Vacuum Generating Unit With Atmospheric Air Introducing Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vacuum generating units fail to maintain negative pressure effectively when holding a workpiece, as the atmospheric pressure supply valve remains open, leading to communication with the atmosphere and reduced compressed air supply, which hampers the holding of the workpiece.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an atmospheric air introducing valve that switches between a closed state during negative pressure generation and an open state during positive pressure release, ensuring the vacuum port communicates with the atmosphere only when the negative pressure state is canceled, thereby maintaining the negative pressure and allowing reliable workpiece holding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the atmospheric pressure supply valve is kept in an open state to enable quick release of the workpiece, then the release speed is improved, but the negative pressure cannot be maintained during workpiece holding, causing the workpiece to be released unintentionally
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the valve system into two distinct functional valves: an atmospheric pressure supply valve for quick release and a vacuum breakage valve for maintaining vacuum. This segmentation allows each valve to perform its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction between quick release capability and vacuum maintenance during holding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vacuum breakage valve as an intermediary component between the vacuum source and the atmospheric environment. This intermediary valve controls the introduction of atmospheric pressure to break the vacuum only when needed, preventing direct communication between the atmosphere and the vacuum chamber during normal operation, thus maintaining vacuum stability while enabling controlled release.
2Productivity
If the atmospheric pressure supply valve is open to allow atmosphere communication, then the vacuum can be broken quickly, but the compressed air supply is reduced, hampering the holding capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the pressure control function into two separate valves: the atmospheric pressure supply valve for introducing atmosphere and the vacuum breakage valve for maintaining compressed air supply. This segmentation ensures that the compressed air supply pathway remains closed and intact during workpiece holding, preserving the quantity of compressed air needed for reliable holding, while still enabling quick vacuum breakage when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum breakage valve acts as an intermediary that controls the introduction of atmospheric pressure without affecting the compressed air supply line. By positioning this valve in the atmospheric pressure pathway rather than the compressed air pathway, the system can break vacuum quickly by opening the atmospheric valve while the compressed air supply remains unaffected and continues to maintain holding capability.
3Reliability
If separate vacuum breakage valve and atmospheric pressure supply valve are provided, then the vacuum can be broken and atmosphere can be supplied, but the device structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the atmospheric pressure supply valve and vacuum breakage valve into a single integrated valve unit, where both functions are housed in one compact structure. This merging approach maintains the functional independence and reliability of having separate control pathways while reducing the overall device complexity by eliminating the need for two separate valve assemblies, reducing mounting space requirements, and simplifying the control system architecture.
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
This configuration maintains negative pressure during workpiece holding and allows for appropriate release of the held state, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of workpiece handling in vacuum generating units.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum generating mechanism (ejector) for generating negative pressure under an action of compressed air supplied from the supply port
Implementation Method 2
the atmospheric air introducing valve is placed in a valve closed state during a negative pressure state in which negative pressure is generated, and is placed in a valve open state during a positive pressure state in which the negative pressure state is released
Data Source
AI summary
An ejector functioning as a vacuum generating mechanism is disposed in a main body constituting a vacuum generating unit, and an atmospheric air introducing valve is disposed between the ejector and a vacuum port. The atmospheric air introducing valve is brought into a valve closed state at times when a negative pressure is generated by the ejector under a condition in which a workpiece is held by the negative pressure generated by the ejector, whereby communication between the vacuum port and the atmosphere is blocked. On the other hand, at times when the vacuum is broken, in which the negative pressure state of the vacuum port is released, the atmospheric air introducing valve is brought into a valve open state, whereby the vacuum port communicates with the atmosphere.