T-Shaped Battery Gripper With Flexible Lining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vacuum grippers struggle to securely and efficiently pick up heavy, compact starter batteries due to their uneven surfaces and compact size, often requiring manual handling and risking short-circuiting when attempting to grasp them by the side.
Innovation Solution
A battery gripper with a T-shaped cross section and flexible lining, featuring adjustable suction openings and recesses to minimize leakage and prevent short-circuiting, along with a coupling section for connection to a tube lifter, and optional mechanical clamping for additional security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional vacuum grippers are used to pick up starter batteries, then the gripping mechanism is simple, but the gripper cannot securely grip heavy batteries with uneven surfaces and may cause short-circuiting
Solution Approach 1:
The suction side is designed with an asymmetric T-shaped cross-section where the web section extends between the battery poles to prevent short-circuiting, while the bar section provides the main gripping surface. This asymmetric design allows the gripper to safely handle batteries by avoiding contact with both poles simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction side is divided into multiple suction openings distributed across the bar section and web section, allowing the vacuum to act on different areas of the battery top face independently. This segmentation enables secure gripping of uneven surfaces while maintaining structural integrity.
2Productivity
If manual handling with hook or claw is used, then short-circuiting is prevented, but physical strain increases and handling efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper uses a vacuum chamber with multiple suction openings to create a pneumatic gripping force that securely holds the battery on the top face. This pneumatic mechanism eliminates the need for manual hook or claw operations, reducing physical strain while maintaining safe handling practices.
3Strength
If suction openings are increased in number and size to improve gripping force, then gripping strength increases, but leakage risk on uneven battery surfaces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction openings are strategically distributed across the bar section and web section of the T-shaped suction side, with each opening positioned to contact specific areas of the battery top face. This local quality approach ensures that suction force is applied to flat regions while avoiding uneven areas that could cause leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible lining is provided on the suction side to contact the battery surface, allowing the lining to conform to slight variations in the battery top face while maintaining the vacuum seal. This flexibility compensates for surface irregularities without requiring larger suction openings.
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 reliable and secure suction-based handling of starter batteries by the top face, reducing physical strain and preventing short-circuiting, while allowing for efficient connection to lifting aids for easier manipulation.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum gripper for picking up by suction and handling starter batteries... a housing in which a vacuum chamber to which a vacuum can be applied is provided
Data Source
AI summary
Battery gripper (12), for attracting by suction and handling starter batteries (26) of, in particular, motor vehicles, having a housing (56), in which a vacuum chamber which can be loaded with vacuum is provided and which has suction openings (84, 84) on the suction side thereof (54) which faces the starter battery to be attracted by suction, wherein the suction side is assigned a flexible lining (82) for contact with the starter battery, wherein the housing has a T-shaped cross section which runs parallel to the suction side, wherein the cross section has a bar section (64) and a web section (66) which extends transversely from the bar section, in such a way that the web section extends between the battery poles (68, 70) of the starter battery when the starter battery is attracted by suction to the battery gripper.