Eccentric Drive Workpiece Carrier for Vacuum Coating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing workpiece carrier devices for vacuum systems have complex structures due to gear mechanisms, which lead to space inefficiencies, exposure to high temperatures, and potential malfunctions, including rapid rotation rates that can affect coating quality.
Innovation Solution
A simplified workpiece carrier device with two or three axes of rotation, featuring a closed housing bogie design with an eccentric drive mechanism that protects the drive from environmental influences and allows for adjustable angular velocity, using a planetary gear system and a countershaft gear to achieve a wide range of transmission ratios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If gear mechanisms are used to drive workpiece carriers and holders, then rotation can be achieved, but the structure becomes complex and space-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the gear mechanisms from the workpiece carrier device. Instead of using gears to drive rotation, the invention uses direct electric motors mounted on the workpiece carriers and holders to achieve rotation, thereby simplifying the overall structure and reducing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical gear transmission system with electric motors that directly provide rotational motion. This substitution eliminates the need for complex gear mechanisms while maintaining the rotation capability, thus reducing structural complexity
2Ease of operation
If gear mechanisms are used, then rotation is achieved, but the device occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the space-consuming gear mechanisms from the system. By eliminating these components, the overall volume of the device is reduced while rotation capability is maintained through direct motor drive
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a centralized drive mechanism that requires space for gears and transmissions, the patent inverts the approach by placing small electric motors directly on each workpiece carrier and holder. This distributed drive system significantly reduces the space required for transmission components
3Ease of operation
If gear mechanisms are used, then rotation is achieved, but the components are exposed to high temperatures and machining materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drive mechanisms from the harsh environment where workpieces are processed. By using electric motors that can be positioned away from the direct path of machining materials and high temperatures, the drive components are protected from these harmful factors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the workpiece carriers and holders as intermediaries between the drive system and the workpieces. The electric motors are mounted on these carriers and holders, which act as protective interfaces, shielding the drive components from direct exposure to high temperatures and machining materials while still enabling rotation
4Ease of operation
If fixed transmission ratios are used, then the workpiece holder rotates, but the rotation rate may be undesirably rapid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the rotation speed dynamic and adjustable by using electric motors with variable speed control. Instead of fixed gear ratios that dictate a single rotation speed, the electric motors can be controlled to rotate the workpiece holders at any desired speed within their operational range, allowing optimization for different coating processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the speed parameter from a fixed value determined by gear ratios to a variable parameter that can be adjusted through electric motor control. This allows the rotation speed to be optimized for different coating requirements, preventing excessively rapid rotation while maintaining operational flexibility
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 solution results in a space-saving, reliable workpiece carrier device that protects the drive mechanism from environmental influences and allows for precise control of workpiece holder rotation, enhancing coating quality and reducing the risk of blockages.
Implementation Method 1
an electric motor, which rotates the bogie around a drive axis
Implementation Method 2
featuring a closed housing bogie design with an eccentric drive mechanism that protects the drive from environmental influences and allows for adjustable angular velocity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A workpiece support (2) comprises a rotatable mount (3) and a drive part (20) which are both rotatable about a drive axis (4). The rotatable mount (3) can be driven by a motor (6) and carries a plurality of workpiece holders (13) that are distributed about the drive axis (4) and that can be rotated about holder axes. A drive pulley (22) of the drive part (21) can be rotated about a respective anchoring point (23) from which the center of said pulley is set off by an eccentricity (E). A transmission element (25) having a coupling recess that only just receives the drive pulley (22) has drive openings (26) through which drive pins (19) of the workpiece holders (13) project, said workpiece holders also being set off from the holder axes by the eccentricity (E). The drive part (20) can be driven with a greater angular velocity by the rotation of the rotatable mount (3) via a countershaft transmission (31) mounted on the base (1). The rotatable mounts of a plurality of workpiece supports can be received on a frame that can also be rotated and can be rotated by engagement with a stationary gear.