Vacuum Clamping Fixture for Wrinkle-Free Flexible Flat Cables
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing devices for flexible flat cables or flexible printed circuit boards face challenges such as movement during clamping, wrinkles, warping, or deflection, which require manual handling and readjustment.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device with a support platform and a fixture that includes a vacuum chamber with suction holes to securely hold the flexible flat piece in place, preventing movement and distortion during clamping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual handling is used to hold the flexible flat cable during clamping, then the cable can be prevented from moving, but the operation complexity increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical holding system with a vacuum suction system. The vacuum chamber creates negative pressure to automatically hold the flexible flat cable in position during clamping, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining position stability and improving operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum suction system enables the flexible flat cable to hold itself in position through vacuum adhesion. The cable is automatically secured by the vacuum force generated in the chamber, without requiring external manual support, thus improving productivity while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If manual holding is used during clamping, then movement can be prevented, but the process time increases due to readjustment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum suction system replaces manual holding mechanisms, providing automatic and stable clamping that prevents cable movement throughout the process. This eliminates the need for readjustment operations, reducing time loss while maintaining clamping stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum suction is activated before the clamping operation begins, securing the flexible flat cable in its proper position in advance. This preliminary positioning prevents movement during clamping and eliminates the need for subsequent readjustment, reducing process time while ensuring stability.
3Device complexity
If conventional clamping is used without vacuum fixation, then the device structure is simpler, but the flexible flat piece is prone to wrinkles and warping
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum chamber acts as an intermediary between the clamping fixture and the flexible flat cable. It provides uniform distribution of clamping force across the cable surface, preventing localized pressure points that cause wrinkles and warping, thereby improving manufacturing precision while adding only moderate structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical contact clamping with vacuum suction fixation. This substitution distributes the holding force uniformly across the entire surface of the flexible flat cable through the vacuum field, preventing deformation and maintaining flatness quality.
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 device ensures stable and efficient clamping of flexible flat pieces by preventing movement and distortion, simplifying the clamping process and improving efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A vacuum chamber is formed in the support platform, and multiple vacuum suction holes are formed in the top wall of the vacuum chamber; the vacuum suction holes are used to adsorb the flexible flat piece on the top surface of the support platform
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses a fixing device for a fixing flexible flat piece. The fixing device comprises of a support platform (1) for supporting the flexible flat piece (7); and a fixture (2) for clamping the flexible flat piece (7) onto the support platform (1). A vacuum chamber (10) is formed in the support platform (1), and multiple vacuum suction holes (11) are formed in the top wall of the vacuum chamber (10); the vacuum suction holes (11) are used to adsorb the flexible flat piece (7) on the top surface of the support platform (1) to prevent the flexible flat piece (7) from being moved during it is clamped by the fixture (2). In the present invention, the flexible flat piece is vacuum adsorbed on the top surface of the support platform. Therefore, the flexible flat piece will not move, wrinkle, warp or deflect during the clamping process, making the clamping operation of the flexible flat piece very simple and easy, which can greatly improve the clamping efficiency.