Independent Piston Grippers for Food Item Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum transport devices for food items are inefficient due to frequent cleaning needs, complexity in design, limited capacity, and inability to handle unordered or unfirmly shaped items, especially in food processing applications where high transfer speed and hygiene are critical.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for transferring items individually using a plurality of gripping means that can operate in a flexible manner, allowing items to be placed at desired distances and orientations, with the option to use either suction or mechanical gripping, and incorporating a recirculation mechanism for unhandled items, reducing the need for external vacuum sources and enhancing transfer speed and capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external vacuum sources are used for gripping items, then gripping capability is achieved, but cleaning frequency increases and operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the vacuum source from the external environment and integrates it directly into the gripping device. Each gripping element contains its own vacuum chamber with a piston that can be independently actuated, eliminating the need for external vacuum lines and associated cleaning requirements. This allows the gripping surfaces to be easily cleaned without disassembling complex vacuum connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping system is divided into multiple independent gripping elements, each with its own vacuum chamber and piston. This segmentation allows individual elements to be cleaned or replaced without affecting the entire system, reducing overall cleaning complexity and maintenance time.
2Device complexity
If static lifting means are used, then structural simplicity is achieved, but transfer speed and capacity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms static lifting means into dynamic gripping elements that can be independently actuated. The piston-driven vacuum chambers allow each gripping element to dynamically engage and release items on demand, enabling high-speed transfer operations while maintaining relatively simple mechanical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
Each gripping element is self-contained with its own vacuum generation capability through the piston mechanism. This self-service design eliminates the need for complex centralized control systems while enabling high-speed operation, as each element can independently respond to transfer requirements.
3Device complexity
If a single gripping means is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but transfer capacity and speed are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple independent gripping elements into a single integrated device. These elements work in parallel to simultaneously grip and transfer multiple items, dramatically increasing transfer capacity while maintaining device simplicity through modular design. The combined action of multiple elements achieves high productivity without requiring complex individual components.
4Adaptability or versatility
If items are transferred in unordered form, then handling flexibility is achieved, but placement precision and ordering capability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention incorporates feedback mechanisms that detect the position and orientation of items as they are gripped. This information is used to adjust the placement of items at the discharge point, ensuring precise positioning even when items are initially in unordered form. The feedback loop maintains handling flexibility while achieving high placement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping elements can dynamically adjust their gripping force and position based on item characteristics. This parameter adjustment capability allows the system to handle diverse unordered items flexibly while maintaining precise placement control through real-time modifications of gripping parameters.
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 system achieves efficient and flexible transfer of items with improved capacity and speed, allowing for orderly placement and handling of unordered or unfirmly shaped items, while simplifying cleaning and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
said plurality of gripping means may engage and hold said items by suction, e.g. during application of vacuum
Implementation Method 2
a piston can be moved downwards in a cylinder by means of compressed air and where the piston can be moved upwards by means of a spring. The cylinder has at its lower end a channel, which leads to a suction disc. This prior art lifting device is used by removing the pressure, i.e. the compressed air, whereby the spring will lift the piston upwards, thus resulting in a vacuum being produced in the cylinder
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5a~5d
AI summary
Method and system for transferring items (2) from an inlet flow or a bulk of items at a first area to a second area, from which the items are transferred in an orderly flow of items, - whereby a plurality of gripping means (18) are used for transferring said items and - whereby said method comprises the steps of - moving at least one of said plurality of gripping means (18) towards at least part of said first area or vice versa, - engaging one of said items by said at least one of said plurality of gripping means (18), - moving said engaged item away from said first area, or vice versa, - placing said engaged item at a selected position, and whereby - said item is moved away from said second area in an orderly flow with at least one further item handled by another of said plurality of gripping means.