Individually Actuated Gripper Claws for Preform Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional grippers in rotary container treatment machines face issues such as mechanical deformations, frictional forces, and contamination due to uncontrolled movements and cam track controls, leading to operational inefficiencies and product quality issues, particularly in handling preforms and containers of varying sizes and shapes.
Innovation Solution
The grippers are designed with individually actuable claws driven by electric or magnetic motors, allowing for precise control over opening and closing movements, enabling flexible adaptation to different preform or container types, and reducing the need for complex cam track controls, thus minimizing contamination and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If uncontrolled grippers with mechanical or magnetic force accumulators are used, then gripping force is generated, but high closing forces cause deformations on heated preforms and undesirable frictional forces when containers are accepted or released
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical force accumulator system with an electric motor-driven system. The electric motor provides controlled gripping force without the mechanical complexity and uncontrolled force generation of spring or magnetic accumulators, thereby preventing deformations on heated preforms while eliminating undesirable frictional forces during container acceptance and release.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from passive mechanical force accumulation to active electric motor control. This allows precise adjustment of gripping force parameters to match the specific requirements of different container types and stages of processing, preventing both excessive force that causes deformation and insufficient force that fails to grip properly.
2Measurement precision
If cam track controls are used for gripper movement, then gripper positioning is achieved, but mechanical complexity, lubrication dependency, contamination, and space consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cam track control system with an electric motor-driven positioning system. This substitution eliminates the mechanical complexity, lubrication requirements, and contamination risks associated with cam tracks while maintaining or improving positioning precision through electronic control. The electric motor system is also more compact and requires less maintenance space.
3Ease of operation
If symmetric gripper claw pivoting is used, then container handling is simplified, but individual separate pivotability of gripper claws is not possible, limiting adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the gripper claw control system into independently controllable units. Each gripper claw is equipped with its own electric motor or actuator, allowing individual separate pivotability while maintaining overall operational simplicity through centralized electronic control. This segmentation enables adaptability to different container types and situations without sacrificing ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a static symmetric gripper design to a dynamic system where gripper claws can be individually positioned and controlled. The electric motor-driven system allows real-time adjustment of each claw's position and movement, providing adaptability to various container configurations while maintaining simplified operation through programmable control sequences.
4Device complexity
If uncontrolled grippers are used, then mechanical simplicity is maintained, but precise control and elimination of lubrication-dependent mechanisms are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the simple but unreliable uncontrolled mechanical gripper system with an electric motor-driven controlled system. This substitution improves reliability by providing precise control over gripping force and timing, eliminating the need for lubrication-dependent mechanisms, and enhancing hygiene by removing mechanical components that require lubrication. The electronic control system is more reliable and maintainable despite the added 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
This solution enhances the quality of end products by allowing for adjustable gripping forces, precise positioning, and reduced contamination, enabling the grippers to handle diverse preform and container types efficiently and effectively, while minimizing operational disruptions and maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
individually actuable gripper claws, in particular pivotably mounted gripper claws, which can be actuated individually and/or separately from one another by a drive arranged on the holder in the opening and/or closing direction
Implementation Method 2
The magnetic drive M or electric drive (servo motor S) can be controlled via a controller and gripper claws 15, 16 (at least one of the gripper claws) can be actuated individually and/or separately about the pivot axis 17
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~10
Figure 11~15
AI summary
The container treatment machine has a gripper (G), which is transported along a predetermined transport section for handling a preform or container during transport or acceptance or delivery. The controllable electric or magnetic drives (18,M,S) is provided for the gripper claws (15,16), where the gripper claws are moved relative to each other in opening and closing directions between defined gripping and release positions. Each gripper claw is individually separately actuated by the drive in the opening or closing direction relative to another gripper claw of the gripper.