Vacuum grip device

• US 4,561,687 A
• Filed: 05/30/1984
• Issued: 12/31/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bostrom, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marbert, James B.
• Application Number:
  US06/615,479
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 294/64 R, 294/64 A, 294/64 B, 294/1 CA, 414/744 B, 414/752, 414/737, 414/627, 414/121, 198/486, 198/689, 269/21, 271/90, 221/211
• US Class Current: 294/186
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/0212 Circular shape
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/0256 Operating and control devices
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/0293 Single lifting units; Only one suction cup

Abstract

A bi-stable vacuum gripping assembly is provided for workpiece support and retention having base and head portions, conduit means connected therebetween for spacing the head portion from the base portion and for conducting vacuum pressure therebetween, and valve means actuated by contact forces of a workpiece against the head portion sufficient to cause movement of the head portion and compression of the conduit means.

Claims

1. A self actuating extractor assembly for vacuum retention of a plurality of workpieces comprising:

a vacuum pressure source;

head means, having fluid connection with said vacuum pressure source, for engaging and holding workpieces;

base means, structurally connected to said head means for supporting said head means; and

valve means, connected to said head means so that movement of said head means creates a corresponding movement of said valve means, for controlling flow through said fluid connection.

2. The self-actuating extractor assembly according to claim 1 wherein said valve means is operably associated with said head and base means so as to be bi-stable such that flow through said fluid connection is prevented until said head means moves with respect to said base portion, and flow remains permitted thereafter without further motion of said head means.

3. The self-actuating extractor assembly according to claim 1 wherein said motion of the head means with respect to the base means is caused by contact of one of said workpieces with said head means.

4. A vacuum gripping extractor means for workpiece support comprising:

a base portion;

a head portion;

a vacuum pressure source connected to said base portion;

a flexible conduit between said head and base portions for biasing said head and base portions apart to normally fixed positions and for conducting vacuum pressure from said base to said head portion; and

valve means directly connected to said head portion and actuated by engagement of a workpiece with said head portion to overcome said biasing for controlling the flow of vacuum pressure to retain said workpiece to said head portion.

5. The vacuum gripping extractor means according to claim 4 wherein said valve means is actuated by engagement of said workpiece with sufficient force to longitudinally compress said flexible conduit.

6. The vacuum gripping extractor means according to claim 4 wherein said head portion includes a vacuum orifice having a workpiece contacting surface about its periphery, and the surface area of said contacting surface is sufficiently large so as to minimize the application of localized stresses to the workpiece.

7. A bi-stable vacuum gripping extractor for workpiece support and retention comprising:

a base portion;

a head portion;

conduit means connected to and between said base and head portions for conducting vacuum pressure therebetween; and

valve means connected to said head portion so that movement of said head means by a predetermined contact force of a workpiece against said head portion is sufficient to cause said head portion to be moved relative to said base portion and a corresponding movement of said valve means.

8. The bi-stable vacuum gripping extractor according to claim 7 wherein said conduit means includes bellows means flexible in the direction of said relative motion of the head portion.

9. The bi-stable vacuum gripping extractor according to claim 7 wherein said conduit means includes stop means to restrict excessive motion of said head portion with respect to said base portion.

10. The bi-stable vacuum gripping extractor according to claim 9 wherein said stop means includes an integral guide tube forming a valve seat at one end thereof and engagable with said head portion to restrict said motion relative to the base portion.

11. The bi-stable vacuum gripping extractor according to claim 7 wherein said valve means is further actuated to an open position by motion of said head portion against said conduit means to compress said conduit means longutudinally.

12. A self-actuating extractor assembly for vacuum retention of a plurality of workpieces comprising:

a plurality of extractor means connected in parallel to a common low pressure source; and

each of said extractor means including a base portion, a head portion for holding said workpiece, fluid connection means between said base and head portions, and valve means connected to said head portion so that movement of said head means creates a corresponding movement of said valve means, for controlling low pressure fluid flow thereto through said fluid.