Gripper Drive Segmentation for Lab Vessel Handling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gripping devices for laboratory vessels, such as Petri dishes, wear out quickly due to high weight and complexity, leading to inaccurate movements and difficulties in replacement.
Innovation Solution
The gripping device design decouples part of the gripper drive from the gripper, placing it outside the rotating body, with a stepper motor and gearbox for precise control, and uses a compact, lightweight structure with pivotable gripping fingers and holding fingers for secure grip and reduced wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the gripper drive is integrated within the rotating body, then the gripper can be compact and self-contained, but the moving mass increases leading to reduced movement precision and faster wear
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper drive is segmented into two separate parts: a first part arranged outside the rotating body and a second part arranged inside. This segmentation allows the drive functionality to be distributed, reducing the moving mass within the rotating body while maintaining compact overall design. The external first part can be more substantial without affecting movement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The first part of the gripper drive is extracted from the rotating body and positioned externally. This extraction removes significant mass from the rotating components, thereby improving movement precision and reducing wear on the gripper mechanism while the drive function remains intact through the coupled two-part system.
2Device complexity
If the gripper drive is integrated within the rotating body, then the gripper structure is simplified, but the gripper wears out quickly and is difficult to replace
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the drive into two parts with different lifecycles, the consumable second part inside the rotating body can be replaced independently when worn, while the durable first part outside remains in use. This segmentation enables selective replacement and improves overall system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The two parts of the drive are designed with different qualities appropriate to their locations: the first part outside the rotating body is designed for durability and longevity, while the second part inside is designed for ease of replacement. This local differentiation of quality optimizes both reliability and maintainability.
3Manufacturing precision
If the gripper drive mass is reduced, then movement precision improves, but the drive mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The drive mechanism complexity is segmented and distributed: the more substantial first part is placed outside the rotating body where it does not affect precision, while the minimized second part is placed inside where it affects precision. This spatial segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function without compromise.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a gripping device (10) for gripping, translationally moving, and rotating a laboratory vessel (40) for samples, microorganisms, cell cultures, or the like, comprising a support unit (12), a bearing body (14), and a gripper (16) that is rotatably mounted in the bearing body (14). The gripper (16) has a rotating body (34), in which gripping fingers (36, 38) are arranged, at least one of which is pivotably mounted in the rotating body (34). The rotating body (34) interacts with a rotary drive (30) for the rotational movement relative to the bearing body (14). The bearing body (14) is mounted in the support unit (12) in a translationally movable manner and interacts with a movement drive for the translational movement of the bearing body (14) with the rotating body with respect to the support unit (12). The gripping fingers (36, 38) interact with a gripping finger drive (50, 52, 54) for pivoting at least one gripping finger (36, 38) relative to the rotating body (34) from an open position into a gripping position, and vice versa. At least one first part of the gripping finger drive (50, 52, 54) for pivoting the gripping finger (36, 36) is arranged outside the rotating body (34), and a second part of the gripping finger drive (34a) is arranged in the rotating body (34). Only in the gripping position can the first part of the gripping finger drive (50, 52, 54) be connected to the second part of the gripping finger drive (52), otherwise, the two parts of the gripping finger drive (50, 52, 54) are separated from one another.