Handling: hand and hoist-line implements – Utilizing fluid pressure – Venturi effect
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-07
2001-04-10
Kramer, Dean J. (Department: 3652)
Handling: hand and hoist-line implements
Utilizing fluid pressure
Venturi effect
C901S040000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213528
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a vacuum cup for picking-up and holding an object. The vacuum cup comprises a vacuum chamber, and a gas inlet unit for bringing the vacuum chamber to atmospheric pressure. The gas inlet unit comprises a valve that is closed when the vacuum cup is in a condition of holding an object.
A vacuum cup comprising a gas inlet unit is known from JP-A 01-008141, in which a vacuum cup is provided having a cylinder. The cylinder comprises a piston, which acts as a pushing device. In order to release the object, air is entered into the vacuum cup. Simultaneously, air is entered into the cylinder and causes the piston to push the object. The pushing action releases the object before the pressure inside the vacuum cup has been raised to atmospheric pressure. In this way the time is reduced for releasing the object after the application of pressure to the vacuum cup.
Such a vacuum cup has the disadvantage that the device is relatively costly because of the complicated construction of the cylinder and piston. It is an additional drawback that the object might become damaged during the pushing action of the piston.
It is an object of the invention to provide a vacuum cup that silently releases the object, with less chance of damaging the object.
The vacuum cup according to the invention is characterized in that the gas inlet unit is provided with a channel for bringing the vacuum chamber to atmospheric pressure by allowing ambient air into the vacuum chamber. The use of ambient air as air filling the vacuum chamber provides a method for quickly releasing an object from a vacuum cup. An additional advantage is that the method is very silent. Since ambient air is used, in contrast to the more commonly used pressurized gas, while air is filling the vacuum chamber the occurrence of noise is prevented.
In a preferred embodiment a single gas inlet unit opening allows the passage of a large amount of air in a short period of time, thus bringing the vacuum cup very quickly to atmospheric pressure.
In another preferred embodiment multiple openings provide the advantage that the channel allows the passage of a large amount of ambient air into the vacuum cup in a very short time.
These and other aspects of the invention will be elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2916059 (1959-12-01), Wong
patent: 3743340 (1973-07-01), Williamann
patent: 3940172 (1976-02-01), Hutson et al.
patent: 4114939 (1978-09-01), Burt
patent: 4593947 (1986-06-01), Yocum
patent: 4749219 (1988-06-01), Bolle, Jr. et al.
patent: 5330314 (1994-07-01), Bennison
patent: 89008141 (1989-01-01), None
Bijloo Jan A.
Hufken Gerardus L. C.
Segers Johannes A. P. W.
Kramer Dean J.
U.S. Philips Corporation
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