Dust-free plastic drag chain

Abstract

The utility model discloses a dustless plastic tow chain, which comprises a tow chain body, a cable arranged in the tow chain body and used for traction and limiting, and a sheath, wherein the cross section of the cable along the extension direction of the tow chain body is a rounded rectangle; the sheath is wrapped around the outer periphery of the tow chain body and is fixed at both ends of the tow chain body. The utility model can solve the problem that the conventional plastic tow chain inevitably generates friction during use, generates small plastic particles, pollutes highly sensitive products such as wafers and optical lenses, and causes the yield of the products to decrease.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of cable chains, specifically to a dust-free plastic cable chain. Background Technology

[0002] Cable chains are widely used cable protection devices in fields such as automation equipment, machine tools, and robots. Their main function is to accommodate, guide, and protect various cables running inside them, and to prevent the cables from being excessively bent, tangled, worn, or damaged by the external environment when the cables move back and forth with the moving parts of the equipment.

[0003] In cleanroom environments with extremely high cleanliness requirements, such as semiconductor manufacturing, LCD panel production, and precision instrument processing, especially in wafer fabrication processes, even micron-level metal or non-metal dust contamination can lead to a significant decrease in product yield or even scrap. Traditional metal cable chains are too heavy to be used over long distances, while plastic cable chains, although capable of long-distance use, inevitably generate friction between the links, producing tiny plastic particles. If these dust particles escape into the cleanroom environment, they can severely contaminate highly sensitive products such as wafers and optical lenses, leading to a decrease in product yield or even scrap. Utility Model Content

[0004] To overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a dust-free plastic cable chain.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by this utility model includes: a dust-free plastic cable chain, comprising: a cable chain body for pulling and limiting the cable running inside it, the cable chain body being made of non-metallic material, and the outer contour of the cross section perpendicular to the extension direction of the cable chain body being a rounded shape; and a sheath covering the outside of the cable chain body and connected to both ends of the cable chain body.

[0006] This application has the following beneficial effects: ① The cable chain body is made of non-metallic material, which can effectively reduce the weight of the cable chain body. Therefore, the weight is small when the cable is moved repeatedly, which can meet the needs of long-distance cable transportation.

[0007] ②This application sets the outer contour of the cable chain body to a rounded shape, so that the sheath can cover and fit the cable chain body well, form an integral structure with the cable chain body, and prevent dust from spilling out due to friction during the movement of the cable chain.

[0008] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned dust-free plastic cable chain, the cable chain body includes a first connector and a second connector respectively disposed at the ends of the cable chain body along its length, and a plurality of skeletons pivotally connected in sequence. The skeleton located at one end of the cable chain body is pivotally connected to the first connector, and the skeleton located at the other end of the cable chain body is pivotally connected to the second connector. The areas of the first connector, the second connector, and the skeleton located on the outer surface of the cable chain body are surfaces with rounded corners.

[0009] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned dust-free plastic cable chain, the skeleton includes a plurality of pivotally connected joints, and the joints include a first joint and a second joint symmetrically arranged along the width direction of the cable chain body.

[0010] In the preferred embodiment of the aforementioned dust-free plastic cable chain, the surfaces of the first joints that approach each other, the surfaces of the second joints that approach each other, and the surfaces that approach the first or second connector are inclined surfaces, and the inclined surfaces have a projection along the length direction of the cable chain body. This provides greater support and allows for a greater relative travel between the joints of the cable chain.

[0011] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned dust-free plastic cable chain, both the first connector and the second connector are provided with baffles on the side away from the frame, and the two ends of the sheath extend and cover the outer peripheral wall of the baffle. The baffle is provided with through holes for cable routing.

[0012] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned dust-free plastic cable chain, at least one of the baffles is provided with a cable frame on the side away from the cable chain body, and the cable extending through the hole of the baffle is fixed to the cable frame.

[0013] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned dust-free plastic cable chain, both the first joint and the second joint are provided with at least one limiting hole, which is used to install fasteners for fixing the sheath and the cable chain body.

[0014] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned dust-free plastic cable chain, the sheath is provided with a first interlocking part and a second interlocking part along its length direction, which can interlock or separate from each other.

[0015] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned dust-free plastic cable chain, the first interlocking part and the second interlocking part are zipper structures located inside the sheath.

[0016] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned dust-free plastic cable chain, the cable chain body is provided with an avoidance groove at the position of the zipper structure, and the avoidance groove allows the zipper structure to pass through. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is the front view of the present invention; Figure 2 Diagram showing the connection relationship between the cable chain body and the baffle plate; Figure 3 This is a front view of the cable chain body and the baffle. Figure 4 This is a structural diagram of the sheath; Figure 5 Diagram showing the connection relationship between the cable chain body, the baffle plate, and the cable frame; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the first structure connecting the first connector to the skeleton. Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the second structure connecting the first connector to the skeleton; In the figure: cable chain body 1, first connector 11, limiting hole 111, skeleton 12, joint 121, first joint 1211, second joint 1212, upper pin 1213, lower pin 1214, support piece 1215, separator piece 1216, clearance groove 122, second connector 13, sheath 2, first engagement part 21, second engagement part 22, baffle 3, through hole 31, wire frame 4. Detailed Implementation

[0018] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical principles of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] It should be noted that in the description of this utility model, terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," and "rear," which indicate direction or positional relationships, are based on the direction or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These are used merely for ease of description and do not indicate or imply that the device or element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0020] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "set," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0021] like Figures 1 to 7As shown, the dust-free plastic cable chain of this utility model includes: a cable chain body 1 and a sheath 2. The cable chain body 1 is used to pull and limit the cables running inside it. The outer contour of the cross-section perpendicular to the extension direction of the cable chain body 1 is a rounded shape, such as a rounded rectangle, a circle, or an ellipse. The sheath 2 covers the outside of the cable chain body 1 and is connected to both ends of the cable chain body 1. The cable chain body 1 is made of non-metallic material, such as plastic, thus effectively reducing the weight of the cable chain body 1 and meeting the needs of long-distance cable transportation. By setting the outer contour of the cable chain body 1 to a rounded shape, this application allows the sheath 2 to cover and fit well with the cable chain body 1, forming an integral structure with the cable chain body 1, and preventing dust from spilling out due to friction during the movement of the cable chain.

[0022] See Figures 1 to 5 The cable carrier body 1 is equipped with several cables. When the cable carrier body 1 bends and shifts, the cables inside the cable carrier body 1 are pulled and move synchronously with the cable carrier body 1. The cable carrier body 1 of this application is made of plastic material, and the overall weight of the cable carrier is relatively light. Therefore, it can be set to a longer length than traditional metal cable carriers, and is suitable for wafer production processes or other possible production environments. The cable carrier body 1 is covered with a sheath 2 made of flexible material. The cavity of the sheath 2 is adapted to the shape of the cable carrier body 1. It is understood that the sheath 2 can be made of rubber. In other possible embodiments, the sheath 2 can also be made of flexible wear-resistant materials such as silicone. There is no specific limitation on the material of the sheath 2.

[0023] See Figures 1 to 5 Along the direction perpendicular to the extension of the cable chain body 1, the cross-section of the cable chain body 1 is a rounded rectangle. Correspondingly, the cavity of the sheath 2 used to cover the cable chain body 1 is also rounded. It should be noted that the cross-section of the cable chain body 1 is generally rectangular. When the sheath 2 covers the cable chain body 1, the four right-angled edges of the cable chain body 1 will scratch the flexible material sheath 2 when the sheath 2 moves with the cable chain body 1 for a long time, causing the sheath 2 to break. This allows dust or plastic dust inside the cavity of the sheath 2 to fly out through the gaps in the sheath 2 and contaminate the product. In this application, by setting the two sides of the cable chain body 1 in the width direction as a hemispherical rounded corner structure, the outer peripheral wall of the cable chain body 1 does not have right-angled edges. When the cable chain body 1 drives the sheath 2 for a long time, the wear of the cable chain body 1 on the flexible sheath 2 can be greatly reduced, the service life of the sheath 2 can be improved, the leakage of dust inside the sheath 2 can be avoided, the possibility of contamination of wafers and other products during processing can be reduced, and the use effect of the cable chain of this application can be improved.

[0024] In one or more embodiments, the cable chain body 1 includes a first connector 11, a plurality of skeletons 12, and a second connector 13 pivotally connected in sequence. The skeleton 12 at one end of the cable chain body 1 is pivotally connected to the first connector 11, and the skeleton 12 at the other end of the cable chain body 1 is pivotally connected to the second connector 13. The areas of the first connector 11, the second connector 13, and the skeletons 12 on the outer surface of the cable chain body 1 are rounded surfaces. The two ends of the sheath 2 are respectively fixed to the first connector 11 and the second connector 13. Therefore, by rounding the outer surfaces of the first connector 11, the second connector 13, and the skeletons 12, they can fit well with the sheath 2, reducing friction; and by connecting the two ends of the sheath 2 to the first connector 11 and the second connector 13, a more stable connection effect can be formed between the sheath 2 and the cable chain body 1.

[0025] See Figure 2 , Figure 3 The cable chain body 1 includes a first joint 11, a frame 12, and a second joint 13. The first joint 11 and the second joint 13 are pivotally connected to both ends of the frame 12. The frame 12 is composed of several pivotally connected joints 121. Each joint 121 includes a first joint 1211 and a second joint 1212 arranged along the width direction of the cable chain body 1, an upper pin 1213 and a lower pin 1214 for connecting the first joint 1211 and the second joint 1212. Each of the 214 sections has a slot with a stepped layer. The first joint 1211 and the second joint 1212 are provided with a fastening part on their opposite surfaces. The fastening parts of the first joint 1211 and the second joint 1212 can be fastened to the stepped layer of the slot of the upper pin 1213 and the lower pin 1214 respectively. The joint 121 also includes at least one support piece 1215 that is fastened at both ends between the upper pin 1213 and the lower pin 1214 respectively. With this arrangement, the connection strength of the joint 121 can be further improved.

[0026] In other possible embodiments, along the length of the support plate 1215, a plurality of partition holes are provided on the support plate 1215. One of the partition holes is provided with a partition plate 1216, the two ends of which are respectively pressed against the inner side of the first rib 1211 and the second skeleton 12. The workpiece between the upper pin plate 1213 and the lower pin plate 1214 is separated by the partition plate 1216, which can facilitate the separation of cables for different purposes and make it convenient for users to manage and replace cables.

[0027] In one or more embodiments, the surfaces of the first joints 1211 that approach each other, the surfaces of the second joints 1212 that approach each other, and the surfaces that approach the first connector 11 or the second connector 13 are inclined surfaces, and the inclined surfaces have projections along the length direction of the cable chain body 1. This provides greater support and allows for a greater relative travel between the joints 121 of the cable chain.

[0028] In one or more embodiments, the first connector 11 and the second connector 13 are both provided with baffles 3 on the side away from the frame 12, and the two ends of the sheath 2 extend and cover the outer peripheral wall of the baffles 3. The baffles 3 are provided with through holes 31 for cable routing.

[0029] See Figure 2 , Figure 3 When the cavity of the sheath 2 covers the cable chain body 1, both ends of the cable chain body 1 still have certain openings. In order to further prevent dust leakage from the sheath 2, two baffles 3 need to be installed on the first joint 11 and the second joint 13 of the cable chain body 1, and the end of the sheath 2 extends to the outer peripheral wall of the baffle 3, so that the end of the connection between the sheath 2 and the cable chain body 1 can be sealed by the baffle 3. With this setting, even if the cable chain body 1 made of hard plastic generates dust through friction, it will be retained in the cavity of the sheath 2, avoiding the problem of plastic dust particles generated by the friction of the plastic cable chain itself contaminating the wafer.

[0030] See Figure 2 , Figure 3 The baffle plate 3 has at least one through hole 31 for the cable inside the cable carrier body 1 to extend out. The number of through holes 31 is not specifically limited and can be selected according to actual production needs. In one specific embodiment, the number of through holes 31 can be eight. It should be noted that, in order to prevent dust in the cavity of the sheath 2 from leaking out through the through holes 31 of the baffle plate 3, the diameter of the through holes 31 of the baffle plate 3 can be set to the same size as the corresponding cable. Alternatively, a sealing element can be provided at the connection between the cable and the through holes 31 of the baffle plate 3. The sealing element can be a rubber air bag, a sealing gasket, etc.

[0031] In one or more embodiments, at least one baffle 3 is provided with a cable holder 4 on the side away from the cable carrier body 1, and the cable extending through the through hole 31 of the baffle 3 is fixed to the cable holder 4.

[0032] See Figure 1 , Figure 5The number of cable trays 4 can be reasonably configured according to the number of through holes 31 in the baffle 3. For example, if there are eight through holes 31 in the baffle 3, the number of cable trays 4 can be four, so that cables extending through the eight through holes 31 in the baffle 3 share one cable tray 4 in pairs, or the number of cable trays 4 can be eight, so that cables extending through the eight through holes 31 in the baffle 3 are each bound to the corresponding cable tray 4. This application, by installing cable trays 4 with cable management function on the side of the baffle 3 away from the cable chain body 1, can facilitate cable management for users while reducing wear between the cables and the through holes 31 in the baffle 3, thereby further reducing the possibility of dust leakage inside the cavity of the sheath 2.

[0033] In one or more embodiments, both the first connector 11 and the second connector 13 are provided with at least one limiting hole 111 arranged along the thickness direction of the cable chain body 1. The position of the sheath 2 and the cable chain body 1 can be limited by providing a fastener (such as a fastening bolt) that can pass through the sheath 2 or press against the sheath 2 in the limiting hole 111.

[0034] See Figure 1 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 Along the thickness direction of the drag chain body 1, the top and bottom of the first connector 11 and the second connector 13 are provided with limiting holes 111. Fasteners can be detachably installed in the limiting holes 111. Specifically, the limiting holes 111 can be screw holes, and the fasteners can be screws or bolts.

[0035] See Figure 1 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 After the sheath 2 is wrapped around the cable chain body 1, it needs to be fixed to the first joint 11 and the second joint 13 of the cable chain body 1. This is done by passing multiple fasteners through the pre-drilled holes on the sheath 2 and screwing them into the limiting holes 111 of the first joint 11 and the second joint 13. It is understood that if there are still small gaps between the sheath 2 and the baffle 3, these gaps can be sealed with glue.

[0036] In one or more embodiments, the sheath 2 is provided with a first interlocking portion 21 and a second interlocking portion 22 along its length direction, which can interlock or separate from each other; the first interlocking portion 21 and the second interlocking portion 22 are zipper structures provided on the inner side of the sheath 2.

[0037] See Figure 4The sheath 2 is formed by connecting the first engagement part 21 and the second engagement part 22. When the first engagement part 21 and the second engagement part 22 are separated, the sheath 2 can be relatively unfolded into a planar shape. When the first engagement part 21 and the second engagement part 22 are engaged and connected to each other, the sheath 2 is formed and forms a cavity covering the cable chain body 1. By processing the sheath 2 into an unfoldable or enclosing connection method, this application can facilitate workers to install and remove the sheath 2 onto the cable chain body 1, thereby improving the assembly efficiency of the cable chain in this application.

[0038] In one or more embodiments, the skeleton 12 is provided with a relief groove 122 at the position opposite to the zipper structure, and the relief groove 122 allows the zipper structure to pass through.

[0039] See Figure 2 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 The skeleton 12 has a relief groove 122 on the upper pin 1213 facing the sheath 2. That is, each upper pin 1213 has a groove on its top surface to form a complete relief groove 122. When the zipper structure moves along the extension direction of the drag chain body 1, the zipper structure can move forward or backward in the relief groove 122, ensuring the smooth operation of the zipper structure while avoiding the problem of bulging caused by the drag chain body 1 pressing against the zipper structure.

[0040] The above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical concept and features of this utility model. Their purpose is to enable those skilled in the art to understand the content of this utility model and implement it. They cannot be used to limit the protection scope of this utility model. All equivalent changes or modifications made in accordance with the spirit and essence of this utility model should be covered within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A dust-free plastic cable chain, characterized in that, include: The cable chain body is used to pull and limit the cable running inside it. The cable chain body is made of non-metallic material, and the outer contour of the cross section perpendicular to the extension direction of the cable chain body is a rounded shape. A protective sleeve covers the outside of the cable chain body and is connected to both ends of the cable chain body; The cable chain body includes a first connector and a second connector respectively disposed at the ends of the cable chain body along its length, and a plurality of skeletons pivotally connected in sequence. The skeleton located at one end of the cable chain body is pivotally connected to the first connector, and the skeleton located at the other end of the cable chain body is pivotally connected to the second connector. The area on the outer surface of the cable chain body where the first connector, the second connector, and the skeleton are located is a surface with rounded corners.

2. The dust-free plastic cable chain according to claim 1, characterized in that: The skeleton includes several pivotally connected bone segments, and the bone segments include a first bone segment and a second bone segment symmetrically arranged along the width direction of the drag chain body.

3. The dust-free plastic cable chain according to claim 2, characterized in that: The surfaces of each of the first joints that are close to each other, the surfaces of each of the second joints that are close to each other, and the surfaces that are close to each other with the first connector or the second connector are inclined surfaces, and the inclined surfaces have projections along the length direction of the cable chain body.

4. The dust-free plastic cable chain according to any one of claims 2-3, characterized in that: Both the first connector and the second connector are provided with baffles on the side away from the frame. The two ends of the sheath extend and cover the outer peripheral wall of the baffles. The baffles are provided with through holes for cable routing.

5. The dust-free plastic cable chain according to claim 4, characterized in that: At least one of the baffles has a cable tray on the side away from the cable carrier body, and the cable extending through the hole in the baffle is fixed to the cable tray.

6. The dust-free plastic cable chain according to any one of claims 2-3 and 5, characterized in that: Both the first connector and the second connector are provided with at least one limiting hole, which is used to install fasteners to fix the sheath and the cable chain body.

7. The dust-free plastic cable chain according to any one of claims 1-3 and 5, characterized in that: The sheath is provided with a first interlocking part and a second interlocking part along its length, which can interlock or separate from each other.

8. The dust-free plastic cable chain according to claim 7, characterized in that: The first and second interlocking parts are zipper structures located inside the sheath.

9. The dust-free plastic cable chain according to claim 8, characterized in that: The drag chain body has a clearance groove at the position opposite to the zipper structure, and the clearance groove allows the zipper structure to pass through.

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