Vacuum Rear Fixing for Polymer Component Quality Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for quality control of large-area components, such as polymer car bumpers, struggle with achieving precise and reproducible measurements due to the need for exact perpendicular alignment of the measuring device, which is challenging for components with limited stability or unstable positioning.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a fixing device that secures the component on its rear side using negative pressure, ensuring perpendicular alignment of the measuring device, combined with a cushion-shaped support element and a central inelastic support point, allowing for automated and precise measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the component is held with a simple holding device, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to component instability and misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The holding device is segmented into multiple functional elements: a holding device for basic positioning, a fixing device with negative pressure generation for stabilizing the rear side, and a cushion-shaped support element for contour adaptation. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function, achieving high measurement precision without requiring the entire system to be overly complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The cushion-shaped support element acts as an intermediary between the fixing device and the component. It adapts to the component's contour while transmitting the stabilizing force from the negative pressure system, enabling precise measurement without direct rigid contact that would complicate the system design.
2Reliability
If the component is secured with a fixing device operating by negative pressure, then the reliability of perpendicular alignment is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing device utilizes negative pressure (vacuum) to secure the rear side of the component. By creating a pressure difference between the front and back of the component, the system achieves reliable perpendicular alignment without complex mechanical clamping mechanisms, thereby improving reliability while maintaining reasonable device complexity.
3Productivity
If the measuring device is moved towards the component surface, then the productivity of measurement is improved, but the measurement precision may deteriorate if the component slips during measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The component is pre-secured to the holding device using the negative pressure fixing device before the measuring device approaches. This preliminary stabilization prevents slipping during the measurement process, allowing the measuring device to move efficiently toward the component surface without compromising measurement precision.
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
Enables precise and automated quality control by compensating for component instability, preventing slipping during measurement, and ensuring accurate alignment, facilitating fast and repeatable measurements on flexible components.
Implementation Method 1
a device for generating a negative pressure at the contact surface between the fixing surface and the component
Data Source
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Figure 3a~3d
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for external quality control of components (2), in particular polymeric external attachments for motor vehicles, by means of a measurement process, in particular a colour measurement, using a measuring instrument (3), wherein the component (2) is arranged on a holding device (4) during the measurement process and wherein the measuring instrument (3) moves closer to the outer surface of the front of the component (2) to be measured for the purpose of performing the measurement process. According to the invention, the measuring instrument (3) is moved closer to the outer surface of the component (2) in an automated manner, and during the measurement process the component (2) is additionally fixed at the rear in the region of the rear of the component that is directly adjacent to the measuring instrument (3) by means of a fixing apparatus (5), preferably one that produces an underpressure.