Vacuum Cup Mount With Bent Wall Retainer And Flexible Air Line
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Solution Overview
Problem
Previous vacuum cup mounts with bayonet couplings are expensive to manufacture due to their complex geometry, and the fixed positioning of air lines for pressurized air sources complicates their integration with modular tooling systems.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum cup mount design featuring a housing and retainer fabricated from different metals, with a bent upstanding wall securing the retainer and a bayonet coupling that allows flexible positioning of air lines, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a bayonet coupling with flange and recesses is used to allow quick disconnect, then the vacuum cup mount achieves quick and simple removability, but the complex geometry makes it expensive to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the vacuum cup mount into separate components: a housing and a retainer ring. The retainer ring is a simple annular component that can be independently manufactured and then assembled to the housing. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex integrated bayonet coupling features, reducing manufacturing complexity while preserving the quick disconnect function through simple snap-fit engagement between the retainer ring and housing.
2Reliability
If the pressurized air source is connected to the housing at a fixed location, then the vacuum cup mount provides stable connection, but the position of the air line must be considered during design, reducing adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces dynamic positioning capability for the air line connection through the retainer ring assembly. The retainer ring can be rotated or repositioned on the housing, allowing the air line connection point to be dynamically adjusted to different locations. This maintains stable connection through the retainer ring's engagement with the housing while providing flexibility in air line routing for different modular tooling configurations.
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 reduces manufacturing costs by simplifying the geometry and allows for flexible air line positioning, enhancing the vacuum cup mount's versatility and reusability within modular tooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
bending at least a portion of the generally upstanding wall so that the bent portion of the generally upstanding wall engages the upper surface of the retainer to secure the retainer with respect to the mount base
Implementation Method 2
The vacuum cup mount may house a venturi for providing vacuum pressure to the vacuum cup in response to positive pressure supplied to the venturi by a hose or air line connected to a pressurized air source
Data Source
AI summary
A method for manufacturing a vacuum cup mount including the steps of providing a housing having a mount base and a generally upstanding wall extending from the mount base, providing a retainer having an aperture that extends from an upper side of the retainer to a lower side of the retainer and a plurality of recesses formed on the lower side of the retainer in communication with the aperture, placing the retainer on the mount base so that the lower side of the retainer faces the mount base, and bending at least a portion of the generally upstanding wall so that the bent portion of the generally upstanding wall engages the upper surface of the retainer to secure the retainer with respect to the mount base.