WO2014009595A1

WO2014009595A1 - Suction cup

Info

Publication number: WO2014009595A1
Application number: PCT/FI2013/000028
Authority: WO
Inventors: Santtu TYYNELÄ
Original assignee: Tyynelae Santtu
Priority date: 2012-07-11
Filing date: 2013-07-11
Publication date: 2014-01-16
Also published as: EP2872437A4; EP2872437A1

Abstract

Suction cup (1) in order to grip objects (8) in which case the suction cup (1) comprises a cup part which is flexible at its edges, an edge part at the tip of the cup part which can be pressed against the object and a connection aggregate (2) which is located at the bottom of the mentioned cup part in order to connect the suction pipe creating negative pressure to it and that the flexible cup part comprises a cover (6) or a corresponding wall which cuts the connection from the connection aggregate (2) to/into the suction cup space and that the cover (6) or a corresponding thing comprises a cut, such as an incision (5) or a hole, which penetrates the cover (6) which cut is open from the closed position when the suction cup (1) is being pressed against the object (8) due to the flexible movement of the edge parts of the suction cup (1). Both the suction cup (1) and the cover (6) are made of flexible material and the structure of the suction cup (1) is adjusted to ensure the closed position of the cover (6).

Description

SUCTION CUP

The object of the invention is a suction cup for gripping objects in which case the suction cup comprises a cup part which is flexible at its edges, an edge part located at the tip of the cup part which can be pressed against the object and a connection aggregate which is located at the bottom of the mentioned pad part in order to connect a suction pipe which creates negative pressure to it and that the flexible cup part comprises a cover or a corresponding wall which cuts the connection from the connection aggregate to the suction cup space and that the cover or a corresponding thing comprises a cut, such as an incision or a hole, which penetrates the cover which hole is open From the closed position due to a flexible movement of the edge parts of the suction cup when the suction cup is being pressed against the object.

A suction cup according to the above shown preamble is previously known from the patent specification FR 2948349. In this solution a valve is adjusted inside the suction cup which valve adjusts whether negative pressure is directed inside this suction cup or not. A mechanical arm which is used as a sensor is additionally located inside the suction cup which arm touches the surface of the object to be gripped during the flexible movement of the edge parts of the suction cup. The mechanical arm gets its movement from the surface of the object and opens the valve which is located inside the suction cup so that the negative pressure has access to the actual suction cup space and the grip occurs. If the arm does not touch the object, then there is also no access for the negative pressure into the suction cup and the suction cup does not participate in the grip and also does not cause any escape of the negative pressure. With this suction cup structure negative pressure is created only in those suction cups of the group which touch the object to be gripped. Other suction cups are passive and do not cause escape of the negative pressure.

The disadvantage of the suction cup solution of the publication FR 2948349 is a valve which is difficult to construct inside the suction cup and a sensor arm which makes it function and is adjusted to be moveable. This solution will be a complicated and difficult structure because of the springs and valves even though this solution is a conventional mechanical control of a valve. Also electrical sensors are previously known regarding the suction cup group in which case an electrical sensor is adjusted to recognize whether there is an object at the location of the suction cup or not. On the grounds of this sensor information the negative pressure pipe which is directed to the suction cup in question is closed with the help of a valve or is kept open depending on the fact whether the object has been recognized or not.

In order to remove the above mentioned disadvantages a new, mechanically functioning suction cup which is equipped with a flexible edge part of which suction cup it is characteristic that both the suction cup and the cover are both made of flexible material and the structure of the suction cup is adjusted to ensure the closed position of the cover.

The advantage of the invention is the fact that the needed features can be arranged for the suction cup which has a fairly simple structure and can even be made of the same material and is made of plastic or rubber with the help of which features the suction cup is adjusted to be a gripper if it touches an object. On the other hand it will not become a gripper if it does not touch the object even though the other suction cups of the group would do so. Thus harmful escape of the negative pressure cycle will not occur through the suction cup. It is possible to manufacture a suction cup according to the invention as a uniform plastic or rubber part which includes all the needed features.

In the following the invention is described more detailed by referring to the

accompanying drawing in which

Figure 1 shows a suction cup according to the invention seen from the side of the suction cup space.

Figure 2 shows the suction cup of the figure 1 as a section view along the line A - A. Figure 3 shows the suction cup of the figure 1 when it is being flexible seen from the side of the suction cup space.

Figure 4 shows the suction cup of the figure 3 as a section view along the line B - B when it is at a gripping stage.

Figure 5 shows another suction cup seen from the side of the suction cup space.

Figure 6 shows the suction cup of the figure 5 as a section view and does not touch an object.

Figure 7 shows the suction cup of the figure 5 when it is being flexible seen from the side of the suction cup space. Figure 8 shows the suction cup of the figure 7 as a section view when it is at a gripping stage.

Figures 9 - 11 a and b show certain combinations of a suction cup and covers with various forms.

A suction cup 1 according to the invention seen from the side of the suction port is in the figure 1 and next to it there is the same suction cup 1 correspondingly as a section view along the line A - A in the figure 3 seen as a side view. The suction cup 1 comprises the flexible edge part which forms the cup part and at its end there is a moldable ring-surface 3 which can be pressed against the object. There is a connection aggregate 2 at the bottom of the cup part to which connection aggregate the negative pressure pipe is connected in order to direct the negative pressure along it into the suction cup 1. Next to the connection aggregate 2 there is a wall, such as a cover 6, which cuts the connection to the suction cup space. There is a cut, such as an incision 5, in the cover 6 which incision is closed when the suction cup 1 is not touching an object in which case also the flexible edge parts are not touching the object. The incision 5 functions as a valve for the air flow. The cutting line of the figure 1 is chosen in such a way that it runs through the interconnectors 4. The interconnectors 4 are laminar pieces which combine the flexible edge part at their location to the cover 6. The interconnectors are located at both sides of the incision 5 and most advantageously they form a right angle with the direction of the incision 5 if there is one interconnector at both sides of the incision 5. There can be more interconnectors 4, too, for example two at both sides of the incision 5.

In the figures 3 and 4 a situation is shown in which the suction cup 1 is pressed against the object 8 in such a way that the edge parts of the suction cup 1 have become flexible. With this suction cup one thus aims to grip the object 8. When the edge parts are flexible in the suction cup 1, then also the interconnectors 4 turn a little bit. Stationary pivots 7 are formed for them next to the connection aggregate, approximately at the location where they are shown in the figures 2 and 4 and around which they become rotated when the edge part is flexible. The rotation of the interconnectors 4 opens the incision 5 which functions as a valve and the suction cup 1 becomes excited for the grip when the negative pressure has access to the suction cup space. The incision 5 comes open when there are interconnectors 4 at both sides of the incision 5. Most advantageously there is only one of them at both sides.

The suction cup 1 shown in the figure 5 differs from the suction cup of the figures 1 - 4 regarding the structure of the valve. The incision 5 which can be opened/closed shown in the figures 1 - 4 is replaced with a hole 12 which becomes smaller to be closed in order to become closed when the suction cup 1 is not touching an object and opens by stretching into a hole 12 (figures 7 and 8) when the suction cup 1 is being pressed against the object. It is advantageous to form this kind of hole 12 for the same structure with the help of the interconnectors 4 and so that they are made of the same material, too. A structure is shown in the figures 5 - 8, too, in which the flexible part of the suction cup 1 can be changed into a body part 9 which comprises a connection aggregate. The flexible parts 10 can thus have diameters and lengths of various sizes. Various edge parts 1 1 can be changed also at the end of the flexible part 10.

A suction cup 1 and various cover solutions 6 which are attached to it are shown in the figures 9 - 1 1 in which cover solutions pressure difference over the cover 6 creates an effect which aims to close the incision or a hole 12 located in the cover 6. The pressure difference becomes created when the suction cup 1 is not strained and when it does not touch an object and the negative pressure exists at the side of the cover 6 where the connection aggregate 2 is located. Even though there would not be pressure difference over the cover 6, the interconnectors 4 aim to move to the original location according to the figures 9 - 1 1 already due to the fact that they have been cast into this position as plastic moulded items during the manufacturing. The structures themselves aim to keep the incision 5 or the hole 12 in a closed position. This is the case also in the example of the figure 9a even though the connection piece is located at the connection aggregate 2. This is the case also in the situations shown by the figures 1 , 2, 5, 6.

According to the invention the closed position of the cover 6 can be ensured with the help of the negative pressure which exists at the side where the connection aggregate 2 is located wherein for example a bent surface, a plane, an arched form, a cylinder, a spherical calotte, (Fig. 1 1 a, b), a conical form (Fig. 1 and 2) or the combination of these has been chosen to be at least partly the structural form of the surface of the cover 6.

It is possible to die cast the suction cup 1 according to the invention from plastic or from a rubber/plastic mixture as an uniform part in which case it is inexpensive to manufacture, it is sure to use and does not differ from other suction cups regarding its appearance.

Claims

1. Suction cup (1) in order to grip objects (8) in which case the suction cup (1 ) comprises a cup part which is flexible at its edges, an edge part which is located at the tip of the cup part and can be pressed against the object and comprises a connection aggregate (2) at the bottom of the mentioned cup part in order to connect the suction pipe which creates negative pressure to it and that the flexible cup part comprises a cover (6) which cuts the connection from the connection aggregate (2) to the suction cup space or comprises a corresponding wall and that the cover (6) or a corresponding thing comprises a cut, such as an incision (5) or a hole (12) which penetrates the cover (6) which cut is open from the closed position when the suction cup (1) is being pressed against the object (8) due to the flexible movement of the edge parts of the suction cup (1), characterized in that both the suction cup (1) and the cover (6) are both made of flexible material and the structure of the suction cup (1) is adjusted to ensure the closed position of the cover (6).

2. Suction cup (1) according to the claim 1 , characterized in that the closed position of the cover (6) is ensured with the help of negative pressure which is existent at the side where the connection aggregate (2) is located in which case the structural form of the surface of the cover (6) is at least partly a bent surface, a plane, an arched form, a cylinder, a spherical calotte, a conical form or a combination of these.

3. Suction cup (1) according to the claim 1, characterized in that the closed position of the cover (6) is ensured with the help of the structure of the suction cup (1) of the cover (6) which structure is made of flexible material in which case the mentioned structures keep the cover (6) in a closed position or tension the cover (6) into a closed position when they are not being used without being strained.

4. Suction cup (1) according to the claim 1 , characterized in that from the flexible edge part of the suction cup (1) an interconnector (4) which conveys movement is adjusted to the cover (6) due to the flexible movement of the edge part which interconnector is directed towards the incision of the cover (6) or towards the hole (12) and is adjusted to open the incision (5) or the hole (12) when the edge parts of the suction cup (1) become flexible when it is being pressed against the object (8) and correspondingly tension the cover (6) into the closed position when the suction cup (1) does not become strained.

5. Suction cup (1) according to the claim 4, characterized in that the interconnector (4) is directed perpendicularly towards the incision (5) of the cover (6).

6. Suction cup (1) according to the claim 4, characterized in that there are altogether two interconnectors (4) being located at the opposite sides of the incision (5) or the hole (12).

7. Suction cup (1) according to the claim 4, characterized in that the interconnector (4) becomes rotated around a fixed supporting point (7) due to the flexible movement of the edge parts which supporting point is located by the connection aggregate (2).

8. Suction cup (1) according to the claim 1 , characterized in that the suction cup (1) and the cover (6) form a uniform structure made of the same material.