Motorized Pneumatic Gripper for Pharmaceutical Inspection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motorized pneumatic grippers for industrial manipulators, particularly in pharmaceutical inspection apparatuses, require external actuators which increase overall dimensions and reduce the number of grippers that can be mounted on a carousel, limiting efficiency and space utilization.
Innovation Solution
A motorized gripper equipped with both an electric motor and a pneumatic actuator, allowing for independent control of jaw rotation and opening/closing movements without external actuators, thus maintaining compact dimensions and enabling efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If external actuators are used to control jaw rotation and opening/closing, then the gripper can perform required functions, but the overall dimensions of the gripper increase and the number of grippers that can be mounted on a carousel decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple actuation functions (jaw rotation and opening/closing) into a single integrated pneumatic actuator housed within the gripper body. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate external actuators, reducing the overall gripper volume while maintaining full operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pneumatic actuator is nested within the gripper body, with the piston and rod mechanism contained inside the housing. This nesting approach allows the actuator components to be compactly arranged within the existing gripper volume, avoiding external mounting requirements and minimizing dimensional increases.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the gripper is equipped with its own actuators for rotating and opening/closing, then operational independence is achieved, but the gripper dimensions exceed those of compact designs
Solution Approach 1:
The single pneumatic actuator performs multiple functions: it controls both jaw rotation and opening/closing movements. This multi-functionality achieves operational independence without requiring separate dedicated actuators for each function, thereby avoiding volume multiplication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a pneumatic actuator with a piston and rod mechanism that efficiently transmits force for both rotational and linear movements. Pneumatic systems offer high power-to-volume ratios, enabling compact actuation mechanisms that deliver the required operational independence within limited space.
3Productivity
If multiple grippers are arranged on a carousel with minimal space, then inspection efficiency is maximized, but adding actuators to each gripper would increase dimensions and reduce the number of mountable grippers
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple actuation functions into a single compact pneumatic actuator per gripper, the overall gripper volume is minimized. This allows maximum densification of grippers on the carousel, increasing the number of inspection stations without expanding the carousel footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
Pneumatic actuators provide high force output in compact configurations, enabling each gripper to be self-sufficient without bulky external actuators. This compactness is critical for maximizing the number of grippers that can be arranged in close proximity on the carousel while maintaining inspection efficiency.
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 gripper achieves efficient and compact operation by integrating both electric and pneumatic actuators, allowing for seamless jaw rotation and opening/closing functions without increasing the gripper's dimensions, thereby enhancing the capacity and efficiency of inspection apparatuses.
Implementation Method 1
a pneumatic actuator (25) also housed in the body, comprising a piston (26) movable in a cylinder (28) between a bottom dead center pmi and a top dead center pms, in response to the pressure exerted by compressed air supplied to the gripper
Data Source
AI summary
A gripper for industrial manipulators includes a body, inside which an electric motor is housed, and a turnable portion is constrained to the body. Jaws movable toward and away from each other to hold and release a piece are present on the turnable portion. The electric motor is intended for imparting rotations to the turnable portion while the piece is held between the jaws. A pneumatic actuator, for example a piston, controls the opening of the jaws to release the piece. The electric actuator and the pneumatic actuator remain separate and do not interact while the electric actuator is on. Vice-versa, the electric actuator and the pneumatic actuator are integral while the pneumatic actuator is active. The gripper is particularly adapted for being used in inspection systems of the carousel type, for checking the quality of containers and vials in the pharmaceutical industry.