Valve apparatus and vacuum handling apparatus having a valve apparatus

Valve apparatus (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve housing (20) comprises an inner housing (24) which delimits the valve chamber (22), and an outer housing (26) which provides the vacuum connection (12) and the suction connection (14).

Valve apparatus (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the armature (52) penetrates through the ventilation opening (36) into the valve chamber (22).

Valve apparatus (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ventilation opening (36) is fluidically connected to an atmospheric ventilation connection (18), wherein the ventilation connection (18) comprises a filter (62)—in particular, in the form of a filter cylinder—which surrounds the switching axis (38), and in particular the armature (52).

Valve apparatus (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the filter (62), and in particular filter cylinder, has a peripheral filter surface (64) and an axial filter opening (66) fluidically connected to the ventilation opening (36), wherein the valve housing (20) has a recess (68) in the region of the filter (60) such that ambient air can flow through the peripheral filter surface (64) along a majority of its circumference around the switching axis (38), but preferably along its entire circumference around the switching axis (38).

Valve apparatus (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vacuum supply opening (28) and the ventilation opening (36) are arranged opposite one another on the valve chamber (22) and/or wherein the vacuum supply opening (28) and the suction opening (32) are arranged offset orthogonally to one another.

Valve apparatus (10) according to one of the preceding claims, the bistable actuator (50) further comprising:

• a spring device (70) which bears on the armature (52) along the switching axis (38), and in particular in the direction of the ventilation position of the valve body (40);
• a permanent magnet (72) which holds the armature (52) in the suction position or in the ventilation position against the force of the spring device (70).

Valve apparatus (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the coil (54), the spring device (70), and the permanent magnet (72) of the actuator (50) are arranged outside the valve chamber (22).

Valve apparatus (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a sensor device (78) which is designed to detect a pressure prevailing in the valve chamber (22), wherein the valve chamber (22) has a sensor opening (80) fluidically connected to the sensor device (78).

Valve apparatus (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising an evaluation device (84) which works together with the sensor device (78) and is configured to generate a signal, which represents a suction state of a suction grip device (16) connected to the suction connection (14), as a function of a pressure, detected by the sensor device (78), in the valve chamber (22), and in particular wherein the evaluation device (84) is configured to compare a pressure, detected by the sensor device (78), in the valve chamber (22) with a pressure threshold value which is stored or can be stored in the evaluation device (84), and, as a function of whether the pressure in the valve chamber (22) falls below or exceeds the pressure threshold value, to generate a corresponding signal.

Valve apparatus (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a valve control device (82), and in particular a control circuit board, which works together in particular with the sensor device (78) and/or the evaluation device (84) and is arranged in the valve housing (20), and which is designed to control the actuator (50) in particular as a function of a signal of the sensor device (78) and/or the evaluation device.

Vacuum handling apparatus (100), comprising

• an—in particular, shared—vacuum generating device (104);
• and
• one or more gripper devices (102-1, 102-2, 102-3, 102-4), each comprising a suction grip device (16-1, 16-2, 16-3, 16-4), and a valve apparatus (10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the suction grip device (16-1, 16-2, 16-3, 16-4) is fluidically connected to the suction connection (14) of the valve apparatus (10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4), wherein the vacuum generating device (104) is fluidically connected to the vacuum connection (12) of the valve apparatus (10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4), and wherein the vacuum generating device (104) is connected to the valve apparatus (10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4) via a communications connection (110)—in particular, data line, and in particular for data exchange.

Vacuum handling apparatus (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein each valve apparatus (10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4) has its own valve control device (82-1, 82-2, 82-3, 82-4), and wherein the vacuum generating device (104) has a main control device (106), wherein the valve control device (82-1, 82-2, 82-3, 82-4) of a corresponding valve apparatus (10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4) is configured to transmit process and/or state data of the valve apparatus (10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4) to the main control device (106) of the vacuum generating device (104), and wherein the main control device (106) is configured to process, and in particular evaluate, process and/or state data, and wherein the main control device is configured to transmit control signals for actuating the valve apparatuses (10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4), and in particular for actuating the actuator (50) of the valve apparatus, directly to the corresponding valve control devices (82-1, 82-2, 82-3, 82-4) of the valve apparatuses (10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4).