Lid-Opening Device Preventing Container Misalignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In manufacturing environments like semiconductor factories, existing lid-opening/closing devices struggle to accurately attach and align the lid portion with the container body, leading to potential lifting and positional misalignment issues during the unlocking and locking operations.
Innovation Solution
A lid-opening/closing device with a moving unit that includes rotating members, a connecting member, and an actuator, along with a container-securing unit featuring a pressing member and biasing member, ensures secure attachment of the container body to the device body during unlocking, preventing lifting and misalignment by using the biasing force to press the container body and simplify the device configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the locking mechanism is unlocked to attach the lid portion, then the lid can be attached to the container body, but lifting and positional misalignment of the container body may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The container-securing unit is activated in advance during the unlocking process to secure the container body to the device body before the lid portion is attached. This preliminary securing action prevents lifting and positional misalignment that would otherwise occur when the locking mechanism is unlocked, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while enabling easy lid attachment operation.
2Productivity
If multiple locking mechanisms are operated simultaneously, then unlocking and locking operations can be performed efficiently, but variations in operation timing may cause lifting and misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The container-securing unit is integrated with the locking mechanism system and activated in conjunction with the unlocking operation. By merging the securing function with the existing locking mechanism operation, the system achieves coordinated simultaneous operation of multiple locking mechanisms while maintaining precise positional alignment through the unified control of the container-securing unit.
3Manufacturing precision
If a complex securing system with special actuators is used to prevent lifting, then positional alignment can be maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container-securing unit is designed as a multi-functional component that performs both securing the container body and maintaining positional alignment during the lid attachment operation. By making this unit universal and integrating it with the existing locking mechanism system, the patent avoids the need for separate special actuators, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while reducing device complexity.
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 allows for accurate attachment of the lid portion to the container body, preventing lifting and positional misalignment, and simplifies the device design by eliminating the need for special actuators, enhancing operational efficiency and power savings.
Implementation Method 1
a container-securing unit featuring a pressing member and biasing member, ensures secure attachment of the container body to the device body during unlocking, preventing lifting and misalignment by using the biasing force to press the container body
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A lid-opening/closing device includes: a device body; a lock-opening/closing mechanism; and a container-securing unit. On the device body, a pod including: a container body, a lid portion forming a bottom portion that is openable and closable with respect to the container body; and a locking mechanism performing unlocking and locking of the lid portion with respect to the container body is placed. The lock-opening/closing mechanism performs unlocking operation to cause the locking mechanism to perform the unlocking, and performs locking operation to cause the locking mechanism to perform the locking by moving an engaging portion configured to engage with the locking mechanism when the pod is placed on the device body. The container-securing unit secures the container body to the device body in conjunction with the lock-opening/closing mechanism when the locking mechanism is caused to perform the unlocking.