Vacuum Suction Cup Test Device Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing test devices for vacuum suction cups of gripping devices lack precise positioning capabilities, leading to potential errors during status checks, which can compromise the reliability of the testing process.
Innovation Solution
A test device with a carrier arrangement featuring alignment elements that allow for accurate positioning of the gripping device in the XY plane, utilizing elastically flexible mounts and a cover with sealing elements to ensure precise alignment and protection from contaminants, enabling reliable testing of vacuum suction cups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If alignment elements are added to the carrier arrangement, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment elements are integrated directly into the carrier arrangement structure, merging the alignment function with the existing carrier components rather than adding separate alignment mechanisms. This reduces overall device complexity while achieving precise positioning of the gripping device relative to test devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with a simplified alignment element system that uses geometric features and reference surfaces. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity while maintaining high positioning accuracy through precise geometric relationships between alignment elements and reference surfaces.
2Measurement precision
If elastically flexible mounts are used, then positioning accuracy is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastically flexible mounts utilize material parameter changes (elasticity) to achieve positioning accuracy. By selecting materials with appropriate elastic properties, the mounts can compensate for manufacturing tolerances and thermal expansions, achieving high positioning accuracy without complex adjustment mechanisms while remaining manufacturable through standard elastic material selection and simple geometric design.
3Reliability
If sealing elements are added to protect from contaminants, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing elements are designed to serve multiple functions: protecting test devices from contaminants, providing a reference surface for alignment, and potentially serving as a mounting surface. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate protective components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while improving reliability through contamination protection.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a test device and a method for condition monitoring of vacuum suction cups (35) of a gripping device (27), comprising several test devices (52) which are oriented towards the outside of a support arrangement (51) in at least one test field (53) and lie side by side in an XY plane of the support arrangement (51) and are spaced apart from each other, so that each vacuum suction cup (35) can be positioned relative to the test device (52), wherein the support arrangement (51) has at least two alignment elements (54) which are designed for aligning the gripping device (27) correctly in the XY plane relative to the support arrangement (51), so that the respective vacuum suction cups (35) of the gripping device (27) are aligned with the respective test devices (52) of the support arrangement (51). (See Figure 4)