Auto-Release Vacuum Device
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vacuum device for a material handling system includes a vacuum device body and a sealing element. The vacuum device body has a vacuum passageway in which a vacuum is generated in response to activation of a pressurized air supply that forces pressurized air through a venturi device. The sealing element moves to a sealing position to substantially seal the vacuum passageway when the air supply is activated, and is urged toward the sealing position via pressurized air that is diverted from an inlet of the vacuum device to the sealing element. The sealing element moves to substantially vent the vacuum passageway when the air supply is deactivated. The vacuum passageway may be in fluid communication with a vacuum cup, which seals against the object when the sealing element is at the sealing position and the vacuum generating device generates at least a partial vacuum in the vacuum passageway.
59 Citations
42 Claims
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1-27. -27. (canceled)
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28. An automatic release vacuum device for a material handling system, said automatic release vacuum device comprising:
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a unitary vacuum device body adapted to connect to a pressurized air supply, said unitary vacuum device body having a bore and a venturi nozzle, said pressurized air supply being activatable to supply pressurized air at said venturi nozzle to generate at least a partial vacuum in said bore via pressurized air flow through said venturi nozzle; a movable sealing element in said unitary vacuum device body bore and movable between a sealing position, where said movable sealing element enables a vacuum, and a venting position, where said movable sealing element enables venting, said movable sealing element comprises a piston element that moves in said bore of said vacuum device body, said piston element moving independently between said sealing and venting positions; said unitary vacuum device including a portion of said pressurized air moving said movable sealing element to urge said movable sealing element toward said sealing position when said pressurized air supply is activated; and said movable sealing element being urged toward said venting position when said pressurized air supply is deactivated to substantially vent said bore to atmosphere when said pressurized air supply is deactivated. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A vacuum cup assembly of a material handling system, said vacuum cup assembly being engagable with an object and movable to move the object, said vacuum cup assembly comprising:
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a unitary vacuum device adapted to connect to a pressurized air supply, said unitary vacuum device having a bore and a venturi device, said pressurized air supply being activatable to supply pressurized air at said venturi device to draw air from said bore, said vacuum device including a movable sealing element for selectively sealing and venting said bore; a vacuum cup in fluid communication with said bore, said vacuum cup being configured to engage an object; said movable sealing element in said unitary device bore and movable between a sealing position, where said movable sealing element enables a vacuum, and a venting position, where said movable sealing element enables venting, said movable sealing element comprises a piston element that moves in said bore of said vacuum device body, said piston element moving independently between said sealing and venting positions; a biasing element urges said movable sealing element toward said venting position; said vacuum device including a portion of said pressurized air moving said movable sealing element to urge said movable sealing element toward said sealing position when said pressurized air supply is activated; said biasing element urging said movable sealing element toward said venting position for substantially venting said assembly when said pressurized air supply is deactivated; and said vacuum cup being configured to substantially seal against the object when said movable sealing device is in said sealing position and said venturi device generates at least a partial vacuum. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. An automatic release vacuum device for a material handling system, said automatic release vacuum device comprising:
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an unitary vacuum device body adapted to connect to a pressurized air supply, said unitary vacuum device body having a passageway and a venturi nozzle, said pressurized air supply being activatable to supply pressurized air at said venturi nozzle to generate at least a partial vacuum in said passageway via pressurized air flow through said venturi nozzle; a movable sealing element in said unitary vacuum device body passageway and movable between a sealing position, where said movable sealing element enables vacuum generation in said passageway, and a venting position, where said movable sealing element enables venting of said passageway, said movable sealing element comprises a piston element that moves independently along said passageway of said vacuum device body between said sealing and venting positions; said unitary vacuum device including a portion of said pressurized air moving said movable sealing element to urge said movable sealing element toward said sealing position when said pressurized air supply is activated; and said movable sealing element being urged toward said venting position when said pressurized air supply is deactivated to substantially vent said passageway to atmosphere when said pressurized air supply is deactivated. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A vacuum cup assembly of a material handling system, said vacuum cup assembly being engagable with an object and movable to move the object, said vacuum cup assembly comprising:
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a unitary vacuum device adapted to connect to a pressurized air supply, said unitary vacuum device having a passageway and a venturi device, said pressurized air supply being activatable to supply pressurized air at said venturi device to draw air from said passageway, said vacuum device including a movable sealing element for selectively sealing and venting said passageway; a vacuum cup in fluid communication with said passageway, said vacuum cup being configured to engage an object; said movable sealing element in said unitary device and passageway between a sealing position, where said movable sealing element substantially seals said passageway, and a venting position, where said movable sealing element substantially vents said passageway, said movable sealing element comprises a piston element that moves independently along said passageway of said vacuum device body between said sealing and venting positions; a biasing element that urges said movable sealing element toward said venting position; said vacuum device including a portion of said pressurized air to move said movable sealing element to urge said movable sealing element toward said sealing position when said pressurized air supply is activated; said biasing element urging said movable sealing element toward said venting position for substantially venting said passageway when said pressurized air supply is deactivated; and said vacuum cup being configured to substantially seal against the object when said movable sealing device is in said sealing position and said venturi device generates at least a partial vacuum. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. An automatic release vacuum device for a material handling system, said automatic release vacuum device comprising:
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a unitary vacuum device body adapted to connect to a pressurized air supply, said unitary vacuum device body having a bore and a venturi nozzle, said pressurized air supply being activatable to supply pressurized air at said venturi nozzle to generate at least a partial vacuum via said pressurized air flow through said venturi nozzle; a movable sealing element in said unitary vacuum device body, said movable sealing element movable between a sealing position, where said movable sealing element enables a vacuum, and a venting position, where said movable sealing element enables venting, said movable sealing element comprises a piston element that moves in said bore of said vacuum device body, said piston element moving independently between said sealing and venting positions; said unitary vacuum device enabling said movable sealing element to move toward said sealing position when said pressurized air supply is activated; and said movable sealing element being urged toward said venting position when said pressurized air supply is deactivated to substantially vent to atmosphere, when said pressurized air supply is deactivated. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. A vacuum cup assembly of a material handling system, said vacuum cup assembly being engagable with an object and movable to move the object, said vacuum cup assembly comprising:
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a unitary vacuum device adapted to connect to a pressurized air supply, said unitary vacuum device having a bore and a venturi device, said pressurized air supply being activatable to supply pressurized air at said venturi device to draw air from said bore, said vacuum device including a movable sealing element for selectively sealing and venting said bore; a vacuum cup in fluid communication with said bore, said vacuum cup being configured to engage an object; said movable sealing element in said unitary device and bore between a sealing position, where said movable sealing element enables a vacuum, and a venting position, where said movable sealing element enables venting, said movable sealing element comprises a piston element that moves in said bore of said vacuum device body, said piston element moving independently between said sealing and venting positions; a biasing element urges said movable sealing element toward said venting position; said vacuum device having a portion of said pressurized air moving said movable sealing element to urge said movable sealing element toward said sealing position when said pressurized air supply is activated; said biasing element urging said movable sealing element toward said venting position for substantially venting said assembly when said pressurized air supply is deactivated; and said vacuum cup being configured to substantially seal against the object when said movable sealing device is in said sealing position and said venturi device generates at least a partial vacuum. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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Specification