Gripper Drive Device with Spring Inertia Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gripping devices face challenges in achieving high dynamics, high clamping force, and long service life while minimizing installation space and avoiding compressed air drives.
Innovation Solution
A parallel gripping device is designed with at least three gears connected in series, including a planetary gear, a helical gear, and a double sliding wedge mechanism, featuring a brushless DC motor and elastic spring components to manage motor inertia and optimize gripping and releasing movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a compressed air drive is used for the gripping device, then high clamping force can be achieved, but the service life is reduced and the system becomes less reliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the compressed air drive system with an electric motor drive system. The electric motor (221) directly drives the gripping elements through a gear mechanism, eliminating the need for compressed air infrastructure. This substitution maintains high clamping force capability while significantly improving service life and reliability by removing seals, hoses, and air supply requirements that limit mechanical systems.
2Device complexity
If the electric motor is directly connected to the lifting carriage, then the structure is simplified, but the high inertia causes the drive parts to continue rotating after the motor is switched off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates spring elements (275, 276) that act as cushioning components to absorb the inertial energy of the motor and transmission parts. When the motor is switched off, these springs prevent the drive parts from continuing to rotate by providing a mechanical stop and energy absorption mechanism, thereby stabilizing the system composition without complicating the overall structure.
3Productivity
If high-speed electric motors are used to achieve high dynamics, then the gripping and releasing cycles are faster, but the motor inertia causes continued rotation after switching off
Solution Approach 1:
The spring elements (275, 276) are pre-positioned to cushion the inertial effects of high-speed motor operation. During rapid gripping and releasing cycles, these springs absorb the kinetic energy generated by motor inertia, preventing uncontrolled continued rotation and enabling high productivity while maintaining system stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of motor inertia (continued rotation after switch-off) into a beneficial feature by using spring elements to recover and dissipate the inertial energy. This approach allows high-speed operation to proceed while the inertia is managed constructively rather than being a detrimental side effect.
4Volume of moving object
If multiple gears are arranged between the electric motor and gripping elements, then the installation space is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a planetary gear mechanism where gears are nested within each other. The sun gear (226) is positioned at the center, surrounded by planet gears (258) that rotate on their own axes while orbiting the sun gear, all contained within a ring gear (231). This nested arrangement achieves high gear reduction ratios in a compact volume without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple gear functions into a single integrated planetary gear system. The planetary gear mechanism simultaneously provides speed reduction, torque multiplication, and compact packaging, combining what would otherwise require separate gear stages into one unified transmission unit, thereby reducing overall installation space while managing complexity.
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 enables high-speed operation with monitored load current, efficient energy use, and extended service life, achieving rapid gripping and releasing cycles with high clamping force in a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
at least one elastically spring-loaded component is arranged between the output member of the electric motor and the lifting carriage, which uses up the stroke generated when at least one transmission part continues to turn after the electric motor has been switched off
Implementation Method 2
A first gear is a gear train with straight or helical gears. The wheel gear is a planetary gear in which the sun gear sits on the shaft of the electric motor
Implementation Method 3
A second gear is a helical gear whose driven gear member is a spindle nut or a threaded spindle and whose driving gear member is the lifting carriage
Implementation Method 4
In the exemplary embodiment, the helical gear is followed by a double sliding wedge gear, in which the lifting movement of the lifting carriage is deflected into a gripping and releasing movement tilted by 90 degrees
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
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AI summary
The invention relates to a drive device for a gripping device, wherein in a housing at least one electric motor and a plurality of gear units are arranged. The output member of the electric motor acts upon a lifting carriage that articulates the gripping elements, wherein between the gripping elements and the output member of the electric motor, at least one spring element is arranged. A first gearbox is a wheel gearbox. A second gearbox is a screw gearbox, the output-driving gear member of which is the lifting carriage. Between the output member of the electric motor and the lifting carriage, at least one elastically spring-mounted component is arranged, which in the event of a further rotation of at least one gear part after the electric motor was switched off exhausts the stroke thus generated. The invention relates to the development of a parallel gripping device, which at great clamping force, low installation space requirements, and long service life has, without pneumatic drive, a high level of dynamics.