Sheet Material Gripper with Electromagnetic Locking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grippers are inadequate for efficiently picking up multiple layers of flat material webs, particularly porous or mesh materials, as they either fail to grip effectively or cause material damage, and are limited in handling different types of materials, including those impregnated with binding agents.
Innovation Solution
A device with a carrier frame and a pivoting gripping unit equipped with an electromagnet, where a lowering movement converts into a closing movement of the gripping arm, allowing for a versatile grip of various material types, including those with binding agents, through adjustable angle and magnetic force control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a vacuum gripper is used to pick up material webs, then the topmost web can be gripped, but multiple stacked webs cannot be gripped effectively and porous webs cannot be handled
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper is divided into multiple independently controllable gripping elements (fingers or plates) that can be positioned at different depths. Each element can grip individual webs within the stack, allowing simultaneous gripping of multiple webs while maintaining reliable contact with each layer through independent positioning and force application.
2Quantity of substance
If a needle gripper is used to grip material webs, then edge area gripping is achieved, but multiple stacked webs cannot be gripped and material fraying occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful needle-like extension that causes fraying is extracted and replaced with flat, broad gripping surfaces. These surfaces distribute the gripping force over a larger area of the material, eliminating the concentrated stress points that cause fraying while still enabling penetration through multiple stacked webs to grip them simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping elements have locally optimized surfaces with varying roughness and geometry tailored to different material types. The gripping surfaces can be adapted to have appropriate friction characteristics for specific materials, enabling reliable gripping of multiple webs without causing damage through localized force distribution.
3Force
If a freeze gripper is used to grip material webs, then gripping force is achieved, but the web is cooled and cannot be used with binding agent impregnated webs
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal field-based gripping mechanism (freezing) is replaced with a mechanical field-based system using controllable gripping elements that apply force through controlled deformation and friction. This mechanical approach provides sufficient gripping force without thermal effects, allowing handling of temperature-sensitive materials and those impregnated with binding agents.
4Device complexity
If a mechanical gripper with fixed geometry is used, then gripping structure is simple, but adaptability to different material types is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper employs dynamically adjustable gripping elements that can change their geometry, position, and gripping force based on the material being handled. The gripping elements can be actuated to assume different configurations suitable for various material types and stack heights, providing versatility while maintaining a relatively simple base structure that can be controlled through automated systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping elements are designed with universal characteristics that allow them to handle multiple material types through a single device configuration. By adjusting parameters such as gripping force, element position, and surface properties, the same gripper structure can effectively handle diverse materials including porous webs, stacked layers, and binding agent-impregnated materials without requiring complete redesign.
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 the reliable and versatile gripping of multiple layers of flat material webs, including porous and impregnated materials, with adjustable gripping force and surface roughness, suitable for integration into automated production processes.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic force generated by the electromagnet can lock the closed position of the gripping unit
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device (12) for gripping planar material webs, in particular fiber material webs, which has a support frame and at least one gripping unit (1; 16; 19) arranged on a support arm (13) of the support frame, characterized in that the gripping unit (1; 16; 19) has a base plate (2), a gripping arm (3) pivotably arranged on the base plate (2) and an electromagnet (4), wherein a lowering movement of the gripping unit (1; 16; 19) can be converted into a closing movement of the gripping arm (3) by a relative movement of a guide surface arranged at a free end (10) of the gripping arm (3) with a support surface, whereby the gripping arm (3) can be brought into a gripping position and a closed position of the gripping unit (1; 16; 19) can be locked by a magnetic force generated by the electromagnet (4).The present invention further relates to a method for handling material webs, in particular fiber material webs, with a device (12) according to one of claims 1 to 12, comprising the following method steps: - positioning the device (12) above the material web, - lowering the device (12), - closing the gripping arm (3) by relative movement of the guide surface to an underlying support surface, - activating the electromagnet (4), - lifting the material web.