Electrostatic Holder Vibration for Small Workpiece Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrostatic holding devices face challenges in releasing small workpieces due to residual charges causing Coulombic force, and vacuum suction devices may absorb foreign matter, reducing suction force and failing to pick up small workpieces.
Innovation Solution
An electrostatic holding device with a holder that applies a voltage to attract and hold workpieces using electrodes, and a release facilitator that deforms or vibrates the holder to reduce contact area and facilitate stable release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If electrostatic holding is used to pick up extremely small workpieces, then the workpiece can be sufficiently picked up, but the workpiece cannot be released due to Coulombic force from residual charges
Solution Approach 1:
The holder surface is segmented into multiple independent protruding portions rather than a continuous surface. This segmentation allows the workpiece to be held by distributed electrostatic forces while providing natural release paths between the protruding portions, reducing the cumulative Coulombic force that prevents release.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder configuration is made changeable between holding state and release state. During holding, the full electrostatic field is active; during release, the field is reduced or redistributed. This dynamic control allows the system to switch between strong holding force and easy release, resolving the contradiction between these two opposing requirements.
2Force
If vacuum suction is used to pick up workpieces, then air can be suctioned to create negative pressure, but foreign matter is also absorbed reducing suction force
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a uniform suction field that affects all particles equally, the electrostatic holding device creates localized electric fields at specific protruding portions. This local quality approach allows selective holding of the workpiece while being less susceptible to foreign matter interference, as the electrostatic force is concentrated where needed rather than distributed broadly like vacuum suction.
3Quantity of substance
If electrostatic holding is used for extremely small workpieces, then picking up is sufficient, but stable release cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The holder surface is segmented into multiple independent protruding portions rather than a continuous surface. This segmentation allows the workpiece to be held by distributed electrostatic forces while providing natural release paths between the protruding portions, reducing the cumulative Coulombic force that prevents release.
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 device effectively stabilizes the release of small workpieces by reducing Coulombic force and improving releasability through deformation or vibration of the holder.
Implementation Method 1
a holder that holds a workpiece W by application of voltage
Implementation Method 2
the electrostatic holding devices according to JP 2009-066739A and JP 2012-018969A may not be able to release the workpiece due to the Coulombic force caused by residual charges
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an electrostatic holding device including: a holder that electrically holds a workpiece by application of a voltage; and a release facilitator that, when the workpiece is released from the holder, facilitates the release of the workpiece from the holder.