Rigid Ball Crucible Picking Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing crucible picking tools, particularly those used in OLED panel manufacturing, face challenges with elastic pieces that deform easily, leading to a complex structure and reduced functionality over repeated use.

Innovation Solution

A picking assembly featuring a transmission shaft with rigid balls arranged on opposite sides, allowing for expansion and contraction to accommodate the crucible opening, maintaining the picking function without deformation and simplifying the tool's structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If elastic pieces are used in the picking tool, then the tool can accommodate the crucible opening, but the elastic pieces deform easily after repeated use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of crucible openingVSAvoidpicking function maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from elastic (deformable) to rigid (non-deformable). The rigid balls maintain their shape and size throughout repeated use, eliminating the deformation problem while still achieving accommodation of the crucible opening through controlled radial movement of the entire ball assembly rather than deformation of individual pieces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If elastic pieces are used to enable the picking tool to function, then the tool can grip the crucible, but the structure becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepicking functionVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the gripping function into multiple rigid balls arranged around the transmission shaft. Each ball independently contacts the crucible opening, and their collective radial movement achieves the gripping action. This segmentation simplifies the overall structure by replacing complex elastic piece mechanisms with simpler rigid spherical elements that move radially as a group.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Volume of moving object

If the diameter of the opening is small (6-20 millimeters), then the vacuum chamber can be compact, but a special picking tool with complex structure is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevacuum chamber sizeVSAvoidpicking tool structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs spherical rigid balls as the gripping elements. The spherical shape allows the balls to easily accommodate the small diameter opening (6-20 mm) while maintaining simple geometry. The curvature of the spheres enables smooth contact with the crucible opening edges, achieving effective gripping without requiring complex angular or irregular-shaped components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS10968509B2Picking assembly, crucible picking device, and method for picking crucible

Publication Date: 2021.04.06 SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICON DISPLAY TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A picking assembly provided by the present disclosure may include a transmission shaft; at least two rigid balls; and a support member carrying rigid balls of the at least two rigid balls. Two of the at least two rigid balls may be arranged on two opposite sides of the transmission shaft. Centers of the two of the at least two rigid balls and a center of a cross-section of the transmission shaft may be located on a same line. The transmission shaft may be movable back and forth in an axis direction of the transmission shaft.