Outer Electrode Protrusions for Low-Friction Component Conveyance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic components with flat outer electrodes experience high frictional resistance during conveyance, leading to sticking issues on conveyance paths, which hinders smooth transportation and increases the risk of damage and defect detection challenges.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates protrusions on the outer electrodes that protrude orthogonally to the main surfaces and sides of the electronic components, reducing the contact area with the conveyance path and thereby decreasing frictional resistance, allowing for smoother conveyance and easier defect detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the outer electrode surface is made flat like the main body surface, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the frictional resistance during conveyance increases causing the component to stick on the conveyance path
Solution Approach 1:
The outer electrode surface is segmented into multiple protrusions rather than being flat. Each protrusion is a separate structural element that collectively reduces the contact area with the conveyance path, allowing the component to be easily manufactured through standard electrode formation processes while achieving low-friction conveyance
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode surface is transformed from a two-dimensional flat plane to a three-dimensional structure with protrusions extending in the vertical dimension. This dimensional change reduces the effective contact area with the conveyance path while maintaining the overall electrode functionality
2Device complexity
If the outer electrode surface is made flat like the main body surface, then the electrode structure is simplified, but the frictional force between the electrode and conveyance path increases causing conveyance difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode surface is divided into multiple discrete protrusions rather than a continuous flat surface. This segmentation maintains relative structural simplicity while dramatically reducing the contact area with the conveyance path, enabling smooth conveyance without complex electrode designs
Solution Approach 2:
The surface geometry parameter of the electrode is changed from flat to protruding. This parameter change affects the frictional characteristics by reducing contact area, while the protrusions can be formed using standard electrode formation techniques, maintaining manufacturing simplicity
3Productivity
If multiple electronic components are conveyed on a sloping conveyance path, then the conveyance efficiency is improved, but the frictional force between the outer electrodes and conveyance path causes the components to stay on the path
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode surface is segmented into multiple protrusions that collectively reduce the contact area with the conveyance path. This allows components to slide smoothly down sloping conveyance paths without sticking, maintaining high conveyance efficiency and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions, which might seem to increase surface complexity, actually convert the harmful frictional force into a beneficial low-friction interface by reducing contact area. This enables efficient sloping conveyance by transforming the interaction between electrode and conveyance path
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic component includes a main body including first and second end surfaces opposed to each other in a length direction, first and second side surfaces opposed to each other in a width direction, and first and second main surfaces opposed to each other in a thickness direction and that has a rectangular substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, a first outer electrode provided at a first end side in the length direction of the main body, and a second outer electrode provided a second end side in the length direction of the main body. Each of the first and second outer electrodes includes first through fourth protrusions.