Vacuum cup actuator
US6024392A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 23, 1996 |
| Grant date | Feb 15, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 23, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S294/907
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A vacuum cup actuator for applying and releasing vacuum to a workpiece engaging vacuum cup wherein a housing provides a passageway for communicating vacuum to the vacuum cup, and a vacuum is actuated in response to the relative position of the vacuum cup with respect to the housing. A piston is slidably disposed within a stepped bore of the housing, and a valve is slidably disposed within the piston for relative movement therein. A valve cover is connected to the piston and disposed above the valve. The passageway extends through a port provided through a side wall of the housing and extends through the piston and the valve to the vacuum cup. A flexible seal is circumferentially connected to the valve for engaging and disengaging a shoulder of the piston thus closing and opening, respectively, the passageway. A quick connect releasable mount is provided for releasably connecting the vacuum cup to the valve to place the vacuum cup in communication with the passageway. The actuation of the vacuum may be reset and the workpiece released by introducing a pressurized fluid into the passageway for releasing vacuum from the vacuum cup and re-introducing vacuum to the passageway for resett…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.