Vacuum tube object clamping array with conformable pads

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10350826-B2
Application number	US-201715477125-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2017
Priority date	Apr 3, 2017
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

A universal object holding mechanism for holding three-dimensional objects for printing thereon uses an array of suction cups mounted at the ends of retractable tubes. The array is pressed into an object which in turn is pressed against a datum surface that represents a print head. Vacuum is applied through the tubes to the suction cups which grip the object. The suction cup walls are hollow and filed with particulates that cause the cup to become rigid when the vacuum is applied. This contributes to keeping the object from moving due to flex in the suction cup when it is being moved past the print head.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A universal object holder for a 3-D printing system, comprising:
a vacuum manifold box, said manifold vacuum box including a front plate;
an elastomer tube position locker positioned adjacent to said front plate;
a suction array of slidably adjustable tubes adapted to slide within said vacuum manifold box and said elastomer tube position locker, said slidably adjustable tubes including deformable suction cups attached to one end thereof, and wherein said elastomer tube position locker includes fingers extending with respect to a base member such that when said vacuum manifold box is positioned on said base member said array of slidably adjustable tubes can be pushed into said vacuum manifold box without interference from said elastomer tube position locker; and
springs positioned only within said vacuum manifold box and loaded against each of said suction array of slidably adjustable tubes.

2. The universal object holder of claim 1 , including a base member, said base member including an elastomer cover.

3. The universal object holder of claim 1 , wherein lifting of said vacuum manifold box causes said elastomer tube position locker to move downward against said array of slidably adjustable tubes and provide interference there between and thereby prevent axial movement of said array of slidably adjustable tubes.

4. The universal object holder of claim 3 , including a staging surface against which an object to be printed upon by a print head is staged against, representing a datum defined by the location of the print head.

5. The universal object holder of claim 1 , wherein said deformable suction cups include a vented ring to allow vacuum to be applied into said suction cups.

6. The universal object holder of claim 5 , including a vacuum plenum connected to said vacuum manifold box, and wherein application of vacuum flow to said deformable suction cups causes said deformable suction cups to become locked by said vacuum flow to a deformed shape and angle.

7. The universal object holder of claim 6 , wherein said front plate is adapted to block said vacuum flow to individual tubes of said array of slidably adjustable tubes not contacting an object.

8. The universal object holder of claim 7 , wherein said springs rest on cap portions of said suction array of slidably adjustable tubes.

9. An apparatus for holding various object shapes in a 3-D printing system, comprising:
an array of conformable suction cups mounted at a first end of retractable tubes;
a vacuum source adapted to apply vacuum flow within said retractable tubes;
a vacuum manifold connected to said vacuum source, said vacuum manifold including a face plate and wherein said retractable tubes are slidably positioned with a portion thereof within said face plate and a second portion thereof extending outside said face plate when said retractable tubes are in a home position, and wherein said retractable tubes are adapted to extend into said vacuum manifold when said retractable tubes are pushed into an object and thereby assume an actuated position;
an elastomer tube position locker positioned adjacent said front plate of said vacuum manifold with said retractable tubes extending there through, and wherein said elastomer tube position locker is adapted to allow said retractable tubes to slide into and out of said vacuum manifold without interference when in a first position and provide interference to prevent axial movement of said retractable tubes when said elastomer tube position locker is in a second position; and
a vented ring positioned at an entrance within each of said conformable suction cups, and wherein said vented ring allows the vacuum flow within said conformable suction cups such that application of the vacuum flow to said conformable suction cups to seize the object causes said conformable suction cups to deform and become rigid and thereby hold the object.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said elastomer tube position locker is moved from said first position to said second position upon lifting of said vacuum manifold.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said elastomer tube position locker includes fingers that prevent interference between said retractable tubes and said elastomer tube position locker when in said first position.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said face plate of said vacuum manifold blocks the vacuum flow through retractable tubes that are not engaging the object.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , including springs positioned only within said vacuum manifold and biased against end caps of said retractable tubes.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said elastomer tube position locker is deformable.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , including a base onto which said vacuum manifold engages, said base including a datum member.

16. A holder for securing objects of different sizes during 3-D printing system, comprising:
a vacuum plenum;
a vacuum manifold chamber connected to said vacuum plenum, said vacuum manifold chamber including a front plate with an array of retractable tubes extending at least into said front plate;
an array of conformable suction cups mounted at a first end of each of said retractable tubes with a second end thereof adapted to receive vacuum flow from said vacuum plenum;
a vented ring within an entrance of each of said conformable suction cups, and wherein said vented ring facilitates the vacuum flow within said conformable suction cups such that application of the vacuum flow to said conformable suction cups causes said conformable suction cups to deform around an object and become rigid and thereby hold the object in place; and
a deformable locking plate positioned adjacent said front plate of said vacuum manifold chamber with said retractable tubes extending therethrough, and wherein said deformable locking plate is adapted to allow said retractable tubes to slide into and out of said vacuum manifold chamber without interference when in a first position and provide interference to prevent axial movement of said retractable tubes when said deformable locking plate is in a second position.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein said deformable locking plate is moved from said first position to said second position upon lifting of said vacuum manifold chamber.

Assignees

• Xerox Corp

Inventors

• Foley Timothy P
• Atwood Mark A
• Robles Flores Eliud
• Johnson D Clay

Classifications

• B29C64/35

  Cleaning · CPC title

• B29C64/379 Primary

  Handling of additively manufactured objects, e.g. using robots · CPC title

• B29C64/20 Primary

  Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title

• B65G47/918

  with at least two picking-up heads · CPC title

• B29C64/40

  Structures for supporting 3D objects during manufacture and intended to be sacrificed after completion thereof · CPC title