Granted Patent B2

US 12,617,632 · App. 18/597,071 · Granted May 5, 2026

Inventors: Felix Brinckmann (Roßdorf, DE); Michel Mühlig (Schaafheim, DE); Johannes Neumann (Obernburg am Main, DE); Nils Schweizer (Bad König, DE); Roger Biel (Aschaffenburg, DE)

Assignee: Alcon Inc.

B65G47/918B25J15/0616

Abstract

Claims (36)

1 . Gripper system ( 1 ) for picking an ophthalmic lens (CL) up at a start location ( 20 ), transporting the ophthalmic lens (CL) to a destination location ( 30 ) arranged in a liquid environment, and releasing the ophthalmic lens (CL) at the destination location ( 30 ) in the liquid environment, the gripper system ( 1 ) comprising

a gripper shaft ( 10 ) having a hollow inner space extending through the gripper shaft in a longitudinal direction thereof;

a separate suction tube ( 14 ) and a separate liquid supply tube ( 15 ) extending through the hollow inner space of the gripper shaft ( 10 ) towards a distal end of the gripper shaft, with a distal end of the suction tube ( 14 ) and a distal end of the liquid supply tube ( 15 ) being arranged in the inner space of the gripper shaft at a distance from the distal end of the gripper shaft;

a connecting channel arranged in the inner space of the gripper shaft ( 10 ) and fluidically connecting the distal end of the suction tube ( 14 ) and the distal end of the liquid supply tube ( 15 );

a gripper head ( 11 ) attached to the gripper shaft ( 10 ) at the distal end of the gripper shaft and being configured to be pivotable about a pivot portion ( 111 ) of the gripper head ( 11 ), the gripper head having a fluid channel ( 113 ) extending through the gripper head ( 11 ) in a longitudinal direction thereof from a proximal end of the fluid channel ( 113 ) which is fluidically connected to the connecting channel, to a distal end of the fluid channel ( 113 ) which opens out into a suction opening ( 14 ) centrally arranged in a distal end surface ( 112 ) of the gripper head ( 11 );

a support ( 12 ) movably accommodating the gripper shaft ( 10 ) relative to the support ( 12 ) in the longitudinal direction (A) of the gripper shaft ( 10 );

a spring ( 13 ) mounted between the support ( 12 ) and the gripper shaft ( 10 ), the spring ( 13 ) biasing the gripper shaft ( 10 ) distally away from the support ( 12 ) in the longitudinal direction of the gripper shaft ( 12 );

a vacuum source ( 4 ) to which the suction tube ( 14 ) is fluidically connected;

a first valve ( 40 ) arranged to establish or interrupt the fluidical connection between the vacuum source ( 4 ) and the suction tube ( 14 );

a liquid reservoir ( 6 ) to which the liquid supply tube ( 15 ) is fluidically connected;

a source of pressurized gas ( 5 , 9 );

a second valve ( 50 , 90 ) arranged to establish or interrupt a fluidical connection between the source of pressurized gas ( 5 , 9 ) and either the suction tube ( 14 ) or the liquid reservoir ( 6 ) to which the liquid supply tube ( 15 ) is fluidically connected, for the supply of overpressure to either the suction tube ( 14 ) or to the liquid reservoir ( 6 );

a control unit ( 8 ) for controlling the first valve ( 40 ) and the second valve ( 50 , 90 ) such that:

for picking the ophthalmic lens (CL) up at the start location ( 20 ) and making the ophthalmic lens (CL) adhere to the gripper head ( 11 ), the first valve ( 40 ) is opened to supply suction to the suction tube ( 14 ) and further to the suction opening ( 114 ) in the distal end surface ( 112 ) of the gripper head ( 11 );

for transporting the ophthalmic lens (CL) adhered to the gripper head ( 11 ) to the destination location ( 30 ), the first valve ( 40 ) remains open thereby continuing to supply suction to the suction tube ( 14 ) and drawing liquid through the liquid supply tube ( 15 ) and through the connecting channel into the suction tube ( 14 ) to fill the suction tube ( 14 ) with the liquid;

for releasing the ophthalmic lens (CL) from the gripper head ( 11 ) at the destination location ( 30 ), the first valve ( 40 ) is closed to interrupt the supply of suction to the suction tube ( 14 ), and the second valve ( 50 , 90 ) is opened to supply overpressure either to the liquid in the suction tube ( 14 ) or to the liquid reservoir ( 6 ) to which the liquid supply tube ( 15 ) is connected thereby pressing the liquid through the fluid channel ( 113 ) extending through the gripper head ( 11 ) and through the suction opening ( 114 ) centrally arranged in the distal end surface ( 112 ) of the gripper head ( 11 ).

2 . Gripper system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the gripper head ( 11 ) at a proximal end thereof comprises a radially protruding flange ( 110 ),

wherein the gripper shaft ( 10 ) further comprises a threaded cap ( 102 ) having a stepped bore ( 1020 ) accommodating the radially protruding flange ( 110 ) of the gripper head, the radially protruding flange ( 110 ) of the gripper head ( 11 ) resting on an inner abutment surface ( 1021 ) of the stepped bore ( 1020 ) while the rest of the gripper head ( 11 ) protrudes distally from the threaded cap ( 102 ),

and wherein the gripper shaft ( 10 ) further comprises a threaded clamping sleeve ( 103 ) having a distal clamping surface ( 1030 ), the threaded clamping sleeve ( 103 ) being screwed into the threaded cap ( 102 ) to clamp the radially protruding flange ( 110 ) of the gripper head ( 11 ) between the distal clamping surface ( 1030 ) of the threaded clamping sleeve ( 103 ) and the inner abutment surface ( 1021 ) of the stepped bore ( 1020 ) of the threaded cap ( 102 ), the threaded clamping sleeve ( 103 ) further comprising first and second fluid guiding bores ( 1031 , 1032 ), extending longitudinally through the clamping sleeve ( 103 ), with the first fluid guiding bore ( 1031 ) being fluidically connected to the distal end of the suction tube ( 14 ) and with the second fluid guiding bore ( 1032 ) being fluidically connected to the distal end of the liquid supply tube ( 14 ), the threaded clamping sleeve ( 130 ) further comprising a transverse fluid guiding channel ( 1033 ) formed in the distal clamping surface ( 1030 ) and fluidically connecting the first and second fluid guiding bores ( 1031 , 1032 ), the first fluid guiding bore ( 1031 ), the second fluid guiding bore ( 1032 ) and the transverse fluid guiding channel ( 1033 ) together forming the connecting channel fluidically connecting the distal end of the suction tube ( 14 ) and the distal end of the liquid supply tube ( 15 ).

3 . Gripper system according to claim 2 , further comprising a suction tube fixation sleeve ( 140 ) and a liquid supply tube fixation sleeve ( 150 ),

wherein the distal end of the suction tube ( 14 ) is fixed in the suction tube fixation sleeve ( 140 ), with the suction tube fixation sleeve ( 140 ) having a distal end abutting against a proximal abutment surface of the clamping sleeve ( 103 ), and with the suction tube fixation sleeve ( 140 ) being aligned with the first fluid guiding bore ( 1031 ) of the clamping sleeve ( 103 ) to fluidically connect the distal end of suction tube ( 14 ) and the first fluid guiding bore ( 1031 ) of the clamping sleeve ( 103 ),

and wherein the distal end of the liquid supply tube ( 15 ) is fixed in the liquid supply tube fixation sleeve ( 150 ), with the liquid supply tube fixation sleeve ( 150 ) having a distal end abutting against the proximal abutment surface of the clamping sleeve ( 103 ), and with the liquid supply tube fixation sleeve ( 150 ) being aligned with the second fluid guiding bore ( 1032 ) of the clamping sleeve ( 103 ) to fluidically connect the distal end of the liquid supply tube ( 15 ) and the second fluid guiding bore ( 1032 ) of the clamping sleeve ( 103 ).

4 . Gripper system according to claim 3 , further comprising a retainer plate ( 105 ) having a distal abutment surface abutting against a proximal end of the suction tube fixation sleeve ( 140 ) and a proximal end of the liquid supply tube fixation sleeve ( 150 ), and further comprising a threaded compression piece ( 104 ) screwed into the gripper shaft and into the clamping sleeve ( 103 ) to press the distal abutment surface of the retainer plate ( 104 ) against the proximal end of the suction tube fixation sleeve ( 140 ) and the proximal end of the liquid supply tube fixation sleeve ( 150 ) to hold the distal end of the suction tube fixation sleeve ( 140 ) and the distal end of the liquid supply tube fixation sleeve ( 150 ) in abutment with the proximal abutment surface of the clamping sleeve ( 103 ).

5 . Method for picking an ophthalmic lens (CL) up at a start location ( 20 ), transporting the ophthalmic lens (CL) to a destination location ( 30 ) arranged in a liquid environment, and releasing the ophthalmic lens (CL) at the destination location ( 30 ) in the liquid environment, the method comprising:

providing a gripper system ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims ;

providing an ophthalmic lens (CL) at the start location ( 20 );

moving the gripper shaft ( 10 ) to the start location and supplying suction to the suction tube ( 14 ) without liquid being supplied to the liquid supply tube ( 15 ), thereby supplying suction through the fluid channel extending through the gripper head ( 11 ) to the suction opening ( 114 ) centrally arranged in the distal end surface ( 112 ) of the gripper head ( 11 ), thus picking the ophthalmic lens (CL) up and making it adhere to the gripper head ( 11 );

with the ophthalmic lens (CL) adhered to the gripper head ( 11 ), continuing to supply suction to the suction tube ( 14 ) thereby drawing liquid from the liquid reservoir ( 6 ) through the liquid supply tube ( 15 ) and through the connecting channel into the suction tube ( 14 ), thus filling the suction tube ( 14 ) with liquid;

moving the gripper shaft ( 10 ) with the ophthalmic lens (CL) adhered to the gripper head ( 11 ) to the destination location ( 30 ) in the liquid environment;

at the destination location ( 30 ) in the liquid environment, releasing the ophthalmic lens (CL) from the gripper head ( 11 ) into the liquid environment by interrupting the supply of suction to the suction tube ( 14 ) and supplying overpressure either to the liquid in the suction tube ( 14 ) or to the liquid in the liquid supply tube ( 15 ), thereby causing the liquid to flow through the fluid channel ( 113 ) extending through the gripper head ( 11 ) and through the suction opening ( 114 ) centrally arranged in the distal end surface ( 112 ) of the gripper head ( 11 ).

6 . Method according to claim 5 , wherein the liquid reservoir ( 6 ) is pressure compensated and a proximal end of the liquid supply tube ( 15 ) is arranged in the pressure compensated liquid reservoir, and wherein at the destination location ( 30 ) in the liquid environment overpressure is supplied to the liquid in the suction tube ( 14 ).

7 . Method according to claim 6 , wherein the reservoir ( 6 ) comprises a container ( 60 ) which is closed by a lid ( 61 ), and wherein pressure compensation of the liquid reservoir is performed through an ambient pressure filter ( 62 ) arranged in the lid ( 61 ).

8 . Method according to claim 6 , wherein the reservoir ( 6 ) comprises a container ( 60 ) which is closed pressure-tight by a lid ( 61 ), and wherein pressure compensation of the liquid reservoir is performed through a pressure supply tube having one end thereof arranged in the interior of the container ( 6 ) through which pressurized gas ( 9 ) is introduced into the interior of the container ( 60 ) at a first predetermined pressure.

9 . Method according to claim 8 , wherein at the destination location ( 30 ) in the liquid environment the overpressure is supplied to the liquid in the liquid supply tube ( 15 ) by supplying the pressurized gas ( 9 ) through the pressure supply tube to the interior of the container ( 60 ) at a second predetermined pressure higher than the first predetermined pressure.

10 . Method according to claim 5 , wherein the reservoir comprises a liquid level sensor ( 63 ), and wherein a distal end of a reservoir supply tube is arranged in the reservoir whereas a proximal end of the reservoir supply tube is connected to a liquid source ( 7 ), and wherein in case a level of liquid lower than a predetermined threshold level is detected in the reservoir by the liquid level sensor ( 63 ), the supply of liquid from the liquid source ( 7 ) through the reservoir supply tube into the reservoir is triggered.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (17)