Bellows Vacuum Pad with Restriction Member for Stable Workpiece Posture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum pads that allow for inclined workpiece suctioning often result in unstable workpiece positioning during transport, leading to swing motion and potential falling, especially at high speeds.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum pad design featuring a support member with a bellows and a restriction member that comes into the vacuum passage upon contraction, preventing inclination and ensuring stable workpiece posture through a sleeve and flange configuration, allowing close contact even with inclined surfaces and preventing deformation of fluid-containing workpieces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the pad portion is made swingable or the pad is configured as a bellows to enable inclined surface suctioning, then the ability to suction inclined workpieces is improved, but the workpiece becomes unstable and swings during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows is designed with different properties in different regions: the upper portion is relatively rigid to provide stability, while the lower portion is flexible to accommodate inclined surfaces. This local differentiation allows the pad to adapt to inclined workpieces while maintaining overall stability during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows structure transitions from a static rigid pad to a dynamic flexible structure that can change shape during operation. The bellows expands during suction to conform to inclined surfaces, then stabilizes during transport to prevent workpiece swinging, providing adaptive rigidity through controlled deformation.
2Reliability
If the bellows is made flexible to contact inclined surfaces, then close contact with workpieces is improved, but the workpiece may swing at high speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows structure provides localized flexibility where needed for surface contact while maintaining overall structural integrity. The upper portion remains relatively stable to prevent swinging at high speeds, while the lower portion flexes to ensure reliable contact with inclined workpiece surfaces.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the restriction member is added to prevent inclination, then workpiece posture stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The restriction member is integrated with the bellows structure rather than being a separate component. The flange portion engages with the bellows inner wall, combining the restriction function with the existing bellows geometry, thereby minimizing additional complexity while achieving stable workpiece posture.
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 stabilizes the workpiece posture, preventing swing motion and ensuring effective suction and transport without leaving suction marks or causing electrification, while maintaining flexibility in bending to accommodate various workpiece shapes.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum pad for suctioning a workpiece by utilizing a vacuum pressure
Implementation Method 2
the suction force is generated through the contraction of a bellows which expels the air from its interior, and the subsequent expansion of the bellows so as to create a partial vacuum within the interior
Implementation Method 3
The upper end of the cylinder is closed by an element holding a spring member biasing the cylinder in a downward direction so that valves connecting the inside of the cylinder with the vacuum passage are closed when the suction pad is not moved upwards
Data Source
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AI summary
A vacuum pad (10) suctions a workpiece (W) by utilizing a vacuum pressure, and includes a support member (12) having a vacuum passage (20) inside, a bellows (14) secured to the support member, and a restriction member (16) attached to an inner side of the bellows. When the bellows is contracted, the restriction member comes into the vacuum passage.