Gripping Apparatus With Compressing Unit for Sheet Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gripping apparatuses struggle to reliably separate stacked items with different geometries due to adhesion forces, particularly when handling flat materials like sheets, which often result in multiple sheets being lifted together.
Innovation Solution
A gripping apparatus with lifting units that include both gripping and compressing units, where the compressing units apply pressure to deform the item locally, breaking adhesion forces and allowing for reliable separation of stacked flat materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If suction grippers are used to grip stacked flat materials, then gripping capability is achieved, but adhesion forces cause multiple sheets to be lifted together
Solution Approach 1:
The compressing unit is activated before the gripping unit to pre-deform the flat material and break adhesion forces between stacked sheets. This preliminary deformation creates a gap or curvature that prevents the adhesive bond from forming or maintaining strength, allowing subsequent clean separation when the sheet is lifted.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressing element applies localized pressure to a specific region of the flat material rather than uniformly across the entire surface. This localized deformation is sufficient to break adhesion forces at the critical interface between stacked sheets while minimizing overall material deformation and maintaining gripping effectiveness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple suction units are added to handle different geometries, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compressing unit serves multiple functions: it breaks adhesion forces between stacked sheets, deforms material to accommodate geometric variations, and prepares the surface for reliable gripping. This single multi-functional element replaces what would otherwise require multiple specialized suction units configured for different geometries, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressing unit dynamically changes the physical parameters of the flat material (curvature, thickness, surface profile) through localized deformation. This parameter modification allows the gripping system to adapt to various geometries without requiring physical reconfiguration of the gripper structure itself, enabling universal handling capability with a fixed design.
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 apparatus effectively prevents multiple sheets from being lifted together by deforming the top sheet, ensuring reliable handling and separation of stacked flat materials in a structurally simple and cost-effective manner.
Implementation Method 1
the compressing element is designed to deform an item held by the gripper, in particular a flat material
Implementation Method 2
sheets stacked on one another stick together due to adhesion forces, so that when the top sheet is lifted from a stack, the sheet below it is also lifted
Implementation Method 3
Suction grippers usually have at least one suction point for suctioning and thus gripping an item
Data Source
AI summary
A gripping apparatus (and method) comprising a gripper base body and at least two lifting units arranged on the gripper base body, each comprising a lifting piston which is adjustable along a lifting axis between an axially retracted configuration and an axially extended configuration, wherein at least one lifting unit is designed as a gripping unit including a gripper which is coupled in terms of movement to the lifting piston for gripping the item, and wherein at least one lifting unit is designed as a compressing unit including a compressing element which is coupled in terms of movement to the lifting piston for exerting a pressure force on an item held by the gripper.