Gripping Tool With Stiffener For Flexible Composite Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of composite material structures, such as aircraft components, faces challenges due to manual errors during the manufacturing process, leading to inefficiencies and material wastage, particularly in the automation of skin manufacturing where flexible and sticky subassemblies are difficult to handle and position precisely using conventional suction cups.
Innovation Solution
A gripping tool with an elastically deformable body and a stiffener, connected to a fluid circuit for generating and suctioning fluid, allows for controlled and reproducible deformation to grasp and position flexible and sticky objects without causing deformation, enabling precise handling and placement of composite material subassemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a standard suction cup is used to grasp a flexible sub-assembly, then the suction cup can lift the object, but the sub-assembly is locally deformed during gripping
Solution Approach 1:
The suction cup is designed with differentiated local properties: the upper part is made elastically deformable to conform to and grip the sub-assembly, while the lower part is made rigid to maintain structural stability and prevent deformation of the gripped object. This local quality differentiation allows the suction cup to exert gripping force without deforming the sub-assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction cup is constructed as a composite structure combining elastic material for the upper part and rigid material for the lower part. This composite design enables the suction cup to simultaneously exhibit flexibility for gripping and rigidity for structural support, resolving the contradiction between gripping force and shape preservation.
2Force
If a standard suction cup is used to move a sticky sub-assembly, then the suction cup can lift the object, but the sub-assembly sticks to the suction cup
Solution Approach 1:
The suction cup design applies local quality by making only the upper gripping surface elastically deformable, while the lower part and internal structure remain rigid. This localized elasticity provides sufficient suction force for lifting without allowing the sticky sub-assembly to adhere to the rigid lower parts of the suction cup structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastically deformable upper part acts as an intermediary between the rigid suction cup structure and the sticky sub-assembly. This elastic layer transmits suction force effectively while preventing direct contact and adhesion between the sticky object and the rigid suction cup body.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an elastically deformable body is used to grasp a sub-assembly, then the body can conform to the object, but the deformation is not reproducible
Solution Approach 1:
The suction cup is designed with localized elasticity only in the upper part that contacts the sub-assembly, while the lower part remains rigid. This ensures that deformation occurs only in the designated elastic region, providing reproducible conformation to the object without compromising the overall positioning precision determined by the rigid lower structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction cup is segmented into distinct functional zones: an upper elastically deformable portion for adaptable conformation and a lower rigid portion for stable positioning. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally, combining adaptability with manufacturing precision.
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 gripping tool effectively lifts and positions flexible and sticky objects with minimal deformation, facilitating automated manufacturing processes by providing a controlled and reproducible suction force, suitable for various types of composite materials and complex geometries, and can handle objects up to a square meter in size and several tens of kilos in mass.
Implementation Method 1
means for supplying pressurized fluid to provide pressurized fluid; and means for deforming the adsorption film with the pressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid supply means
Implementation Method 2
the said upper part being elastically deformable under the effect of a depression in the said internal space
Implementation Method 3
the said gripping tool comprising a stiffener arranged in the body by being disposed inside and against the lower part, the said stiffener being at least locally conformed to the lower part
Implementation Method 4
the lower part opening onto a sealing lip of the body
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a gripping tool (10) comprising an elastically deformable suction cup body (20), said body (20) comprising an internal space (22) configured to be in fluidic communication with a fluidic circuit (5) for generating and drawing fluid. The body (20) comprises an upper portion (40) integral with a lower portion (25) opening onto a sealing lip (50), said upper portion (40) being deformable under the effect of a vacuum in said internal space (22), said gripping tool (10) comprising a stiffener (70) arranged in the lower portion (25) and shaped at least locally to the lower portion (25).