Suction Gripper with Dynamic Vacuum Control for End-Section Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cutting devices face challenges in securely holding and cutting food products near the end section due to increasing lateral forces and limited surface area, leading to incomplete cuts and costly rejects, as conventional grippers either fail to provide reliable fixation or damage the product with deep mechanical intervention.
Innovation Solution
A gripper with a suction device featuring adaptable suction sections, modifiable rigidity, and a cooling system that generates variable negative pressure and icing to securely grip the product without deep mechanical penetration, allowing for precise cutting of smaller end sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional suction grippers are used to hold the product, then the product can be gripped without mechanical penetration, but the fixation becomes insufficient towards the end of the cutting process due to increasing lateral forces
Solution Approach 1:
The suction force is dynamically adjusted during the cutting process. The control unit increases the suction force generated by the vacuum pump as the cutting blade approaches the end section of the product, compensating for increasing lateral forces. This dynamic adjustment maintains reliable fixation without requiring deep mechanical penetration throughout the entire cutting process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-positioning the product on the conveyor belt and initially gripping it with moderate suction force. The control unit monitors the cutting progress and prepares to increase suction force in advance before the end section cutting begins, ensuring smooth transition and continuous reliable fixation.
2Reliability
If mechanical grippers with claws penetrating into the product are used to ensure sufficient fixation, then the product is securely held, but deep penetration prevents cutting of large end sections and leaves marks that limit usability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces mechanical claw-based gripping systems with a pneumatic suction-based gripping system. The suction device generates holding force through pressure differential rather than mechanical penetration, allowing the cutting blade to access the entire end section of the product without obstruction from gripping mechanisms. This substitution eliminates marks and preserves 100% of the end section for usable product portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pneumatic principles by employing a vacuum pump to create negative pressure within the suction device. This pneumatic gripping mechanism provides sufficient fixation force to counteract lateral cutting forces while maintaining non-contact grip that does not interfere with the cutting blade's access to the product end section.
3Reliability
If the suction force is increased to compensate for lateral forces near the cutting plane, then product fixation is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction force is dynamically adjusted based on the cutting stage rather than maintained at maximum level throughout. The control unit increases vacuum pump power only when the cutting blade approaches the end section where lateral forces become significant. During initial cutting stages, moderate suction suffices, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining fixation reliability when needed most.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit monitors the cutting progress and adjusts suction force accordingly. Feedback from the cutting system allows the control unit to determine when increased lateral forces are expected, enabling proactive adjustment of suction power to match actual fixation requirements and avoid unnecessary energy consumption during low-stress phases.
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 effectively compensates for lateral forces and ensures secure fixation and cutting of smaller end sections without damaging the product, reducing rejects and improving cutting efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a suction device (14) with a contact surface (15) that can be brought into contact with a section (12), in particular an end section, of a product (12), the suction device (14) having at least a first suction section (S1) which is delimited in the radial direction by a sealing device (16) and which is connected to a pump device (P1) that generates a vacuum
Implementation Method 2
a cooling system that generates variable negative pressure and icing to securely grip the product
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a gripper for gripping a product, in particular a food product, with a suction device which has a contact surface which can be brought into contact with a section, in particular an end section, of the product, the suction device having at least a first suction section which extends in the radial direction is delimited by a sealing device and is connected to a vacuum-generating pump device, and comprises at least one sealing section which, seen in the radial direction of the contact area, is arranged outside of the first suction section and at least partially, in particular completely, surrounds it in the radial direction. The present invention relates to a cutting device with a corresponding gripper and a method for cutting a product.