Segmented Vacuum Suction Pad Structure for Stable Leak-Free Gripping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum suction pads suffer from durability issues due to friction between partition walls and springs, and they do not effectively address vacuum leakage at the lower end of cells, leading to instability and inefficiency in product suction.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum suction pad design featuring consecutively disposed suction cells with a flexible partition wall, a coaxially installed coil spring, and a pipeline flow control valve, where the spring and partition wall are spaced apart to prevent friction, and an exhaust hole communicates with the outside, ensuring stable suction through first and second suction mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a coil spring is inserted into the suction cell to prevent cell contraction, then the structural support is improved, but friction between the spring and partition wall causes wear and damage
Solution Approach 1:
A guide groove is introduced as an intermediary structure between the coil spring and partition wall. The guide groove receives and guides the coil spring, preventing direct contact and friction between the spring and partition wall while maintaining the spring's structural support function for the suction cell.
2Reliability
If multiple small-sized pads are arranged on the body to handle wide and curved surfaces, then suction stability is improved, but installation complexity increases and space utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction pad is segmented into multiple independent suction cells within a single integrated pad structure. Each suction cell can independently adapt to the product surface, providing stable suction on wide and curved surfaces while maintaining a unified pad structure that simplifies installation and improves space utilization.
3Productivity
If the partition wall is placed close to the product surface to improve suction coverage, then suction efficiency is improved, but vacuum leakage occurs at the lower end of the partition wall
Solution Approach 1:
The lower end of the partition wall is extracted or separated from direct contact with the product surface. By positioning the lower end away from the product surface, vacuum leakage is prevented while the upper portion of the partition wall maintains close proximity to the product for efficient suction coverage.
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 design enhances durability and stability by preventing friction between the partition wall and spring, maintains suction efficiency, and addresses vacuum leakage, resulting in improved overall suction performance and compact gripper configuration.
Implementation Method 1
a coil spring that is coaxially installed at a central portion in a longitudinal direction in each of the cells
Implementation Method 2
a vacuum transfer system that forcedly discharges inner air of a 'suction pad' by using a vacuum pump activated by high-speed compressed air to suction and grip a product by using a vacuum and a negative pressure
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a vacuum suction pad applied to a vacuum transfer system. The vacuum suction pad has a structure in which a plurality of suction cells are formed by flexible partition walls. The vacuum suction pad includes a coil spring that is coaxially installed at a central portion in a longitudinal direction in each of the suction cells and spaced a distance from the partition wall and a pipeline flow control valve coupled to a lower end of the spring. The suction pad is coupled with a separately provided body to constitute a vacuum gripper of the present invention, and the gripper is connected to a vacuum pump through an exhaust port defined at one side of the body.