Vacuum Gripper Membrane Sheet for Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum gripping devices with integrated suction valves face structural challenges due to complex valve designs and require adjustment to specific suction device properties, making production and assembly complex and costly.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum gripping device with integrated suction valves where each suction valve has a flexible control membrane that moves between open and closed positions, using a shared membrane sheet for multiple valves, allowing for adjustable response sensitivity and simplified assembly through a multi-part housing construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automatic closing suction valves are used to prevent leakage, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to complex valve structure and adjustment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple control membranes are merged into a single shared membrane sheet that extends over multiple suction points. This membrane sheet serves as a common control structure for multiple suction valves, reducing the number of separate valve components and simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining the automatic closing function at each suction point.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared membrane sheet performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the control membrane for multiple suction valves, provides structural support for the valve bodies, and enables coordinated control across multiple suction points. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the device architecture.
2Productivity
If individual suction valves are integrated in the gripper housing, then productivity is improved through reliable suction control, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to complex assembly requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane sheet is designed as a single integrated component that combines multiple control membranes into one piece. This allows all suction valves to be assembled simultaneously by mounting the valve bodies on the membrane sheet and securing it to the housing in a single operation, dramatically simplifying the assembly process while maintaining reliable suction control at each point.
3Reliability
If complex suction valve designs are used, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to complex production and assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The control membrane function is extracted from individual valve components and consolidated into a separate membrane sheet that can be manufactured independently and then mounted to the housing with the valve bodies. This separation allows for simplified manufacturing of each component and easier assembly, reducing overall production costs while maintaining the reliable automatic closing performance of each suction valve.
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 economical production and assembly of vacuum gripping devices with adjustable suction valve properties, improving response behavior and reducing structural complexity while preventing undesired leakage.
Implementation Method 1
The valve body can move from the open position to the closed position, depending on a vacuum that can be obtained in the control chamber by deforming the flexible control membrane
Implementation Method 2
The control chamber, however, is closed off from the suction side, in terms of flow, by the wall-like section. When the control chamber is compressed, the flexible section is deformed, such that the valve body is moved to its closed position
Implementation Method 3
Vacuum gripping devices are usually equipped with a plurality of suction bodies disposed adjacent to one another at suction points of a working surface of a gripper housing. The suction bodies are each designed to apply a suction to a workpiece that is to be gripped
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum gripping device comprising a plurality of suction bodies, each comprising a suction chamber for applying to a workpiece to be gripped, a suction valve is associated with each suction point, wherein each suction valve comprises a vacuum supply side for connection to a vacuum supply device and a suction side connected to the suction chamber of the assigned suction body, wherein the suction valve comprises a valve body, moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve body is arranged on a flexible control membrane which delimits a control chamber; in such a way that the valve body is moveable from the open position into the closed position using deformation of the control membrane, and wherein a membrane cloth extending across multiple or all suction points is arranged in the gripper housing.