Sheet Material Clamp With Movable Dragging Surface
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clamps for sheet materials in bagging systems fail to sufficiently grip sheets without damaging or creasing them, leading to inadequate manipulation and protection during the bagging process.
Innovation Solution
A clamping device with an external dragging surface that moves into an internal clamping area, utilizing pneumatic grippers to frictionally engage and clamp sheets, ensuring secure grip without damage, and featuring a mechanism that allows for the actuation of dragging surfaces to pull sheets into a crevice for effective clamping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional clamps are used to grip sheets of material, then the sheets can be manipulated during the bagging process, but the sheets are damaged or creased due to insufficient gripping capability
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping member is divided into two distinct functional zones: an external dragging surface for initial engagement and an internal clamping area for secure holding. This segmentation allows the sheet to be gently guided into the clamping area without direct harsh clamping at the engagement point, reducing damage while maintaining reliable grip.
Solution Approach 2:
The external dragging surface acts as an intermediary element between the clamping member and the sheet material. It provides a large contact area for gentle initial engagement, allowing the sheet to be smoothly dragged into the internal clamping area where the actual secure gripping occurs, preventing direct damage from clamping forces.
2Force
If standard clamps apply sufficient force to grip sheets securely, then manipulation is improved, but the sheets are damaged or creased
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the clamping member have different functional properties: the external dragging surface provides a large-area, low-pressure engagement zone for gentle sheet capture, while the internal clamping area provides a concentrated, high-force gripping zone. This local differentiation allows sufficient gripping force to be applied only where needed, without damaging the sheet during initial engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping mechanism transitions from a two-dimensional surface engagement at the external dragging surface to a three-dimensional volumetric clamping within the internal clamping area. This dimensional transition allows the sheet to be gradually drawn into a secure gripping environment, distributing forces more effectively and avoiding concentrated stress points that cause damage.
3Ease of operation
If conventional clamps are used for manipulating sheets, then the bagging process can proceed, but the sheets are not sufficiently gripped for proper manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The external dragging surface performs a preliminary engagement action, capturing the sheet material before it enters the internal clamping area. This preliminary action ensures the sheet is properly positioned and securely engaged before the main clamping force is applied, facilitating smooth manipulation throughout the bagging process without sheet slippage or damage.
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 solution provides a secure and damage-free grip on sheets, enabling efficient manipulation and protection during the bagging process by using pneumatic grippers to clamp sheets within the clamping area, effectively addressing the limitations of conventional clamps.
Implementation Method 1
the external dragging surface is at least partially movable into the internal clamping area so as to frictionally drag at least a portion of the sheet of material, engaged thereby, into the internal clamping area therewith
Data Source
AI summary
A clamp for sheets of material. The clamp includes a longitudinal main body with an external clamping side. The external clamping side comprises an external dragging surface for engaging a sheet of material. An internal clamping area inwardly extends from the external clamping side. The external dragging surface is at least partially movable into the internal clamping area so as to frictionally drag at least a portion of the sheet of material, engaged thereby, into the internal clamping area therewith. Clamping devices and bagging apparatus including such clamps are also disclosed. A method of clamping overlaying sheets of material is also disclosed.