Contactless Glass Sheet Handling via Oscillating Plate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies are inadequate for contactless detection and lifting of large, touch-sensitive glass plates with several square meters of surface area, as they fail to account for the plates' unevenness and weight, leading to inefficient and costly solutions that cannot handle horizontal transport effectively.

Innovation Solution

A device utilizing a vibrating plate with negative pressure generation and suction pipes, coupled with a central damping joint and optical sensors, allows for non-contact lifting by adapting to uneven surfaces and using Bernoulli's principle for levitation, enabling precise control and handling of large glass plates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional vibration systems are distributed over the entire floor area to handle larger components, then the handling capability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device divides the large glass plate into multiple detection zones, each handled by a separate detection unit with its own vibration generator and sensor. This segmentation allows the system to manage large surfaces without requiring a single complex system to cover the entire area, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining handling capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines the vibration generation and detection functions into integrated detection units that can be distributed across the surface. By merging these functions into modular units, the system achieves versatility in handling large plates without the complexity of separate distributed systems, as each unit operates semi-independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If touch-sensitive coatings are present on glass plates, then the functional requirements are improved, but the risk of damage during handling increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional requirementsVSAvoiddamage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces mechanical contact-based detection and handling with contactless ultrasonic vibration and optical sensor detection. This substitution eliminates direct mechanical contact that could damage touch-sensitive coatings, while still enabling functional verification of the coatings through non-contact methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The ultrasonic vibrations and optical sensors act as intermediaries between the handling system and the glass plate surface. These intermediaries enable detection and handling control without direct contact, protecting the touch-sensitive coatings from damage while still allowing the system to verify their presence and functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If glass plates with large surface area are lifted, then the handling capability is improved, but the plates bend due to their own weight making detection impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling capabilityVSAvoidplate bending
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The detection units are designed to adapt to dynamic changes in plate shape during lifting. The vibration generators and sensors can adjust their operation to accommodate bending and deformation, maintaining detection capability throughout the handling process by dynamically responding to changing plate configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses multiple distributed detection units that can independently detect local conditions on different parts of the plate. Even when the plate bends, each local detection unit can still function effectively in its immediate area, allowing overall plate monitoring despite global shape changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables economical, reliable, and cost-effective contactless detection and lifting of large glass plates by adapting to surface unevenness and using advanced sensor feedback for precise control, overcoming the limitations of existing technologies.

Implementation Method 1

a vibration generator (8) which interacts with an oscillating plate (1) in such a way that ultrasonic vibrations are generated on the oscillating plate (1)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Implementation Method 2

at points on the underside of this plate a negative pressure is generated with respect to the ambient air, and the plate is connected in this way without contact with the body to be lifted

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic radiation pressure: Acoustic Radiation Pressure

Implementation Method 3

using Bernoulli's principle for levitation, enabling precise control and handling of large glass plates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBernoulli's principle: Bernoulli Effect

Implementation Method 4

optical sensors, allows for non-contact lifting by adapting to uneven surfaces and using Bernoulli's principle for levitation, enabling precise control and handling of large glass plates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical detection:

Data Source

PatentEP2398721B1Device and method for the contactless seizing of glass sheets
Publication Date: 2013.09.04 GRENZEBACH MASCHINENBAU GMBH
  • EP2398721B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2398721B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2398721B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and device for the contactless seizing of glass sheets, said device comprises at least one oscillatory, rectangular, plate-shaped oscillating plate (1) comprising an oscillation generator (8). Said oscillating plate (1) comprising tounge-shaped projections on its four corners and a central opening for receiving a suction tube (2) which is used to suction air and which is installed on the upper side and a distance sensor and an optical sensor are housed in at least one suction tube.