Handling Unit for Hollow Glass Articles With Independent Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing handling units for hollow glass articles using air depression systems fail to maintain optimal grip due to inconsistent air flow dimensions, leading to articles escaping or being improperly released during transport.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of at least two independent control units for airflow supply to each nozzle, allowing for precise modulation and exclusion of air flow to match the centripetal acceleration of hollow glass articles, ensuring a proportional depression is created across the gripping area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single pneumatic source supplies air to all nozzles, then the device complexity is reduced, but the gripping reliability deteriorates due to inconsistent air flow dimensions across different fingers
Solution Approach 1:
The single pneumatic source is segmented into multiple independent controlled zones, with each nozzle or group of nozzles having its own control valve. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of air flow dimensions for each finger, ensuring optimal gripping reliability across all positions while maintaining a manageable device architecture through modular control elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Each nozzle is equipped with individual control means that allow local adjustment of air flow characteristics according to the specific requirements of each gripping position. This local quality approach ensures that each finger can generate the precise depression needed for its particular centripetal acceleration, improving overall gripping reliability without requiring complete system redesign.
2Reliability
If air flow is increased to prevent article escape, then gripping reliability improves, but the risk of improper release increases due to excessive depression
Solution Approach 1:
The control means for each nozzle are made dynamically adjustable, allowing the air flow dimensions to be varied in real-time according to the phase of the gripping trajectory. During the transport phase, higher air flow creates sufficient depression to prevent escape, while during the release phase, the air flow is reduced or stopped to allow proper article release, thus resolving the contradiction between gripping reliability and release accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The air flow parameters (pressure, flow rate, duration) for each nozzle are independently adjustable to match the specific centripetal acceleration requirements of different gripping positions. This parameter customization allows optimal depression to be maintained during transport while enabling controlled release when needed, balancing gripping reliability with release accuracy.
3Manufacturing precision
If independent control units are added to each nozzle, then gripping precision improves through proportional depression adjustment, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into modular independent control units, each managing a specific nozzle or nozzle group. This segmentation enables precise individual adjustment of air flow parameters to achieve proportional depression matching the centripetal acceleration of each finger, while the modular nature keeps the overall system complexity manageable through standardized control elements.
4Ease of operation
If air flow is reduced to enable accurate release, then release accuracy improves, but gripping reliability deteriorates due to insufficient depression
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow to each nozzle is applied periodically, with distinct phases of high flow during gripping and transport, and reduced or zero flow during release. This periodic action pattern allows the system to maintain strong gripping reliability during the transport phase while ensuring accurate release when required, resolving the contradiction between these two operational requirements.
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
This solution ensures consistent and optimal grip of hollow glass articles throughout their trajectory, preventing escape and ensuring accurate release by adjusting airflow based on the specific centripetal forces acting on each article.
Implementation Method 1
said nozzle being configured for ejecting air in a tangent direction with respect to said gripping area so as to set a depression in correspondence of said gripping area
Implementation Method 2
thereby countering the centrifugal action resulting from the movement itself
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C~2D
AI summary
A handling unit (1) for hollow glass articles including: - a plurality of fingers (10), each configured to engage a corresponding hollow glass article in correspondence of a gripping area (12) and to drag said article along a connection trajectory between a gripping position and a release position, - a displacement mechanism (6, 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E) of said plurality of fingers (10) between the gripping position and the release position, - wherein each finger (10) of said plurality includes a nozzle (14) which can be supplied by means of pressurized air and arranged in correspondence of said gripping area (12), said nozzle (14) being configured for the ejection of air in a direction tangent with respect to said gripping area (12) so as to set a depression in correspondence of said gripping area (12) to hold a hollow glass article arranged in the gripping area (12) itself, the handling unit (1) being characterized in that it includes at least two control units (RQ, SV; PR, SVV; RQ; PR) of the supply airflow of the nozzles (14), wherein each control unit (RQ, SV; PR, SV; RQ; PR) of the airflow is configured to control at least one corresponding nozzle (14) independently of the nozzles (14) controlled by remaining control units (RQ, SV; PR, SV; RQ; PR) of the airflow.