초록 ▼

A suction cup assembly has a housing with an actuator in the housing. A flexible cup is coupled with the housing. The actuator movement causes the flexible cup to move between at least two positions. In a first position, the flexible cup moves into an increased volume position. In a second position,

A suction cup assembly has a housing with an actuator in the housing. A flexible cup is coupled with the housing. The actuator movement causes the flexible cup to move between at least two positions. In a first position, the flexible cup moves into an increased volume position. In a second position, the flexible cup moves into at least a neutral volume position. In the increased volume position, the flexible cup seals with a surface. In the neutral volume position, the flexible cup releases from the surface.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A suction cup assembly comprising: a housing including a wall;an actuator in said housing;a flexible cup including a mechanism receiving the housing wall, the flexible cup hermetically sealed with the housing, and the flexible cup including a wall portion coupling with a mounting portion of the a

1. A suction cup assembly comprising: a housing including a wall;an actuator in said housing;a flexible cup including a mechanism receiving the housing wall, the flexible cup hermetically sealed with the housing, and the flexible cup including a wall portion coupling with a mounting portion of the actuator, the actuator mounting portion is coupled with the wall portion of the flexible cup, the actuator moves between at least two positions, in a first position, the actuator moves the flexible cup to increase volume inside the flexible cup, wherein the flexible cup, due to a decrease in pressure inside the flexible cup, seals with a surface, in a second position, the actuator moves the flexible cup into at least a neutral volume position returning the inside of the flexible cup to a neutral position, wherein the flexible cup releases from the surface. 2. The suction cup assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible cup includes a lip for engaging the surface. 3. The suction cup assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator is an electric or closed pneumatic system. 4. The suction cup assembly of claim 3, wherein the actuator is a solenoid or a servo motor. 5. The suction cup assembly of claim 4, wherein the actuator is a magnetically latched solenoid. 6. The suction cup assembly of claim 3, wherein the actuator is a three position solenoid with a solenoid armature coupled with the suction cup or a servo motor with a thread shaft having three preprogrammed positions. 7. The suction cup assembly of claim 3, wherein the actuator is a double acting pneumatic cylinder, a pancake double acting pneumatic cylinder, a spring return pancake pneumatic cylinder, or a pneumatic rotary actuator. 8. The suction cup assembly of claim 3, wherein the actuator includes a mechanism providing a direct pull on the flexible cup moving it between positions. 9. The suction cup assembly of claim 3, wherein the flexible cup includes a lever, the lever is moved by the actuator. 10. The suction cup assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible cup includes a deformable flexible wall enabling movement between the positions. 11. An electrical suction cup assembly comprising: a housing including a wall;an electrical actuator in said housing;a flexible cup including a mechanism receiving the housing wall, and coupling the flexible cup with said housing, the flexible cup including a wall portion coupling with a mounting portion of the electrical actuator, the cup being engagable with a surface, the electrical actuator coupled with the cup wall portion wherein the actuator movement causes the flexible cup to move between at least two positions, in a first position, the electric actuator moves the flexible cup to increase volume inside the flexible cup, wherein the flexible cup, due to a decrease in pressure inside the flexible cup, seals with the surface, in a second position, the electric actuator moves the flexible cup into at least a neutral volume position returning the inside of the flexible cup to a neutral position, wherein the flexible cup releases from the surface. 12. The electrical suction cup assembly of claim 11, wherein the flexible cup is sealed to the housing. 13. The electrical suction cup assembly of claim 11, wherein the actuator is a solenoid or servo motor coupled with the flexible cup. 14. The electrical suction cup assembly of claim 11, wherein a lever extends from the cup and the actuator is coupled with the lever. 15. The electrical suction cup assembly of claim 11, wherein the flexible cup further comprises a flexible wall enabling the cup to move between the positions. 16. The electrical suction cup assembly of claim 15, wherein the actuator is coupled with the flexible wall. 17. The electrical suction cup assembly of claim 11, wherein the suction cup moves to a third position, in the third position the suction cup is in a negative volume position wherein the suction cup forces the surface from the suction cup. 18. The suction cup assembly of claim 17, wherein the actuator is a three position solenoid with a solenoid armature coupled with the suction cup or a servo motor with a thread shaft having three preprogrammed positions.