Check valve for vacuum system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a check valve for a vacuum system. The vacuum system includes a vacuum pump having a suction port formed therein and an adsorption pad connected to the suction port side, and the assembly of the present invention is attached to the suction port. The assembly includes: a body including a space formed in an annular shape recessed into the inner wall of a central passage; a check valve fitted in the space such that a path communicating with the passage is formed around the periphery thereof; and a spring coaxially disposed in the passage, one end of which urges and holds the check valve.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a check valve assembly, in particular a check valve assembly used together with a vacuum pump in a vacuum system. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Generally speaking, a "vacuum system" is a device that includes a vacuum pump powered by compressed air and an adsorption pad connected to a suction port side of the vacuum pump. When high-speed compressed air flows through the vacuum pump, the internal air of the pad is drawn into the vacuum pump through the suction port and then discharged along with the compressed air to create a vacuum / negative pressure in the vacuum pump / pad. Thus, an object is adsorbed onto the pad by the created negative pressure. The adsorbed object is transferred to a designated location by an automated device.

[0003] If the suction port diameter is too large, only a low degree of vacuum is achieved, and if the suction port diameter is too small, the speed at which vacuum is achieved is slow. Therefore, a valve element appropriately provided in the suction port is required. Fig. 1(a) to 1(c) illustrate a valve assembly 100 and a vacuum system currently manufactured and sold by the applicant, according to related art.

[0004] With reference to Fig. 1(a), the valve assembly 100 includes a continuous body 102 coupled or bolted to the suction port 101, and a check valve 104 installed in a central passage 103 of the body 102 to move vertically within a certain range. A fine tightening hole 105 is defined at a center of the check valve 104. In the drawings, reference numeral 109 denotes a sealing pad. When the vacuum pump 106 is operated in a state where the adsorption pad 107 of the vacuum system is in contact with a surface of an object W, the internal air of the pad 107 is momentarily discharged through a path 108 around the check valve 104 and an exhaust hole 105 before the check valve 104 rises (see arrow 1).

[0005] With reference to Fig. 1(b), the check valve 104 immediately rises due to the exhaust air pressure, so that the passage 108 is blocked and the internal air of the cushion 107 is only discharged through the exhaust hole 105 (see arrow ②).

[0006] As a result, a vacuum is created in a sealed interior space S1 of the cushion 107, and the object W is adsorbed onto the cushion 107. Since the interior space S2 of the cushion 107, which is not involved in the adsorption of the object W, is not sealed, a large amount of outside air can be introduced, and the check valve 104 can rise due to the introduced air pressure to block the corresponding passage 107, thereby minimizing vacuum loss of the entire system.

[0007] However, the preferable action of the valve assembly 100 is possible when the assembly 100 is in a state as illustrated in FIGS. (a) and (b), ie, in a relationship of "the pad 107 at an upper side and the object at a lower side," and is impossible in an opposite relationship.

[0008] That is, as in Fig. As illustrated in Figure 1(c), in a state where the cushion 107 is disposed on the lower side and the object W is disposed on the upper side, the check valve 104 falls due to its own weight to block the corresponding passage 107 before operation, thus making it impossible to vent an internal space S of the cushion 107 through the passage 107 from the beginning. In the case where the positional relationship between the cushion 107 and the object W is frequently changed due to the rotation of the system during venting and transferring, the position or posture of the check valve 104 is also variable, and thus the adsorption and transfer operations of the object W may become significantly unstable.

[0009] Although not shown, other check valves, such as the so-called “ball check valves,” also have the same problem. [State of the art documents] Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0300952 Korean Patent Application No. 10-1469688 Korean Patent Application No. 10-0793323 Korean Patent Application No. 10-1600696 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION OBJECT

[0010] The present invention was proposed to solve the problems of the above-mentioned conventional valve assembly. A purpose of the present invention is to provide a check valve assembly for a vacuum system capable of ensuring rapid venting of an adsorption pad and stable adsorption / transfer of an object, regardless of the positional relationship between the pad and the object in the vacuum system. TECHNICAL SOLUTION

[0011] A check valve assembly mounted on a suction port in a vacuum system comprising an exhaust vacuum pump and an adsorption pad connected to one side of the suction port of the vacuum pump, according to the present invention, includes the following: a body made of a continuous material fitted into the suction port and including a space configured in a ring shape recessed in an inner wall of a central passage; a check valve which is a plate-shaped valve having an exhaust hole defined in a central portion thereof, located in the interior of the space, and having a path communicating with the passage therearound; and a spring disposed coaxially in the passage and having one end configured to urge and resiliently hold the check valve.

[0012] In the structure described above, when the vacuum system is in operation, in a case where external air is introduced into the interior, the check valve may move by the pressure of the introduced air and block the way.

[0013] Preferably, the check valve may have a flow path in its bottom surface, wherein the flow path may be configured to provide a portion of the path.

[0014] In addition, one end of the spring may be attached to one side of one end of the passage, and the other end presses on the check valve to elastically maintain a position of the check valve.

[0015] Preferably, the body may be provided by connecting an upper portion to a lower portion, wherein the space may be defined in a groove shape between the upper portion and the lower portion.

[0016] The check valve may include a recess into which the other end of the spring is inserted. BENEFICIAL EFFECTS

[0017] According to the present invention, due to the spring structure, the check valve cannot move randomly within the space, but moves in a direction to block the passage when a large amount of outside air is introduced from the pad side, thereby minimizing vacuum loss in the system. Therefore, regardless of the positional relationship between the pad and the object, a special effect can be achieved, enabling rapid deflation of the adsorption pad and stable adsorption / transport of the object. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 (a), (b) and (c) are views for explaining an action of a conventional valve arrangement. Fig. 2 is a view illustrating the external appearance of a check valve assembly according to the present invention. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an assembled state of the check valve assembly of Fig. 2 illustrates. Fig. 5 is a bottom perspective view showing a check valve of the check valve assembly of Fig. 2 illustrates. Fig. 6 (a) and (b) are views to explain an effect of Fig. 4. [Description of symbols] 10. Check valve arrangement 11. Body 11a. Upper section 11b. Lower section 12. Check valve 13. Spring 14th round 15th Room 16. Exhaust hole 17th round 18. Flow path 19. Recess 20. Inclined surface 21. O-ring 30. Vacuum system 31. Vacuum pump 32. Suction connection 33. Pillow 34a, 34b. Inner space W. Object BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0018] The features and operational effects of a "check valve assembly for a vacuum system" (hereinafter referred to as "check valve assembly") of the present invention, which may or may not be described above, will become clearer through the description of preferred embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 2, and hereinafter, a check valve assembly of the present invention is indicated by reference numeral "10." Additionally, reference numeral "30" denotes a vacuum system in which the check valve assembly 10 is used.

[0019] With reference to Fig. 2 to 4, the check valve assembly 10 of the present invention is a valve assembly mounted for use in a suction port 32 in a vacuum system 30 that includes an exhaust vacuum pump 31 for venting air in a specific space and an absorption pad 33 connected to one side of the suction port 32 of the vacuum pump 31. In this respect, the check valve assembly 10 of the present invention is no different from the conventional check valve assembly.

[0020] Depending on the size of the vacuum pump 31, a plurality of suction ports 32 may be provided, and in this case, the check valve assembly 10 may be provided individually in each port 32. In this embodiment, the cushion 33 is designed to divide a plurality of spaces 34a and 34b corresponding to the respective ports 32 for a single wide porous material. However, in other embodiments, the cushions 33 may also be provided individually for the ports 32.

[0021] The check valve assembly 10 of the present invention includes a body 11 fitted into and secured to the suction port 32, a check valve 12 disposed inside the body 11, and a spring 13 holding the check valve 12.

[0022] Specifically, the body 11 is made of a continuous material, fitted into the suction port 32, and includes an annular space 15 inserted into an inner wall of a central passage 14. Here, the space 15 must be designed taking into account its relationship with the check valve 12 disposed therein. Preferably, the body 11 is provided by coupling an upper portion 11a with a lower portion 11b. Here, the space 15 is provided in a groove shape between the upper portion 11a and the lower portion 11b. This structure facilitates the assembly of the entire check valve assembly 10.

[0023] In this embodiment, the body 11 can be mounted to the suction port 32 using a sealing and fixing O-ring 21 installed on an outer periphery of an upper end of the body, so that separate components for fixing and sealing the body 11 can be eliminated.

[0024] The check valve 12 is a circular plate having an exhaust hole 16 defined at its center, and which is integrally fitted within the space 15 in such a manner that one edge thereof is inserted into a recessed portion of the space 15. Here, a passage 17 communicating with the passage 14 is provided around the check valve 12, that is, between the check valve 12 and the inner wall of the space 15. As a result, the relative sizes of the space 15 and the check valve 12 must be designed taking this structure into account.

[0025] Preferably, the check valve 12 has a flow path 18 in a bottom surface (see Fig. 5), and the flow path 18 is provided as a portion of the passage 17 to allow air flow. Additionally, the passage 14 has an extended inclined surface 20 at an upper end thereof to allow air flow.

[0026] The spring 13 is arranged coaxially in the passage 14 of the body 11, and one end of the spring presses on the check valve 12 and holds it elastically to prevent the check valve 12 from moving arbitrarily in the space 15.

[0027] Specifically, one end of the spring 13 is fixed to one end of the passage 14, and another end presses the check valve 12 to elastically maintain a position of the check valve 12.

[0028] The check valve 12 includes a recess 19 into which the other end of the spring 13 is inserted. This configuration ensures that the pressure of the spring 13 and the position of the check valve 12 are maintained stably.

[0029] With reference to Fig. 6(a) that the check valve assembly 10 of the present invention enables rapid venting of the adsorption pad 33 and stable suction / transfer of the object W regardless of the positional relationship between the pad 33 and the object W when the vacuum system 30 is in operation.

[0030] The vacuum system 30 operates in a state where the pad 33 is in contact with a surface of the object W. When compressed air flows through the vacuum pump 31 at high speed, the air in the interior space 34a of the pad 33 flows through the exhaust hole 16 and the passage 17 of the check valve assembly 10, is sucked into the vacuum pump 31 through the passage 14, and is discharged to the outside along with the compressed air (see arrow). During this venting process, a vacuum is created in the sealed interior space 34a of the pad 33, and the object W is adsorbed onto the pad 33 by the resulting negative pressure. In addition, the adsorbed object W is transferred to a designated location using a separately provided automated device.

[0031] In this case, since the check valve 12 is held by the pressure of the spring 13, the check valve 12 does not rise or move to a level corresponding to the pressure of the exhaust air in the inner space 34a of the cushion 33, so that the passage 17 is not blocked. This enables rapid venting of the adsorption cushion 33 and stable adsorption of the object W. In addition, in the event of an unexpected vacuum leak in the inner space 34a of the cushion 33, rapid self-recovery is possible.

[0032] Since the interior space 34b of the cushion 33, which is not involved in the adsorption of the object W, is not sealed, a large amount of outside air is introduced (see arrow 4). In this case, the check valve 12 rises due to the high pressure of the introduced air and blocks the corresponding passage 17. Since only the micro exhaust hole 16 is opened here, the vacuum loss of the entire system 30 can be minimized.

[0033] With reference to Fig.6(b), the system 30 can maintain the same function as described above (a) even if the vacuum system 30 is rotated by an angle of 180° in the above-described state (a), thus changing the positional relationship between the "cushion 33 and the object W" from a "top and bottom" position to a "bottom and top" position or at a different angle. This is because the position of the check valve 12 is maintained by the structure of the spring 13 with a corresponding pressure. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] KR 10-1469688

[0009] KR 10-0793323

[0009] KR 10-1600696

[0009]

Claims

[1] A check valve assembly mounted on a suction port (32) in a vacuum system (30), comprising a suction vacuum pump (31) and an adsorption pad (33) connected to one side of the suction port (32) of the vacuum pump (31), the check valve assembly comprising: a body made of a continuous material fitted into the suction port (32) and including a space (15) configured in an annular shape recessed in an inner wall of a central passage (14); a check valve (12) which is a plate-shaped valve having an exhaust hole (16) defined in a central portion thereof, which is located in the space (15) and has a path (17) communicating with the passage (14) therearound; and a spring (13) arranged coaxially in the passage (14) and having an end configured to press and elastically hold the check valve (12). [2] A check valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein, when the vacuum system (30) is in operation, in a case where outside air is introduced into the inner space (34b), the check valve (12) moves by a pressure of the introduced air to block the path (17). [3] The check valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the check valve (12) has a flow path (18) in a bottom surface thereof, the flow path (18) being configured to form a portion of the path (17). [4] A check valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein one end of the spring is fixed to one side of one end of the passage (14), and the other end presses on the check valve (12) to elastically hold a position of the check valve (12). [5] A check valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the body (11) is provided by coupling an upper portion (11a) to a lower portion (11b), the space (15) being defined in a groove shape between the upper portion (11a) and the lower portion (11b). [6] Check valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the check valve (12) comprises a recess (19) into which the other end of the spring (13) is inserted. [7] A check valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the passage (14) has an extended inclined surface (20) at an upper end thereof. [8] A check valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the body (11) is mounted to the suction port (32) using a sealing and fixing O-ring (21) installed on an outer periphery of an upper end thereof.

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