Optical Shutter Seal for Machine Tool Part Checking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optoelectronic devices for checking mechanical parts in industrial environments face challenges in protecting optical devices from dust, liquids, and cooling splashes, with existing solutions failing to provide a reliable seal, especially during power failures or when airflow is inactive.
Innovation Solution
A protection device with a movable shutter assembly, including a shell, nozzle, and shutter, uses a combination of sealing members and compressed air to ensure the light beam's path is sealed, utilizing a cylindrical shape and a movable closing element to maintain fluid tightness and prevent foreign materials from reaching the optics, even without continuous airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a movable shutter is used to protect optical devices, then protection against dust and foreign materials is improved, but protection against liquids and cooling splashes is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
A sealing member is introduced as an intermediary element between the shutter and the optical device housing. This sealing member fills the gap and prevents liquids and cooling splashes from penetrating through, while allowing the shutter to move freely for dust protection. The mediator resolves the contradiction by adding a specialized component that addresses the liquid protection weakness without interfering with the shutter's dust protection function.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If compressed air flow is used to prevent dirt deposition, then protection during operation is improved, but protection during power failure is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is pre-installed in the housing to create a sealed environment before any contamination can occur. This preliminary protective measure ensures that when power fails or the system is idle, the seal already in place prevents refrigerant and dirt from penetrating, without requiring active compressed air flow. The sealing action is prepared in advance and remains effective regardless of power status.
3Reliability
If a sealed enclosure is created around the optical device, then protection against liquids is improved, but the light beam path may be blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is segmented into distinct functional zones: a sealed housing portion for liquid protection, a movable shutter portion for dust protection, and a light beam passage portion that remains open. The sealing member is specifically positioned at the interface between the sealed portion and the shutter, creating a barrier only where liquids can penetrate, while leaving the light beam path clear. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function without interfering with others.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for checking mechanical parts such as tools on machine tools employs optical devices for emitting and receiving a light beam, for example a laser beam, along a checking direction, and sensors for detecting variations in the features of such a light beam. A protection device (15) for at least one of the optical devices comprises a support element (21,22) with an inner seat (20), communication conduits (18,26,34) aligned along the checking direction and a shutter (44) movable, in the internal seat, from a rest position to an operative position of the apparatus. The shutter comprises a transversal through hole (60) which is arranged along the checking direction in the operative position, aligned with the communication conduits to allow the light beam to pass through. A movable closure element (55), for example a small sphere or ball, is arranged in a transversal hollow (54) of the shutter and is pushed by a spring towards the outside of the transversal hollow. In the rest position of the apparatus, the transversal hollow is arranged along the checking direction and the movable closing element partially protrudes and cooperates with a gasket at the inlet of one of the communication conduits, to prevent the entry of foreign material and fluids into the optical device.