Gripping Arm Magnet Locking Miniaturization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gripping devices for small, round containers face challenges in miniaturization and maintenance due to complex components like spiral springs, which increase production, maintenance, and cleaning costs, and are prone to dirt accumulation, especially in hygiene-sensitive processes.
Innovation Solution
A simplified gripping arm design with a rotatably mounted control cam and a magnet-based locking mechanism, eliminating spiral springs, allowing for miniaturization and reduced dirt accumulation by positioning closing components externally, and using a plastic material like fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone for durability and ease of replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a spiral spring is used as the closing means in the gripping arm, then the gripping device can maintain sufficient gripping force, but the device complexity increases and miniaturization becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the spiral spring from the gripping arm structure and relocates it to the carrier element. This separation allows the gripping arm to be simplified and miniaturized while the spring remains external to provide the necessary closing force. The spring is positioned in the carrier element away from the gripping arm's functional area, eliminating the space constraints that previously prevented miniaturization.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping device is divided into distinct functional modules: the gripping arm for container contact, the control cam for actuation, and the carrier element for mounting and spring housing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the gripping arm minimized for hygiene and the spring placed in the carrier where it won't interfere with cleaning operations.
2Ease of operation
If additional components are added to the gripping arm for actuation, then the gripping device can switch between gripping and open positions, but dirt accumulation increases and hygiene standards are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The control cam is extracted from the gripping arm and mounted on the carrier element. This external positioning means the cam's rotational movement can actuate the gripping arm through a lever arm connection without the cam itself being part of the gripping arm structure. Consequently, the cam and its actuation mechanism are excluded from the hygiene-critical gripping surface, preventing dirt accumulation in actuation components.
Solution Approach 2:
A lever arm connection serves as an intermediary between the control cam and the gripping arm. The cam rotates on the carrier element and transfers motion through this intermediate lever arm to the gripping arm, allowing actuation function while maintaining a clear separation between the actuation mechanism (non-hygienic) and the gripping surface (hygienic).
3Volume of moving object
If the gripping arm size is reduced for small containers, then the device can handle small bottles effectively, but the spiral spring prevents further miniaturization
Solution Approach 1:
The spiral spring is extracted from the gripping arm volume and placed in the carrier element. This removes the spring's spatial constraints from the gripping arm design, allowing the arm to be minimized to the absolute minimum size required for container engagement. The spring resides in the carrier's available space, decoupled from the gripping arm's dimensional constraints.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a multi-part locking lever construction is used for grip width variation, then different container sizes can be gripped, but production and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control cam on the carrier element serves multiple functions: it actuates the gripping arm for container engagement and simultaneously provides grip width variation through its rotational geometry. The single cam structure replaces what would otherwise require multiple locking levers or adjustable mechanisms, achieving container size adaptation without increasing part count or manufacturing 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 design enables miniaturization of the gripping device, reduces maintenance needs, minimizes dirt accumulation, and meets high hygiene standards by eliminating internal depressions where dirt collects, while the plastic material ensures durability and easy replacement.
Implementation Method 1
the closing means is designed such that by means of the closing means the gripping section can be moved from the open position into the gripping position
Implementation Method 2
the control cam is designed and constructed in such a way that by means of the control cam or rotation of the control cam the gripping arm can be moved from at least a first position, in particular a gripping position, into at least a second position, in particular an open position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The arm (2) has a rotatably mounted control cam (11) moving the arm from a gripping position to an opening position and/or vice versa, where the arm is pivotally secured at a bore (10) for partially accommodating a bearing bolt (32) by which the gripping arm pivots in the gripping device. A receptacle (18) is arranged for a closing unit (6) by which the arm is moved from the opening position to the gripping portion. The receptacle is designed such that the closing unit is insertable from an outer side of the arm in the receptacle and the closing unit is formed as a pair of magnets. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a gripping device (2) a transport device (3) a method for manufacturing a gripping arm (4) a method for transporting of a container.