Valve assemblies for vacuum systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to a valve assembly positioned between a vacuum pump and an adsorption pad in a vacuum system, which enables the exhaust of the pad. The valve assembly includes a main body with an installation space formed in an internal passage, a valve plate that is fixed in the space so as to be able to move up and down, and an air hole that is variably configured by an air slit formed at the contact portion between the valve plate and the upper end step of the space. Initially, temporary exhaust is performed through the open passage, and then, when the plate is moved "up", fine exhaust is performed through the air hole formed at the contact between the plate and the upper end step. [Reference Diagram] Figure 6

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an air valve assembly, and more particularly, to a valve assembly that can be adapted and applied for vacuum systems.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In general, a "vacuum system" refers to an apparatus including a vacuum pump operated by high-speed compressed air and a suction pad connected to the suction side port of the vacuum pump, which operates the vacuum pump to evacuate the internal space of the pad, sucks and grips an object with the vacuum and negative pressure generated thereby, and then operates a robotic means to transfer the object to a predetermined position.

[0003] Here, if the diameter of the port is too large, the achievable vacuum level of the apparatus will be low, while if it is too small, the speed at which the apparatus reaches the maximum vacuum level will be slow. Therefore, the port requires a proper valve that can simultaneously satisfy such conflicting problem situations. In practice, flexible valves or UP / DOWN plate valves are mainly used as this valve.

[0004] Figure 1 illustrates a conventional plate valve 100. Referring to the drawing, when compressed air passes through the vacuum pump 103 at high speed, the internal air of the pad 104 is drawn into the vacuum pump 103 through the plate valve 100, and then discharged to the outside together with the compressed air. In this process, vacuum and negative pressure for gripping the object W are generated inside the vacuum pump 103 and the pad 104.

[0005] As shown in Figure 1(a), in its original state, the plate valve 100 is in the "DOWN" position with the plate 101 open, allowing for a large amount of air to be exhausted instantaneously at the beginning of operation. After the plate 101 moves to the "UP" position as shown in Figure 1(b), the valve is configured to exhaust air only through the central micro-hole 102 of the plate 101. The central micro-hole 102 is designed to increase and maintain the vacuum level of the device.

[0006] This method attempts to simultaneously solve the problems of the achievable vacuum level of the device and the speed at which it is achieved.

[0007] In the configuration of the plate valve 100 described above, the central micro-hole 102 plays an important role in relation to the vacuum level of the device, and here, Firstly, the machining of the central micro-hole 102 is required to be extremely fine, which poses a problem in terms of production technology, as its formation and manufacture become almost impossible. Secondly, there is a problem in that foreign matter, especially dust on the surface of the object, floats around when the device is operating and blocks the central micro-hole 102. Thirdly, when such damage occurs, there is not only a lack of self-healing ability, but also the problem that emergency measures are not easily implemented. These are some examples.

[0008] Due to these problems, the plate valve 100 is very difficult to actually apply. Of course, one could also consider methods such as making the central micro-holes 102 larger or increasing their number,

[0009] Such methods are not considered here because they contradict the objective of simultaneously solving the aforementioned problems of vacuum level and achievable speed. In such cases, there is a particularly high risk of lowering the vacuum level of the apparatus. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Registered Utility Model Gazette No. 20-0300952, Republic of Korea [Patent Document 2] Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2015-0016793 [Patent Document 3] Registered Patent Gazette No. 10-1303749 of the Republic of Korea [Patent Document 4] Registered Patent Gazette No. 10-2570475 of the Republic of Korea [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0011] This invention was proposed to solve the problems of conventional plate valves described above. The objective of this invention is to provide a valve assembly for a vacuum system that simultaneously solves the problems of vacuum level and speed of arrival of the device, while being easy to manufacture and free from the risk of malfunction during operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The valve assembly of the present invention is In a valve assembly positioned between a vacuum pump and an adsorption pad in a vacuum system, which enables the exhaust of the pad, A top-and-bottom through-type material comprising a body including an expanded space formed inside the passage for installing a valve plate, A valve plate is fixed in the aforementioned space so as to be able to move up and down, and in this case, a flow path is formed between the inner walls of the space that connects the upper and lower parts of the passage, An elastic spring is positioned in the aforementioned passage to control the flow of the plate, When the plate is raised, an air slit is formed in the portion that comes into contact with the plate and the upper end step of the space, Includes, The aforementioned air slit is When the plate is raised "UP", the plate and the upper step come into contact with each other to form an air hole, connecting the flow path and the passage. It is characterized by the following.

[0013] The air slit as described above is formed on either one side of the plate and the upper end step, more preferably on the plate side, characterized in that

[0014] The spring is coaxially arranged at the upper part of the passage, and one end thereof presses the plate to elastically support the position of the plate.

[0015] The plate may include an air guide formed on the bottom surface thereof to connect the lower part of the passage and the flow path.

[0016] Preferably, The plate is configured to have a U-shaped cross section, such that one end of the spring is inserted into the inner side thereof, in this case, the air slit is formed on the upper cross-sectional portion of the edge of the plate, characterized in that [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the valve assembly of the present invention, after a large amount of air is instantaneously exhausted at the initial stage of operation, when the plate enters the "UP" state, exhaust is performed only through the air hole that is formed for the first time by the air slit. In this manner, the maximum vacuum level of the apparatus can be quickly reached.

[0018] On the other hand, the air slit can be formed by only making a groove in a specific part of the element, so its manufacture is easy, and there is no risk of the air slit and the air hole being clogged or damaged throughout the exhaust process during operation. [Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] It is a cross-sectional view of a valve assembly according to the prior art. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view of a valve assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2. [Figure 4]Figure 2 is a perspective view of the valve plate applied to the device. [Figure 5] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the initial operation of the vacuum. [Figure 6] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the sequence of operations. [Figure 7] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the vacuum disposal process. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0020] The features and effects of the "valve assembly for vacuum systems" (hereinafter referred to as "valve assembly") of the present invention, whether or not described above, should become clearer from the description of the embodiments described below with reference to the attached drawings. In Figure 2 and subsequent figures, the valve assembly according to the present invention is indicated by reference numeral 10.

[0021] The valve assembly 10 of the present invention is based on a valve assembly that is placed between a vacuum pump and an adsorption pad in a vacuum system and enables the exhaust of the pad.

[0022] Referring to Figures 2 to 6, the valve assembly 10 includes an upper and lower through-type body 11, a valve plate 12 that is fluidly mounted inside the body 11, a spring 13 that elastically supports the valve plate 12, and an air hole 14 that is variably formed by the operation of the valve assembly 10.

[0023] More specifically, the main body 11 is made of an upper and lower through-type material and includes a space 17 that is expanded to accommodate a valve plate 12 inside the central passages 15 and 16. The passages 15 and 16 can be divided into a lower first passage 15 and an upper second passage 16 based on the position of the space 17. The main body 11 consists of a lower part 11a and an upper part 11b that is inserted into and joined to the upper part, and this configuration is suitable for forming the space 17 within the main body 11. Reference numeral 18 denotes the upper end step of the space 15.

[0024] Here, the valve plate 12 is fixed inside the space 17 so as to be able to move up and down, and a flow path 19 connecting the first passage 15 and the second passage 16 is formed between the valve plate 12 and the inner wall of the space 17. Incidentally, an air guide 21 connecting the first passage 15 and the flow path 19 is formed on the bottom surface of the valve plate 12.

[0025] The spring 13 is positioned in the second passage 16 and functions to control the position and flow of the valve plate 12. More specifically, the spring 13 is coaxially positioned in the second passage 16, and one end of the spring pressurizes the surface of the valve plate 12, thereby elastically supporting the position and flow of the valve plate 12. In this embodiment, the valve plate 12 is configured in a "U" shape in cross-section, and one end of the spring 13 is inserted inside it. However, the relationship between the valve plate 12 and the spring 13 may be designed differently.

[0026] The valve assembly 10 of the present invention includes an air slit 20 formed in the portion of mutual contact between the valve plate 12 and the upper end step 18 of the space 17 when the valve plate 12 is "UP". As a result, an air hole 14 is formed between the valve plate 12 and the upper end step 18 that are in contact with each other, and thus the flow path 19 and the first passage 15 and the second passage 16 are connected via the air hole 14.

[0027] More specifically, the air slit 20 can be configured as a long groove on either side of the upper step 18 of the valve plate 12, and for ease of manufacturing, in this embodiment it is formed on the valve plate 12 side. Furthermore, the valve plate 12 is configured with a "U" shape in cross-section, and in this case, the air slit 20 is formed on the upper cross-section of the valve plate 12.

[0028] Then, when the valve plate 12 and the upper end step 18 come into contact with each other, the corresponding surfaces cover the open side of the air slit 20, thereby forming the air hole 14. In this sense, the configuration of the air hole 14 is variable.

[0029] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the valve assembly 10 of the present invention is placed between the vacuum pump P and the suction pad S in a vacuum system.

[0030] When the vacuum system is activated, compressed air supplied at high speed passes through the vacuum pump P and is discharged (see arrow 1). At this time, the air inside the suction pad S is drawn into the vacuum pump P by sequentially passing through the first passage 15 → flow path 19 → second passage 16 of the main body 11 and is discharged to the outside together with the compressed air (see arrow 2). In this process, a vacuum and negative pressure are generated inside the vacuum pump P and the suction pad S.

[0031] First, referring to Figure 5, initially the valve assembly 10 is in the "DOWN" state of the valve plate 12, so the vacuum line connecting the first passage 15 → flow path 19 → second passage 16 inside the main body 11 is completely open. Therefore, the air inside the adsorption pad S is discharged instantaneously, and this discharged air moves the valve plate 12 upward.

[0032] Next, referring to Figure 6, in the "UP" state where the valve plate 12 is moved upward, the vacuum line is closed by the valve plate 12 and the upper end step 18 coming into contact with each other. However, at this time, the vacuum line is connected through the air holes 14 that are formed for the first time at the contact portion by the contact, thereby enabling the fine discharge of the suction pad S (see arrow 3).

[0033] As a result, the maximum vacuum level of the device can be reached quickly, and there is no risk of the air holes 14 becoming clogged or malfunctioning during this process.

[0034] Through this series of processes, a vacuum and negative pressure are generated inside the suction pad S. The object W is then attracted and grasped by this negative pressure, and subsequently moved to a predetermined position by a robotic device. Once the movement is complete, the suction pad S needs to be quickly separated from the object W.

[0035] Referring to Figure 7, compressed air is supplied directly to the second passage 16 to separate the suction pad S. In this state, the valve plate 12 is in the "DOWN" state, so the compressed air is supplied to the suction pad S via the second passage 16 → flow path 19 → first passage 15 (see arrow 4). As a result, the vacuum and negative pressure inside the suction pad S are instantly released. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 10 Valve Assembly 11 Main unit 12 Valve Plate 13 Springs 14 air holes 15 1st aisle 16 2nd aisle 17 Space 18 Upper step 19 channels 20 Air slits 21 Air Guide P Vacuum pump S Pad W Object

Claims

1. In a valve assembly positioned between a vacuum pump and an adsorption pad in a vacuum system, which enables the exhaust of the adsorption pad, A material with an upper and lower through-type body (11) including a space (17) that is expanded and formed inside the passages (15, 16) for installing a valve plate (12); a valve plate (12) that is fixed in the space (17) so as to be able to be UP / DOWN, and in this case a flow path (19) connecting the upper and lower parts of the passages (15, 16) is formed between the inner walls of the space (17); a spring (13) is disposed in the passages (15, 16) to elastically control the flow of the valve plate (12); When the valve plate (12) is "UP", an air slit (20) is formed in the portion that comes into contact with the valve plate (12) and the upper end step (18) of the space (17), Includes, The aforementioned air slit (20) is When the valve plate (12) is raised, the valve plate (12) and the upper end step (18) come into contact with each other to form an air hole (14), connecting the flow path (19) and the passages (15, 16). A valve assembly characterized by the following.

2. The valve assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the air slit (20) is formed on either the valve plate (12) or the upper end step (18).

3. The valve assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the air slit (20) is formed on the valve plate (12) side.

4. The valve assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring (13) is coaxially arranged in the passages (15, 16), and one end thereof pressurizes the valve plate (12) to elastically support the position of the valve plate (12).

5. The valve assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve plate (12) includes an air guide (21) formed on its bottom surface that connects the passage (15) and the flow path (19).

6. The valve plate (12) is configured in a "U" shape in cross-section, and one end of the spring (13) is inserted inside it. The air slit (20) is formed in the upper cross-sectional portion of the edge of the valve plate (12). The valve assembly according to claim 1, characterized by the following:

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