Auto-release vacuum device

• US 7,681,603 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2009
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Perlman, Maurice, Attee, Keith S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust; Timothy L
• Assistant Examiner(s): NIESZ, JASON KAROL
• Application Number:
  US12/437,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20090217998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 319 Days
• Field of Search: 141/114, 141/65, 294/64.A, 294/64.1, 294/64.2, 417/65, 901/40, 181/237, 181/239, 181/212
• US Class Current: 141/65
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 11/007 portable, e.g. handheld
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/0616 with vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/0625 provided with a valve
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/0633 Air-flow-actuated valves
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/0675 of the ejector type
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/91 incorporating pneumatic, e.g. suction, grippers
• CPC Class Codes: F04F 5/20 for evacuating
• CPC Class Codes: F04F 5/52 of evacuating pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87893 With fluid actuator

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.

Claims

1. An automatic release vacuum device for a material handling system, the automatic release vacuum device comprising:

a unitary body adapted to connect to a pressurized air supply, the unitary body including a vacuum passageway and a venting element, the vacuum passageway operable to vent to atmosphere through the venting element;

a vacuum generating device housed in the unitary body;

a piston element housed in the unitary body, the piston element disposed along an axis in the unitary body, and being movable along the axis between a sealing position closing off the vacuum passageway to atmosphere and a venting position opening the vacuum passageway to atmosphere; and

when the piston element is in the sealing position and when the pressurized air supply is activated to supply pressurized air to the vacuum generating device at least a partial vacuum is generated in the vacuum passageway.

2. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 1, wherein the vacuum generating device is a venturi nozzle.

3. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 2, wherein air moves from the vacuum passageway into the venturi nozzle via at least one vacuum port of the venturi nozzle to generate the at least a partial vacuum when the piston element is in the sealing position and pressurized air is supplied to the venturi nozzle.

4. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 1, further comprising a sealing ring housed in the unitary body, and wherein the piston element engages the sealing ring when the piston element is in the sealing position.

5. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 1, further comprising a biasing element housed in the unitary body, wherein the biasing element biases the piston element toward the venting position.

6. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 1, further comprising a vacuum cup configured to engage an object, the vacuum cup configured to substantially seal against the object when the pressurized air is supplied to the vacuum generating device and the piston element is in the sealing position.

7. A vacuum cup assembly of a material handling system, the vacuum cup assembly comprising:

a vacuum device body adapted to connect to a pressurized air supply, the vacuum device body including a venting element;

a venturi nozzle housed in the vacuum device body,;

a piston element housed in the vacuum device body, the piston element being moveable along an axis between a sealing position and a venting position;

a biasing element housed in the vacuum device body, the biasing element biasing the piston element toward the venting position;

a vacuum cup in fluid communication with the vacuum device body, the vacuum cup configured to engage an object; and

when the pressurized air supply is activated, the pressurized air moves the piston element to the sealing position closing fluid communication between the vacuum cup and the venting element and the venturi nozzle generates a vacuum so that the vacuum cup substantially seals against the object, and when the piston element is in the venting position opening fluid communication between the vacuum cup and the venting element and the venting element is operable to substantially vent the vacuum, the vacuum cup can disengage from the object.

8. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 7, further comprising a sealing ring housed in the vacuum device body, and wherein the piston element engages the sealing ring when the piston element is in the sealing position.

9. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 7, wherein the vacuum device body is a unitary body.

10. An automatic release vacuum device for a material handling system, the automatic release vacuum device comprising:

a unitary body adapted to connect to a pressurized air supply, the unitary body including a vacuum passageway;

a piston element disposed in the unitary body, the piston element disposed along an axis and movable in a first direction and a second direction and when the pressurized air supply is activated the pressurized air urges the piston element in the first direction toward a sealing position blocking entry of ambient air from atmosphere into the vacuum passageway;

a venturi nozzle disposed in the unitary body, the venturi nozzle generating at least a partial vacuum in the vacuum passageway when the pressurized air is activated and when the piston element is in the sealing position; and

a biasing element disposed in the unitary body, the biasing element biasing the piston element in the second direction and when the pressurized air supply is deactivated the biasing element biases the piston element in the second direction toward a venting position allowing entry of ambient air from atmosphere into the vacuum passageway and when the piston element is in the venting position the at least partial vacuum is destroyed.

11. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 10, wherein air moves from the vacuum passageway into the venturi nozzle via at least one vacuum port of the venturi nozzle to generate the at least a partial vacuum when pressurized air is supplied to the venturi nozzle and when the piston element is in the sealing position.

12. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 10, further comprising a venting element, the vacuum passageway being operable to vent to atmosphere through the venting element when the piston element is in the venting position.

13. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 10, further comprising a sealing ring disposed in the unitary body, and wherein the piston element engages the sealing ring when the piston element is in the sealing position.

14. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 10, further comprising a vacuum cup configured to engage an object, the vacuum cup adapted to substantially seal against the object when the pressurized air is supplied to the vacuum generating device and when the piston element is in the sealing position.

15. An automatic release vacuum device for a material handling system, the automatic release vacuum device comprising:

a unitary body adapted to connect to a pressurized air supply;

a piston element housed within the unitary body, the piston element being movable in the unitary body between a sealing position prohibiting entry of venting air from atmosphere and a venting position allowing entry of venting air from atmosphere;

a venturi nozzle housed in the unitary body, the venturi nozzle adapted to receive air from the pressurized air supply when the pressurized air supply is activated; and

when the pressurized air supply is activated, the pressurized air moves the piston element to the sealing position and the venturi nozzle generates a vacuum in the unitary body and when the piston element is in the venting position, the vacuum is destroyed.

16. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 15, wherein air moves into the venturi nozzle via at least one vacuum port of the venturi nozzle to generate the vacuum when pressurized air is supplied to the venturi nozzle and when the piston element is in the sealing.

17. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 15, wherein the unitary body further comprises a venting element, and when the piston element is in the venting position, the venting element is operable to vent the unitary body to atmosphere.

18. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 15, further comprising a sealing ring housed in the unitary body, and wherein the piston element engages the sealing ring when the piston element is in the sealing position.

19. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 15, further comprising a biasing element housed within the unitary body, the biasing element biasing the piston element toward the venting position.

20. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 15, further comprising a vacuum cup configured to engage an object, the vacuum cup configured to substantially seal against the object when the pressurized air is supplied to the venture nozzle and when the piston element is in the sealing position.

21. An automatic release vacuum device for a material handling system, the automatic release vacuum device comprising:

a unitary vacuum device body comprising an inlet port adapted to connect to a pressurized air supply;

the unitary vacuum device body further comprising a first passageway, a vacuum passageway, and a venting element, the venting element adapted to be in fluid communication with both the vacuum passageway and atmosphere;

a piston element housed within the unitary vacuum device body, the piston element movable between a sealing position wherein the piston element obstructs fluid communication between the vacuum passageway and the venting element and a venting position wherein the piston element does not obstruct fluid communication between the vacuum passageway and the venting element;

a biasing element housed within the unitary vacuum device body, the biasing element biasing the piston element toward the venting position;

a venturi nozzle disposed within the first passageway, the venturi nozzle adapted to receive air from the pressurized air supply when the pressurized air supply is activated; and

when the pressurized air supply is activated, the pressurized air moves the piston element to the sealing position and the venturi nozzle generates a vacuum in the vacuum passageway and when the piston element is in the venting position, the vacuum is vented to atmosphere.