Battery Gripper

Abstract

Battery gripper (12), for attracting by suction and handling starter batteries (26) of, in particular, motor vehicles, having a housing (56), in which a vacuum chamber which can be loaded with vacuum is provided and which has suction openings (84, 84) on the suction side thereof (54) which faces the starter battery to be attracted by suction, wherein the suction side is assigned a flexible lining (82) for contact with the starter battery, wherein the housing has a T-shaped cross section which runs parallel to the suction side, wherein the cross section has a bar section (64) and a web section (66) which extends transversely from the bar section, in such a way that the web section extends between the battery poles (68, 70) of the starter battery when the starter battery is attracted by suction to the battery gripper.

Claims

1. Battery gripper for picking up by suction and handling starter batteries, in particular of motor vehicles, comprising a housing in which a vacuum chamber to which a vacuum can be applied is provided and which comprises suction openings on the suction side thereof that faces the starter battery to be picked up by suction, wherein the suction side is associated with a flexible lining for contacting the starter battery, wherein the suction side and/or the flexible lining has a T-shaped cross section, wherein the cross section has a bar section and a web section which extends transversely to said bar section such that the web section extends between the battery poles of the starter battery when said starter battery is picked up by suction on the battery gripper.

2. Battery gripper according to claim 1, characterised in that the suction openings are designed such that the number, opening cross section and/or geometry thereof is adapted to a battery surface of a starter battery to be picked up by suction.

3. Battery gripper according to claim 1, characterised in that suction openings are provided with at least two different opening cross sections, a first opening cross section being smaller than a second opening cross section.

4. Battery gripper according to claim 3, characterised in that the suction side has three suction sections in the direction of the bar section, there being arranged in a middle suction section approximately the same number of suction openings having the first and having the second opening cross section, and there being arranged in two end suction sections arranged outside the middle suction section only suction openings having the second opening cross section.

5. Battery gripper according to claim 4, characterised in that the middle suction section has a central suction section, there being arranged in the central suction section only suction openings having the first opening cross section, and the middle suction section having, next to the central suction section, two transition suction sections which adjoin the end suction sections, there being arranged in the transition suction sections only or predominantly suction openings having the second opening cross section.

6. Battery gripper according to claim 3, characterised in that the suction side has a peripheral edge suction section, there being arranged in the edge suction section only or predominantly suction openings having the first opening cross section.

7. Battery gripper according to claim 1, characterised in that cylindrical recesses are provided in the flexible lining, which pass through the flexible lining, the suction openings leading into the recesses, and the size of the recesses corresponding to the size of the suction openings.

8. Battery gripper according to claim 7, characterised in that the recesses are designed such that the number, base, geometry and/or depth thereof is adapted to a battery surface of a starter battery to be picked up by suction.

9. Battery gripper according to claim 7, characterised in that the cylindrical recesses have a circular or oblong base area.

10. Battery gripper according to claim 1, characterised in that the battery gripper has a coupling section for connection to a tube lifter, the coupling section comprising an opening which leads into the vacuum chamber, and the coupling section comprising lock studs arranged evenly around the opening.

11. Battery gripper according to claim 1, characterised in that the flexible lining is a foam lining.

12. Battery gripper according to claim 1, characterised in that the housing has, on the side thereof that faces away from the suction side, a pole marker for a positive pole of a starter battery to be picked up by suction.

13. Battery gripper (12) according to claim 1, characterised in that the housing has centre markers on the lateral face thereof in the region of the web section and on the side of the bar section that faces away from the web section.

14. Battery gripper according to claim 13, characterised in that stop sections which project from the suction side are provided on the lateral face.

15. Battery gripper according to claim 1, characterised in that a mechanical clamping device for clamping the sides of a starter battery to be handled is provided.

16. Gripping system comprising a tube lifter, an operating device for the tube lifter, at least a first vacuum source and a battery gripper according to claim 15, wherein the first vacuum source is fluidically connected to the tube lifter.

17. Gripping system according to claim 16, characterised in that the first vacuum source is fluidically connected to the battery gripper.

18. Gripping system according to claim 16, characterised in that a second vacuum source is provided which is fluidically connected to the battery gripper.

Description

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0033] In the figures:

[0034] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gripping system comprising a battery gripper according to the invention;

[0035] FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail of the gripping system according to FIG. 1;

[0036] FIG. 3 is a side view of the gripping system according to FIG. 2;

[0037] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the gripping system according to FIG. 2;

[0038] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the gripping system according to FIGS. 1 and 2, showing a motor vehicle starter battery that has been picked up by suction on the battery gripper;

[0039] FIG. 6 is a perspective view from above of a battery gripper according to the invention;

[0040] FIG. 7 is a perspective view from below of a battery gripper according to the invention;

[0041] FIG. 8 is a view from below of a battery gripper according to the invention;

[0042] FIG. 9 is a perspective view from below of an operating device of a gripping system according to FIGS. 1 to 5.

[0043] FIGS. 1 to 5 show a gripping system 10 comprising a battery gripper 12 according to the invention, FIGS. 6 to 8 showing the battery gripper 12 in isolation. FIG. 9, on the other hand, is a perspective view from below of an operating device 14 of a gripping system 10 according to FIGS. 1 to 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] The manner in which the gripping system 10 and the battery gripper 12 operate is described and explained in overall terms with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

[0045] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the gripping system denoted as a whole by reference numeral 10. The gripping system 10 comprises the operating device 14 for a tube lifter 16, it being possible to fasten the tube lifter 16 to a ceiling fitting (not shown) by means of a lug 18. The tube lifter 16 also comprises, in the region of the lug 18, a vacuum connector 20 by means of which the tube lifter 16 can be connected to a vacuum source (not shown in the figures).

[0046] FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail of the gripping system 10 according to FIG. 1. In this figure, it can clearly be seen that the operating device 14 comprises a connection device for a lift tube 22 of the tube lifter 16. As is generally known, by means of this lift tube 22, the operating device 14 is supplied with a vacuum and is thus raised or lowered by the length of the lift tube 22 decreasing or increasing, respectively. A coupling 24 is located on the underside of the operating device 14, to which coupling the battery gripper 12 is fastened. By means of this battery gripper 12, a motor vehicle starter battery 26, as shown in FIG. 5, can be picked up by suction and grasped such that the starter battery 26 can be raised by the length of the lift tube 22 subsequently decreasing. The portion between the connection device and the coupling 24 is in the form of a pistol grip 26 such that it can be grasped and actuated using one hand, i.e. one-handedly. In this case, the ball of the thumb rests on a rest 28 that can be clipped on and consists of a relatively soft material, e.g. rubber or silicon rubber, such that fatigue-proof operation is possible. A trigger 30 is operated using the index finger, which trigger in turn activates a ventilation vent (not shown in the figures) which is integrated in the pistol grip 26.

[0047] The coupling 24 can pivot about a horizontal axis 32 such that the battery gripper 12 can be pivoted about the horizontal axis 32 in order to be placed on a starter battery 26. As can be seen in FIG. 9, the coupling 24 comprises a centering stud 34 which engages in a central opening 36 in the battery gripper 12, which can be seen particularly clearly in FIG. 6. By means of the centering stud 34, a vacuum chamber (not shown in the figures) of the battery gripper 12 can be provided with a vacuum supply. The battery gripper 12 itself has, as can also be seen in FIG. 6, four lock studs 38 which are arranged evenly around the opening 36 and engage in keyhole-like receiving openings 40 in the underside of the coupling 24. The battery gripper 12 rotating in the manner of a bayonet fitting results in the head of one lock stud 38 being engaged in each of the receiving openings 40 from behind. This locking position is secured by a securing plate 42 which can be radially pulled out on a tab 44 counter to a spring force for unlocking purposes. In the radially inner position (locking position), the securing plate 42 engages a receiving opening 40 from behind to a minimal extent such that the head of the lock stud 38 therein cannot be pulled out of the receiving opening 40.

[0048] A lock pin 46 can also be seen that can be partially pulled out from the coupling 24 in the direction of a longitudinal axis 47 of the operating device 14 counter to a restoring force. This results in the coupling plate 48 comprising the receiving openings 40 being unlocked such that said plate can be rotated about the longitudinal axis 47. Folding down the partially pulled-out lock pin 46 prevents relocking. Moreover, the locking plate 48 comprises four receiving portions 50 for the lock pin 46 which are arranged evenly over the perimeter of said plate such that four defined rotational positions can be assumed.

[0049] The manner in which the battery gripper 12 operates is described and explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8.

[0050] As can unquestionably be seen in FIG. 5, a starter battery 26 is picked up by suction on the top face 52 of said battery by means of the battery gripper 12 of the gripping system 10.

[0051] For this purpose, the battery gripper 12 comprises a suction side 54 that faces the battery top face 52 of the starter battery 26 to be picked up by suction. The battery gripper 12 also comprises a housing 56, the housing 56 having, as is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a housing top part 58 and a housing bottom part 60, the suction side 54 being arranged on the housing bottom part 60 side.

[0052] The housing top part 58 and the housing bottom part 60 are screwed together by means of a total of thirteen connection screws 62. Overall, the housing 56 has a T-shaped cross section which extends in parallel with the suction side 54, the cross section or the housing 56 having a bar section 64 and a web section 66 which extends transversely or perpendicularly to said bar section 64. The web section 66 is in this case designed such that, as can clearly be seen in FIG. 5, it extends between a positive pole 68 and a negative pole 70 of the starter battery 26 when said starter battery 26 is picked up by suction on the battery gripper 12, such that the starter battery 26 is prevented from short-circuiting.

[0053] For positioning the battery gripper 12 on a starter battery 26, the housing 56 comprises a marker (not shown in the figures) for the positive pole 68 of the starter battery 26. The housing 56 also comprises a centre marker 74 on a periphery lateral face 72 in the region of a gripper centre on the web section 66. Moreover, the housing 56 comprises a centre marker 76 on the side of the bar section 64 that faces away from the web section 66 in the region of the gripper centre, which marker can be seen in FIG. 4.

[0054] In order to be able to make it as simple as possible to position the battery gripper 12, a stop section 78 is also provided in the region of the gripper centre on the web section 66, which stop section projects from the suction side 54. Two stop sections 80 which are laterally reversed in relation to a mirror plane of symmetry are also provided eccentrically on the side of the bar section 64 that faces away from the web section 66, which stop sections also project from the suction side 54.

[0055] A flexible lining in the form of a foam layer 82 is arranged on the suction side 54 and contacts the starter battery 26. The foam layer 82 is selected for the flexible lining because foam conforms effectively to the sometimes uneven top face 52 of the battery.

[0056] As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 7 and 8, the housing 56 comprises, in the suction side 54, suction openings 84 having a first opening cross section and suction openings 86 having a second opening cross section. The first opening cross section of the suction openings 84 is in this case smaller than the opening cross section of the suction openings 86. These suction openings 84, 86 lead into cylindrical recesses 88, 90 in the foam layer 82. The recesses 88, 90 pass through the foam layer 82 completely, the recesses 88 having a circular base and the recesses 90 having an oblong base. The oblong base of the recesses 90 is in this case larger than the circular base of the recesses 88. In the case of the recesses 88 having a circular base, each recess 88 is assigned a suction opening 84 which has the first opening cross section and is arranged coaxially with the circular base of the recess 88.

[0057] In the case of the recesses 90 having an oblong base, each recess 90 is assigned two suction openings 86 which have the second opening cross section and are arranged, respectively, in the semicircular end regions of the oblong base of the recesses 90.

[0058] As can be seen in FIG. 7, the suction side 54 has three suction sections 92, 94, 96 in the direction of the bar section 64. A middle suction section 92 is provided in the middle of the suction side 54, two end suction sections 94, 96 being arranged outside the middle suction section 92. In the middle suction section 92, there are provided approximately the same number of suction openings 84, 86 having the first and the second opening cross section, a corresponding number of recesses 88 having a circular base and recesses 90 having an oblong base also being provided. In the end suction sections 94, 96, there are arranged only suction openings 86 having the second opening cross section and recesses 90 having the oblong base.

[0059] As can be seen in particular in the view from below according to FIG. 8, the middle suction section 92 is further divided into a central suction section 98 and two transition suction sections 100, 102 adjoining the end suction sections 94, 96. In the region of the central suction section 98, there are arranged only suction openings 84 having the first opening cross section and recesses 88 having a circular base, whereas in the transition suction sections 100, 102, there are arranged only or predominantly suction openings 86 having the second opening cross section and recesses 90 having the oblong base.

[0060] Furthermore, the suction side 54 comprises an edge suction section 104, indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 8, there being arranged in the edge suction section 104 only or predominantly suction openings 84 having the first opening cross section and recesses 88 having the circular base.

[0061] The suction openings 84, 86 and the recesses 88, 90 are arranged in this case such that they can be adapted to the top face 52 of a battery such that, in uneven sections on the top face 52 of the battery, suction openings 84 having the smaller first opening cross section and recesses 88 having the smaller circular base are provided, whereas, in flat sections on the top face 52 of the battery, suction openings 86 having the larger second opening cross section and recesses 90 having the larger oblong base are provided, such that leakage caused by the top face of the battery being uneven can be minimised.