Pneumatic Sausage Casing Gripper for Synchronized Tube Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional process of manually inserting a casing tube into a filling tube for sausage production is time-consuming, prone to operating errors, and poses a risk of injury, leading to machine downtimes and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A gripping device with pneumatically driven gripper members, guided by guide rods and equipped with flow restrictors, automates the process of picking up, conveying, and delivering casing tubes, ensuring synchronized movement and reducing the risk of damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual insertion of casing tube is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases and reliability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical insertion process with an automated gripping device that uses pneumatic drive means to move gripper members, eliminating the need for manual operation while improving productivity and consistency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic drive means connected to a compressed air supply to actuate the gripper members, providing automated, controlled, and repeatable insertion movements that enhance both productivity and reliability
2Reliability
If manual insertion of casing tube is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability worsens due to operating errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces imprecise manual manipulation with an automated gripping device featuring guide rods that constrain and guide the gripper members, ensuring accurate and consistent insertion positioning without human error
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces guide rods as intermediary elements between the drive means and gripper members, which mediate the movement to ensure precise alignment and positioning during insertion, thereby improving reliability
3Reliability
If manual insertion of casing tube is used, then device complexity is reduced, but safety worsens due to injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes manual manual handling with an automated gripping device, completely eliminating operator exposure to mechanical hazards such as fingers being caught in the insertion process, thereby significantly improving safety
4Productivity
If automated gripping device is used, then productivity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a standardized pneumatic system with a common compressed air supply and valve to control multiple gripper members, simplifying the control architecture while maintaining automated high-speed operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs identical gripper members and standardized pneumatic drive means for all casing tube handling operations, creating a homogeneous system that simplifies manufacturing, maintenance, and operational complexity while ensuring consistent performance
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 automated process significantly reduces the time required for inserting casing tubes and minimizes the risk of injuries and damages, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing machine downtimes.
Implementation Method 1
a respective flow restrictor is connected to the drive means for compensating unsynchronized movements during opening and closing of the gripper members by the drive means
Implementation Method 2
The drive means are driven pneumatically, and the drive means are supplied by means of a compressed air supply via a common valve and respective conduits
Data Source
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AI summary
A gripping device (120) for picking up, conveying and delivering a casing tube (10) such as a casing tube (10) of a sausage, the gripping device (120) comprising: a longitudinal base structure (122) which is attached to a handling device (110) by means of a coupling element, preferably in a non-destructively detachable manner, at least two gripper members (124a, 124b) having each at least one bottom surface and at least one top surface, wherein the gripper members (124a, 124b) of the gripping device (120) are provided with gripping surfaces, at least two drive means (126a, 126b), which are attached to the axial ends of the base structure (122), for reversibly moving the gripper members (124a, 124b) between a first position in which the gripper members (124a, 124b) are positioned on opposite sides of the casing tube (10) to be picked up, and a second position in which the gripper members (124a, 124b) seize the casing tube (10) to be picked up, and a control unit for simultaneously driving the drive means (126a, 126b) of the gripper members (124a, 124b).