GB2029310A

GB2029310A - Suction cup for handling loads

Info

Publication number: GB2029310A
Application number: GB7836205A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eberhard Broch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-09-08
Filing date: 1978-09-08
Publication date: 1980-03-19
Also published as: GB2029310B

Abstract

An suction cup, for handling glass panes, plates or metal sheets comprises a centrically arranged grip 4 and a suction dish 2 with a cavity 6 and an annular suction edge 3. A circumferential gripping edge 5 is formed integral with the dish 2 between the grip 4 and the suction edge 3 and may be engaged by the turning of a hand on the grip to release the vacuum in the cavity 6. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Integral manipulator in particular for glass panes, plates or metal sheets.

This invention relates to an integral manipulator, in particular for glass panes, plates and metal sheets, which has a centrically arranged grip and which may be attached by means of a suction dish to planar or slightly curved smooth surfaces.

Manipulators with various suction dishes are already known which have a rubber plate by means of which they may be applied to a smooth surface by producing a vacuum between the rubber plate and the surface, temporarily. Such a conventional manipulator is provided at the side remote from the smooth surface, of the rubber plate, with a lever arrangement for stripping off the rubber plate so that in doing so a vacuum and an attachment to the smooth surface is achieved.

In order to be able to release a simple manipulator after being applied to a smooth surface therefrom again, it is required that the vacuum be released. For accomplishing this, flat objects or tools, for instance screw drivers, are used, but then the annular seal of the rubber plate of the suction dish is subject to possible damaging, so that upon re-using a permanent vacuum and thus attachment to the smooth surface is no longer achievable.

It is the object of the present invention to avoid this disadvantage and to provide a simple manipulator which after being attached to a smooth surface easily may be detached therefrom again.

To attain this object the present invention provides an integral manipulator, in particular for glass panes, plates or metal sheets, comprising (a) a suction dish for attaching the manipulator made of rubber-resilient material to a planar or slightly curved smooth surface, said suction dish having an upper surface providing a circumferential gripping edge and a base formed with a cavity so as to leave an annular suction edge surrounding the cavity in the base, and (b) a grip projecting upwardly from the centre of the upper surface of the suction dish, the circumferential gripping edge of the suction dish being provided between said suction edge and said grip.

The suction edge of the suction dish may have a larger circumference than the gripping edge so that the gripping edge is closer to the grip.

The essential advantage of the invention is that a manipulator with a rubber-resilient suction dish after grasping the grip may easily be detached from a plate in that the thumb is engaged underneath the gripping edge and it is lifted so that also the annular suction edge of the suction dish 6'lifted and thus the vacuum relative to the plate is released.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side-elevational view of a manipulator according to the invention, and Fig. 2 is a side-elevational view, seen slightly from above, of a manipulator according to another embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows an integral manipulator 1 which is made of rubber-resilient material and provided with a suction dish 2 possessing a cavity 6 in its base and an annular suction edge 3 surrounding the cavity 6 for sealingly engaging a not illustrated smooth surface of a glass pane, plate or metal sheet. In the centre of the manipulator 1, a grip 4 projects upwardly from the upper surface of the suction dish 2. Between the suction edge 3 and the grip 4, there is a circumferential gripping edge 5 integrally formed in such a way that after grasping the grip 4 with one hand the thumb of this hand may be placed underneath the gripping edge 5 and this may be lifted for releasing the vacuum. Such a manipulator 1 may be made in larger dimensions when, as shown in Fig. 1, the gripping edge 5 has a smaller diameter than the suction edge 3.For attachment of the manipulator 1, it is merely required to grasp the manipulator 1 at the grip 4 and to urge it with the suction dish 2 against the smooth surface, the air being expelled from the cavity 6 in the base of the suction dish 2 in part and the suction edge 3 being firmly engaged with the smooth surface.

Fig. 2 shows an integral manipulator 10 which comprises a grip 11 and has dimensions smaller than those of the manipulator 1 according to Fig.

1. In this case the circumference of the suction edge 7 of the suction dish 9 isso chosen that it generally corresponds to the circumference of the gripping edge 8.

For an easier manipulation, the diameter of the gripping edge 5 or 8 to advaritage is made larger than the external diameter of the grip 4 or 11.

1. An integral manipulator, in particular for glass panes, plates or metal sheets comprising (a) a suction dish for attaching the manipulator made of rubber-resilient material to a planar or slightly curved smooth surface, said suction dish having an upper surface providing a circumferential gripping edge and a base formed with a cavity so as to leave an annular suction edge surrounding the cavity in the base, and (b) a grip projecting upwardly from the centre of the upper surface of the suction dish, the circumferential gripping edge of the suction dish being provided between said suction edge and said grip.

2. A manipulator according to claim 1 wherein the annular suction edge of the suction dish has a

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Integral manipulator in particular for glass panes, plates or metal sheets. This invention relates to an integral manipulator, in particular for glass panes, plates and metal sheets, which has a centrically arranged grip and which may be attached by means of a suction dish to planar or slightly curved smooth surfaces. Manipulators with various suction dishes are already known which have a rubber plate by means of which they may be applied to a smooth surface by producing a vacuum between the rubber plate and the surface, temporarily. Such a conventional manipulator is provided at the side remote from the smooth surface, of the rubber plate, with a lever arrangement for stripping off the rubber plate so that in doing so a vacuum and an attachment to the smooth surface is achieved. In order to be able to release a simple manipulator after being applied to a smooth surface therefrom again, it is required that the vacuum be released. For accomplishing this, flat objects or tools, for instance screw drivers, are used, but then the annular seal of the rubber plate of the suction dish is subject to possible damaging, so that upon re-using a permanent vacuum and thus attachment to the smooth surface is no longer achievable. It is the object of the present invention to avoid this disadvantage and to provide a simple manipulator which after being attached to a smooth surface easily may be detached therefrom again. To attain this object the present invention provides an integral manipulator, in particular for glass panes, plates or metal sheets, comprising (a) a suction dish for attaching the manipulator made of rubber-resilient material to a planar or slightly curved smooth surface, said suction dish having an upper surface providing a circumferential gripping edge and a base formed with a cavity so as to leave an annular suction edge surrounding the cavity in the base, and (b) a grip projecting upwardly from the centre of the upper surface of the suction dish, the circumferential gripping edge of the suction dish being provided between said suction edge and said grip. The suction edge of the suction dish may have a larger circumference than the gripping edge so that the gripping edge is closer to the grip. The essential advantage of the invention is that a manipulator with a rubber-resilient suction dish after grasping the grip may easily be detached from a plate in that the thumb is engaged underneath the gripping edge and it is lifted so that also the annular suction edge of the suction dish 6'lifted and thus the vacuum relative to the plate is released. Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side-elevational view of a manipulator according to the invention, and Fig. 2 is a side-elevational view, seen slightly from above, of a manipulator according to another embodiment. Fig. 1 shows an integral manipulator 1 which is made of rubber-resilient material and provided with a suction dish 2 possessing a cavity 6 in its base and an annular suction edge 3 surrounding the cavity 6 for sealingly engaging a not illustrated smooth surface of a glass pane, plate or metal sheet. In the centre of the manipulator 1, a grip 4 projects upwardly from the upper surface of the suction dish 2. Between the suction edge 3 and the grip 4, there is a circumferential gripping edge 5 integrally formed in such a way that after grasping the grip 4 with one hand the thumb of this hand may be placed underneath the gripping edge 5 and this may be lifted for releasing the vacuum. Such a manipulator 1 may be made in larger dimensions when, as shown in Fig. 1, the gripping edge 5 has a smaller diameter than the suction edge 3.For attachment of the manipulator 1, it is merely required to grasp the manipulator 1 at the grip 4 and to urge it with the suction dish 2 against the smooth surface, the air being expelled from the cavity 6 in the base of the suction dish 2 in part and the suction edge 3 being firmly engaged with the smooth surface. Fig. 2 shows an integral manipulator 10 which comprises a grip 11 and has dimensions smaller than those of the manipulator 1 according to Fig. 1. In this case the circumference of the suction edge 7 of the suction dish 9 isso chosen that it generally corresponds to the circumference of the gripping edge 8. For an easier manipulation, the diameter of the gripping edge 5 or 8 to advaritage is made larger than the external diameter of the grip 4 or 11. CLAIMS

2. A manipulator according to claim 1 wherein the annular suction edge of the suction dish has a larger circumference than the gripping edge of said dish.

3. An integral manipulator, in particular for glass panes plates or metal sheets, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.