Integrated Suction Gripper Assembly With Internal Vacuum Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suction gripping devices in industrial applications are bulky, weigh too much, and have external air channels and vacuum sources that are not optimized for compactness, leading to increased maintenance needs and safety hazards due to protruding parts, and are difficult to clean, especially in food production environments.
Innovation Solution
A compact suction gripping device design that integrates the pneumatic cylinder, piston, and suction cup system with a tubular rod and internal conduit, featuring a sliding joint system for vacuum chamber formation, anti-rotation mechanisms, and a Venturi system for vacuum creation, reducing bulk and integrating air/vacuum passage circuits within the cylinder body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If external air channels and vacuum source are mounted independently outside the cylinder body, then the device can be assembled and maintained separately, but the device size and weight increase, and the maintenance needs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the air channels and vacuum source directly into the cylinder body structure. The air channels are formed as internal passages within the cylinder body, and the vacuum source is incorporated as an integrated component rather than an external attachment. This merging eliminates the need for separate external mounting, reducing overall device size and weight while maintaining assembly capability through modular internal design.
Solution Approach 2:
The air channels are nested within the cylinder body structure, with passages routed through the walls and internal surfaces of the cylinder. The vacuum source components are positioned within the internal volume of the cylinder body, utilizing the existing structural space. This nesting approach allows multiple functional elements to coexist within the same external envelope, reducing the overall device footprint.
2Ease of manufacture
If external air channels and vacuum source are mounted independently outside the cylinder body, then the device can be assembled and maintained separately, but the device weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of air channels and vacuum source into the cylinder body eliminates redundant structural elements and connecting components. By combining multiple functions into a single integrated structure, the total material usage is reduced, leading to lower device weight while maintaining ease of assembly through standardized internal features.
Solution Approach 2:
The cylinder body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the mechanical housing for the piston mechanism, contains the air channels for pneumatic actuation, and houses the vacuum source components. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated structures for each function, thereby reducing overall device weight.
3Adaptability or versatility
If external elements are proliferated in the device, then the device can perform multiple functions, but the risk of operator hazards increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the air channels and vacuum source into the cylinder body, the number of external protruding elements is minimized. The integrated design reduces the number of separate components that could pose safety hazards to operators, while the internal arrangement maintains all necessary functional capabilities for gripping and positioning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The nesting of functional components within the cylinder body creates a compact, enclosed structure that minimizes external exposure of moving parts and pneumatic elements. This reduces the risk of operator contact with hazardous components while preserving the full range of gripping functions through the integrated design.
4Device complexity
If the device has cavities on external walls, then the structure can accommodate internal components, but the cleaning difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air channels and vacuum source components are extracted from external wall cavities and repositioned within the internal volume of the cylinder body. This extraction eliminates external cavities that would trap debris and difficult-to-reach areas, while the internal positioning maintains all necessary structural capabilities for component accommodation and functional operation.
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 enhances the compactness and ease of maintenance of the suction gripping device, reduces the risk of operator hazards, and facilitates thorough cleaning, particularly in food handling applications by eliminating external protrusions and integrating all necessary components within a smaller, more efficient form.
Implementation Method 1
forming a vacuum chamber
Implementation Method 2
pneumatic suction cup system
Implementation Method 3
Venturi system for vacuum creation
Implementation Method 4
pneumatic cylinder comprising a cylinder body, a piston slidably mounted in an internal chamber of the cylinder body, and a rod secured to the piston
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Suction cup gripping device (1) comprising: - at least one pneumatic cylinder (3) having a cylinder body (30), a piston (31) sliding in an internal chamber (33) of the cylinder body (30), a rod (32) integral with the piston (31), the piston (31)-rod (32) assembly being configured to retract and extend, - a pneumatic suction cup (34) integral with the rod (32), a vacuum circuit, the vacuum circuit comprising: - the rod (32) which is tubular, and communicating with the pneumatic suction cup (34), - an internal conduit (35), in a sealed connection with the rod via sliding seals (36), forming a vacuum chamber (37), and in which the piston (31) is annular and sweeps an annular pressure chamber (33A, 33B) of the cylinder body (30) connected to at least one compressed air port (38A, 38B).