Rotatable Air Chuck Valve Layout to Prevent Workpiece Drop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air chucks with reduced external air tubes face challenges in preventing workpieces from falling during power failures due to the difficulty in changing solenoid valves or air tubes, especially when the gripping form changes.
Innovation Solution
An air chuck design utilizing two solenoid valves, a normally closed and a normally open solenoid valve, with a chuck unit that can be connected at different rotation positions, allowing for switching the connection relationship between the valves and pressure chambers to prevent workpiece fall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the number of external air tubes is reduced, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of repair and adaptability to different gripping forms deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a rotatable chuck unit that can change its orientation relative to the valve unit, allowing the connection relationships between air flow paths and pressure chambers to be dynamically switched. This enables adaptation to different gripping forms (internal gripping at first rotation position, external gripping at second rotation position) without requiring external air tubes or complex reconfiguration, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining ease of repair through selective rotation to appropriate configurations.
2Device complexity
If the number of external air tubes is reduced, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different gripping forms deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable chuck unit provides dynamic reconfiguration capability, allowing switching between first and second rotation positions to adapt to different gripping forms. At the first rotation position, the chuck unit grips workpieces from the inside; at the second rotation position, it grips from the outside. This dynamic adjustment enables versatile adaptation without requiring external air tubes or complex piping.
Solution Approach 2:
The single valve unit with rotatable chuck unit serves multiple functions by accommodating both internal gripping and external gripping operations. The same valve unit and solenoid valves can control air supply to different pressure chambers depending on the rotation position, providing universal functionality for different gripping forms without requiring separate systems or external tubes.
3Use of energy by moving object
If solenoid valves are de-energized during power failure, then energy consumption is reduced, but the reliability of preventing workpiece fall deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a combination of normally closed and normally open solenoid valves configured so that when both are de-energized during power failure, the air supply to both first and second pressure chambers is cut off. This preliminary design ensures that the fingers automatically return to a neutral position that prevents workpiece fall, achieving fail-safe operation without requiring additional energy consumption or complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the state parameters of the solenoid valves from energized to de-energized during power failure, and through the specific configuration of normally closed and normally open valves, this parameter change results in both valves closing their respective air supply paths. This causes pressure equalization in the pressure chambers, leading to automatic return of the chuck to a safe neutral position that prevents workpiece drop.
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
Effectively prevents workpiece fall during power failures by adjusting the gripping form, leveraging a combination of solenoid valves and adjustable rotation positions.
Implementation Method 1
a first solenoid valve connected to the first output air flow path, and a second solenoid valve connected to the second output air flow path
Data Source
AI summary
A chuck unit includes a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber disposed on both sides of a piston for driving fingers. A valve unit includes a first output air flow path connected to one of the first and second pressure chambers, a second output air flow path connected to the other thereof, a first solenoid valve connected to the first output air flow path, and a second solenoid valve connected to the second output air flow path. The first solenoid valve connects the first output air flow path to an air supply source when energized and opens the first output air flow path to atmosphere when de-energized, and the second solenoid valve opens the second output air flow path to atmosphere when energized and connects the second output air flow path to the air supply source when de-energized.