Suction Gripper With Lifting Piston And Automatic Leakage Shutoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suction grippers struggle to reliably and energy-efficiently grip objects with irregular shapes and varying sizes without forming interference contours and suffer from leakage at unoccupied suction points.
Innovation Solution
A suction gripper design featuring a lifting piston with a shut-off device and an automatically closing valve apparatus, which blocks vacuum flow to unoccupied suction points and adjusts to different object geometries by extending the piston, ensuring secure and efficient gripping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the suction gripper uses multiple suction points to grip objects of varying sizes and shapes, then the adaptability is improved, but the leakage at unoccupied suction points increases energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The suction gripper automatically detects and closes unoccupied suction points through the valve apparatus that responds to pressure differences. When a suction point is not in contact with an object, the higher pressure in the suction chamber automatically triggers the valve to close, eliminating the need for external control systems and reducing energy consumption at unoccupied points.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve apparatus uses pressure feedback from the suction chamber to automatically control the opening and closing of individual suction points. The pressure difference between the suction chamber and atmosphere serves as the feedback signal that triggers the valve mechanism to close unoccupied suction points, creating a self-regulating system.
2Reliability
If the lifting piston is extended to activate suction for gripping objects, then the gripping capability is improved, but the interference contour increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction gripper divides the suction system into multiple independent suction points, each with its own valve apparatus. This segmentation allows individual suction points to be activated or deactivated independently, enabling the gripper to maintain a compact profile while selectively engaging only the necessary suction points for each gripping task.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting piston is designed to be dynamically adjustable between extended and retracted positions. The piston can be extended to activate suction when gripping is required and retracted to minimize interference contour when not in use, providing dynamic adaptability to different operational requirements.
3Productivity
If the suction gripper maintains vacuum supply to all suction points, then the readiness for gripping is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of maintaining continuous vacuum supply to all suction points, the system uses periodic activation through the valve apparatus. Vacuum is supplied to the common chamber and distributed to individual suction points only when needed, with the valve apparatus automatically closing to maintain vacuum at activated points while preventing energy waste at inactive points.
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 allows for reliable and energy-efficient gripping of irregularly shaped objects by automatically closing unoccupied suction points, reducing leakage, and adapting to varying sizes and shapes without interference, enhancing handling efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a suction device (18) which is motion-coupled to the lifting piston (16), in particular mounted on the lifting piston (16), for suctioning and thus gripping an object (38)
Implementation Method 2
The at least one valve apparatus (46) is designed to close automatically, in particular by the resulting suction air flow, in the event of free suction with unoccupied at least one suction point (36)
Data Source
AI summary
A suction gripper comprising a gripper base body, a vacuum connection and at least one gripping unit comprising a lifting piston and a suction device, wherein the suction device can be supplied with vacuum through the lifting piston, wherein the lifting piston is adjustable along a lifting axis between an axially retracted passive configuration and an axially extended active configuration, wherein the gripping unit has a shut-off device for blocking and releasing a flow path between the vacuum connection and the suction device, wherein the gripping unit has at least one valve apparatus which is arranged in a flow path between the at least one suction point and the vacuum connection and which is designed to close automatically in the event of free suction with unoccupied at least one suction point and to block the flow path between the at least one suction point and the vacuum connection.