Bellows Vacuum Pad Cover Structure for Swing Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum pads with bellows experience violent swinging and deformation during high-speed transportation due to large accelerations or decelerations, which are not adequately addressed by existing techniques.
Innovation Solution
A cover body is designed to cover the outside of the bellows when it contracts, preventing deformation and swing by attaching to the vacuum pad via a screw mechanism and allowing adjustable positioning to fit various bellows lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a bellows-type vacuum pad is used to follow various workpiece shapes, then the vacuum pad can easily attract inclined workpieces, but the bellows violently swings and deforms during high-speed transportation with large acceleration or deceleration
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows is designed as a flexible bellows that can expand and contract to adapt to various workpiece shapes and inclined positions, while the cover body provides external support to prevent violent swinging during acceleration and deceleration, combining flexibility with stability
Solution Approach 2:
The cover body acts as an intermediary structure that covers the bellows during operation to provide external support and prevent deformation, while allowing the bellows to maintain its flexible nature for adapting to different workpiece shapes
2Stability of the object's composition
If a cover body is added to prevent bellows swing, then the bellows deformation is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum pad system is divided into separate functional components: the bellows for suction and shape adaptation, and the cover body for stability, allowing each component to be optimized independently and attached only when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The cover body is designed to be detachable and adjustable, allowing it to be attached only when high-speed transportation with large acceleration is expected, and removed or repositioned for other operations, making the system dynamically adaptable
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cover body is fixed to the vacuum pad, then the attaching position can be adjusted, but the ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cover body is designed with a universal attaching structure that can be positioned at different locations along the bellows using a standardized attachment mechanism, allowing one component to serve multiple positioning functions
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
The cover body effectively prevents bellows deformation and swing during high-speed transportation, ensuring stable workpiece holding even with varying accelerations, and allows easy attachment and detachment without hindering vacuum pad operation.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum pad that generates negative pressure inside a bellows and that holds a workpiece by suction at an open end of the bellows
Data Source
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AI summary
A vacuum pad (12) includes a support member (14) that includes a vacuum passage (14a) and a bellows (16) that is attached to the support member, and the cover body (20) includes a cylindrical body portion (24, 32), an attaching portion (26, 34) projecting from one end of the body portion, and a flange portion (28, 36) projecting radially outward from another end of the body portion. The cover body covers the outside of the bellows when the bellows contracts and holds a workpiece by suction.