Shoe Tilting Mechanism for Workpiece Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
In processing devices with shoe-type workpiece supporting devices, misalignment between the workpiece and the shoe can lead to shoe scratches on the workpiece's outer circumferential surface due to manufacturing or assembling errors, which are difficult to prevent without compromising the shoe's lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece supporting device with a compliant structure, such as an anisotropic elastic portion or a swing supporting structure, that tilts or adjusts the shoe to maintain surface contact with the workpiece despite tilting, preventing shoe scratches by providing flexible support in the direction of tilting and rigid support in other directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If means for softening a material of a shoe are employed to inhibit shoe scratches, then shoe scratches are inhibited, but amount of wear of the shoe increases and lifespan of the shoe is shortened
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the structural parameters of the shoe by introducing a compliant structure portion with specific rigidity characteristics. The shoe maintains its original material properties while gaining adaptive tilting capability through the compliant structure, allowing it to accommodate misalignment without increasing material softness or wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The shoe transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic compliant structure that can tilt in accordance with workpiece tilting. This dynamic adaptation allows the shoe to maintain surface contact with the workpiece even when misalignment occurs, preventing shoe scratches without compromising the shoe's material strength or lifespan.
2Manufacturing precision
If misalignment between workpiece and shoe occurs due to manufacturing or assembling errors, then positioning accuracy deteriorates, but shoe scratches are generated on the workpiece surface
Solution Approach 1:
The compliant structure portion enables the shoe to dynamically adjust its orientation by tilting in response to workpiece tilting. This dynamic compensation mechanism allows the shoe to maintain proper contact orientation even when manufacturing or assembling errors cause initial misalignment, preventing shoe scratches without requiring higher manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The shoe structure itself provides the compensation function through its compliant structure portion, which automatically tilts to accommodate workpiece misalignment. This self-adjusting mechanism eliminates the need for external adjustment mechanisms or higher precision manufacturing, as the shoe autonomously compensates for alignment errors.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid support structure is used for the shoe, then positioning stability is improved, but adaptability to workpiece tilting is reduced causing shoe scratches
Solution Approach 1:
The shoe structure implements local quality differentiation by having the supporting body portion provide rigid support for stability, while the compliant structure portion provides flexible tilting capability for adaptability. This localized functional differentiation allows the shoe to simultaneously achieve both positioning stability and adaptability to workpiece tilting without compromising either characteristic.
Solution Approach 2:
The shoe is segmented into functionally distinct portions: a supporting body that provides rigid structural support and positioning stability, and a compliant structure portion that provides flexible tilting adaptability. This segmentation allows each portion to optimize its specific function while working together as an integrated whole, resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability.
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 solution effectively inhibits shoe scratches on the workpiece's outer surface, allowing for high-speed processing without additional removal steps and ensuring stable positioning, thus extending the shoe's lifespan and reducing processing time.
Implementation Method 1
the compliant structure portion is configured of an anisotropic elastic portion having deflection rigidity in an axial direction of the workpiece which is smaller than deflection rigidity in the circumferential direction of the workpiece
Implementation Method 2
a tip surface of a main shaft (a backing plate) magnetically attracted to an axial side surface of the workpiece 1
Data Source
AI summary
A workpiece supporting device (6) includes a base stand (10), a shoe (11) which is disposed on at least one place in a circumferential direction of a workpiece (1a) that is rotationally driven using a rotary drive device (4) and is in sliding contact with a circumferential surface of the workpiece (1a), and a supporting body (12) which supports the shoe (11) with respect to the base stand (10). The supporting body (12) includes a compliant structure portion (a leaf spring (14)) which tilts the shoe (11) in accordance with tilting of the workpiece (1a) with respect to the base stand (10).