EP0872647B1 - Dispositif de commande et d'arrêt de dépression pour un conduit pneumatique - Google Patents

Dispositif de commande et d'arrêt de dépression pour un conduit pneumatique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0872647B1
EP0872647B1 EP98830197A EP98830197A EP0872647B1 EP 0872647 B1 EP0872647 B1 EP 0872647B1 EP 98830197 A EP98830197 A EP 98830197A EP 98830197 A EP98830197 A EP 98830197A EP 0872647 B1 EP0872647 B1 EP 0872647B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
valve means
vacuum
duct
valve
open position
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP98830197A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0872647A2 (fr
EP0872647A3 (fr
Inventor
Livio Pedrazzoli
Guido Fusani
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Protec SRL
Original Assignee
Protec SRL
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Protec SRL filed Critical Protec SRL
Publication of EP0872647A2 publication Critical patent/EP0872647A2/fr
Publication of EP0872647A3 publication Critical patent/EP0872647A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0872647B1 publication Critical patent/EP0872647B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
    • F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F15B20/00—Safety arrangements for fluid actuator systems; Applications of safety devices in fluid actuator systems; Emergency measures for fluid actuator systems

Definitions

  • the present invention is directed to a vacuum control and cutoff apparatus designed to be employed along a connection between a vacuum generator and a vacuum user device.
  • vacuum generators are used in several applications, including handling of articles, for instance plane sheets, by means of various grasp devices, generally made as cup-like suckers.
  • suckers are designed and sized as a function of the loads to be handled and of the vacuum degree applied therethrough.
  • one vacuum generator supplies several user devices (suckers), if one of these user devices is not able to grasp under vacuum the article to be handled, owing to a number of reasons among which for instance the non perfect adherence of the device itself over the article, the same device keeps the connection between the atmosphere and the vacuum generator open, thus preventing the latter to reach the maximum underpressure degree with the remaining grasp devices.
  • the above disclosed situation may occur even after the grasping step, for instance owing to an accidental displacement of the grasped article or to breakage thereof.
  • the object of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by means of a control and cutoff apparatus capable to detect the degree of vacuum along a duct and, based upon the detected vacuum degree, to close or leave open the duct itself.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a control and cutoff apparatus designed to perform the two above mentioned functions both upon activation thereof and subsequently during further operation thereof.
  • Still another object of the invention is to provide a control and cutoff apparatus capable to provide an outer signal corresponding to the closed and/or open condition of the duct.
  • the proposed invention enables, with particular reference to application thereof to handling systems comprising multiple grasp devices connected in parallel to a single vacuum generator, to make these devices independent from one another so as to enable cutoff of a portion thereof without any loss of underpressure to be employed by the remaining portion thereof, thus providing to this active portion the entire vacuum degree produced by the vacuum generator.
  • the apparatus depicted by way of non limiting example comprises a body 1, formed with a connecting port 2 to be connected to a vacuum user device, for instance to a grasp cup-like sucker of conventional type, a connecting port 3 for connection to a vacuum generator not shown in the drawing, and a connecting port 4 to be connected to a source of air under pressure, also not shown in the drawings.
  • the connecting ports 2 and 3 are normally communicating with each other.
  • Reference numeral 5 designates a cutoff member controlling opening and closing of the connecting port 4, and secured to a resilient membrane 6 which is sealingly separating a chamber 8, communicating with the connecting port 2, from a chamber 9 communicating with the atmosphere through a passage 10.
  • the cutoff member 5, which in the non limiting shown example consists of a spool valve, is secured to the membrane 6 in any possible different way, such as for instance by means of screw fixing, vulcanisation or the like, and is biased by a spring 9 housed within the chamber 8.
  • the cutoff member 5 is capable to perform two distinct functions, respectively consisting of closing the passage towards the connecting port 4, and actuating a signalling device 14 whose output is switched over as a function of the position of the cutoff member 5.
  • This signalling device 14 may comprise by way of non limiting example a simple electrical switch, or a proximity inductive sensor as in the case depicted in the drawings, or an electro-mechanical limit switch or any other electrical, potentiometric, electronic, mechanical or simply visual device, designed to change over its condition and thus the either electrical or mechanical or visual signal provided thereby, as a function of the displacement of the cutoff member 5.
  • the apparatus further comprises an additional cutoff member 11, consisting for instance of an obturator designed to interact with the inner end of the connecting port 2.
  • the cutoff member 11 is biased at one side by a spring 12 normally urging it towards a spaced-apart position with respect to the connecting port 2, which corresponds to an open condition thereof, and at the other side is subjected to the pressure within a chamber 13 connected to the connecting port 4.
  • the cutoff member 5 is set in the open position of the connecting port 4, the chamber 13 is thus placed under overpressure.
  • Shifting of the membrane 6 operates displacement of the cutoff member 5 downwardly, against the action of spring 7, which thus move away from the signalling device 14 simultaneously interrupting communication between the connection port 4, leading to the overpressure source, and the chamber 13.
  • the cutoff member 11 is held, under the action of the related spring 12, in the open position shown in the drawing.
  • the freely flowing compressed air produces downward displacement of the cutoff member 11, consisting in the non limiting shown example of an obturator valve, which overcomes the action of spring 12 by virtue of the pressure within the chamber 13 and closes upon the inner end of the connecting port 2, thus excluding the grasp device connected thereto thereby suppressing the leakage effects generated by this grasp device and enabling the remaining part of the circuit to reach the maximum underpressure which the vacuum generator is capable to provide.
  • the apparatus disclosed according to the present invention can intervene even after the grasp device has properly carried out grasping of the article, but subsequently releases it accidentally, owing to several possible reasons such as breakage of the article, vibrations, etc.
  • the compressed air is maintained at the connecting port 4, if the vacuum degree within the chamber 8 decreases and thus the cutoff member 5 moves upwardly with reference to the drawing, flowing of the compressed air is allowed in order to operate the cutoff member 11, which thus closes the connecting port 2.
  • the signalling device 14 piloted and switched over by the cutoff member 5 shall provide a signal indicative of the fact that the cutoff member 5 is in one or in the other of the two above disclosed positions.
  • the signal may be transmitted to a control apparatus which shall thus provide an information on whether or not the device connected to the connecting port 2 is properly operating.
  • a number of apparatuses of the above disclosed type can be provided as a bank, with the related connecting ports 3 connected in parallel to the vacuum generator through a common duct.
  • the connecting ports 4 shall be connected in parallel through a common duct to the compressed air generator.
  • the resilient membrane 6 may be replaced by a sealingly slidable plunger, and the load of the spring 7 biasing the cutoff member 5 can be adjusted from the outside, for instance by mean of a screw device or equivalent system.
  • this spring 7 could be replaced by a piston, even of the membrane type, on which a certain amount of even adjustable pressure is applied, and also the cutoff member 11 can be designed as a spool instead of an obturator, or it may also consist of a pneumatically piloted known valve available on the market.
  • the two cutoff members 5 and 11 may be provided separately within two distinct bodies connected to each other.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Manipulator (AREA)
  • Processing Of Terminals (AREA)
  • Control Of Fluid Pressure (AREA)
  • Suspension Of Electric Lines Or Cables (AREA)
  • Paper (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
  • Ventilation (AREA)
  • Jet Pumps And Other Pumps (AREA)
  • Waste-Gas Treatment And Other Accessory Devices For Furnaces (AREA)
  • Motor Or Generator Cooling System (AREA)
  • Air Transport Of Granular Materials (AREA)

Claims (17)

  1. Appareil de réglage et d'interruption ayant un conduit pneumatique (2, 3) destiné à assurer le raccordement d'un générateur de vide à un dispositif utilisateur de vide afin que le vide transmis à un dispositif utilisateur de vide par le conduit soit interrompu si le dispositif utilisateur, pendant l'utilisation, consomme constamment le vide, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte un premier dispositif a obturateur (11) mobile entre une position d'ouverture et une position de fermeture du conduit (2), un second dispositif à obturateur (5) mobile entre une position de fermeture et une position d'ouverture et destiné à régler la communication entre le premier dispositif obturateur (5) et une source d'une surpression (4), un dispositif à organe de manoeuvre (6) commandé par la dépression régnant dans le conduit (2) afin qu'il maintienne normalement le second dispositif obturateur (5) en position de fermeture et, dans le cas contraire, permette son déplacement vers la position d'ouverture lorsque le vide dans le conduit (2) est inférieur à une valeur réglée de seuil, si bien que le premier dispositif obturateur (11) est déplacé vers la position de fermeture par la surpression.
  2. Appareil selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif à organe de manoeuvre comporte une membrane (6) raccordée pendant le fonctionnement au second dispositif obturateur (5) et exposée d'un premier côté (8) au vide régnant dans le conduit (2) et, de l'autre côté (10), à la pression atmosphérique, et un ressort (7) qui rappelle le second dispositif obturateur (5) vers la position d'ouverture.
  3. Appareil selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le second dispositif obturateur (5) est associé pendant le fonctionnement à un dispositif de signalisation (14) de la valeur du vide régnant dans le conduit (2).
  4. Appareil selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le second dispositif obturateur comporte un obturateur (5) soumis à l'action d'un ressort (7) qui rappelle l'obturateur vers la position d'ouverture.
  5. Appareil selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que la membrane (6) est remplacée par un plongeur qui peut coulisser de manière étanche.
  6. Appareil selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que la force de réaction du ressort (7) qui rappelle le second dispositif obturateur (5) vers la position d'ouverture est réglable depuis l'extérieur à l'aide d'un système à vis ou analogue.
  7. Appareil selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que le ressort (7) est remplacé par un piston, qui peut être du type à membrane, auquel une pression réglable est appliquée.
  8. Appareil selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le premier et le second dispositif obturateur (11, 5) sont logés dans un corps commun (1).
  9. Appareil selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le premier et le second dispositif obturateur (11, 5) sont logés séparément dans deux corps distincts raccordés l'un à l'autre.
  10. Appareil selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que le premier dispositif obturateur (11) est un distributeur à tiroir qui n'est pas un simple obturateur.
  11. Appareil selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que le premier dispositif obturateur (11) est une soupape pilotée pneumatiquement.
  12. Appareil selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il fait partie d'une série comprenant un certain nombre d'appareils analogues dont les canaux respectifs de raccordement (3) au générateur de vide sont raccordés à un conduit commun.
  13. Appareil selon la revendication 12, caractérisé en ce que les canaux (4) de raccordement au générateur d'air comprimé des appareils sont aussi raccordés à un conduit commun.
  14. Appareil selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de signalisation (14) est constitué d'un interrupteur de limite ou de proximité qui détecte la position du second dispositif obturateur (5).
  15. Appareil selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de signalisation (14) est constitué d'un contact électrique qui s'ouvre ou se ferme suivant la position du second dispositif obturateur (5).
  16. Appareil selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de signalisation (14) est constitué d'un indicateur visible placé à l'extérieur de l'appareil.
  17. Appareil selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de signalisation (14) est constitué d'un transducteur potentiométrique ou électronique de position qui détecte la position du second dispositif obturateur (5) et transmet un signal proportionnel à l'intensité du vide dans le conduit (2).
EP98830197A 1997-04-17 1998-03-31 Dispositif de commande et d'arrêt de dépression pour un conduit pneumatique Expired - Lifetime EP0872647B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTO970322 1997-04-17
IT97TO000322A IT1293886B1 (it) 1997-04-17 1997-04-17 Apparecchio per il controllo e l'intercettazione del vuoto pneumatico in una condotta.

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0872647A2 EP0872647A2 (fr) 1998-10-21
EP0872647A3 EP0872647A3 (fr) 1999-03-17
EP0872647B1 true EP0872647B1 (fr) 2001-05-23

Family

ID=11415648

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98830197A Expired - Lifetime EP0872647B1 (fr) 1997-04-17 1998-03-31 Dispositif de commande et d'arrêt de dépression pour un conduit pneumatique

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0872647B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE201382T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69800818T2 (fr)
IT (1) IT1293886B1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2628725B1 (fr) * 1988-03-18 1990-08-10 Applic Procedes Electro Mec Dispositif de levage a ventouses
US4950016A (en) * 1989-04-24 1990-08-21 Teknocraft, Inc. Integrated pneumatic valve/sensor assembly for vacuum supply apparatus
DE4238286A1 (de) * 1992-05-13 1994-05-19 Peter W Baukhage Gmbh Sauggreifvorrichtung zum Anheben und Halten von Werkstücken
DE4330640C2 (de) * 1993-09-10 1997-02-20 Schmalz J Gmbh Strömungsventil

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE201382T1 (de) 2001-06-15
DE69800818D1 (de) 2001-06-28
EP0872647A2 (fr) 1998-10-21
IT1293886B1 (it) 1999-03-11
EP0872647A3 (fr) 1999-03-17
ITTO970322A1 (it) 1998-10-17
DE69800818T2 (de) 2001-09-13

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