Abstract: A segmented sealing element for use with a vacuum gripper improves performance when gripping surfaces with irregular topologies or extensive porosity. A contact surface of the segmented sealing element incorporates a degree of granularity by conforming to a segmentation pattern which divides the sealing element into a plurality of compressible segments. The individual compressible segments conform to one or more irregular physical features of an object surface when the contact surface is pressed thereagainst during vacuum gripper operation.

Abstract: An inductive gluing sheet is utilized in an induction-assisted adhesive activation method in which the inductive gluing sheet includes a heat-activated adhesive substrate and a conductive substrate embedded therein. When a magnetic field is applied to the conductive substrate through a first surface or a second surface covering the inductive gluing sheet, an electric current is induced in the conductive substrate. The heat created by the electric current transfers to the heat-activated adhesive substrate via conduction and activates the heat-activated adhesive substrate. This allows for direct heating of an adhesive layer through one or more objects and even allows for reversibility of the adhesion setting process.

Abstract: A vacuum gripper comprises a rigid base element and a loop-shaped vacuum seal element. The base element has first and second opposite sides. The seal element is attached at least indirectly to the second side and protruding therefrom in a direction away from the first side. The seal element comprises a contact surface that at least partially contacts with an object surface and an encircling surface oriented transversely to the contact surface so as to define a chamber. The seal element is elastically deformable at the contact surface to enable conforming to the object surface when pressed thereagainst. The vacuum gripper comprises an air extraction means mounted to the first side to be in fluid communication with the chamber through the base element, and configured to continuously extract air from the chamber to cause the contact surface to be urged towards and grip the object surface when pressed thereagainst.

Abstract: A vacuum gripper comprises a rigid base element and a loop-shaped vacuum seal element. The base element has first and second opposite sides. The seal element is attached at least indirectly to the second side and protruding therefrom in a direction away from the first side. The seal element comprises a contact surface that at least partially contacts with an object surface and an encircling surface oriented transversely to the contact surface so as to define a chamber. The seal element is elastically deformable at the contact surface to enable conforming to the object surface when pressed thereagainst. The vacuum gripper comprises an air extraction means mounted to the first side to be in fluid communication with the chamber through the base element, and configured to continuously extract air from the chamber to cause the contact surface to be urged towards and grip the object surface when pressed thereagainst.

Abstract: A vacuum gripper comprises a rigid base element and a loop-shaped vacuum seal element. The base element has first and second opposite sides. The seal element is attached at least indirectly to the second side and protruding therefrom in a direction away from the first side. The seal element comprises a contact surface that at least partially contacts with an object surface and an encircling surface oriented transversely to the contact surface so as to define a chamber. The seal element is elastically deformable at the contact surface to enable conforming to the object surface when pressed thereagainst. The vacuum gripper comprises an air extraction means mounted to the first side to be in fluid communication with the chamber through the base element, and configured to continuously extract air from the chamber to cause the contact surface to be urged towards and grip the object surface when pressed thereagainst.

Abstract: A vacuum gripper comprises a rigid base element and a loop-shaped vacuum seal element. The base element has first and second opposite sides. The seal element is attached at least indirectly to the second side and protruding therefrom in a direction away from the first side. The seal element comprises a contact surface that at least partially contacts with an object surface and an encircling surface oriented transversely to the contact surface so as to define a chamber. The seal element is elastically deformable at the contact surface to enable conforming to the object surface when pressed thereagainst. The vacuum gripper comprises an air extraction means mounted to the first side to be in fluid communication with the chamber through the base element, and configured to continuously extract air from the chamber to cause the contact surface to be urged towards and grip the object surface when pressed thereagainst.

Abstract: An extended frame portable vacuum grip device is provided having a rigid unitary support frame with elongated base and peripheral support wall that can define an open chamber at a face of the device for vacuum grip connections. A plurality of corresponding components can be combined to form independent vacuum grip regions within the open chamber extending along the length of the support frame. A plurality of ports can be defined through the base along its length that can each operatively connect with a corresponding pump. A plurality of closed-loop gaskets can each mate with corresponding portions of the base and support wall within the open chamber to act as vacuum seal members and define independent vacuum grip regions. A corresponding support frame for each gasket can help retain the independent arrangement and enhance seal actions of the gasket. The grip device can include structural reinforcements for reducing applied stresses.

Abstract: A vacuum gripper comprises a rigid base element and a loop-shaped vacuum seal element. The base element has first and second opposite sides. The seal element is attached at least indirectly to the second side and protruding therefrom in a direction away from the first side. The seal element comprises a contact surface that at least partially contacts with an object surface and an encircling surface oriented transversely to the contact surface so as to define a chamber. The seal element is elastically deformable at the contact surface to enable conforming to the object surface when pressed thereagainst. The vacuum gripper comprises an air extraction means mounted to the first side to be in fluid communication with the chamber through the base element, and configured to continuously extract air from the chamber to cause the contact surface to be urged towards and grip the object surface when pressed thereagainst.

Abstract: A vacuum gripper comprises a rigid base element and a loop-shaped vacuum seal element. The base element has first and second opposite sides. The seal element is attached at least indirectly to the second side and protruding therefrom in a direction away from the first side. The seal element comprises a contact surface that at least partially contacts with an object surface and an encircling surface oriented transversely to the contact surface so as to define a chamber. The seal element is elastically deformable at the contact surface to enable conforming to the object surface when pressed thereagainst. The vacuum gripper comprises an air extraction means mounted to the first side to be in fluid communication with the chamber through the base element, and configured to continuously extract air from the chamber to cause the contact surface to be urged towards and grip the object surface when pressed thereagainst.

Abstract: An extended frame portable vacuum grip device is provided having a rigid unitary support frame with elongated base and peripheral support wall that can define an open chamber at a face of the device for vacuum grip connections. A plurality of corresponding components can be combined to form independent vacuum grip regions within the open chamber extending along the length of the support frame. A plurality of ports can be defined through the base along its length that can each operatively connect with a corresponding pump. A plurality of closed-loop gaskets can each mate with corresponding portions of the base and support wall within the open chamber to act as vacuum seal members and define independent vacuum grip regions. A corresponding support frame for each gasket can help retain the independent arrangement and enhance seal actions of the gasket. The grip device can include structural reinforcements for reducing applied stresses.

Abstract: A detachable control handle for an extended grip system is provided for attachment with an interface of a portable grip device including a pair of spaced apart connector tabs extending from a rigid frame of the portable grip device and forming a pair of parallel captivation channels. The control handle can include an elongate grip handle and a pair of opposed support arms attached to the grip handle and extending away at angles from each other. The support arms can be more flexible in a perpendicular direction of the portable grip device. A crossarm can extend between the pair of support arms proximate a second end portion for establishing a preset inboard spacing maintaining the pins and support arms in an after-attached arrangement that can interfere with connecting and disconnecting. A method includes a user flexing the engagement members and pins for guiding the attachment.

Abstract: A vacuum gripper comprises a rigid base element and a loop-shaped vacuum seal element. The base element has first and second opposite sides. The seal element is attached at least indirectly to the second side and protruding therefrom in a direction away from the first side. The seal element comprises a contact surface that at least partially contacts with an object surface and an encircling surface oriented transversely to the contact surface so as to define a chamber. The seal element is elastically deformable at the contact surface to enable conforming to the object surface when pressed thereagainst. The vacuum gripper comprises an air extraction means mounted to the first side to be in fluid communication with the chamber through the base element, and configured to continuously extract air from the chamber to cause the contact surface to be urged towards and grip the object surface when pressed thereagainst.

Abstract: A self-holding drilling system utilizes a vacuum gripping base and an air extraction pump to apply a holding force toward an object surface while maintaining surface-ward pressure on a drilling apparatus mounted therein. The pump extracts air from two discrete, but coupled volumes: a volume associated with the vacuum gripping base and a volume related to one or more piston tubes mounted transversely to the vacuum gripping element and movably coupled to the drilling apparatus. The surface area of the piston tubes is less than the surface area of the vacuum gripping base, which ensures the holding force is sufficient to prevent the drilling system from lifting from the object surface while also ensuring a driving force on the drilling apparatus is always less than the holding force. Thus, the operation of the drilling apparatus automatically drills into an object surface without requiring manual pressure on the drilling apparatus.

Abstract: A self-holding drilling system utilizes a vacuum gripping base and an air extraction pump to apply a holding force toward an object surface while maintaining surface-ward pressure on a drilling apparatus mounted therein. The pump extracts air from two discrete, but coupled volumes: a volume associated with the vacuum gripping base and a volume related to one or more piston tubes mounted transversely to the vacuum gripping element and movably coupled to the drilling apparatus. The surface area of the piston tubes is less than the surface area of the vacuum gripping base, which ensures the holding force is sufficient to prevent the drilling system from lifting from the object surface while also ensuring a driving force on the drilling apparatus is always less than the holding force. Thus, the operation of the drilling apparatus automatically drills into an object surface without requiring manual pressure on the drilling apparatus.