Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
  • B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
  • B66C1/00—Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting or lowering gear of cranes or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting lifting forces to articles or groups of articles
  • B66C1/02—Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting or lowering gear of cranes or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting lifting forces to articles or groups of articles by suction means
  • B66C1/0256—Operating and control devices
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
  • B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
  • B66C1/00—Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting or lowering gear of cranes or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting lifting forces to articles or groups of articles
  • B66C1/02—Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting or lowering gear of cranes or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting lifting forces to articles or groups of articles by suction means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
  • B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
  • B66C1/00—Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting or lowering gear of cranes or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting lifting forces to articles or groups of articles
  • B66C1/02—Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting or lowering gear of cranes or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting lifting forces to articles or groups of articles by suction means
  • B66C1/0218—Safety measures, e.g. sensors, duplicate functions
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
  • B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
  • B66C13/00—Other constructional features or details
  • B66C13/16—Applications of indicating, registering, or weighing devices

Definitions

• the present invention generally relates, in particular, to gripping systems based on vacuum technology for the dynamic handling of objects.
• the invention relates to a vacuum lifting device, which is sometimes also referred to as a “suction lifter”.
• variable-length suction hose for example in the form of a spiral hose.
• This variable-length suction hose is sometimes also referred to as a “lifting hose”.
• a load-carrying device is attached to the end of the variable-length suction hose, which can be designed either as a suction device that works primarily with a vacuum or as a mechanical gripping device.
• variable-length suction hose contracts like an accordion, so that the workpiece adheres to the suction agent and can finally be lifted . If the vacuum drops, the load is lowered again.
• the vacuum is generated either by a side channel compressor, a vacuum pump or a multi-chamber ejector (Venturi nozzle).
• the vacuum lifting device is usually controlled manually using a control panel that is attached to the lower end of the variable-length suction hose. This control panel is used to control the suction, lifting, lowering and subsequent release of the load with one hand.
• this relates in particular to a vacuum lifting device with a suction line which extends between a vacuum connection of a vacuum supply and a mouth opening.
• the vacuum lifting device also has a load-carrying means, such as a suction means, which is used for sealing contact with surfaces of the goods to be transported and which is attached to one side of the suction line and delimits the mouth opening.
• a load-carrying means such as a suction means, which is used for sealing contact with surfaces of the goods to be transported and which is attached to one side of the suction line and delimits the mouth opening.
• a variable-length suction hose is used, which delimits the suction line in sections between the suction medium and the vacuum connection.
• a valve control is provided, which is designed to set a negative pressure in the suction hose and to influence a free flow cross section of the suction line in a line section between the suction hose and the mouth opening, and which is between a blocking position for interrupting the line section and a release position for releasing the line section ( manually).
• Such a vacuum lifting device is - at least in principle - already known from the prior art.
• the publication concerns DE 10 038 013 B4 a vacuum lifting device that is used to lift transport goods such as boxes, barrels or sacks.
• the vacuum lifting device known from this prior art comprises a variable-length suction hose which extends in the vertical direction and whose upper end can be fixed to a support or a building wall.
• At the lower end of the variable-length suction hose there is a control panel in which a valve device is arranged.
• the control panel is coupled to a suction means designed like a plate and provided with a circumferential, elastic seal.
• the suction cup-like suction means serves for sealing contact with a surface of the transported goods.
• One of the absorbents and the Fluid chamber formed on the surface of the transported goods can be brought into communicating connection with the pressurized suction hose by appropriate control of the valve device.
• the negative pressure applied to the suction hose also leads to a negative pressure applied to the fluid chamber and thus to the exertion of a suction force on the transported goods.
• the negative pressure also acts on the suction hose and leads to a length contraction of the suction hose due to the negative pressure, which results in a lifting movement for the transported goods.
• the valve device enables supply air from the environment to be fed into the suction hose. This is done in that a free cross section of a supply air duct, which communicates the interior of the suction hose subject to negative pressure with the environment, can be influenced between an open position and a closed position by means of the valve device. In the open position, a maximum supply air flow can take place in the suction hose; in the closed position, the supply air flow in the suction hose is at least almost completely interrupted. To set down the transported goods, the negative pressure in the suction hose is first weakened by introducing supply air through the supply air duct into the suction hose.
• variable-length suction hose expands due to the weight of the transported goods, since this is no longer completely compensated for by the negative pressure in the suction hose, until the transported goods can be placed on a surface.
• the suction medium is then lifted off the surface of the transported goods with maximum supply air flow into the suction hose and thus minimal negative pressure in the suction hose and in the suction medium.
• the known vacuum lifting device has a control valve associated with the valve device, which is designed to temporarily interrupt a line section of the suction line formed between the suction means and the vacuum connection arranged at the upper end of the variable-length suction hose.
• the control valve releases the line section of the suction line and thus the communicating connection between the vacuum connection and the suction medium.
• the control valve closes the suction line in order to avoid an undesirable negative pressure volume flow through the suction line in the direction of the vacuum connection.
• a grid-like frame with several suction cups arranged at a distance from one another can also be provided as a suction means at the lower end of the variable-length suction hose.
• a suction means is used, for example, to handle wooden, glass or metal plates and has a considerable weight. Due to its spatial extent, a suction means designed in this way causes certain difficulties when lifting off the surfaces of the transported goods after the lifting process has ended.
• EP 3 351 501 A1 discloses the preamble of claim 1.
• the object of the invention is to provide a vacuum lifting device, in particular a vacuum lifting device of the type mentioned above, which is particularly user-friendly and enables fast and fluid work.
• the vacuum lifting device should be easily adaptable to individual, user-specific problems.
• resources should be able to be saved in the operation of the vacuum lifting device, in particular energy/vacuum.
• the task is solved with a vacuum lifting device according to claim 1.
• the type and/or the weight of a transport item to be grasped or grasped with the suction means it is possible to determine, preferably automatically, for each detected type of transport item or for each detected weight of the transport item, optimal parameters for the handling of the transport item Select vacuum lifting device and set the corresponding process parameters.
• the adjustable operating parameter of the vacuum lifting device is, for example, the operating mode or the type of vacuum supply used vacuum source, which can be optimally adapted or selected from an economic point of view, particularly with regard to the weight of the transported goods to be lifted by the vacuum lifting device.
• the “type of transported goods” is primarily understood to mean the type of workpiece/transported goods to be manipulated by the vacuum lifting device.
• the type of goods to be transported depends, for example, in particular on the size, shape, material and weight of the goods to be gripped or gripped.
• the invention is based on the finding that, with a view to working quickly and smoothly while saving resources, it is advantageous if corresponding functionalities and/or operating parameters of the vacuum lifting device depend on the type of goods being transported and/or the weight of the material to be gripped or gripped transport goods can be adjusted. If, for example, it is detected that the transport item to be gripped or gripped is a transport item with a high weight, the vacuum source for vacuum supply to the vacuum lifting device must be controlled and/or selected accordingly, or the vacuum source must be controlled or selected accordingly, if it is recorded or determined that the transport item to be gripped or gripped is a transport item with a relatively low weight.
• the transport item to be gripped or gripped is a particularly bulky transport item, such as a plate or the like .
• Such additional functionality could, for example, consist in the position of the vacuum lifting device and/or movement data of the vacuum lifting device being recorded in the form of measured values using a sensor system, with instructions for action and/or handling-related information being provided by evaluating the recorded measured values generated by the operator of the vacuum lifting device and output via an output device, for example a display or the like.
• the vacuum lifting device is assigned a sensor system for directly or indirectly determining or estimating the type and/or the weight of a transport item accessed or gripped by the suction means of the vacuum lifting device, the values determined or estimated by the sensor system Information is evaluated accordingly in an evaluation device in order to generate suitable instructions and / or handling-related information for the operator of the vacuum lifting device and to output this information accordingly via an output device.
• the handling of transport goods with the help of the vacuum lifting device is made easier, since in particular individual handling instructions and/or handling-related information related to the handling or the operator are issued, which support and guide the operator of the vacuum lifting device in controlling the Serve as a vacuum lifting device.
• the correct assignment and correct handling of a transported item can be ensured by issuing the handling instructions and/or handling-related information.
• the operator of the vacuum lifting device can receive specific information about a current Handling process, for example the indication of a destination, a movement sequence, a handling speed or a load warning.
• the sensor system has a scale, in particular an electromechanical scale, in order to directly determine the weight of a transport item gripped by the suction means.
• the sensor system has a non-contact detection system which is designed to determine the type of transported goods that are accessed or gripped by the suction means.
• a non-contact detection system which is designed to determine the type of transported goods that are accessed or gripped by the suction means.
• the non-contact detection system has a scanning device for detecting the size and / or shape of a transport item accessed with the suction means, the detection system being designed to determine the size and / or shape of the transport item accessed with the suction means, its weight and / or the type to estimate or determine the transport goods.
• the non-contact detection system has a transmitter-receiver system for the automatic and non-contact identification of a transport item to be gripped or gripped with the suction means.
• the non-contact detection system can also have a scanning device for scanning an identification that is assigned and is preferably attached to a transport item that is accessed or gripped with the suction means.
• scanning device means a scanner or scanner to understand which is a data acquisition device which is designed in particular to scan or measure the transported goods in a systematic and regular manner.
• Scanning device designed to detect the size and / or shape of a transport item accessed by the suction means in an optomechanical manner.
• the non-contact detection system can have an RFID reading device, which is designed to read an identifier from a transponder that is assigned to a transport item that is accessed or gripped with the suction means and is preferably attached to the transport item.
• an RFID reading device which is designed to read an identifier from a transponder that is assigned to a transport item that is accessed or gripped with the suction means and is preferably attached to the transport item. This uses a technology for a transmitter-receiver system for the automatic and contactless identification and localization of transported goods using radio waves.
• the scanning device and/or the RFID reading device is mounted in the area of the suction means.
• the scanning device and/or the RFID reading device it is also conceivable to design the scanning device and/or the RFID reading device as a hand-held device that can be operated manually by the operator of the vacuum lifting device.
• a control device is assigned to it, which is designed to determine an operation or an operating mode of the vacuum device depending on the estimated type and / or weight of a transport item that is accessed or gripped by the suction means and which is determined with the aid of the sensor system. Control or select supply and preferably set it automatically.
• the vacuum supply can have a side channel compressor, wherein the control device of the vacuum lifting device is designed to vary the rotational speed of a blade impeller of the side channel compressor depending on the type and / or weight of a transport item that is accessed or gripped by the suction means and which is determined or estimated with the aid of the sensor system or set to predetermined or definable values so that the side channel compressor is always operated optimally, which is advantageous in terms of ongoing operating costs.
• a side channel compressor air is sucked in via a rapidly rotating blade impeller is then pushed outwards by centrifugal force, which results in compaction. The air then flows back inwards via the side channel and is further compressed between two further blades.
• the vacuum supply has several side channel compressors, which are preferably connected in parallel to one another.
• the vacuum supply can have a first side channel compressor and at least one further, second side channel compressor, wherein the control device of the vacuum lifting device is designed depending on the type and / or weight of a transport item that is accessed or gripped with the suction means, determined or estimated with the aid of the sensor system to switch on the first side channel compressor and / or the at least one further, second side channel compressor in order to optimally adapt the amount of vacuum "provided" per unit of time to the transport goods that are actually to be handled by the vacuum lifting device.
• the vacuum supply can also have a rotary lobe pump, in which case the control device can be designed to determine the rotational speed of a pair of rotors depending on the type and/or weight of a transport item that is accessed or gripped by the suction means and which is determined or estimated with the aid of the sensor system of the rotary lobe pump or to set predetermined or definable values.
• a vacuum lifting device which has a sensor system for directly or indirectly determining or estimating a center of gravity or volume of the transported goods accessed by the suction means.
• the vacuum lifting device also has an optical pointing and/or sighting device, in particular in the form of a laser pointer, for optically visualizing the determined or estimated center of gravity or a projection of the determined or estimated center of volume onto the surface of the transported goods from transport goods accessing the suction medium. This measure can ensure that the operator of the vacuum lifting device always places the suction agent at the ideal point (center of gravity) of the transported goods being accessed.
• An embodiment that does not form part of the invention relates to a vacuum lifting device, which is assigned a sensor system for determining a position of the suction means relative to a horizontal plane.
• an evaluation device is also preferably assigned, which issues a corresponding warning to the operator of the vacuum lifting device if it is determined that the suction means is not aligned horizontally or exceeds a predetermined or definable angle to the horizontal plane.
• This predetermined or definable angle is of course variably adjustable, depending on the weight or the expected weight of the transported goods gripped by the suction means and/or the vacuum available to hold a gripped transported goods. In this way, unwanted detachment/departure of the transported goods from the suction cup is reliably prevented.
• An embodiment that is not part of the invention relates to a vacuum lifting device which has a sensor system to determine a current acceleration of the suction means.
• an evaluation and/or control device is preferably provided, which controls the vacuum source assigned to the vacuum lifting device depending on the determined instantaneous acceleration of the suction means or the valve device assigned to the vacuum lifting device. It can be provided that the control device or the vacuum source is activated accordingly when the determined instantaneous acceleration of the suction means exceeds a predetermined critical value.
• This aspect is based on the knowledge that in the event of an unintentional departure or separation of the transported goods from the suction means, the suction means tends to shoot up, which could endanger the operator of the vacuum lifting device.
• the vacuum lifting device has a storage device in order to store information and data relevant to the operation of the vacuum lifting device. In this way, the operation of the vacuum lifting device can be documented in order to be able to plan maintenance intervals in advance.
• the storage device is in particular designed to preferably permanently store all data and information recorded with the sensor system, the storage device being designed to be at least partially readable, preferably via remote access.
• An embodiment that does not form part of the invention relates to a vacuum lifting device, which has a sensor system for detecting the presence of an operator of the vacuum lifting device, the vacuum lifting device being assigned a control device which is designed depending on this Detection result of the sensor system to control the valve control of the vacuum lifting device and/or the vacuum supply of the vacuum lifting device accordingly.
• the vacuum lifting device preferably also has an operating device, in particular in the form of a type of pistol grip, between the suction means and the end region of the suction hose, the suction means being pivotably attached to the operating device via a coupling, preferably in a detachable or replaceable manner.
• the operating device can also have corresponding electrical switches or buttons, in particular membrane buttons, for controlling corresponding valves of the valve control, the electrical switches or buttons each being connected to the corresponding valve devices via an electrical line, and the electrical lines preferably being at least partially in the Wall of the suction line are integrated or recorded.
• the electrical switches or buttons are preferably designed to be at least partially remote controllable, in particular remote controllable via a wireless remote control.
• the operating device has at least one display or display in order to display information relevant to the operation of the vacuum lifting device.
• An embodiment that does not form part of the invention relates to a system with a first vacuum lifting device of the aforementioned type and optionally with a crane system via which this vacuum lifting device can be positioned in different positions.
• the system further has at least one further, second vacuum lifting device, in particular a further vacuum lifting device aforementioned type, wherein the first and the at least one second vacuum lifting device are connected to one another for data transmission via a data transmission channel.
• the first and the at least one further, second vacuum lifting device can in particular be designed to communicate or exchange data according to the master/slave principle, with the first vacuum lifting device being designed to operate the second vacuum lifting device with the operation to synchronize the first vacuum lifting device.
• An embodiment that does not form part of the invention relates to a method for operating such a system.
• the operator of the system controls the first vacuum lifting device, preferably manually, via the operating device of the first vacuum lifting device, namely by activating the valve control of the first vacuum lifting device.
• the at least one second vacuum lifting device is controlled synchronously with the first vacuum lifting device.
• Embodiments of the vacuum lifting devices according to the invention provide in particular an energy saving function. This can be achieved by using the vacuum lifting device to determine the weight of the transported goods. It is conceivable to regulate a side channel compressor that is part of the vacuum supply to the vacuum lifting device within narrow limits. Alternatively or in addition to this, the vacuum supply can also be assigned a rotary lobe pump, which can be regulated more precisely. It is conceivable that part of the height manipulation of the vacuum lifting device is implemented via the changed volume flow. This reduces energy requirements and noise pollution.
• suction means There may also be the possibility of defining a rest area of the suction means or the vacuum lifting device. If the vacuum lifting device or the suction medium is brought into this rest area, it switches off automatically or the vacuum supply is automatically switched off. For this purpose, the position of the suction means is monitored accordingly.
• the vacuum lifting device is assigned a storage device in order to document the loads that occur over a predetermined or definable period of time from the vacuum lifting device and in particular from the suction means and / or the suction hose of the vacuum lifting device during operation when handling transport goods can. This includes in particular the weight of the transport goods handled over the period and/or the time period of handling and/or the type of transport goods handled over the period.
• the vacuum lifting device further has an evaluation device which is designed to determine a total load change and/or a total load on the vacuum lifting device and in particular on the suction means and/or the suction hose of the vacuum Lifting device to be determined over the predetermined or determinable period of time.
• the evaluation device is further designed to output information relating to maintenance and/or replacement of the suction means and/or the suction hose, depending on the determined total load change and/or the determined total load.
• This embodiment is based on the knowledge that in particular the suction means or also the suction hose of a vacuum lifting device must be replaced or maintained when the bearable loads have added up to a firmly defined value. To date, inspection or maintenance has been carried out by documenting the annual load changes, which is based on an estimate. There is a great deal of inaccuracy in this, as it is not actually known exactly how many load changes actually took place and how high the stress was.
• the load spectrum is preferably recorded, which enables a greater degree of utilization of the support structure. This means that weight and energy can be saved again and, in particular, the service life can be increased. Furthermore, it is possible to recognize in advance when the components of the vacuum lifting device need to be replaced. This means that a replacement can be procured in advance, minimizing downtime and significantly increasing process reliability.
• the vacuum lifting device has an evaluation device which is designed to check, based on the determined or estimated type and / or based on the weight of the transport item to be gripped or gripped with the suction means, whether the Components of the vacuum lifting device and in particular the suction means and / or the suction hose of the vacuum lifting device are generally designed for the loads that occur when handling the transported goods. This concerns, for example, the gripping capacity of the suction medium and/or the lifting capacity of the suction hose.
• the evaluation device is designed to deactivate the vacuum lifting device or components thereof and/or to issue a corresponding warning if the check shows that the components of the vacuum lifting device and in particular the suction means and/or the The suction hose of the vacuum lifting device is not designed with regard to the loads that occur when handling the transported goods.
• the safety factor required for handling a transport item such as the effective cross section of the suction means and/or the effective cross section of the suction hose, is present. For example, if a suction medium with a suction surface that is too small is used, an uncontrolled load drop can occur. This risk can be eliminated if the vacuum lifting device only works when the necessary safety factors are present.
• an optical display is assigned to it, in particular to discreetly display information and / or data with regard to the operation of the vacuum lifting device.
• the optical display is designed to, in particular, discreetly display information about a transport item to be handled by the vacuum lifting device.
• This optical display can, for example, be mounted in the periphery of the field of vision of the operator of the vacuum lifting device, such as on a corresponding glasses frame.
• information can also be displayed using one of For example, the image recorded by the suction means with the help of an integrated digital camera can be displayed.
• the suction hose and the suction means can exchange data and/or information with one another, in particular bidirectionally, via a communication device.
• a communication device In this way, an optimal and, in particular, automatic coordination of these two components (suction agent and suction hose) that are essential for the vacuum lifting device is possible.
• the vacuum lifting device can only be activated if a corresponding and suitable suction means is connected to the suction hose. This check is preferably carried out automatically or optionally automatically with the aid of the, in particular, bidirectional communication device.
• the suction hose can communicate with the suction gripper, either only reading, via a QR code or similar technologies, or reading and writing, for example via an RFID chip or a comparable technology.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Manipulator (AREA)
• Load-Engaging Elements For Cranes (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (3)

Family

ID=70008456

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Family Cites Families (23)

• 2019
  • 2019-02-26 DE DE102019104807.9A patent/DE102019104807A1/de active Pending
• 2020
  • 2020-02-25 WO PCT/EP2020/054823 patent/WO2020173898A2/de unknown
  • 2020-02-25 CN CN202080013856.6A patent/CN113795452B/zh active Active
  • 2020-02-25 US US17/433,053 patent/US20220153556A1/en active Pending
  • 2020-02-25 EP EP20714481.7A patent/EP3931143B1/de active Active

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