Gripper Adjustable Bumper Stops for Jaw Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional grippers in automated handling equipment lack the ability to easily adjust the degree to which the gripper jaws open, making them inflexible for use with different work pieces or stations without significant disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A gripper assembly with adjustable bumper stops, featuring a support with mount locations and a removable stop member of varying thicknesses to limit jaw opening, allowing for easy adjustment without disassembling the gripper.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional grippers are designed with fixed jaw opening limits, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the adaptability to different work pieces and work stations is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper stop is made adjustable rather than fixed, allowing the maximum jaw opening angle to be dynamically changed according to different work pieces and work stations. The stop member can be repositioned along the arcuate path to provide different opening limits, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one that adapts to varying requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is divided into multiple discrete mount locations where the stop member can be positioned. This segmentation allows the bumper stop to be adjusted to specific positions corresponding to different work piece sizes and work station configurations, providing versatility without requiring complete redesign of the gripper structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the gripper is made adjustable for different work stations, then the versatility improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to required disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple mount locations are pre-established on the support structure at positions corresponding to different work stations and work piece sizes. The stop member can be quickly installed or removed from these pre-prepared locations without requiring disassembly of the gripper, making adjustment a simple operation that maintains ease of use while providing versatility.
3Manufacturing precision
If the stop member thickness varies to match different jaw opening degrees, then the precision of jaw opening control improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stop member is designed with varying thickness parameters along its arcuate path, with each thickness corresponding to a specific maximum jaw opening degree. This parameter variation allows precise control of jaw opening for different applications. The stop member can be manufactured as a single piece with graduated thickness or as multiple interchangeable components, balancing manufacturing ease with precision requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A gripper assembly including at least one gripper jaw and an actuator operative for moving the at least one gripper jaw. A support is fixed relative to the actuator for supporting the at least one gripper jaw, wherein the support has at least one mount location formed in the support. A stop member is removably affixable to the support at the at least one mount location for limiting movement of the at least one gripper jaw wherein the size of the stop member corresponds to a discrete maximum degree of opening of the at least one gripper jaw.