Lifting device and lifting system

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a lifting device (1) and a lifting system. The lifting device (1) comprises a base (50), a supporting assembly (10), a first transmission assembly (30), a second transmission assembly (40) and a driving assembly (20). The support assembly (10) is configured to support an object thereon and to drive the object to move in a lifting direction (L). The first transmission assembly (30) is connected to the base (50) and the support assembly (10). The second transmission assembly (40) is connected to the base (50) and the support assembly (10), wherein the first transmission assembly (30) and the second transmission assembly (40) are arranged symmetrically with respect to a virtual plane parallel to the lifting direction (L). The driving assembly (20) is connected to the first transmission assembly (30) and the second transmission assembly (40) and is configured to drive the first transmission assembly (30) and the second transmission assembly (40) to move synchronously and symmetrically relative to a virtual plane. According to the embodiment, the lifting device (1) can achieve the effects of being compact in structure and low in cost, and meanwhile the assembling performance and the structural stability are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to the industrial field, and more specifically to a lifting device and a corresponding lifting system. Background Technology

[0002] In the manufacturing industry, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) are increasingly used in various scenarios, such as parts transfer within factories or goods handling in warehouses. During the operation of an AGV, the lifting mechanism is a crucial function, enabling the convenient movement of various goods to the required positions.

[0003] Various mechanical structures can be used to achieve the lifting and lowering movement of automated guided vehicles (AGVs). However, existing structures are not space-efficient and are costly, and differences in structural details in practical applications limit the application scope of such solutions. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In general, exemplary embodiments of this disclosure provide a lifting device and a corresponding lifting system to solve existing problems and / or any potential problems.

[0005] According to a first aspect, a lifting device is provided. The lifting device includes: a base; a support assembly configured to support an object thereon and drive the object to move along a lifting direction; a first transmission assembly connected to the base and the support assembly; a second transmission assembly connected to the base and the support assembly, the first transmission assembly and the second transmission assembly being symmetrically arranged with respect to a virtual plane parallel to the lifting direction; and a drive assembly connected to the first transmission assembly and the second transmission assembly, the drive assembly being configured to drive the first transmission assembly and the second transmission assembly to move synchronously and symmetrically with respect to the virtual plane.

[0006] According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the lifting device can achieve the effects of compact structure and low cost, while improving the assemblability and structural stability of the lifting device.

[0007] In some exemplary embodiments, the first transmission assembly includes: a first pair of links having a first fixed pivot fixedly connected to the support assembly and a first pair of rollers movably connected to the base; and a second pair of links pivotally connected to the first pair of links, the second pair of links having a second fixed pivot fixedly connected to the base and a second pair of rollers movably connected to the support assembly; and the second transmission assembly includes: a third pair of links having a third fixed pivot fixedly connected to the support assembly and a third pair of rollers movably connected to the base; and a fourth pair of links pivotally connected to the third pair of links, the fourth pair of links having a fourth fixed pivot fixedly connected to the base and a fourth pair of rollers movably connected to the support assembly.

[0008] In some exemplary embodiments, the first pair of rollers and the second pair of rollers are closer to the virtual plane than the first fixed pivot and the second fixed pivot; and the third pair of rollers and the fourth pair of rollers are closer to the virtual plane than the third fixed pivot and the fourth fixed pivot.

[0009] In some exemplary embodiments, the drive assembly is connected to the first pair of links near the first pair of rollers and to the third pair of links near the third pair of rollers.

[0010] In some exemplary embodiments, the base includes a base guide rail, along which the first pair of rollers and the third pair of rollers are movable.

[0011] In some exemplary embodiments, the support assembly includes: a support body configured to support an object; and a support rail along which the second pair of rollers and the fourth pair of rollers are movable.

[0012] In some exemplary embodiments, the first fixed pivot and the first pair of rollers are disposed at opposite ends of the first pair of links; and the second fixed pivot and the second pair of rollers are disposed at opposite ends of the second pair of links.

[0013] In some exemplary embodiments, the third fixed pivot and the third pair of rollers are disposed at opposite ends of the third pair of links; and the fourth fixed pivot and the fourth pair of rollers are disposed at opposite ends of the fourth pair of links.

[0014] In some exemplary embodiments, the first pair of links and the second pair of links are hinged to each other at their middle portions via a first connecting pivot; and the third pair of links and the fourth pair of links are hinged to each other at their middle portions via a second connecting pivot.

[0015] In some exemplary embodiments, the drive assembly includes: a motor connected to a shaft and configured to drive the shaft to move linearly in two opposite directions perpendicular to the lifting direction; a first connector connected to the shaft and the first transmission assembly; and a second connector connected to the shaft and the second transmission assembly.

[0016] According to a second aspect, a lifting system is provided. The lifting system includes the lifting device described in the first aspect. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will become more readily understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, several exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are shown by way of example and not limitation, wherein:

[0018] Figure 1 A perspective view of a lifting device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; and

[0019] Figure 2 An exploded view of a lifting device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0020] In all the accompanying drawings, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The principles of this disclosure will now be described in conjunction with several exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are described for illustrative purposes only to assist those skilled in the art in understanding and implementing this disclosure, and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure in any way. This disclosure may be implemented in various ways other than those described below.

[0022] In the following description and claims, unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains.

[0023] In this disclosure, references to "an embodiment," "an exemplary embodiment," etc., indicate that the described embodiment may include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment must include that specific feature, structure, or characteristic. Furthermore, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Moreover, when a specific feature, structure, or characteristic is described in conjunction with an embodiment, it is believed that those skilled in the art can combine that feature, structure, or characteristic with other embodiments without explicit description.

[0024] It should be understood that although terms such as "first," "second," etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. Such terms are used only to distinguish one element from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the exemplary embodiments, a first element may be referred to as a second element, and similarly, a second element may be referred to as a first element. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed items.

[0025] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” used herein are also intended to include the plural forms. It should also be understood that the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and “containing,” as used herein, indicate the presence of the stated feature, element, and / or component, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0026] Various solutions have been proposed in the field of cargo handling for raising and lowering objects to the desired position. Traditional solutions mainly use screw-type or crank-rocker-type lifting mechanisms to lift and lower goods. As mentioned earlier, these traditional solutions still have many shortcomings.

[0027] For example, lead screw lifting structures have low space utilization and are limited in compact spaces. Furthermore, the processing cost of large-stroke lead screw lifting mechanisms is high. Lead screw components are typically made of alloy steel, requiring extensive heat treatment and grinding processes, resulting in high material and processing costs. Hollow-structure lead screws are difficult to process, have poor quality stability, are costly, and are difficult to withstand eccentric forces.

[0028] For crank-rocker lifting mechanisms, the large number of parts makes installation and maintenance inconvenient. Furthermore, existing crank-rocker lifting mechanisms may suffer from over-constraint issues, requiring stringent dimensional tolerances for components to ensure precise assembly. Even more problematic is the high dimensional accuracy required for components to ensure assembly, leading to significant installation and maintenance difficulties and the need for substantial driving force, especially in the initial stages, resulting in a large-volume high-torque reducer. Some lifting mechanisms employ a single scissor lever mechanism, which exhibits poor stability at the end of its stroke.

[0029] To at least address the problems existing in traditional solutions, this disclosure proposes a solution involving a lifting device and a corresponding lifting system, which significantly saves the space occupied by the lifting device and achieves higher working performance.

[0030] The following will combine Figures 1 to 2 The exemplary embodiments of this disclosure will be described in more detail, wherein Figure 1 A perspective view of the lifting device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 2 It shows Figure 1Exploded view of the lifting device 1.

[0031] The lifting device 1 generally includes a base 50, a support assembly 10, and two transmission assemblies 30 and 40 connected to the base 50 and the support assembly 10. The support assembly 10 may include a support body 11 configured to support an object (not shown) on its top surface 110. The object can be moved to a desired height using the lifting device 1. The object can be any object desired to be supported or transported by the lifting device 1, and the specific type and shape of the object are not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0032] The support assembly 10 may also include a frame 12 for connecting the two transmission assemblies 30, 40. The lifting device 1 is designed to move an object on the top surface 110 up and down in the lifting direction L. It should be understood that an object on the top surface 110 may also be lowered in the opposite direction of the lifting direction L.

[0033] The two transmission components 30 and 40 are symmetrical about a virtual plane parallel to the lifting direction L, which will be described in more detail below. The virtual plane in this article can also be understood as the center plane between the two transmission components 30 and 40.

[0034] The drive assembly 20 is fixedly mounted on the base 50 and connected to the first transmission assembly 30 and the second transmission assembly 40. The drive assembly 20 includes a motor 21. The motor 21 is connected to a shaft 22 and configured to drive the shaft 22 to rotate about its own central axis. The central axis of the shaft 22 may be perpendicular to the lifting direction L. In the illustrated embodiment, the central axis of the shaft 22 may also be considered as a normal vector parallel to the virtual plane.

[0035] from Figure 2 As can be seen, the first transmission assembly 30 may include a first pair of connecting rods 31 and a second pair of connecting rods 32, which are hinged to each other via a first connecting pivot 350. It should be understood that although the first connecting pivot 350 is shown as being located at the middle of the respective connecting rod, this is merely exemplary and not limiting. As shown, one end of the first pair of connecting rods 31 has a first fixed pivot 311, and the other end opposite the first fixed pivot 311 has a first pair of rollers 312. The first fixed pivot 311 is fixedly connected to the support assembly 10; for example, the first fixed pivot 311 can be inserted into a hole 121 in the frame 12 of the support assembly 10, allowing the first pair of connecting rods 31 to rotate relative to the support assembly 10 about the first fixed pivot 311.

[0036] The first pair of rollers 312 are movably connected to the base 50. In the illustrated embodiment, the base 50 includes a base rail 520 along which the first pair of rollers 312 can move.

[0037] from Figure 2As can be seen, one end of the second pair of connecting rods 32 has a second fixed pivot 321, and the other end opposite to the second fixed pivot 321 has a second pair of rollers 322. The second fixed pivot 321 is fixedly connected to the base 50. For example, the second fixed pivot 321 can be inserted into a hole 521 opened on the base 50, so that the second pair of connecting rods 32 can rotate relative to the base 50 about the second fixed pivot 321.

[0038] The second pair of rollers 322 is movably connected to the frame 12 of the support assembly 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame 12 includes a support rail 120 along which the second pair of rollers 322 can move.

[0039] The second transmission assembly 40 has a similar structure to the first transmission assembly 30. The second transmission assembly 40 includes a third pair of links 43 and a fourth pair of links 44, which are hinged to each other via a second connecting pivot 450. It should be understood that although the second connecting pivot 450 is shown located at the middle of the respective links, this is merely exemplary and not limiting.

[0040] The third pair of links 43 includes a third fixed pivot 431 fixedly connected to the support assembly 10 and a third pair of rollers 432 movably connected to the base 50. The fourth pair of links 44 includes a fourth fixed pivot 441 fixedly connected to the base 50 and a fourth pair of rollers 442 movably connected to the support assembly 10. The connection between the second transmission assembly 40 and the base 50 and the support assembly 10 is similar to the connection between the first transmission assembly 30 and the base 50 and the support assembly 10, and will not be described further for the sake of simplicity.

[0041] from Figures 1 to 2 As can be seen, the first pair of rollers 312 and the second pair of rollers 322 are closer to the virtual plane than the first fixed pivot 311 and the second fixed pivot 321; the third pair of rollers 432 and the fourth pair of rollers 442 are closer to the virtual plane than the third fixed pivot 431 and the fourth fixed pivot 441.

[0042] The connection relationship between the first transmission assembly 30, the second transmission assembly 40 and the drive assembly 20 will be described below.

[0043] from Figure 2As can be seen, the drive assembly 20 includes a first connector 23 and a second connector 24, both of which are connected to the shaft 22. The first connector 23 may include a first protrusion 235, and the second connector 24 may include a second protrusion 245. Correspondingly, the first pair of connecting rods 31 have a first connecting hole 315 near the first pair of rollers 312, and the third pair of connecting rods 43 have a second connecting hole 435 near the third pair of rollers 432. When the motor 21 is driven, the shaft 22 of the motor 21 can rotate about its own central axis. The drive assembly 20 is configured such that when the shaft 22 of the motor 21 is driven to rotate about its own central axis, the first connector 23 and the second connector 24 can move closer to or further away from each other. For example, when the first connector 23 moves along... Figure 2 When the first connector 23 moves to the left (in the direction of arrow A), the second connector 24 can move to the right (in the opposite direction of arrow A) to move the first connector 23 away from the second connector 24. When the first connector 23 moves to the right (in the opposite direction of arrow A), the second connector 24 can move to the left (in the direction of arrow A) to move the first connector 23 closer to the second connector 24. The first protrusion 235 can be inserted into the first connecting hole 315, and the second protrusion 245 can be inserted into the second connecting hole 435. In this way, when the shaft 22 is driven to move, the first protrusion 235 and the second protrusion 245 can drive the first pair of connecting rods 31 and the third pair of connecting rods 43 to rotate synchronously.

[0044] It should be understood that the number of transmission components is merely exemplary and does not constitute any limitation on the scope of this disclosure. In other exemplary embodiments, more transmission components may be provided, such as four, six, or even more, depending on the user's actual needs.

[0045] In the illustrated embodiment, the two transmission components 30 and 40 are identical in shape, differing only in their specific positions. In this way, the two transmission components 30 and 40 can move synchronously at the same speed. As a result, the support component 10 can remain horizontal during operation, preventing objects on it from falling off.

[0046] The following will combine Figures 1 to 2 The exemplary working process of the lifting device 1 is described in detail.

[0047] The lifting and lowering of the object is powered by the drive of motor 21. When motor 21 rotates, it drives shaft 22 to rotate around its own central axis. As a result, the first protrusion 235 of the first connecting member 23 can move in the direction of arrow A, and the second protrusion 245 of the second connecting member 24 can move in the opposite direction to arrow A. The movement of the first protrusion 235 in the direction of arrow A will drive the first pair of rollers 312 to move to the left, and the second pair of rollers 322 will move to the left accordingly, so that the first transmission assembly 30 is raised. The movement of the second protrusion 245 in the opposite direction to arrow A will drive the third pair of rollers 432 to move to the right, and the fourth pair of rollers 442 will move to the right accordingly, so that the second transmission assembly 40 is also raised. In this way, the first transmission assembly 30 and the second transmission assembly 40 can be driven to move synchronously, ensuring safe lifting and lowering. It should be understood that the above working process is described for the lifting and lowering of the object. The lowering of the object can be achieved in the opposite way. For the sake of brevity, the process of lowering the object will not be described in detail.

[0048] In the existing scheme where the second transmission component 40 completely replicates the first transmission component 30 (rather than being symmetrically arranged relative to the virtual plane), all pivots move in the same direction (e.g., the direction of arrow A) when lifting objects, and the center of gravity cannot be kept in the central plane of the lifting device 1, so the stability of the existing lifting device is poor.

[0049] In contrast, in the proposed solution in this disclosure, such as Figure 2 As shown, the first pair of rollers 312 and the second pair of rollers 322 are closer to the virtual plane than the first fixed pivot 311 and the second fixed pivot 321, and the third pair of rollers 432 and the fourth pair of rollers 442 are closer to the virtual plane than the third fixed pivot 431 and the fourth fixed pivot 441; that is, all rollers 312, 322, 432, and 442 are located inside the lifting device 1. In other words, the first transmission assembly 30 and the second transmission assembly 40 are symmetrically arranged with respect to the virtual plane that is parallel to the lifting direction L and perpendicular to arrow A. Since the first transmission assembly 30 and the second transmission assembly 40 are symmetrical with respect to this virtual plane, the center of gravity remains in the central plane of the lifting device 1 when lifting the object, therefore the lifting device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of this disclosure has excellent stability. The eight support points of the two transmission components 30 and 40 (including the first, second, third, and fourth fixed pivots 311, 321, 431, and 441, and the first, second, third, and fourth pairs of rollers 312, 322, 432, and 442) are all located at the far end of the support body 11 and the base 50, and will not move inward during the lifting process, thus ensuring the stability of the entire lifting device 1.

[0050] Furthermore, employing a pair of internal forces (action and reaction forces) to simultaneously drive the two transmission components 30 and 40 results in higher efficiency. When lifting the same object, the required driving force of the motor 21 is only half that of existing lifting devices. As a result, the size of the drive component 20 can be more compact, including the dimensions of the shaft 22, motor 21, and related transmission mechanisms, and the motor 21 requires less current. The entire lifting device 1 is more compact, less expensive, and easier to install and maintain.

[0051] According to a second aspect, a lifting system is provided. The lifting system includes the lifting device 1 described above.

[0052] Compared to traditional solutions, the exemplary embodiments according to this disclosure offer higher performance and balance. Furthermore, since the driving force of the drive components can be reduced by half, a compact and low-cost structure can be achieved, while also enabling a modular design that is easy to assemble and maintain. It should be understood that although the above disclosure describes an object transfer scenario as an example, this is merely exemplary and does not constitute a limitation on the scope of the subject matter described herein; the above embodiments can be used in other scenarios.

[0053] Furthermore, although the operations are shown in a specific order, it should not be construed as requiring that such operations must be performed in the specific order shown or sequentially, or that all shown operations must be performed to obtain the desired result. In some cases, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Similarly, although the foregoing discussion contains several specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of this disclosure, but rather as a description of the features that may be present in a particular embodiment. Certain features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment; on the other hand, various features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented individually or in any suitable sub-combination in multiple embodiments.

[0054] Although the subject matter has been described in specific language relating to structural features and / or methodological operations, it should be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or operations described above. Rather, the specific features and operations described above are disclosed only as exemplary forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

1. A lifting device (1), comprising: Base (50); A support assembly (10) configured to support an object thereon and to move the object up and down in the lifting direction (L); A first transmission assembly (30) is connected to the base (50) and the support assembly (10). The second transmission assembly (40) is connected to the base (50) and the support assembly (10), wherein the first transmission assembly (30) and the second transmission assembly (40) are symmetrically arranged with respect to a virtual plane parallel to the lifting direction (L); as well as A drive assembly (20) is connected to the first transmission assembly (30) and the second transmission assembly (40), and the drive assembly (20) is configured to drive the first transmission assembly (30) and the second transmission assembly (40) to move synchronously and symmetrically relative to the virtual plane.

2. The lifting device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission assembly (30) comprises: A first pair of connecting rods (31), the first pair of connecting rods having a first fixed pivot (311) fixedly connected to the support assembly (10), and a first pair of rollers (312) movably connected to the base (50); and The second pair of links (32) is pivotally connected to the first pair of links (31). The second pair of links (32) has a second fixed pivot (321) fixedly connected to the base (50) and a second pair of rollers (322) movably connected to the support assembly (10). The second transmission assembly (40) includes: The third pair of links (43) has a third fixed pivot (431) fixedly connected to the support assembly (10) and a third pair of rollers (432) movably connected to the base (50); and The fourth pair of links (44) is pivotally connected to the third pair of links (43). The fourth pair of links (44) has a fourth fixed pivot (441) fixedly connected to the base (50) and a fourth pair of rollers (442) movably connected to the support assembly (10).

3. The lifting device (1) according to claim 2. The first pair of rollers (312) and the second pair of rollers (322) are closer to the virtual plane than the first fixed pivot (311) and the second fixed pivot (321); and The third pair of rollers (432) and the fourth pair of rollers (442) are closer to the virtual plane than the third fixed pivot (431) and the fourth fixed pivot (441).

4. The lifting device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 3, wherein the drive assembly (20) is connected to the first pair of connecting rods (31) near the first pair of rollers (312) and to the third pair of connecting rods (43) near the third pair of rollers (432).

5. The lifting device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the base (50) includes a base guide rail (520), and the first pair of rollers (312) and the third pair of rollers (432) are movable along the base guide rail (520).

6. The lifting device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the support assembly (10) comprises: A support body (11) is configured to support the object; as well as The support rail (120) is such that the second pair of rollers (322) and the fourth pair of rollers (442) can move along the support rail (120).

7. The lifting device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the first fixed pivot (311) and the first pair of rollers (312) are disposed at opposite ends of the first pair of connecting rods (31); and The second fixed pivot (321) and the second pair of rollers (322) are located at opposite ends of the second pair of connecting rods (32).

8. The lifting device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the third fixed pivot (431) and the third pair of rollers (432) are disposed at opposite ends of the third pair of connecting rods (43); and The fourth fixed pivot (441) and the fourth pair of rollers (442) are located at opposite ends of the fourth pair of connecting rods (44).

9. The lifting device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the first pair of connecting rods (31) and the second pair of connecting rods (32) are hinged to each other at their middle portions via a first connecting pivot (350); and The third pair of links (43) and the fourth pair of links (44) are hinged to each other at their middle portions via a second connecting pivot (450).

10. The lifting device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the drive assembly (20) comprises: A motor (21) is connected to a shaft (22) and configured to drive the shaft (22) to move linearly in two opposite directions perpendicular to the lifting direction (L); A first connector (23) is connected to the shaft (22) and the first transmission assembly (30); and The second connector (24) is connected to the shaft (22) and the second transmission assembly (40).

11. A lifting system comprising a lifting device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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