Auto-release vacuum device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11577407-B2
Application number	US-202117472628-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 11, 2021
Priority date	Jul 11, 2005
Publication date	Feb 14, 2023
Grant date	Feb 14, 2023

Abstract

A vacuum device for a material handling system includes a vacuum device body and a sealing element. The vacuum device body has a vacuum passageway in which a vacuum is generated in response to activation of a pressurized air supply that forces pressurized air through a venturi device. The sealing element moves to a sealing position to substantially seal the vacuum passageway when the air supply is activated, and is urged toward the sealing position via pressurized air that is diverted from an inlet of the vacuum device to the sealing element. The sealing element moves to substantially vent the vacuum passageway when the air supply is deactivated. The vacuum passageway may be in fluid communication with a vacuum cup, which seals against the object when the sealing element is at the sealing position and the vacuum generating device generates at least a partial vacuum in the vacuum passageway.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An automatic release vacuum device for a material handling system, the automatic release vacuum device comprising:
a one-piece body adapted to connect to a pressurized air supply, the one-piece body including a vacuum passageway and a venting element the vacuum passageway operable to vent to atmosphere through the venting element;
a vacuum generating device housed in the one-piece body;
a piston element disposed in the one-piece body, the piston element including a desired shape including a perimeter edge portion, that defines a periphery of the desired shape, and a sealing element, the piston element has a sealing position wherein the sealing element and the piston element perimeter edge portion, that defines the periphery of the desired shape, engage to close off the vacuum passageway to atmosphere and, in turn, closing the venting element and a venting position wherein the vacuum passageway is open to atmosphere; and
when the pressurized air supply is activated to supply pressurized air to the vacuum generating device, the piston element is moved into the sealing position and at least a partial vacuum is generated in the vacuum passageway.

2. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing element housed in the one piece body, wherein the biasing element biases the piston element toward the venting position.

3. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum cup configured to engage an object, the vacuum cup configured to substantially seal against the object when the pressurized air is supplied to the vacuum generating device and the piston element is in the sealing position.

4. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum generating device is a venturi nozzle.

5. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 4 , wherein air moves from the vacuum passageway into the venturi nozzle via at least one vacuum port of the venturi nozzle to generate the at least a partial vacuum when the piston element is in the sealing position and pressurized air is supplied to the venturi nozzle.

6. A vacuum cup assembly of a material handling system, the vacuum cup assembly comprising:
a vacuum device body adapted to connect to a pressurized air supply, the vacuum device body including a venting element;
a venturi nozzle housed in the vacuum device body;
a piston element housed in the vacuum device body, the piston element including a desired shape including a perimeter edge portion that defines a periphery of the desired shape, the piston element coupled with a sealing element, the piston element having a sealing position and a venting position;
a biasing element biasing the piston element toward the venting position;
a vacuum cup in fluid communication with the vacuum device body, the vacuum cup configured to engage an object; and
when the pressurized air supply is activated, the pressurized air moves the piston element to the sealing position wherein the sealing element coupled with the piston element perimeter edge portion, that defines the periphery of the desired shape, engage closing fluid communication between the vacuum cup and the venting element and, in turn, closing the venting element and the venturi nozzle generates a vacuum so that the vacuum cup substantially seals against the object, and when the piston element is in the venting position fluid communication is open between the vacuum cup and the venting element and the venting element is operable to substantially vent the vacuum, the vacuum cup can disengage from the object.

7. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 6 , wherein the vacuum device body is a unitary body.

8. An automatic release vacuum device for a material handling system, the automatic release vacuum device comprising:
a unitary body adapted to connect to a pressurized air supply, the unitary body including a vacuum passageway;
a piston element having a desired shape and a perimeter edge portion that defines a periphery of the desired shape, the piston element is disposed in the unitary body and includes a sealing element, the piston element movable in a first direction and a second direction and when the pressurized air supply is activated the pressurized air urges the piston element in the first direction toward a sealing position, the sealing element engaging the piston element perimeter edge portion, that defines the periphery of the desired shape, blocking entry of ambient air from atmosphere into the vacuum passageway;
a diverter passageway to divert a portion of the pressurized air to the piston element to urge the piston element toward the sealing position when the pressurized air supply is activated;
a venturi nozzle generating at least a partial vacuum in the vacuum passageway when the pressurized air is activated and when the piston element is in the sealing position; and
a biasing element biasing the piston element in the second direction and when the pressurized air supply is deactivated the biasing element biases the piston element in the second direction toward a venting position allowing entry of ambient air from atmosphere into the vacuum passageway and when the piston element is in the venting position the at least partial vacuum is destroyed.

9. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 8 , wherein air moves from the vacuum passageway into the venturi nozzle via at least one vacuum port of the venturi nozzle to generate the at least a partial vacuum when pressurized air is supplied to the venturi nozzle and when the piston element is in the sealing position.

10. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 8 , further comprising a venting element, the vacuum passageway being operable to vent to atmosphere through the venting element when the piston element is in the venting position.

11. The automatic release vacuum device of claim 8 , further comprising a vacuum cup configured to engage an object, the vacuum cup adapted to substantially seal against the object when the pressurized air is supplied to the vacuum generating device and when the piston element is in the sealing position.

Assignees

• Capital Formation Inc

Inventors

• Perlman Maurice
• Attee Keith S

Classifications

• F04F5/20

  for evacuating · CPC title

• B25J15/0633

  Air-flow-actuated valves · CPC title

• B65G47/91

  incorporating pneumatic, e.g. suction, grippers · CPC title

• B25J15/0675

  of the ejector type · CPC title

• B25B11/007 Primary

  portable, e.g. handheld · CPC title