Article Holding Device With Recessed Negative Pressure Zone

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing article holding devices face challenges in increasing suction power to reliably hold sheet-like articles, such as cloths, without increasing device size, as they struggle to manage airflow effectively for larger surface areas.

Innovation Solution

The article holding device incorporates a base portion with recessed areas and strategically positioned holes and flow paths that allow fluid to be ejected in opposite directions, creating a stronger negative pressure zone for enhanced suction, including the use of inclined portions to direct airflow and improve pressure generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the flow amount of air or pressure is increased to enhance suction power for sheet-like articles, then the suction power increases, but the device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction powerVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The holding portion is divided into a flat portion and a recessed portion, creating distinct functional zones. The recessed portion segments the airflow path and concentrates the negative pressure effect, allowing enhanced suction power without proportionally increasing the overall device volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The recessed portion is nested within the holding portion structure, creating a multi-level configuration. This nesting allows the device to achieve greater suction power through the recessed cavity while maintaining a compact overall footprint, as the enhanced suction mechanism is contained within the existing structural envelope.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If the suction power is increased to reliably hold sheet-like articles with larger surface area, then the holding reliability improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholding reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The holding portion is segmented into a flat portion for initial contact and a recessed portion for enhanced suction. This segmentation allows the device to reliably hold sheet-like articles by creating distinct functional zones that work together, achieving high holding reliability through simple geometric division rather than complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Power

If the fluid ejection is directed outward to create negative pressure, then the suction effect is generated, but the suction power is insufficient for large surface area articles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction powerVSAvoidholding capability
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The recessed portion introduces a vertical dimension to the airflow pattern, creating a three-dimensional negative pressure zone. Fluid ejected from holes in the recessed portion rises upward and then moves outward, creating a volumetric suction field that can effectively hold sheet-like articles with larger surface areas, enhancing both suction power and holding capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration allows for increased suction power, enabling more reliable holding of sheet-like articles by generating a stronger negative pressure between the holding portion and the article, surpassing the capabilities of conventional devices.

Implementation Method 1

The holding portion sucks and holds a sheet-like article using a negative pressure generated between the holding portion and the sheet-like article on a lower surface of the holding portion by a fluid supplied to the flow paths being ejected from the holes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure generation: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 2

The first inclined portion is connected to an upper end of the first flow path portion, the recessed portion, and an upper end of the second flow path portion, and is inclined downward to the first direction. The second inclined portion is connected to an upper end of the first flow path portion, the recessed portion, and an upper end of the second flow path portion, and is inclined downward to the second direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow direction: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3354608B1Article holding device
Publication Date: 2020.02.26 BROTHER KOGYO KK
  • EP3354608B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3354608B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3354608B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The article holding device 23 includes a base portion 32 whose lower surface has a holding portion 33 to hold the sheet-like article 9, flow paths 70-78 communicated with holes 61-68 in the holding portion 33. The holes 61-68 including a first hole 61,65 and a second hole 62,68, the first hole 61,65 being provided on one side of the holding portion 33 in the predetermined direction, the second hole 62,68 being provided on another side, which is opposite from the one side, of the holding portion 33 in the predetermined direction. The recessed portion 43 being provided between the first hole 61,65 and the second hole 62,68 and being recessed above the horizontal portion 331 of the holding portion 33. It is thus possible to effectively generate a negative pressure in the space of the recessed portion 43 between the holding portion 33 and the article 9.