Chuck Plunger Self-Positioning to Reduce Grip Misalignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Typical chuck devices experience misalignment of the work grip due to backlash and elastic deformation, leading to reduced gripping accuracy and potential vibration during processing.

Innovation Solution

The chuck device incorporates a plunger with engaging means that deform elastically to align with predetermined positions on the chuck body's inner surface, ensuring precise positioning and increased rigidity to prevent misalignment and vibration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a slight gap is formed between the chuck body and the plunger to enable sliding movement, then the plunger can slide along the rotational axis, but backlash occurs around the rotational axis causing misalignment of the work grip position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesliding movement of plungerVSAvoidgrip position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A positioning portion is introduced as an intermediary element between the plunger and chuck body. The deformed portion of the plunger engages with this positioning portion during elastic deformation, serving as a mediator that converts the harmful backlash into a useful positioning mechanism that ensures accurate grip position alignment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful backlash caused by the gap into a beneficial positioning mechanism. When the plunger undergoes elastic deformation during work gripping, the deformed portion naturally engages with the positioning portion, transforming the previously harmful radial movement into a useful self-positioning action that ensures alignment accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Strength

If the outer circumferential portion of the plunger is elastically deformed by the reaction force during work gripping, then the plunger is pressed against the chuck body, but the plunger becomes fixed and cannot move, causing misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrip forceVSAvoidgrip position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the harmful effect of elastic deformation that causes fixing and misalignment into a beneficial self-positioning mechanism. The deformed portion of the plunger engages with the positioning portion during elastic deformation, transforming the previously harmful radial movement into a useful positioning action that ensures alignment accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The plunger performs self-positioning through its own elastic deformation. When the reaction force deforms the plunger during work gripping, the deformed portion automatically engages with the positioning portion, enabling the plunger to self-correct its position without external intervention and ensure accurate grip position alignment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the slide hole is located at a position which misaligns with the predetermined position with respect to the guide groove, then the plunger can accommodate backlash, but the grip position misaligns with the reference position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplunger accommodation of backlashVSAvoidgrip position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the misalignment caused by backlash accommodation into a beneficial self-positioning mechanism. When the plunger undergoes elastic deformation during work gripping, the deformed portion engages with the positioning portion, transforming the previously harmful misalignment into a useful positioning action that ensures the grip position aligns accurately with the reference position

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 enhances gripping accuracy, reduces misalignment, and minimizes vibration, allowing for precise and stable work processing.

Implementation Method 1

an outward elastic deformation that occurs, through gripping of the work with the top jaws, at portions of the plunger which correspond to the engaging means causes the portions deformed by the elastic deformation to slide on the positioning portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11000904B2Chuck device

Publication Date: 2021.05.11 KITAGAWA IRON WORKS CO LTD

AI summary

An inner circumferential surface of a chuck body (2) has three fitting recesses (22) curved as viewed from a rotational axis (C1). An outward elastic deformation that occurs, through gripping of a work (W1) with top jaws (5), at portions of a plunger (3) which correspond to slide holes (31a) causes the portions deformed by the elastic deformation to slide on the respective recessed portions (22) so that the plunger (3) is moved to cause a symmetry axis (Y1) of the slide hole (31a) to coincide with a symmetry axis (Y2) of a guide groove (25) of the chuck body (2).