Telescopic Gripping Member for Product Layer Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing depalletization grippers with flexible curtain elements face issues such as limited dimension tolerance, increased wear, and system fragility due to their flexible nature, requiring dedicated maintenance and additional components like tensioners.
Innovation Solution
A gripping member featuring a telescopic chamber with an adjustable suction plate and a peripheral ring composed of sliding, angular, and plate-like elements, which form a continuous gripping ring, providing mechanical and pneumatic tightening while allowing for height adjustment and reduced air leakage, and is connected to motorized boards for precise movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If flexible curtain elements are extended to cover small layers, then coverage is improved, but wrinkles form at corners and wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the flexible curtain elements with rigid side bars that have a finite, controlled length. These side bars are designed to be replaced when worn, rather than attempting to make the flexible curtains last indefinitely. This approach accepts that the gripping elements will have a limited service life but eliminates the wear problems associated with extended flexible curtains by using a simpler, more durable rigid structure that can be economically replaced.
2Adaptability or versatility
If flexible curtain elements are used, then adaptability to layer dimensions is improved, but positioning tolerance becomes more stringent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs motorized boards that can dynamically adjust the position and orientation of the side bars during the gripping operation. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the rigid side bars to adapt to variations in layer dimensions and positioning, compensating for the lack of inherent flexibility. The system can move the side bars to optimal positions to maintain effective gripping even when layer positioning varies within tolerance ranges.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional components like tensioners are added to maintain flexible curtains, then coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the flexible curtain elements and their associated tensioning mechanisms (ropes, winders, tensioners) from the system entirely. Instead, it uses a simplified structure with rigid side bars supported by motorized boards. This extraction of the problematic flexible elements eliminates the need for complex tensioning systems while maintaining the core gripping function through a different mechanical approach.
4Duration of action of moving object
If flexible curtain elements are subjected to repeated bending and folding, then gripping function is maintained, but wear and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adopts rigid side bars that are subject to wear but do not undergo repeated bending and folding. These side bars are designed as replaceable components with a defined service life. When they wear out after a certain number of gripping cycles, they can be quickly replaced without complex maintenance procedures, eliminating the continuous wear and maintenance issues associated with flexible curtains subjected to repeated deformation.
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 solution offers improved adaptability to varying layer dimensions, reduced wear, and enhanced mechanical stabilization, allowing for efficient handling of layers with less stringent positioning tolerance and reduced maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
The gripper has vacuum generating means, adjustable in height for adjusting to the height of the products forming the layer
Implementation Method 2
Through the plate-like element a vacuum with a low head but a high flow rate is made for lifting the product layer
Implementation Method 3
Between this plate-like element and the side bars there are flexible curtain elements which, when the vacuum is made in the plate-like element, tend to adhere to the side walls of the product layer, thus increasing the degree of vacuum as they reduce air leakage on the side of the product
Data Source
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AI summary
A gripping member for gripping a layer of products comprising an upper closed wall (21), a suction plane (11) associated on the lower side of the upper wall (21) and adjustable in height, identifying an area for vacuum gripping, mechanical gripping elements, that can be moved and associated with the sides of the layer of products to be picked up, a lower safety support plane (50), movable between an open position of disengagement from the gripping area and a closed position at least partially in engagement with the gripping area, as well as a telescopic chamber (20), open only toward the bottom, said telescopic chamber (20) being fastenable around the product layer for lifting the product layer through a peripheral mechanical grip and being connectable to means for generating depression, or vacuum, for pneumatically lifting the product layer by means of depression, wherein said telescopic chamber (20) comprises a peripheral continuous gripping ring (22) arranged at the periphery of the upper wall (21) and consisting of four angular elements (22') and at least four plate-like side elements (22''), which are slidably arranged with respect to said angular elements (22'), said upper wall (21) being of adjustable plane dimensions.