Gripper Head Control Valve with Bus System
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing gripper heads with multiple vacuum grippers require a high number of control and supply lines, leading to technical complexity in cable routing, especially in multi-articulated manipulation devices, which complicates the operation and increases the risk of accidents during workpiece handling.
Innovation Solution
A gripper head and control valve system that allows for selective and safe operation of vacuum grippers with reduced control and supply lines, using a bus system for signal and energy transmission, enabling automated control of each vacuum gripper via its associated actuator, and ensuring reliable operation even if an actuator fails, with a design that minimizes flow resistance and allows for flexible adaptation to workpieces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If each vacuum gripper is line-connected to a central control and supply device via its own control and supply lines, then selective control of each vacuum gripper is achieved, but the cable routing in a multi-articulated arm requires a high level of technical complexity
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple control and supply lines are merged into a single bus system that serves all vacuum grippers. The bus system combines signal transmission and energy supply in one infrastructure, eliminating the need for separate dedicated lines for each gripper while maintaining individual controllability through addressable units on the bus.
Solution Approach 2:
The bus system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides control signals, power supply, and communication channels for all vacuum grippers through a single infrastructure. This universal system replaces multiple specialized lines, reducing complexity while maintaining full functionality.
2Device complexity
If a single pressure line leads to an ejector that can be activated by compressed air, then the structure is simplified, but the vacuum level required for picking up the workpiece is reached slowly due to high flow resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The single pressure line is segmented into multiple separate lines, each leading to individual ejectors for different vacuum grippers or groups of grippers. This segmentation reduces the flow resistance in each line by distributing the total flow across multiple parallel paths, enabling faster vacuum establishment while maintaining structural simplicity through modular organization.
3Use of energy by moving object
If vacuum grippers are operated selectively by deactivating unnecessary ones, then energy efficiency is improved, but the risk of accidental operation of deactivated grippers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the operational state of each vacuum gripper and provide status information to the control unit. This feedback enables the control system to verify which grippers are actively engaged and which are deactivated, preventing accidental operation of deactivated grippers while maintaining energy efficiency through selective activation.
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 reduces the complexity of cable routing, ensures quick vacuum level achievement, guarantees functional reliability, and provides flexibility in gripper head configuration, while ensuring safe operation and efficient energy use by selectively activating only necessary vacuum grippers, thus preventing accidents and maintaining process integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The vacuum suction cup ( 40 ) has a gripping surface ( 40.1 ) facing the workpiece ( 19 ) and is designed to hold the workpiece ( 19 ) on its gripping surface ( 40.1 ) by means of a vacuum
Implementation Method 2
a valve piston ( 46 ) which is preloaded with a force corresponding to a pressure above the working pressure in the direction of the open position by means of a spring arrangement ( 62 ) formed by a spiral compression spring ( 61 )
Implementation Method 3
the valve piston ( 46 ) adjustable in the direction of extension of a longitudinal center axis ( 26 ) with a control magnet ( 58 ) which can be actuated with electrical energy and which can adjust the valve piston ( 46 ) against the action of a spring force
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A valve casing (25) forms a controlling chamber (31) and has input (32) and output (36) channels with their flows linked to the controlling chamber. A valve piston (46) in the controlling chamber adjusts open and closed positions in a through-flow opening (48) between the controlling chamber and the output channel. An actuating drive (15) fits on the valve casing for the valve piston. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) A control valve for a vacuum pick-up on a pick-up head with vacuum pick-ups for holding a work-piece like a sheet metal blank, a sheet metal machined part, etc.; (2) A method for operating a pick-up head with vacuum pick-ups for holding a work-piece.