An automated quick-change leak-free vacuum chuck

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of automated clamping equipment technology in machining, and in particular to an automated quick-change leak-free vacuum suction cup. The suction cup includes a suction cup body with an internal air storage chamber; a sealing groove is formed on the adsorption working surface, and a continuous, uninterrupted O-ring seal is embedded within the sealing groove; the suction cup body is equipped with a quick-change connector, a leak-free valve, and a drain valve. This invention achieves long-term pressure maintenance after external air supply is cut off by using an internal air storage chamber within the suction cup body in conjunction with a leak-free valve; it eliminates leakage paths from segmented sealing strips through the uninterrupted O-ring seal, improving airtight reliability in harsh environments; the quick-change connector enables rapid replacement and precise positioning with a robotic arm; and the drain valve automatically drains accumulated water. This invention can meet the requirement of continuous pressure maintenance for more than 24 hours under air shortage conditions, and is suitable for fully automated processes in "lights-out" factories such as AGV transfer and intelligent automated warehouse storage, effectively improving equipment utilization and the reliability of unmanned operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automated clamping equipment for machining, and in particular to an automated quick-change leak-free vacuum chuck. Background Technology

[0002] Vacuum chucks are widely used in the machining industry for clamping and fixing thin-plate parts. However, traditional vacuum chucks have the following technical drawbacks in application: Firstly, the pressure holding capacity is insufficient. Most existing vacuum suction cups require a continuous supply of negative pressure to maintain the adsorption state. Once the external air source is cut off or the pipeline leaks, the suction cup will lose its adsorption force in a short time (usually less than 1 minute), which cannot meet the continuous clamping requirements under the air shortage conditions in automated production lines such as "AGV transfer - intelligent warehouse storage - robotic arm loading and unloading", and it is especially difficult to achieve unattended processing for more than 24 hours.

[0003] Secondly, the sealing reliability is poor. Most vacuum suction cups with sealing strips on the market use a segmented sealing strip structure, with breaks at the joints. In harsh machining environments such as oil stains and chips, they are prone to aging and damage, leading to leakage paths and making it difficult to guarantee the integrity of the seal.

[0004] Third, the functional integration is low. The existing vacuum suction cup body is not equipped with an air storage chamber and lacks the ability to compensate for pressure after the air supply is cut off; at the same time, water accumulation in the vacuum pipeline needs to be handled manually or by an external independent drainage device, and intelligent automatic drainage cannot be achieved; the adaptation of the suction cup to automated equipment (such as robotic arms and AGVs) requires the design of additional quick-change interfaces, making the system complex and unreliable.

[0005] Therefore, developing a vacuum suction cup clamping solution that can maintain pressure for a long time after gas interruption, ensure reliable sealing, and is compatible with fully automated processes in dark factories is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide an automated, quick-change, leak-free vacuum suction cup to solve the problems existing in the prior art.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following solution: The present invention provides an automated quick-change leak-free vacuum suction cup, comprising: The suction cup body has an internal gas storage chamber for storing negative pressure gas. A sealing groove is formed on the adsorption working surface of the suction cup body; A seamless O-ring is embedded in the sealing groove and arranged in a continuous closed loop along the circumference of the adsorption working surface. A quick-change connector is provided on the suction cup body for detachable connection with automated clamping equipment; A leak-proof valve is installed on the suction cup body and connects the air storage chamber to the vacuum circuit, used to block reverse leakage when the external air source is cut off; A drain valve is installed on the suction cup body and connected to the air storage chamber or vacuum circuit to automatically drain accumulated water.

[0008] Preferably, the volume of the gas storage chamber is 4L-5L, and the gas storage chamber is provided with reinforcing ribs.

[0009] Preferably, the seamless O-ring is made of silicone material with a Shore hardness of 40-75.

[0010] Preferably, the leak-free valve includes a one-way valve, a low-leakage pneumatic control valve, or a zero-leakage solenoid valve.

[0011] Preferably, after the external gas source is cut off, the gas storage chamber, in conjunction with the seamless O-ring seal, can maintain the negative pressure state of the adsorption working surface for more than 24 hours.

[0012] Preferably, the air storage chamber is fitted with the seamless O-ring to allow the clamped part to have a flatness error of no more than 0.2 mm.

[0013] Preferably, it also includes a liquid level sensor, which automatically opens the drain valve to drain water when the water in the gas storage chamber or the vacuum circuit reaches a preset liquid level.

[0014] Preferably, the quick-connect coupling includes either a pneumatic quick-connect coupling or a mechanical quick-connect coupling.

[0015] Preferably, the suction cup body is also provided with a vacuum air passage interface, and the air storage chamber, the vacuum air passage interface and the drain valve are interconnected.

[0016] Preferably, the vacuum suction cup is suitable for thin plate parts with a thickness of ≤30mm.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages and technical effects: The present invention discloses an automated quick-change leak-free vacuum suction cup. By setting a gas storage chamber inside the suction cup body for storing negative pressure gas, the suction cup can still maintain adsorption by relying on the negative pressure stored in the chamber after the external gas source is cut off, thereby achieving long-term pressure maintenance in the gas-off state to adapt to the transfer and storage links in automated production lines; by opening a sealing groove on the adsorption working surface and embedding a continuous closed O-ring seal arranged circumferentially without breaks, the leakage path at the joint of the traditional segmented sealing strip is eliminated, thereby maintaining reliable airtightness in harsh machining environments such as oil stains and chips, and allowing the clamped parts to have a certain range of planarity. The suction cup body is equipped with a quick-change connector for detachable connection with automated clamping equipment, enabling rapid replacement and repeated precise positioning between the suction cup and the robot arm, thereby improving equipment changeover efficiency and automation adaptability. A leak-proof valve connects the air storage chamber to the vacuum circuit, automatically blocking reverse leakage when the external air source is cut off. This, together with the air storage chamber and the seamless O-ring seal, forms multiple leak-proof barriers to achieve continuous pressure maintenance for more than 24 hours. A drain valve connected to the air storage chamber or vacuum circuit automatically or periodically drains water accumulated in the vacuum circuit, avoiding manual drainage maintenance and ensuring reliable long-term unattended operation. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the bottom end of the automated quick-change leak-free vacuum suction cup of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the top of the automated quick-change leak-free vacuum suction cup of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the automated quick-change leak-free vacuum suction cup of the present invention; Figure 4 For the present invention Figure 1 A magnified view of part A in the image; In the diagram: 1. Suction cup body; 2. Air storage chamber; 3. Sealing groove; 4. Seamless O-ring seal; 5. Quick-connect coupling; 6. Drain valve; 7. Vacuum air circuit interface; 8. Reinforcing rib; 9. Adsorption working surface; 10. Leak-free valve; 11. Slag removal threaded plug; 12. Manual vacuum breaking valve; 13. Robotic arm positioning ring; 14. Zero-point positioning rivet; 15. Slag removal plug ring; 16. Cleaning machine positioning hole; 17. Leak-free quick-connect coupling; 18. Pressure gauge; 19. Vacuum suction port. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0021] Reference Figures 1 to 4 As shown, this embodiment provides an automated quick-change leak-free vacuum suction cup, comprising: The suction cup body 1 has an internal gas storage chamber 2 for storing negative pressure gas; The sealing groove 3 is formed on the adsorption working surface 9 of the suction cup body 1; A seamless O-ring 4 is embedded in the sealing groove 3 and arranged in a continuous closed loop along the circumference of the adsorption working surface 9. Quick-change connector 5 is mounted on suction cup body 1 and is used for detachable connection with automated clamping equipment; A leak-proof valve 10 is installed on the suction cup body 1 and connects the air storage chamber 2 with the vacuum circuit, used to block reverse leakage when the external air source is cut off. The drain valve 6 is located on the suction cup body 1 and is connected to the air storage chamber 2 or the vacuum circuit, and is used to automatically drain accumulated water.

[0022] This invention discloses an automated quick-change leak-free vacuum suction cup. By setting a gas storage chamber 2 inside the suction cup body 1 to store negative pressure gas, adsorption can be maintained even after the external gas source is cut off, relying on the negative pressure stored in the chamber. This achieves long-term pressure maintenance under gas-out conditions, adapting to the transfer and storage processes in automated production lines. By creating a sealing groove 3 on the adsorption working surface 9 and embedding a continuous, circumferentially closed, uninterrupted O-ring seal 4, leakage paths at the joints of traditional segmented sealing strips are eliminated. This maintains reliable airtightness in harsh machining environments such as oil stains and chips, and allows for a certain range of flatness errors in the clamped parts. Furthermore, by setting a sealing groove 3 on the suction cup body 1... The quick-change connector 5, which can be detachably connected to automated clamping equipment, enables rapid replacement and repeated precise positioning between the suction cup and the robot arm, thereby improving equipment changeover efficiency and automation adaptability. By setting a leak-proof valve 10 to connect the air storage chamber 2 and the vacuum circuit, it automatically blocks reverse leakage when the external air source is cut off, thus forming multiple leak-proof barriers in conjunction with the air storage chamber 2 and the seamless O-ring seal 4 to achieve continuous pressure maintenance for more than 24 hours. By setting a drain valve 6 connected to the air storage chamber 2 or the vacuum circuit, the water accumulated in the vacuum circuit can be automatically or periodically drained, thereby eliminating the need for manual drainage and maintenance and ensuring the reliability of long-term unattended operation.

[0023] This invention achieves continuous pressure maintenance after air interruption through the cooperation of the air storage chamber 2 and the leak-free valve 10, meeting the air interruption requirements of AGV transfer and vertical warehouse storage in automated production lines. The seamless O-ring seal 4 eliminates leakage paths at the joints of traditional segmented sealing strips, ensuring long-term airtight reliability in oily and slag-prone environments. The quick-change connector 5 enables second-level replacement, improving equipment changeover efficiency. The drain valve 6 automatically drains accumulated water, requiring no manual maintenance and ensuring reliable long-term unattended operation.

[0024] Further optimization resulted in an air storage chamber 2 with a volume of 4-5L, and reinforcing ribs 8 were incorporated within it. The air storage chamber 2's capacity of 4-5 liters allows it to store sufficient negative pressure within a limited space, supporting pressure maintenance for over 24 hours. The reinforcing ribs 8 inside the air storage chamber 2 enhance its ability to withstand atmospheric pressure, preventing the suction cup from denting or deforming under external atmospheric pressure. This also allows the suction cup body 1 to be made of lightweight aluminum alloy with a thinner wall, achieving a balance between strength and weight, facilitating gripping and transport by the robotic arm.

[0025] In one embodiment of the present invention, the capacity of the gas storage chamber 2 is preferably designed to be 4.5L.

[0026] Further optimization of the design resulted in the use of silicone material for the seamless O-ring 4, with a Shore hardness of 40-75. Silicone possesses excellent oil and aging resistance, making it suitable for oily machining environments. The Shore hardness range of 40-75 has been verified as optimal after 5000 fatigue tests. Excessive hardness leads to wear and deformation, while excessive hardness fails to compensate for microscopic imperfections on the workpiece surface. This hardness selection ensures the O-ring provides sufficient elastic deformation for airtightness while also possessing sufficient strength to resist chip scratches, thus extending its service life.

[0027] In one embodiment of the present invention, the Shore hardness of the silicone material is preferably 60.

[0028] Further optimization of the design allows the leak-free valve 10 to include a check valve, a low-leakage pneumatic control valve, or a zero-leakage solenoid valve. The leak-free valve 10 can achieve reverse blocking functionality using any of these three types of valves: check valves, low-leakage pneumatic control valves, or zero-leakage solenoid valves. Check valves are simple in structure and low in cost, suitable for conventional operating conditions; low-leakage pneumatic control valves offer rapid response and controllable leakage rates; and zero-leakage solenoid valves provide complete sealing, suitable for high-vacuum applications. These multiple options allow for flexible configuration based on actual cost and performance requirements, enhancing the product's market adaptability and technical feasibility.

[0029] In one embodiment of the present invention, a leak-free quick-connect connector 17 is provided on the back of the device. The leak-free quick-connect connector 17 is correspondingly provided and connected to the leak-free valve 10, forming a double leak-proof design to help achieve 24-hour pressure maintenance.

[0030] In one embodiment of the present invention, a pressure gauge 18 is provided on the side wall of the device, and the pressure gauge 18 is correspondingly provided with the gas storage chamber 2, which can monitor the pressure of the gas storage chamber 2 in real time.

[0031] Further optimization of the solution allows the air storage chamber 2, in conjunction with the seamless O-ring seal 4, to maintain a negative pressure state on the adsorption working surface 9 for more than 24 hours after the external air source is cut off. This addresses the technical defect of traditional vacuum suction cups failing within one minute after air supply interruption. The suction cup can maintain its adsorption state along with the workpiece during AGV transport and intelligent automated storage and retrieval without requiring a continuous air supply connection. This provides crucial technical support for fully automated operation in "lights-out" factories, significantly reducing energy consumption and equipment complexity.

[0032] In one embodiment of the present invention, the side wall of the suction cup body 1 is provided with a plurality of manual vacuum breaking valves 12, which can be manually controlled to break the vacuum adsorption, serving as a safety redundancy of the automated system, reflecting the system integrity and improving the ability to handle anomalies.

[0033] Further optimization of the design allows the air reservoir 2, in conjunction with the seamless O-ring 4, to tolerate a flatness error of no more than 0.2 mm on the clamped parts. The combined action of the air reservoir 2 and the seamless O-ring 4 allows for a flatness error of no more than 0.2 mm on the surface of the adsorbed workpiece without affecting the adsorption effect, reducing the requirements for the surface flatness of the processed parts and eliminating the need for additional grinding or leveling processes. The air reservoir 2 provides ample negative pressure reserves, which, combined with the elastic deformation compensation of the seamless O-ring 4, can effectively fill microscopic depressions or warped areas on the bottom surface of the workpiece, expanding the applicability of the equipment, especially suitable for the machining and clamping of thin plate parts.

[0034] In one embodiment of the present invention, the inner side of the seamless O-ring seal 4 is provided with a plurality of crisscrossing and interconnected sealing grooves 3, which are connected to the gas storage chamber 2 through the vacuum suction hole 19 to realize the vacuum adsorption process.

[0035] Further optimizations include a liquid level sensor. When the water level in the air storage chamber 2 or the vacuum circuit reaches a preset level, the drain valve 6 automatically opens to drain the water. The addition of a liquid level sensor to the suction cup, along with the linkage control between the sensor and the drain valve 6, achieves complete automation of the drainage process. No manual periodic checks or operations are required. When the water level in the air storage chamber 2 or the vacuum line reaches the set level, the drain valve 6 automatically starts to drain the water. This solves the problem of condensate from the cutting fluid or water carried by the compressed air accumulating during machining, preventing water from being sucked into the vacuum pump and causing equipment damage. It also ensures the stability of the suction force, making it a necessary guarantee mechanism for long-term unattended operation.

[0036] In one embodiment of the present invention, a cleaning threaded plug 11 is detachably installed on the bottom or side of the suction cup body 1 to seal the drain port on the suction cup body 1. When it is necessary to drain the sewage, the cleaning threaded plug 11 can be unscrewed to clean the residue.

[0037] In one embodiment of the present invention, a cleaning plug ring 15 is provided on the back of the suction cup body 1. This ring-shaped ring is typically located at the process hole or drain channel opening on the back of the suction cup body 1. During normal operation, it seals the cleaning channel to prevent negative pressure leakage; when opened, it allows for cleaning and drainage operations inside the gas storage chamber 2 or the vacuum channel. Compared to threaded plugs, the ring structure facilitates quick assembly and disassembly on large-diameter cleaning ports and is less prone to sealing failure due to thread wear.

[0038] The solution is further optimized so that quick-change connector 5 includes either a pneumatic quick-change connector or a mechanical quick-change connector. Quick-change connector 5 can be either a pneumatic or mechanical quick-change connector to connect to automated clamping equipment. The pneumatic quick-change connector uses compressed air for locking, suitable for high-frequency change scenarios; the mechanical quick-change connector relies on springs or jaws for locking, resulting in a simpler and more reliable structure. Both types enable rapid changeover and repeatable positioning, and can be flexibly selected according to the specific needs of the automated production line, enhancing the flexibility of the technical solution implementation.

[0039] In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of symmetrically arranged robotic arm positioning rings 13 and a plurality of symmetrically distributed zero-point positioning rivets 14 are provided on the back of the suction cup body 1, which can realize the rapid positioning and connection of the suction cup body 1 with the external mechanical structure.

[0040] To further optimize the design, the suction cup body 1 is also equipped with a vacuum air passage interface 7, which connects the air storage chamber 2, the vacuum air passage interface 7, and the drain valve 6. The suction cup body 1 has a vacuum air passage interface 7 for connecting to an external vacuum source. This interface, the air storage chamber 2, and the drain valve 6 are interconnected, forming a complete air passage. During vacuuming, negative pressure enters the air storage chamber 2 through the vacuum air passage interface 7 and is transmitted to the working surface; during drainage, accumulated water is discharged from the air storage chamber 2 or the pipeline through the drain valve 6. This simplifies the internal piping structure, reduces the number of intermediate joints, lowers potential leakage points, and improves the overall reliability of the system.

[0041] In one embodiment of the present invention, the side wall of the suction cup body 1 is provided with a cleaning machine positioning hole 16 for positioning and connecting with an external cleaning machine so as to clean the air storage chamber 2.

[0042] Further optimization of the design allows the vacuum chuck to be suitable for thin sheet metal parts with a thickness of ≤30mm. This vacuum chuck is specifically designed for clamping and fixing thin sheet metal parts with a thickness not exceeding 30mm. Due to their poor rigidity and susceptibility to deformation, traditional clamping methods are difficult for thin sheet metal parts, while vacuum adsorption is the optimal solution. The 4.5L air storage chamber 2 and 0.2mm flatness tolerance of this application are optimized to meet the processing requirements of thin sheet metal parts and have a clear market positioning.

[0043] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this invention, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

[0044] The embodiments described above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention should fall within the protection scope defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automated, quick-change, and leak-free vacuum suction cup, characterized in that, include: The suction cup body (1) has a gas storage chamber (2) inside for storing negative pressure gas. A sealing groove (3) is formed on the adsorption working surface (9) of the suction cup body (1); A seamless O-ring (4) is embedded in the sealing groove (3) and arranged in a continuous closed manner along the circumference of the adsorption working surface (9); A quick-change connector (5) is provided on the suction cup body (1) for detachable connection with an automated clamping device; A leak-free valve (10) is installed on the suction cup body (1) and connects the air storage chamber (2) with the vacuum circuit, and is used to block reverse leakage when the external air source is cut off; A drain valve (6) is installed on the suction cup body (1) and connected to the air storage chamber (2) or the vacuum circuit for automatically draining accumulated water.

2. The automated quick-change and leak-free vacuum suction cup according to claim 1, characterized in that: The volume of the gas storage chamber (2) is 4L-5L, and the gas storage chamber (2) is provided with reinforcing ribs (8).

3. The automated quick-change and leak-free vacuum suction cup according to claim 1, characterized in that: The seamless O-ring (4) is made of silicone material with a Shore hardness of 40-75.

4. The automated quick-change and leak-free vacuum suction cup according to claim 1, characterized in that: The leak-free valve (10) includes a check valve, a low-leakage pneumatic control valve, or a zero-leakage solenoid valve.

5. The automated quick-change and leak-free vacuum suction cup according to claim 1, characterized in that: After the external gas source is cut off, the gas storage chamber (2) and the seamless O-ring (4) can maintain the negative pressure state of the adsorption working surface (9) for more than 24 hours.

6. The automated quick-change and leak-free vacuum suction cup according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gas storage chamber (2) cooperates with the seamless O-ring (4) to allow the clamped part to have a flatness error of no more than 0.2 mm.

7. The automated quick-change and leak-free vacuum suction cup according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a liquid level sensor, which automatically opens the drain valve (6) to drain water when the water in the gas storage chamber (2) or the vacuum circuit reaches a preset liquid level.

8. The automated quick-change and leak-free vacuum suction cup according to claim 1, characterized in that: The quick-connect coupling (5) includes either a pneumatic quick-connect coupling or a mechanical quick-connect coupling.

9. The automated quick-change and leak-free vacuum suction cup according to claim 1, characterized in that: The suction cup body (1) is also provided with a vacuum air passage interface (7), and the air storage chamber (2), the vacuum air passage interface (7) and the drain valve (6) are interconnected.

10. The automated quick-change and leak-free vacuum suction cup according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vacuum suction cup is suitable for thin plate parts with a thickness of ≤30mm.

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