Mechanical automatic track alignment device for four-way shuttles

Abstract

This invention discloses a mechanical automatic track alignment device for a four-way shuttle, comprising a mounting plate with mounting holes, through which a rotating shaft is mounted via a bearing assembly; a reversing gear is fixedly mounted at one end of the rotating shaft, and a reversing plate is mounted at the other end of the rotating shaft, one end of which is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft, and the other end of which is equipped with one or two guide wheels, the axles of which are arranged perpendicular to the rotating shaft; a spur rack is also provided, meshing with the reversing gear; this device serves both a guiding function and an adjustment function for the position of the four-way shuttle, ensuring the stability of the four-way shuttle during its movement in the main and auxiliary tunnels.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of warehousing and logistics machinery and equipment technology, and in particular to a mechanical track automatic alignment device for a four-way shuttle. Background Technology

[0002] The four-way shuttle is an advanced automated material handling equipment that can travel along longitudinal or transverse tracks on intersecting tracks to reach any designated location in the warehouse. It is not limited by the site and can adapt to various working environments. The terminal can be freely scheduled to achieve fully automated unattended operation. It has the advantages of high automation, saving manpower and time, convenient and fast operation, and improving work efficiency, and its use is becoming more and more widespread.

[0003] To achieve efficient and flexible operation of four-way shuttles across tracks, high precision in track installation and accurate positioning of the shuttles are required. Currently, due to significant errors in rack track installation or inaccurate positioning control, existing four-way shuttles experience wheel rim riding on the track during reversal, leading to cargo tilting or collisions with racks and disrupting continuous operation. Furthermore, while guide wheels are present when the shuttle moves from the main aisle into a sub-aisle, these wheels often remain a certain distance from the sub-aisle track during track changes, causing misalignment and potential derailment or collisions. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to address the above-mentioned issues by providing a mechanical automatic track alignment device for a four-way shuttle. This automatic alignment device solves the problem of derailment and track riding of the four-way shuttle during operation through a simple mechanical structure design.

[0005] The specific solution of the present invention is as follows: a mechanical track automatic alignment device for a four-way shuttle car, having a mounting plate with mounting plate holes, in which a rotating shaft is mounted via a bearing assembly; a reversing gear is fixedly mounted at one end of the rotating shaft, and a reversing plate is mounted at the other end of the rotating shaft, one end of the reversing plate being fixedly connected to the rotating shaft, and the other end of the reversing plate being equipped with one or two guide wheels, the axles of which are arranged perpendicular to the rotating shaft; a straight rack is also provided, the straight rack meshing with the reversing gear, and the straight rack being connected to the lifting and reversing mechanism of the four-way shuttle car via rack bolts.

[0006] Furthermore, the mounting plate hole in this invention is an oblong hole; the bearing assembly includes a bearing housing and a rolling bearing, wherein the bearing housing is inserted into the oblong hole, and the bearing housing is fixed to the mounting plate by bearing housing bolts and nuts passing through the oblong hole.

[0007] Furthermore, the bearing housing of the present invention is provided with a protruding plate on the front side, and at least two adjusting bolts and matching locking nuts are connected to the side of the protruding plate. The adjusting bolts are mounted on the mounting plate, and the front end of the adjusting bolts is connected to the protruding plate. The protruding plate is moved horizontally under the action of the adjusting bolts.

[0008] Furthermore, in this invention, an elastic retaining ring for a hole is provided at the connection between the rolling bearing and the bearing housing.

[0009] Furthermore, the flipping plate in this invention is a trapezoidal plate, wherein the narrow end is connected to the rotating shaft and the wide end is connected to the guide wheel. The guide wheel is equipped with a threaded axle, which is threadedly tightened onto the flipping plate.

[0010] Furthermore, in this invention, the flip plate and the flip gear are respectively connected to the rotating shaft via a flat key.

[0011] Furthermore, the mounting plate described in this invention has an L-shaped corner plate structure in cross-section.

[0012] The present invention has the following advantages:

[0013] 1. This invention adopts a commonly used gear and rack transmission structure, which is simple, compact, and easy to install.

[0014] 2. The power source in this invention is the power of the four-way shuttle lifting mechanism to achieve gear and rack transmission. When the four-way shuttle lifting mechanism rises from the lowest position to the highest position, the rack drives the flipping gear to rotate 180°. During the flipping process, the alignment and centering of the vehicle body are achieved without the need for additional power or additional costs.

[0015] 3. This device serves both as a guide and as an adjustment mechanism for the position of the four-way shuttle, ensuring the stability of the four-way shuttle as it travels through the main roadway.

[0016] 4. This invention ensures that during the switching process between the main roadway and the sub-roadway, the guide wheel also rolls on the side wall of the track as it rises and falls, thus realizing the switching and alignment from the main roadway to the sub-roadway, ensuring the smooth and stable operation of the shuttle car when it enters the sub-roadway. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the first state structure of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the second state structure of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the third state structure of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the application of the present invention in a four-way shuttle.

[0022] In the figure: 1—mounting plate, 2—protruding plate, 3—rotating shaft, 4—reversing gear, 5—straight rack, 6—reversing plate, 7—guide wheel, 8—rack mounting threaded hole, 9—bearing seat, 10—locking nut, 11—adjusting bolt, 12—mounting plate hole, 13—elastic retaining ring for hole, 14—rolling bearing, 15—flat key, 16—four-way shuttle rack, 17—sub-track, 18—car body frame, 19—main aisle traveling wheel assembly, 20—sub-aisle traveling wheel assembly, 21—automatic track alignment device of the present invention, 22—main track. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present invention. In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," "inner," "outer," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly used when the product of the invention is in use. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention or simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed or operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

[0024] In the description of this invention, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "set," "install," and "connect" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0025] See Figures 1-4This invention relates to a mechanical automatic track alignment device for a four-way shuttle, comprising a mounting plate 1 with mounting plate holes 12. A rotating shaft 3 is mounted in the mounting plate holes via a bearing assembly. A reversing gear 4 is fixedly mounted at one end of the rotating shaft, and a reversing plate 6 is mounted at the other end. One end of the reversing plate is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft, and the other end of the reversing plate is equipped with one or two guide wheels 7, the axles of which are arranged perpendicular to the rotating shaft. A rack 5 is also provided, meshing with the reversing gear, and the rack is connected to the lifting and reversing mechanism of the four-way shuttle via rack bolts. Further, the mounting plate holes in this invention are oblong holes; the bearing assembly includes a bearing seat 9 and a rolling bearing 14, wherein the bearing seat is inserted into the oblong hole and fixed to the mounting plate via bearing seat bolts and nuts passing through the oblong hole. Furthermore, the bearing housing of the present invention is provided with a protruding plate 2 on its front side. At least two adjusting bolts 11 and locking nuts 10 are connected to the side of the protruding plate. The adjusting bolts are mounted on the mounting plate, and the front ends of the adjusting bolts are connected to the protruding plate. The protruding plate moves horizontally under the action of the adjusting bolts. Furthermore, an elastic retaining ring 13 for holes is provided at the connection between the rolling bearing and the bearing housing of the present invention.

[0026] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the flipping plate is a trapezoidal plate, with the narrow end connected to the rotating shaft and the wide end connected to the guide wheel. The guide wheel is equipped with a threaded axle, which is threadedly tightened onto the flipping plate. Furthermore, in this invention, the flipping plate and the flipping gear are respectively connected to the rotating shaft via a flat key 15. Furthermore, in this invention, the mounting plate has an L-shaped angle plate structure in cross-section.

[0027] See Figure 5 The automatic track alignment device 21 of the present invention is mounted on the frame of the four-way shuttle car. The rack is mounted on the frame of the four-way shuttle car lifting and reversing mechanism and meshes with the flipping gear. The rack moves synchronously with the frame of the four-way shuttle car lifting and reversing mechanism as it rises and falls, thereby driving the flipping gear to rotate. The rotating gear then drives the flipping plate to rotate through the rotating shaft, thereby causing the guide wheel with the threaded shaft mounted on it to rotate. This can effectively adapt to the switching of the main roadway travel wheel state of the four-way shuttle car.

[0028] In this invention, the meshing clearance between the reversing gear and the spur rack can be adjusted by adjusting the bolt. After adjustment, it can be locked by locking the nut to ensure normal and stable transmission of the reversing gear and the spur rack.

[0029] The automatic track alignment device of this invention has three states. State 1: The four-way shuttle travels on the main roadway, and the tilting plate is vertically downward. At this time, the guide wheel with the threaded shaft is tangent to the side of the main track in the main roadway, which can play a guiding role and ensure that the four-way shuttle travels in a straight line on the main track without riding on the track. Figure 1 State 2: When the four-way shuttle changes direction, the main tunnel traveling wheels leave the main tunnel track. At this time, the lifting and reversing mechanism moves the main tunnel traveling wheel assembly away from the main track. Simultaneously with the lifting and lowering action, the rack and pinion drives the tilting gear, which in turn drives the tilting plate. As the tilting plate tilts, it drives the threaded guide wheel to rotate 90° counterclockwise (or clockwise) to the horizontal direction. If, at this time, the four-way shuttle's sub-tunnel traveling wheels are not aligned with the sub-tunnel track due to driving positioning errors, the threaded guide wheel will apply a certain force to the side of the reversing track when it rotates, forcing the four-way shuttle to move to the left (or right) in the sub-tunnel, so that the sub-tunnel traveling wheels are aligned with the sub-tunnel track. This prevents the four-way shuttle from deviating as soon as it enters the sub-tunnel track, ensuring that the four-way shuttle's sub-tunnel traveling wheels can normally enter the sub-tunnel track. Figure 2 State 3: When the four-way shuttle picks up goods on the sub-track, as the frame of the four-way shuttle's lifting and reversing mechanism rises, it drives the tilting plate to rotate, thereby causing the threaded guide wheel mounted on it to rotate 90° counterclockwise (or clockwise) to vertically upward. Figure 3 When the four-way shuttle enters the main roadway from the sub-track, as the four-way shuttle changes direction, the automatic alignment device flip plate rotates clockwise (or counterclockwise) to vertically downward. If, at this time, the four-way shuttle's main roadway wheels are not aligned with the main roadway track due to a positioning error, the guide wheel with the threaded shaft will apply a certain force to the side of the main track, forcing the four-way shuttle to move forward (or backward) towards the sub-track, aligning the main roadway wheels with the main roadway track. Through the guidance of the guide wheel, the four-way shuttle is prevented from deviating from its course on the main roadway track.

[0030] This invention employs a common rack and pinion transmission structure, which is simple, compact, and easy to install. The power source in this invention utilizes the power of the four-way shuttle lifting mechanism to achieve rack and pinion transmission. When the four-way shuttle lifting mechanism rises from its lowest position to its highest position, the spur rack drives the rotating gear to rotate exactly 180°. During the rotation process, the alignment and centering of the shuttle body are achieved without requiring additional power or additional costs. This device serves both a guiding function and the function of adjusting the position of the four-way shuttle, ensuring the stability of the four-way shuttle during its movement in the main and auxiliary tunnels.

Claims

1. A mechanical track automatic alignment device for a four-way shuttle, characterized in that: It has a mounting plate with mounting holes, through which a rotating shaft is mounted via a bearing assembly. One end of the rotating shaft is fixedly fitted with a reversing gear, and the other end is fitted with a reversing plate. One end of the reversing plate is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft, and the other end of the reversing plate is fitted with one or two guide wheels, the axles of which are arranged perpendicular to the rotating shaft. A rack is also provided, which meshes with the reversing gear and is connected to the lifting and reversing mechanism of the four-way shuttle by rack bolts.

2. The mechanical track automatic alignment device for a four-way shuttle as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The mounting plate has an oblong hole; the bearing assembly includes a bearing housing and a rolling bearing, wherein the bearing housing is inserted into the oblong hole and is fixed to the mounting plate by bearing housing bolts and nuts passing through the oblong hole.

3. The mechanical track automatic alignment device for a four-way shuttle as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The front side of the bearing housing is provided with a protruding plate. At least two adjusting bolts and matching lock nuts are connected to the side of the protruding plate. The adjusting bolts are mounted on the mounting plate, and the front end of the adjusting bolts is connected to the protruding plate. The protruding plate moves horizontally under the action of the adjusting bolts.

4. The mechanical track automatic alignment device for a four-way shuttle as described in claim 2, characterized in that: A retaining ring with a hole is installed at the connection between the rolling bearing and the bearing housing.

5. The mechanical track automatic alignment device for a four-way shuttle as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The flip plate is a trapezoidal plate, with the narrow end connected to the rotating shaft and the wide end connected to the guide wheel. The guide wheel is equipped with a threaded axle, which is threadedly tightened onto the flip plate.

6. The mechanical track automatic alignment device for a four-way shuttle as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The flip plate and the flip gear are respectively connected to the rotating shaft via flat keys.

7. The mechanical track automatic alignment device for a four-way shuttle as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The mounting plate has an L-shaped corner plate structure in cross-section.

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