JP7811405B2 - Stretchable cover - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a telescopic cover, and more specifically to a telescopic cover that includes a strip shield unit.

1 to 5 show a conventional telescopic cover used to cover a processing machine (e.g., a wafer cutter, not shown) with a protective curtain and having strip shields (also called "armor") for protecting the protective curtain. As shown, the conventional telescopic cover includes a protective curtain 1 that is stretchable in the front-to-rear direction X and can be changed between an unfolded state and a folded state by this stretching, a support module 2 connected to the protective curtain 1, and a strip shield module 3 for shielding the top surface of the protective curtain 1. The protective curtain 1 includes an awning member 101 and two side curtain members 102 connected to both sides of the awning member 101 in the left-to-right direction Y. The awning member 101 has a plurality of ridges 103 that are aligned in the front-to-rear direction X of the protective curtain 1 and that each extend in the left-to-right direction Y, and a plurality of valley folds 104 that are connected between each two adjacent ridges 103. When the protective curtain 1 is in an unfolded state, the unfolded valley folds 104 form a V-shaped valley space 105 in a side view. The support module 2 includes a movable plate 201 that is arranged at the front end of the protective curtain 1 in the front-to-rear direction X, a fixed plate 202 that is arranged at the rear end of the protective curtain 1 in the front-to-rear direction X, and a plurality of rib-like supporters 203 that are arranged within the protective curtain 1 and are fixed to the corresponding ridges 103. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the strip shield module 3 includes multiple strip members (slats) 301 that are all the same shape and size, with one strip member 301 at the front end fixed to the movable plate 201, and the other strip members 301 each connected to a corresponding ridge 103 and fixed to the upper end of the corresponding supporter 203 via the ridge 103.

When processing is performed using the above configuration with a processing machine, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the movable plate 201 is moved forward to unfold the protective curtain 1 from its folded state, and the strip members 301, which were entirely overlapping when folded, are shifted forward and backward to partially overlap, covering the awning member 101 of the protective curtain 1. At this time, the supporters 203 move away from each other and support the unfolded protective curtain 1, allowing the protective curtain 1 to shield and protect mechanisms (e.g., lead screws, not shown) below the protective curtain 1, and the protective curtain 1 itself is also shielded and protected by the strip shield modules 3.

Product information (accordion) on the Nabell Corporation website (https://www.bellows.co.jp/?p=26, accessed October 11, 2023)

When the above-mentioned conventional extendable cover is deployed and used, the end of the protective curtain 1 closest to the movable plate 201 is typically closest to the tool head of the processing machine and is therefore the part that is deployed most frequently. Accordingly, in the strip shield module 3, the strip member 301 closest to the movable plate 201 is most frequently pulled and used to protect the corresponding part of the protective curtain 1. However, because each strip member 301 is configured to cover each valley space 105 one-to-one when the protective curtain 1 is deployed, if gaps are formed between adjacent strip members 301 that have been pulled so that they partially overlap, chips generated during processing can enter the valley space 105 through the gap and fall onto the protective curtain 1. These intruding chips can damage the protective curtain 1 during opening and closing, potentially causing, for example, leakage of cutting fluid (such as pure water) used in processing into the protective curtain 1 and potentially causing rust on the mechanism that is to be protected beneath the protective curtain 1.

In light of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide an expandable cover that can somehow solve these problems.

As a means for achieving the above object, the present invention comprises a protective curtain unit, a support unit, and a strip shield unit, the protective curtain unit being extendable and contractible along the front-to-rear direction so as to change between an unfolded state and a folded state, and having an awning member, the awning member having a plurality of upper ridges aligned in the front-to-rear direction and each extending in a left-to-right direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction, and a plurality of upper valley folds connected between each two adjacent upper ridges, the unfolded state of the protective curtain unit being a state in which the upper ridges are spaced apart and the upper valley folds are spread apart, forming a valley space between each of the upper valley folds, the folded state of the protective curtain unit being a state in which the upper ridges are close to each other and the upper valley folds are folded, the support unit being a movable plate provided at the front end of the protective curtain unit in the front-to-rear direction. and a plurality of supporters, the supporters being positioned below the awning member and each connected to a corresponding one of the upper ridge portions; the strip shield units being arranged to shield the upper surface of the protective curtain unit; and the protective curtain unit having an extended plate material fixed to the movable plate and a plurality of standard plate materials respectively positioned rearward of the extended plate materials in the front-to-rear direction and fixed to the corresponding supporters; when the protective curtain unit is in the deployed state, the extended plate materials shield the valley spaces formed by at least two of the upper valley folds closest to the movable plate; and each of the standard plate materials being configured to connect to the upper ridge portions on both the front and rear sides of each of the remaining upper valley folds other than the at least two upper valley folds.

By utilizing a design that combines the expanded plate material of the strip shield unit with a standard plate material, the expanded plate material is configured to cover the valley spaces formed by each of the multiple upper valley folds on the side closer to the movable plate. This allows a single expanded plate material to cover multiple valley spaces when deployed. Even if the end of the protective curtain unit closest to the movable plate is deployed most frequently, only a gap may form between the expanded plate material and one adjacent standard plate material, and this gap will not be located above the valley spaces between the multiple upper valley folds on the side closer to the movable plate. Therefore, even if chips generated during processing fall on the expanded plate material, the possibility of them getting into the valley spaces between the upper valley folds on the side closer to the movable plate is significantly reduced.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a conventional telescopic cover. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional telescopic cover. FIG. 10 is a partial side view showing a conventional stretchable cover in an expanded state. FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a conventional stretchable cover in an expanded state. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 4. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a stretchable cover of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partial side view showing the deployed state of the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the deployed state of the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 9 . FIG. 2 is a side view showing the folded state of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the folded state of the embodiment.

One embodiment of the telescopic cover 100 of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 6, 7, and 8. In this embodiment, the telescopic cover 100 includes a protective curtain unit 10, a support unit 20, and a strip shield unit 30. The telescopic cover 100 can be used to cover a processing machine (e.g., a wafer cutter, not shown).

The protective curtain unit 10 is extendable in the front-to-rear direction X between an unfolded state (see Figures 8 and 9) and a folded state (see Figures 11 and 12), and comprises an awning member 11 and two side curtain members 12. In this embodiment, the protective curtain unit 10 is formed into an accordion-like shape from a single piece of folded fabric.

The awning member 11 has multiple upper ridges 111 aligned in the front-to-rear direction X and extending in the left-to-right direction Y perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction X, and multiple upper valley folds 112 connected between each pair of adjacent upper ridges 111.

The two side curtain members 12 are connected to both sides of the awning member 11 in the left-right direction Y, i.e., the left and right sides, along the front-to-rear direction X and extend downward. Each side curtain member 12 has a plurality of side ridge portions 121 aligned in the front-to-rear direction X and corresponding to each upper ridge portion 111, and a plurality of side valley fold portions 122 corresponding to each upper valley fold portion 112 and connected between two adjacent side ridge portions 121.

As shown in Figure 8, the unfolded state of the protective curtain unit 10 is a state in which the upper ridges 111 are spaced apart, the upper valley folds 112 are unfolded, valley spaces 113 are formed between the upper valley folds 112, the side ridges 121 are spaced apart, and the side valley folds 122 are unfolded. As shown in Figure 11, the folded state of the protective curtain unit 10 is a state in which the upper ridges 111 are close to each other, the upper valley folds 112 are folded, the side ridges 121 are close to each other, and the side valley folds 122 are folded.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the support unit 20 has a movable plate 21 provided at the front end of the protective curtain unit 10 in the fore-and-aft direction X, a fixed plate 23 located at the rear end of the protective curtain unit 10 in the fore-and-aft direction X, and multiple supporters 22.

As shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10, each supporter 22 is positioned below the awning member 11 inside the protective curtain unit 10. Specifically, the upper end of each supporter 22 is connected to a corresponding upper ridge portion 111, and both ends of each supporter 22 in the left-right direction Y are connected to a corresponding side ridge portion 121 of each of the two corresponding side curtain members 12.

As shown in Figures 7, 9, and 10, the strip shield unit 30 is installed to shield the top surface of the protective curtain unit 10, and comprises multiple standard plate materials 32 and one extended plate material 31 that is larger in size than the standard plate material 32 (i.e., it has a larger area covering the protective curtain unit 10).

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the extension plate material 31 has a first mounting end 311 fixed to the movable plate 21 and a first shielding plate portion 312 extending rearward in the fore-and-aft direction X (hereinafter simply referred to as "rearward") from the first mounting end 311. The first shielding plate portion 312 has a first horizontal portion 313 connected to the first mounting end 311, a first inclined portion 314 extending rearward and downward from the first horizontal portion 313 and at an angle relative to the first horizontal portion 313, and a first cross plate portion 315 extending further rearward and downward from the first inclined portion 314 and at an angle relative to the first inclined portion 314.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, each standard plate 32 has a second mounting end 321 and a second shielding plate portion 322 extending rearward from the second mounting end 321. In each standard plate 32, the second shielding plate portion 322 has a second horizontal portion 323 connected to the second mounting end 321 and a second cross plate portion 324 extending rearward and downward from the second horizontal portion 323 and at an angle relative to the second horizontal portion 323.

When the protective curtain unit 10 is in the deployed state, the expansion plate material 31 is located above the valley spaces 113 formed by at least two upper valley folds 112 closest to the movable plate 21, shielding these valley spaces 113. Each standard plate material 32 is connected to the upper ridges 111 on both the front and rear of each of the remaining upper valley folds 112 other than the at least two, so as to shield the valley spaces 113 formed by each of the remaining upper valley folds 112 other than the at least two. Each supporter 22 is fixed to its corresponding upper ridge 111 on the underside of the protective curtain unit 10.

More specifically, in this embodiment, when the protective curtain unit 10 is in the deployed state, the extension plate material 31 shields the valley spaces 113 formed by each of the four upper valley folds 112 closest to the movable plate 21 (for the sake of specificity, these four upper valley folds 112 are labeled 112I in Figures 8 to 12), and each standard plate material 32 shields the valley spaces 113 formed by the remaining upper valley folds 112 (also labeled 112II). As a variation of this embodiment, the number of valley spaces 113 of the upper valley folds 112 (112I) shielded by the extension plate material 31 may be two, three, or more than four.

The second mounting end 321 of each standard plate material 32 is connected to the corresponding upper ridge portion 111 (also designated as 111I) located on both the front and rear sides of the remaining upper valley fold portion 112 (112II), and is fixed to the corresponding supporter 22 (also designated as 22I). In other words, each standard plate material 32 is fixed to the corresponding supporter 22 (22I) via the corresponding upper ridge portion 111 (111I).

As shown in Figures 9 and 10, when the protective curtain unit 10 is in the deployed state, the first mounting end 311 of the extension plate member 31 is spaced from the second mounting end 321 of one standard plate member 32 closest to the extension plate member 31, the first bridge plate portion 315, which is part of the first shielding plate portion 312 of the extension plate member 31, overlaps so as to abut on the second horizontal portion 323 of the second shielding plate portion 322 of the one standard plate member 32, the second mounting ends 321 of two adjacent standard plate members 32 are spaced from each other, the rear ends of the second bridge plate portions 322 of the second shielding plate portions 322 of two adjacent standard plate members 32 are spaced from each other, and the second shielding plate portions 322 of each standard plate member 32 partially overlap. More specifically, between two adjacent standard plate members 32, the second cross plate portion 324 of the second shielding plate portion 322 of the front standard plate member 32 overlaps the second horizontal portion 323 of the second shielding plate portion 322 of the rear standard plate member 32.

On the other hand, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, when the protective curtain unit 10 is in the folded state, the first mounting end 311 of the extension plate 31 is adjacent to the second mounting end 321 of one standard plate 32 closest to the extension plate 31, the first shielding plate portion 312 of the extension plate 31 is located on top of the second shielding plate portions 322 of the multiple standard plate members 32 closest to the extension plate 31, the second mounting ends 321 of two adjacent standard plate members 32 are adjacent to each other, the rear ends of the second cross plate portions 324 of the second shielding plate portions 322 of the two standard plate members 32 are adjacent to each other, and the second shielding plate portions 322 of each standard plate member 32 overlap each other.

With the above configuration, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, when processing work is performed using a processing machine, the movable plate 21 is moved forward, and the originally overlapping extension plate material 31 and each standard plate material 32 are sequentially shifted forward and backward, opening the protective curtain unit 10 from its folded state (Figures 11 and 12) to its unfolded state, allowing the awning member 11 of the protective curtain unit 10 to cover the processing machine. At this time, the supporters 22 are also moved away from each other, supporting the unfolded protective curtain unit 10. This not only provides protection for the mechanisms (such as lead screws, not shown) shielded by the protective curtain unit 10, but also provides the effect of protecting the awning member 11 of the protective curtain unit 10 using the extension plate material 31 and standard plate material 32 of the strip shield unit.

The advantages of the above embodiment obtained through the above configuration can be roughly summarized as follows:

First, by utilizing a design that combines the extended plate material 31 and standard plate material 32 of the strip shield unit 30, the extended plate material 31 directly covers the valley spaces 113 formed by each of the multiple upper valley folds 112 (112I) on the side closer to the movable plate 21, so that a single extended plate material 31 can cover multiple valley spaces 113. Even if the end of the protective curtain unit 10 closest to the movable plate 21 is most frequently deployed, only a gap may be formed between the extended plate material 31 and one adjacent standard plate material 32, and this gap that may be formed will not be located above the valley spaces 113 of the multiple upper valley folds 112 (112I) on the side closer to the movable plate 21. Therefore, compared to conventional technology, the above embodiment significantly reduces the likelihood of chips and other debris generated during processing falling onto the expansion plate material 31 entering the valley space 113 of the upper valley fold 112 (112I) closest to the movable plate 21, thereby preventing damage to the protective curtain unit 10 by chips and other debris during the opening and closing process of the protective curtain unit 10.

Secondly, the first shielding plate portion 312 of the extended plate material 31 of the strip shield unit 30 is designed so that the first inclined portion 314 extends diagonally rearward and downward from the first horizontal portion 313, and the first bridge plate portion 315 extends diagonally rearward and downward from the first inclined portion 314. Therefore, when the protective curtain unit 10 is in the deployed state, the first bridge plate portion 315 of the extended plate material 31 is always in contact with and elastically presses against an adjacent standard plate material 32, thereby allowing the extended plate material 31 to be firmly superimposed on the adjacent standard plate material 32.

Thirdly, by forming the extended plate members 31 of the strip shield unit 30 to a size that is larger than each of the standard plate members 32, for example, to a size that is large enough to cover the four upper valley folds 112 closest to the movable plate 21 as in the above embodiment, when the protective curtain unit 10 is in the folded state, some of the standard plate members 32 are shielded and protected by the extended plate members 31, reducing the possibility of external foreign objects entering between the standard plate members 32.

As described above, the retractable cover of the present invention effectively reduces the possibility of chips generated during processing entering the valley space 113 of the upper valley fold 112 on the side closest to the movable plate 21, which is a part of the protective curtain unit 10 that is particularly frequently used, and therefore reliably achieves the objectives of the present invention.

In the foregoing, numerous specific details are set forth to facilitate a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. While preferred embodiments and variations of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto and is intended to encompass all modifications and equivalents within the broadest spirit and scope of the present invention.

The retractable cover of the present invention can cover and protect processing machinery, and can also prevent chips and debris generated during processing from scattering, making it industrially useful.

100 Stretchable cover 10 Protective curtain unit 11 Awning member 111 Upper ridge portion 112 Upper valley fold portion 113 Valley space 12 Side curtain member 121 Side ridge portion 122 Side valley fold portion 20 Support unit 21 Movable plate 22 Supporter 23 Fixed plate 30 Strip shield unit 31 Expansion plate material 311 First mounting end portion 312 First shielding plate portion 313 First horizontal portion 314 First inclined portion 315 First cross plate portion 32 Standard plate material 321 Second mounting end portion 322 Second shielding plate portion 323 Second horizontal portion 324 Second cross plate portion X Front-rear direction Y Left-right direction

Claims (3)

The protective curtain unit includes a support unit and a strip shield unit.
the protective curtain unit is extendable and contractable along the front-to-rear direction so as to change between an unfolded state and a folded state, and includes an awning member, the awning member having a plurality of upper ridges aligned in the front-to-rear direction and each extending in a left-to-right direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction, and a plurality of upper valley folds connected between each two adjacent upper ridges, the unfolded state of the protective curtain unit being a state in which the upper ridges are spaced apart and the upper valley folds are spread apart, with valley spaces formed by each of the upper valley folds, and the folded state of the protective curtain unit being a state in which the upper ridges are close to each other and the upper valley folds are folded up,
The support unit has a movable plate provided at the front end of the protective curtain unit in the front-rear direction and a plurality of supporters, the supporters being arranged below the awning members and each connected to a corresponding one of the upper ridge portions;
the strip shield unit is provided to shield the upper surface of the protective curtain unit, and includes an extended plate material fixed to the movable plate, and a plurality of standard plate materials each disposed rearward of the extended plate material in the front-to-rear direction and fixed to the corresponding supporter, wherein when the protective curtain unit is in the deployed state, the extended plate material shields the valley spaces formed by at least two of the upper valley folds closest to the movable plate, and each of the standard plate materials is configured to connect to the upper ridge portions on both the front and rear sides of each of the remaining upper valley folds other than the at least two upper valley folds ,
the extension plate member has a first mounting end portion fixed to the movable plate and a first shielding plate portion extending rearward in the front-rear direction from the first mounting end portion,
Each of the standard plates has a second mounting end and a second shielding plate portion extending rearward in the front-rear direction from the second mounting end,
When the protective curtain unit is in the deployed state, the first mounting end of the extended plate is spaced from the second mounting end of one of the standard plates closest to the extended plate, the first shielding plate portion of the extended plate partially overlaps the second shielding plate portion of the closest one of the standard plates, the second mounting ends of two adjacent standard plates are spaced from each other, the rear ends of the second shielding plate portions of two adjacent standard plates are spaced from each other, and the second shielding plate portions of the standard plates partially overlap each other,
When the protective curtain unit is in the folded state, the first mounting end of the extension plate is adjacent to the second mounting end of one of the standard plates closest to the extension plate, the first shielding plate portion of the extension plate is located above the second shielding plate portions of the plurality of standard plates closer to the extension plate, the second mounting end portions of two adjacent standard plates are adjacent to each other, rear ends of the second shielding plate portions of two adjacent standard plates are adjacent to each other, and the second shielding plate portions of the standard plates overlap each other,
the first shielding plate portion has a first horizontal portion connected to the first mounting end portion, a first inclined portion extending rearward and downward from the first horizontal portion and oblique to the first horizontal portion, and a first bridge plate portion extending rearward and downward from the first inclined portion and oblique to the first inclined portion,
In each of the standard plates, the second shielding plate portion has a second horizontal portion connected to the second mounting end portion, and a second cross plate portion extending rearward and downward from the second horizontal portion and inclined relative to the second horizontal portion.
Stretchable cover. The protective curtain unit further includes two side curtain members, which are connected to both sides of the awning member in the left-right direction along the front-to-rear direction and extend downward, and each of the side curtain members has a plurality of side ridge portions that are aligned in the front-to-rear direction and adjacent to the upper ridge portion of the awning member, and a plurality of side valley fold portions that are adjacent to each of the upper valley fold portions of the awning member and connected between two adjacent side ridge portions, and both ends of each of the supporters in the left-to-right direction are each connected to a corresponding one of the side ridge portions of the two side curtain members.
The stretchable cover of claim 1 . The support unit further includes a fixing plate provided at a rear end of the protective curtain unit in the front-to-rear direction.
The stretchable cover of claim 1 .