Gripper Head Apparatus for Delicate Component Handling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suction cups are inadequate for transporting components with minimal surface area or those that are delicate, as they require a minimum surface area and cannot withstand threshold suction forces, leading to increased cycle times and system inefficiencies due to the need for larger and heavier end-of-arm tooling.
Innovation Solution
A gripper head apparatus with a body and air conveyor system that generates airflow to hold components via interchangeable gripper heads with customized nests, allowing for the transportation of components with minimal surface area or fragility, and a kit with multiple gripper heads for versatility, along with a method for forming gripper heads using 3D printing based on component geometry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard suction cups are used to transport components, then components with sufficient surface area can be held, but components with minimal surface area or delicate components cannot be held without excessive suction force
Solution Approach 1:
The suction cup features a soft compliant body material that allows localized deformation to conform to the component surface. This local adaptation enables the suction cup to create effective sealing contact with components of varying geometries and surface characteristics, including delicate components that cannot withstand rigid contact
Solution Approach 2:
The suction cup incorporates a compliant body with variable stiffness characteristics. The soft material allows the suction cup to adapt its mechanical properties, reducing hardness and increasing deformability to match the requirements of delicate components while maintaining sufficient suction force for secure holding
2Ease of operation
If conventional suction cups with secondary valves are used to provide ejection pulse, then component release is achieved, but cycle time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention eliminates the secondary ejection valve from the suction cup assembly. Instead, component release is achieved by simply interrupting the vacuum supply, which naturally causes the component to detach due to gravity or gentle air flow, thereby removing the time-consuming ejection pulse step and reducing overall cycle time
Solution Approach 2:
The suction cup system uses the vacuum source itself to control both holding and releasing functions. By simply turning the vacuum on or off, the system automatically performs both component pickup and release operations without requiring additional active ejection mechanisms, enabling the system to serve itself and reduce operational complexity
3Force
If large suction rate is used to transport delicate components, then sufficient holding force is achieved, but end of arm tooling weight and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a pneumatic vacuum system with a lightweight plastic suction cup body that efficiently generates and maintains the required vacuum level. The pneumatic design allows for effective component holding with reduced material usage compared to traditional mechanical grippers, thereby reducing tooling weight while maintaining sufficient suction force through optimized vacuum chamber design and sealing mechanisms
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
Enables the efficient transportation of components with minimal surface area or fragility by reducing the need for large suction forces and minimizing system weight and size, thereby improving performance and versatility in handling diverse components.
Implementation Method 1
The air conveyor is configured to generate the air flow through an inlet and out through the exhaust
Implementation Method 2
Standard suction cups or mechanical grippers are available which are used in conjunction with vacuum generators to suction one or more components and transport them from one location to another
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for transporting components using a gripping apparatus. The gripping apparatus includes a body defining a chamber and includes an exhaust at a first end of the body. The gripping apparatus also includes an air conveyor positioned within the chamber. The method includes attaching a gripper head to a second end of the body opposite to the first end. The gripper head defines one or more openings and a nest. The method further includes generating an air flow through an inlet of the air conveyor and out through the exhaust. The method further includes applying suction via the one or more openings in the gripper head to locate and releasably hold one of the components with the gripper head at the first location based on the generating step. The method further includes transporting the component from the first location to a second location.