Vacuum Support Member with Variable Recess for Flexible Workpiece Clamping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Standard vacuum clamping tools are ineffective for flexible workpieces like electronics substrates, as the edges tend to lift up due to insufficient clamping, and increasing pressure or vacuum is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A support member with a recessed design that creates a lower pressure zone at the edges and a higher pressure zone in the center, ensuring the edges are clamped tightly while maintaining planarity, using a planar support surface with internal cavities and ports connected to a vacuum source, and optionally incorporating a resilient gasket for enhanced pressure control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard vacuum clamping is applied to flexible workpieces, then the central portion is adequately supported, but the edges are insufficiently clamped and lift up
Solution Approach 1:
The recess width varies along its length, being narrower at the edges (proximate the periphery of the clamping zone) and wider in the central portion. This creates different vacuum pressure zones: enhanced low pressure at the edges for tight clamping, and higher standard pressure in the center, thereby improving both edge clamping effectiveness and overall workpiece planarity without requiring increased vacuum pressure throughout the entire clamping zone
2Reliability
If lower pressure or greater vacuum is applied to improve edge clamping, then edge clamping improves, but cost and inefficiency increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying greater vacuum pressure across the entire clamping zone, the recess geometry creates localized enhanced low pressure regions at the edges through its narrower width configuration. This allows effective edge clamping to be achieved without increasing the vacuum pressure setting, thereby maintaining clamping efficiency and avoiding the increased cost and inefficiency associated with higher vacuum levels
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 improves the planarity and secure clamping of flexible substrates, particularly at the edge regions, by uniformly distributing pressure and preventing edge lift during processing operations like screen printing.
Implementation Method 1
a region of enhanced low pressure is created in a region proximate the edges of the clamping zone, such that the edges of a workpiece are subjected to this lower pressure
Implementation Method 2
Vacuum clamping of workpieces, such as electronics substrates, is well known per se. Such clamping enables operations, such as screen printing, to be carried out on the workpiece while preventing movement thereof
Data Source
AI summary
Clamping of edges of flexible workpieces to a support surface is improved by creating a region of reduced pressure proximate the edges, by shaping air conduits so that they narrow in the edge regions.