Spring-Clamped Gripper Arms for High-Speed Container Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grippers for container processing machines are complex and heavy, leading to mechanical issues and collisions at high throughput speeds, particularly with rapidly rotating transfer wheels.
Innovation Solution
A gripper design where one arm is clamped via a spring to the gripper base, with both arms mounted in offset joints, allowing them to deflect jointly against the spring force in case of a collision, reducing weight and complexity by eliminating unnecessary components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional gripper designs with multiple counter-elements and complex mounting mechanisms are used, then the gripper can provide sufficient gripping force and stability, but the gripper becomes heavy and complex, leading to mechanical issues at high throughput speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes unnecessary counter-elements and complex mounting mechanisms from the gripper design. Only the essential spring element and two arms with joints are retained, eliminating redundant components that contributed to weight and complexity while maintaining the core gripping function
Solution Approach 2:
The gripper is divided into two functional arms (first and second arms) with distinct roles. The first arm provides the gripping function while the second arm serves as a counterweight and structural support. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall complexity
2Stability of the object's composition
If traditional gripper designs with multiple counter-elements are used, then the gripper can maintain stable positioning, but the gripper weight increases, causing problems with rapidly rotating transfer wheels
Solution Approach 1:
The second arm functions as a counterweight to the first arm, balanced by a spring element. This counterweight mechanism provides stability and controlled movement without requiring additional heavy counter-elements, as the second arm itself serves this purpose through its positioning and mass distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element provides a variable restoring force that adjusts to the gripper's position and load conditions. This elastic parameter change allows the gripper to maintain stability across different operating conditions without requiring a heavy, rigid structure
3Manufacturing precision
If gripper arms are made rigid to ensure precise gripping, then gripping precision is improved, but the gripper cannot deflect during collisions, causing mechanical damage
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper arms are designed with pivot joints that allow dynamic movement and deflection during collisions. The spring element provides a dynamic restoring force that returns the arms to their precise gripping position after deflection, combining flexibility with positioning accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element acts as a cushioning mechanism that absorbs collision energy before it can cause mechanical damage to rigid components. The elastic deformation of the spring and the controlled deflection of the arms dissipate impact energy while protecting the gripping mechanism
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 gripper achieves a significant reduction in weight and complexity while ensuring effective deflection during collisions, maintaining the gripper's ability to hold preforms or containers efficiently and safely.
Implementation Method 1
one of the gripper arms as the main arm is clamped via a spring with the gripper base, which pulls the main arm into contact with the other gripper arm
Implementation Method 2
their gripper arms can be deflected jointly against the rotational direction of the transfer wheels, or against the movement direction of other transfer devices, and thus can evade in the event of a collision
Data Source
AI summary
A gripper for holding preforms or containers in their neck region having two pivotable gripper arms held in a base position under spring tension such that their gripping ends jointly enclose and hold the neck region. They are pivotable out of the base position jointly in one direction if they come into contact with an obstacle. In the base position, a main gripper arm is clamped via a spring with the gripper base, which pulls the main arm into contact with the other secondary gripper arm. The main and secondary arms are each mounted in a respective joint. The joint of the secondary arm is closer to its gripping end than the joint of the main arm is to its gripping end. The arms press against one another in the closed position at least in two regions, one above the joint of the secondary arm and the other below it.