Workpiece Carrier Cladding for Coating Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing workpiece carriers in coating systems suffer from unwanted coating of discs and other parts, leading to frequent and costly cleaning and increased wear, as they are not protected from the coating process.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece carrier design featuring a cladding that covers the shaft, discs, and lower parts of holders, which is easy to mount, remove, and clean, and can also maintain spacing between successive discs, thereby preventing undesired coating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If holders are inclined outwards obliquely away from the shaft to increase coating thickness at the end face, then coating uniformity is improved, but the discs and other parts are inevitably coated requiring regular cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The workpiece carrier is divided into functional zones: the holder area that requires coating and the disc area that should remain uncoated. The cladding acts as a segmented barrier separating these zones, allowing the disc to be protected while the holder performs its coating function.
Solution Approach 2:
A cladding element is introduced as an intermediary component between the disc and the coating process. This cladding serves as a protective mediator that prevents coating material from reaching the disc surface, while allowing the coating process to proceed normally on the holders.
2Loss of time
If discs and shafts are protected from coating by complex protective structures, then cleaning frequency is reduced, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cladding is designed as a simple, inexpensive, and easily replaceable component. Rather than implementing complex permanent protective structures, the solution uses simple cladding elements that can be quickly removed and cleaned or replaced when necessary, reducing both complexity and maintenance time.
Solution Approach 2:
The cladding utilizes thin-walled cylindrical elements that provide effective protection against coating while maintaining simplicity. These thin-film-like structures are easy to manufacture, install, and remove, avoiding the need for complex heavy-duty protective mechanisms.
3Reliability
If regular cleaning of coated discs is performed to avoid damage to sensitive components, then coating uniformity is maintained, but maintenance costs and wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cladding is installed in advance to prevent coating material from reaching the disc surface in the first place. This preliminary protective action eliminates the need for subsequent cleaning operations, preventing the problem rather than treating it after it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The cladding structure serves its own protective function without requiring additional complex systems. The simple design allows for easy self-maintenance through straightforward removal and cleaning of the cladding itself, rather than requiring specialized maintenance procedures for the disc.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A plurality of discs (7) arranged along a central shaft and having holders (8) uniformly distributed over the circumference, inclined obliquely outwards and intended for workpieces are supported in each case on a ring (5) surrounding the discs (7). The successive rings (5) form an approximately cylindrical cladding which prevents undesired coating of the discs (7). The cladding has groups of openings for the holders (8) of a disc (7) which are uniformly distributed over the circumference at the same height and each of which is formed by an upper recess (14) in the ring (5) carrying the disc (7) and an adjacent lower recess (15) of the following ring. Boundary lines (17) between successive rings (5) start in each case somewhat below the narrowest points of the webs separating adjacent openings, so that the lower recesses (15) in each case do not narrow towards the edge of the ring (5) and the upper recesses (14) narrow at most slightly in such a way that the workpiece carrier can be assembled from bottom to top without difficulties.