Vacuum Gripper With Flexible Bellows for Uneven Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum powered tools face challenges in effectively gripping and handling objects with uneven or leaning surfaces, as well as sensitive materials, due to limited adaptability and resilience in existing designs.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum powered gripper tool with a flexible bellows as a vertical lifting appliance, allowing for adaptation to object shape and position, and featuring a collapsible spherical geometry that engages and releases objects using negative pressure, and returns to its initial shape when pressure ceases, along with gripper arms for secure handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid gripper structure is used, then the structural strength is improved, but the adaptability to objects with uneven or leaning surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible bellows structure as the housing for the vacuum gripper. This flexible shell can deform and adapt its shape to conform to uneven or leaning surfaces of objects being gripped, while still maintaining the vacuum seal necessary for effective gripping. The flexibility of the bellows allows the gripper to accommodate various object geometries without requiring a rigid structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripper incorporates a dynamic bellows structure that can expand and contract in response to vacuum pressure changes and object interactions. This dynamic capability allows the gripper to actively adapt its shape during the gripping process, enabling it to handle objects with varying surfaces and orientations while maintaining structural integrity through the controlled flexibility of the bellows.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible bellows structure is used, then the adaptability to object shape is improved, but the structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible bellows structure serves as both the housing and the adaptive element. When vacuum pressure is applied, the bellows contracts in a controlled manner, providing both the adaptability to conform to object shapes and the structural stability needed for effective gripping. The bellows design maintains its structural integrity while allowing necessary deformations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses vacuum pressure (pneumatics) to control the bellows structure. By applying negative pressure, the bellows contracts and stabilizes in a predetermined configuration that provides both adaptability to the object and structural stability for gripping. The pneumatic control allows the flexible structure to achieve and maintain stable gripping positions dynamically.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the bellows is made fully flexible, then the handling of sensitive materials is improved, but the control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows is designed with controlled flexibility rather than complete flexibility. The structure allows gentle deformation to adapt to sensitive materials while maintaining enough structural rigidity to provide precise control over the gripping action. This balanced design enables handling of sensitive materials without sacrificing control precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Vacuum pressure provides precise and uniform control over the bellows deformation. The pneumatic force distributes evenly across the bellows surface, enabling controlled adaptation to sensitive materials while maintaining predictable and precise gripping behavior. The vacuum level can be precisely regulated to control the degree of bellows contraction and gripping force.
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 secure gripping and vertical lifting of objects with uneven surfaces and sensitive materials, enhancing handling capabilities by adapting to object shape and providing controlled movement, while maintaining cleanliness and safety through antimicrobial materials.
Implementation Method 1
compressible in its longitudinal direction as a result of a negative pressure in the bellows as well as to resiliently return to the original position when the negative pressure ceases
Implementation Method 2
resiliently return to the original position when the negative pressure ceases
Implementation Method 3
engage and hold an object as a result of a negative pressure in the tool as well as to resiliently return to an initial position when the negative pressure ceases
Implementation Method 4
by suction effect via an object handling and engagement appliance generate an engagement with objects
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
Vacuum powered tool (1) that is connectable to a vacuum source and arranged to in an object engagement position engage and hold an object as a result of a negative pressure in the tool (1) as well as to resiliently return to an initial position when the negative pressure ceases and, which tool (1) comprises an object handling engagement part (2), wherein the tool (1), in a first end (3), has a fitting (4) to be fixedly received in a vacuum connection implement for fixation of the tool (1), and in a second end (5) of the tool (1), wherein the second end (5) is formed for air-proof contact and provided with an at least partly flexible and collapsible spherical hollow inner geometry (7) onto which at least partly spherical and collapsible hollow inner geometry (7) having a collapsible part (6), object handling and engagement means (8) are provided and arranged such as to in the object engagement position engage and hold the object as a result of the negative pressure in the flexible and collapsible spherical hollow inner geometry (7) as well as to resiliently return to the initial position when the negative pressure in the flexible and collapsible spherical hollow inner geometry (7) ceases.