaging the clamping panel.
3Strength
If clamping panel is rigidly fastened to support plate-shaped body, then structural strength is maintained, but free space remains between clamping panel and support body that can damage the load
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible covering body in the form of a thin elastic film is introduced between the clamping panel and the support plate-shaped body. This flexible film fills the free space that would otherwise exist between these components, preventing it from damaging the load. The film is thin enough not to interfere with the structural strength provided by the rigid support body while being flexible enough to conform to the clamping panel and eliminate harmful gaps.
4Ease of operation
If multiple threaded connecting members are used to support clamping panel, then the clamping panel can be adjusted in inclination, but the structure becomes complex and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple threaded connecting members are merged into a single integrating adjusting member that performs the function of all individual connecting members simultaneously. The integrating adjusting member includes a body portion and a threaded portion that work together to provide both rapid positioning and fine-tuning capabilities. This merging eliminates the need for multiple separate threaded members, reducing the overall weight and structural complexity while maintaining full adjustability of the clamping panel inclination.
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 and quick adjustment of clamping panel inclination to restore parallelism, reducing the risk of damage and simplifying the adjustment process, while maintaining a lightweight and compact structure.
Implementation Method 1
connecting members (16) which constrain the clamping panel (15) to the respective support plate-shaped body (13) in a substantially rigid manner with respect to translations along directions parallel to the plane (P) defined by said support plate-shaped body (13) and in an elastic manner with respect to shifts having a shifting component orthogonal to the plane (P) defined by said support plate-shaped body (13)
Data Source
AI summary
A gripper for forklifts including a support frame that can be coupled to a forklift and a pair of jaws that are mounted on the support frame in a movable manner with respect to one another between at least one closing position and one opening position respectively for clamping and releasing a product to be transported and vice versa, wherein each jaw includes a support plate-shaped body that is coupled to a mounting body, which is in turn coupled in a movable manner to the support frame, wherein the support plate-shaped body includes a first face that faces the other jaw and a second face opposite the first face, a clamping panel that is supported by the support plate-shaped body to which it is connected with connecting members.