Suction Gripper Pad Cutouts for One-by-One Sheet Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional negative pressure suction grippers require complex mechanisms for both suction and peeling, complicating the device configuration when handling stacked sheet-shaped workpieces.
Innovation Solution
A gripper with a tubular pad featuring cutout portions that generates negative pressure through a swirling flow of compressed air, allowing the gripper to deform and peel off the uppermost workpiece from the stack without additional peeling mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional negative pressure suction gripper is used to grip stacked sheet-shaped workpieces, then the workpiece can be held by suction, but multiple workpieces are taken out together instead of one by one
Solution Approach 1:
The pad is segmented by forming cutout portions that divide the pad surface into multiple independent suction regions. This segmentation allows the gripper to selectively grip only the uppermost workpiece at specific locations while leaving gaps that prevent adjacent workpieces from being simultaneously gripped, thereby achieving reliable one-by-one picking
Solution Approach 2:
The pad has non-uniform suction characteristics due to the cutout portions, creating localized suction zones with different pressures. The regions with cutouts have reduced suction force compared to solid regions, allowing differential gripping that separates the uppermost workpiece from the stack while maintaining grip on individual pieces
2Reliability
If a mechanism for peeling off the workpiece is added to the gripper, then the workpiece can be separated from the stack, but the device configuration becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The peeling function is merged with the suction function by integrating cutout portions directly into the pad structure. The same pad that provides suction also creates the peeling effect through its cutout geometry, eliminating the need for separate peeling mechanisms and simplifying the overall device configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The pad serves multiple functions simultaneously: it generates negative pressure for suction, creates differential gripping forces for separation, and enables peeling action through its cutout geometry. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional dedicated peeling mechanisms
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 gripper to efficiently pick up individual sheet-shaped or cup-shaped workpieces with a simplified device configuration by deforming the uppermost workpiece to enter the cutout portions, preventing rotation of spherical workpieces, and facilitating stable handling of various shapes.
Implementation Method 1
the gripper main body being configured to generate the negative pressure inside the pad by jetting a compressed fluid along an inner circumferential surface of the pad
Implementation Method 2
a gripper configured to suck a workpiece by a negative pressure
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a gripper (10) comprising: a cylindrical pad (14) that picks up a workpiece (54, 56, 58) by suction; and a gripper body (12) to which the pad (14) is attached, and which generates a negative pressure within the pad (14) by jetting a compressed fluid along a pad inner peripheral surface (46a) of the pad (14). The pad (14) has at least one cut-out part (50) formed by cutting out the pad (14) in a gripper surface (48) facing the workpiece (54, 56, 58).