Gripping Device Locking Arrangement for Safe Force Limiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gripping devices lack a mechanism to independently limit clamping force and reset to a safe operating state, posing a risk of injury to machine operators during human-robot collaboration.
Innovation Solution
A gripping device with adjustable engagement pressure force, featuring a locking mechanism that decouples the gripping elements from the drive upon overload, allowing for safe reset and preventing excessive force, utilizing a ratcheting, force-locking, or magnetic engagement structure with adjustable force limits between 5 to 300 N.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the gripping device uses a motor drive to close the gripping elements, then the gripping force can be increased to hold workpieces securely, but the risk of excessive force causing injury to machine operators increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is pre-configured with a release mechanism that activates when the gripping force exceeds a predetermined safety threshold. This preliminary action ensures that before excessive force can cause injury, the locking device automatically releases, uncoupling the gripping elements from the drive and limiting the force to safe levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device acts as an intermediary between the motor drive and the gripping elements. It transfers the drive force to the gripping elements while simultaneously providing a mechanical safety threshold that prevents excessive force transmission, thus mediating between the high-force drive system and the safety requirements for operator protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the gripping device includes a safety mechanism to limit engagement force, then operator safety is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional locking and release mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is designed as a self-regulating safety mechanism that automatically activates when excessive force is detected. The spring element and locking elements work together to automatically release the gripping elements from the drive when the predetermined force threshold is exceeded, without requiring external control or additional complex safety systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety mechanism replaces complex electronic force sensing and control systems with a purely mechanical solution. The spring element provides a mechanical threshold, and the locking elements provide automatic release through mechanical interaction, eliminating the need for sensors, controllers, and complex electronic safety systems.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the locking device is designed to release at a low force threshold for safety, then operator protection is improved, but the gripping device cannot handle workpieces requiring higher engagement forces
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device provides dynamic force limitation by allowing the gripping elements to operate at high forces when needed for workpiece handling, but automatically releasing when the force exceeds the predetermined safety threshold. This dynamic behavior enables the system to adapt between high-force operation and safety protection based on real-time conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element can be designed with adjustable pre-load or different spring rates to change the force threshold parameter. This allows the safety threshold to be optimized for different applications - lower thresholds for applications requiring less gripping force and higher thresholds for heavy-duty workpiece handling, while always maintaining operator safety.
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
Ensures the gripping device operates within a safe force range, preventing injuries by allowing the gripping elements to be uncoupled from the drive when an overload is detected, thereby protecting the machine operator from excessive clamping forces.
Implementation Method 1
The locking device may be a ratcheting device, a force- or form-looking engagement structure or a force-locking friction or magnetic engagement structure
Implementation Method 2
a force-locking friction or magnetic engagement structure
Implementation Method 3
a force-locking friction or magnetic engagement structure
Data Source
AI summary
In a gripping device including carriages disposed on a base body so as to be movable relative to each other by a motor drive, the carriages being provided with gripping elements which are movable with the carriages between an opening and a closing position of the gripping elements, at least one of the gripping elements is supported on the respective carriage so as to be able to yield to a certain engagement pressure force which is adjustable in the range of 5 to 300 N in order to prevent excessive damage or injuries-causing engagement forces.