Liquid-Mediated Suction Holding for Warped Workpieces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Workpieces with a bowl-shaped warp cannot be effectively held on a flat holding surface under suction, leading to difficulties in processing, such as cutting, due to the risk of foreign matter adherence when pressing the workpiece.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece holding method involving a mounting step, a liquid supplying step to fill the gap between the holding surface and the workpiece, and a suction step to hold the workpiece through the liquid, preventing suction force leaks and foreign matter adherence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plate is used to press the workpiece to flatten it before holding under suction, then the workpiece can be held on the holding table, but foreign matter may adhere to the subject surface of the workpiece
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a liquid (water) as an intermediary substance between the workpiece and the holding surface. The liquid fills the gap caused by the bowl-shaped warp, enabling effective suction holding without requiring mechanical pressing. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by achieving reliable holding while preventing foreign matter adherence to the workpiece surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and distribution of the holding interface by introducing liquid. Instead of maintaining a dry contact interface that requires pressing, the liquid modifies the interface parameters by flowing into and filling the gap, thereby enabling suction holding without mechanical force and avoiding surface contamination.
2Reliability
If suction force is applied directly to a workpiece with bowl-shaped warp on a flat holding surface, then the workpiece cannot be held effectively, but pressing the workpiece causes foreign matter adherence
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid acts as a mediator that enables the suction force to effectively hold the workpiece by filling the gap between the curved workpiece surface and the flat holding table. This eliminates the need for pressing while maintaining effective suction holding, thereby preventing foreign matter adherence.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid is supplied to the gap between the workpiece and holding surface before the suction force is applied. This preliminary action of filling the gap ensures that when suction is applied, the workpiece is already in a position where effective holding can occur without requiring pressing, thus preventing foreign matter adherence.
3Reliability
If the gap between the holding surface and the workpiece is not filled, then suction force leaks and the workpiece cannot be held, but filling the gap by pressing causes foreign matter adherence
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid serves as a mediator that fills the gap to prevent suction force leaks. By using liquid instead of mechanical pressing to fill the gap, the patent achieves effective suction force retention while avoiding foreign matter adherence to the workpiece surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic principles by using liquid (water) to fill the gap between the workpiece and holding surface. The liquid flows into and fills the gap under the influence of suction, preventing air leakage and enabling effective vacuum holding without mechanical contact that would cause contamination.
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 method allows for reliable suction holding of workpieces with a bowl-shaped warp without pressing, preventing suction force leaks and foreign matter adherence, enabling smooth processing and unloading.
Implementation Method 1
a suction step of bringing the suction hole into communication with the suction means to suck the liquid and the workpiece and thereby hold the workpiece through the liquid on the holding surface under suction
Data Source
AI summary
A workpiece holding method for a workpiece having a bowl-shaped warp includes a mounting step of mounting the workpiece on a holding unit having a holding surface, a suction hole opening to the holding surface, and a suction passage for making selective communication between the suction hole and a vacuum source for producing a suction force, the workpiece being mounted on the holding surface of the holding unit, a liquid supplying step of supplying a liquid to the workpiece held on the holding surface so that the liquid flows into a gap defined between the holding surface and the workpiece to fill the gap, and a suction step of bringing the suction hole into communication with the vacuum source to suck the liquid and the workpiece and thereby hold the workpiece through the liquid on the holding surface under suction, after performing the liquid supplying step.