Drive mechanism and handling device

Abstract

Drive mechanism comprising: a base; a support assembly mounted on the base; the support assembly comprising a first support bearing, a second support bearing, and an axial fastener; and a power assembly comprising a drive motor and a drive screw, wherein the drive motor is mounted on the base; wherein one end of the drive screw is provided with a connecting end and a first supporting portion proximate the connecting end; wherein the other end of the drive screw is provided with a second supporting portion; wherein the connecting end is connected to an output end of the drive motor, wherein the first supporting bearing is mounted on the first supporting portion; wherein the second supporting bearing is mounted on the second supporting portion, wherein the axial fastening element and the second supporting portion cooperate to provide axial limitation of the drive screw.

Description

Cross-reference to related applications

[0001] This application refers to Chinese Patent Application No. 202222918036.0 filed on October 31, 2022, for which the claim is made. Technical field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of handling devices and in particular to a drive mechanism and a handling device. State of the art

[0003] The forks of a handling device can reach the bottom of a rack. A lifting drive mechanism is used to raise the rack and enable material transport. Such devices are often used to convey material racks and material carts, which can effectively reduce labor costs and reduce the physical strain on operators.

[0004] The lifting drive mechanism of a handling device typically requires a scissor arm to be driven via the threaded transmission between a drive screw and a threaded transmission element to enable the corresponding movement of the device. However, in related engineering, the support and fixing mechanism of the drive screw often causes the drive screw to shift during the feed process. This compromises structural reliability and leads to undesirable axial length increase. Description of the invention

[0005] The present disclosure relates to a drive mechanism and a handling device by which the disadvantages of the prior art are to be overcome.

[0006] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the disclosure, a drive mechanism is provided comprising: a base, a support assembly arranged on the base, the support assembly comprising a first support bearing, a second support bearing, and an axial fastening element; and a drive unit having a drive motor and a drive screw, the drive motor being mounted on the base. One end of the drive screw has a connecting end and a first mating portion for support near the connecting end. The opposite end of the drive screw is provided with a second mating portion for support. The connecting end is coupled to the output end of the drive motor. The first support bearing is attached to the first mating portion, and the second support bearing is attached to the second mating portion.The axial fastening element is designed to fix the drive screw in the axial direction to the second counter section.

[0007] Optionally, the drive motor comprises a motor housing and a connecting cable harness, wherein the motor housing has an axially extending mounting recess. The connecting cable harness extends from the mounting recess in a direction away from the drive screw.

[0008] In one embodiment, the motor housing has a bottom side facing the base and an opposite top side, wherein the mounting recess is arranged on the top side.

[0009] In another embodiment, the main body of the motor includes a bottom surface connecting the top and bottom surfaces. The mounting recess is located in a corner of the top surface, adjacent to the side surface.

[0010] In one embodiment, at least one of the two support bearings, i.e. either the first or the second support bearing, is designed as a ball bearing.

[0011] In one embodiment, the axial fastening element comprises a thrust bearing mounted on the second counter portion for bearing.

[0012] In another embodiment, the support assembly comprises a bracket and a fastening nut, wherein the bracket is fixedly connected to the base. The thrust bearing and the second support bearing are mounted on the bracket, with the thrust bearing disposed outside the second support bearing. The fastening nut is threaded to the drive screw outside the thrust bearing.

[0013] In one embodiment, the mount comprises a main structure and an upwardly extending positioning structure. The main structure is rigidly attached to the base, while the positioning structure is arranged between the second support bearing and the thrust bearing to precisely define their installation position.

[0014] In a further embodiment, the thrust bearing is provided on one side with a receiving space in which the fastening nut is received.

[0015] In one embodiment, the second counter-bearing portion has a first, a second, and a third stage that tapers gradually toward the end of the drive screw. The second support bearing is mounted on the first stage, the thrust bearing on the second stage, and the fastening nut on the third stage.

[0016] According to a second aspect of the disclosure, a handling device is provided comprising a head plate, a scissor arm assembly, and a drive mechanism according to any one of the preceding embodiments. The drive mechanism includes a threaded transmission element that cooperates with the drive screw. The head plate and the base are each connected to one end of the scissor arm assembly. The threaded transmission element is coupled to the scissor arm assembly to drive it.

[0017] In one embodiment, the scissor arm assembly comprises a sliding element and first and second scissor arms that are pivotally connected to each other. One end of the first scissor arm is pivotally connected to the base, and the other end is slidably connected to the head plate. One end of the second scissor arm is pivotally connected to the head plate, and the opposite end is slidably connected to the base. The sliding element is pivotally coupled to one of the two scissor arms or to the sliding element.

[0018] In one embodiment, the handling device further comprises a sensor and a test reference element, one of these elements being arranged on the base and the other on the head plate.

[0019] The technical solutions provided by the above embodiments enable the following advantages:

[0020] As can be seen from the embodiments described above, both ends of the drive screw are supported by the first and second support bearings. Additionally, the end of the drive screw facing away from the drive unit is fixed by an axial fastener. This prevents axial displacement of the drive screw during operation. This structural arrangement improves the smooth motion of the drive mechanism, ensures the stability of the drive screw, and simultaneously prevents excessive elongation of the axial dimensions of the entire mechanism.

[0021] It should be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed descriptions are exemplary and explanatory only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Illustration of the attached drawings

[0022] To clarify the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the accompanying drawings are briefly described below. These drawings serve exclusively to illustrate selected embodiments and do not limit the disclosure. Those skilled in the art can derive further variants based on these drawings without inventive effort. Fig. 1: Schematic representation of a cross-sectional structure of a drive mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. Fig. 2: Schematic diagram of a partially enlarged structure of a drive mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. Fig. 3: Schematic representation of a partial structure of a drive motor according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. Fig. 4: Schematic representation of a cross-sectional structure of a drive mechanism according to another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. Fig. 5: Schematic representation of a three-dimensional structure of a drive mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

[0023] Including 1. Drive mechanism; 11. Base; 12. Power assembly; 121. Drive motor; 1211. Motor main body; 1211a. Upper surface; 1211b. Lower surface; 1211c. Side surface; 1212. Connecting harness; 1213. Mounting recess; 122. Drive screw; 1221. First support mating portion; 1222. Second support mating portion; 1222a. First stage; 1222b. Second stage; 1222c. Third stage; 1223. Connecting end; 123. Threaded transmission member; 13. Support assembly; 131. First support bearing; 132. Second support bearing; 133. Axial fastener; 134. Bracket; 1341. Main structure; 1342. Positioning structure; 135. Mounting nut; 14. Scissor arm assembly; 141. First scissor arm; 142. Second scissor arm; 143. Push rod; 15. Sensor; 16. Head plate; 161. Test reference part. Specific embodiments

[0024] The exemplary embodiments described below are explained in detail and illustrated by the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise indicated, like reference numerals designate like or functionally similar elements throughout the various drawings. The described embodiments do not represent all possible embodiments of the present disclosure, but merely examples of devices consistent with certain aspects of the disclosure, as defined in the appended claims.

[0025] The terms used in this disclosure are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and are not limiting of the disclosure. Unless otherwise defined, the technical and scientific terms used have the generally accepted meanings commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which they relate. Terms such as "first," "second," etc., are used solely to distinguish among multiple components and do not imply order, importance, or number. Accordingly, the use of terms such as "one" or "an" is not intended to be limiting, but indicates the presence of at least one element unless a singular is expressly requested. The term "multiple" or "plurality" refers to two or more elements.Directional terms such as "front," "back," "top," or "bottom" are provided for convenience only and do not necessarily refer to a specific spatial orientation of the devices described. Terms such as "comprise" or "include" are intended to indicate that the named elements or features are included, without excluding other elements or features not expressly mentioned. Likewise, terms such as "connected" or "attached" do not necessarily refer to a direct physical or mechanical connection, but can also include indirect or electrical connections. Singular forms such as "the," "this," or "one" also include the corresponding plural forms unless the context otherwise requires. The term "and / or" refers to any or all combinations of the named elements.

[0026] The forks of the handling device are capable of reaching the bottom of the rack. A lifting drive mechanism serves both to lift the rack and to convey materials. Such devices are often used to transport material racks and carts, which significantly reduces both labor costs and the physical strain on the operators. The lifting drive mechanism of such a device typically uses a threaded transmission between a drive screw and an associated transmission element to generate the required movements via a scissor arm. However, in known designs, the support and fixing mode of the drive screw easily leads to unwanted movement during the drive process. This compromises structural reliability and leads to undesirable elongation in the axial direction.

[0027] The present disclosure provides an improved drive mechanism (1). An exemplary embodiment is described in Fig. 1. The mechanism comprises: a base (11), a support assembly (13), and a power assembly (12). The support assembly (13) is mounted to the base (11) and includes: a first support bearing (131), a second support bearing (132), and an axial fastener (133). The power assembly (12) consists of: a drive motor (121) mounted to the base (11), and a drive screw (122). One end of the drive screw (122) has a connecting end (1223) and a first support mating portion (1221) adjacent thereto. The other end is provided with a second support mating portion (1222). The connecting end (1223) is connected to the output of the drive motor (121). The first support bearing (131) is mounted on the first support counter section (1221), the second support bearing (132) on the second support counter section (1222).The axial fastening element (133) cooperates with the second support counter-section (1222) to fix the drive screw (122) axially.

[0028] During operation of the drive mechanism 1, the drive screw 122 must withstand radial forces in order to generate the required drive force by screwing in other components of the mechanism. Under heavy axial loads, the drive screw 122 can shift axially, which negatively affects the smooth movement and structural integrity of the mechanism. To prevent this effect, the drive screw 122 is supported on both sides by the first support bearing 131 and the second support bearing 132. In addition, the end of the screw facing away from the drive motor 121 is axially limited by an axial fastening element 133. This design prevents unwanted movement of the screw during operation and improves the smooth running of the mechanism as a whole.

[0029] Because the drive screw 122 must support a significant load, it is supported by multiple pairs of bearings. In conventional designs, this often results in excessive axial expansion. The present disclosure, however, utilizes the interaction of the first support bearing 131, the second support bearing 132, and the axial fastener 133 to keep the axial size compact while ensuring high support strength.

[0030] In certain embodiments, as in the Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 2, at least one of the support bearings 131 or 132 is designed as a spherical angular bearing. This design contributes to reducing the axial installation space of the drive mechanism 1 through the compact design and flexible mounting option of the spherical angular bearing and to optimizing space utilization. Alternatively, the first support bearing 131 and the second support bearing 132 can also be designed as deep groove ball bearings.

[0031] In certain embodiments, as in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the axial fastening element 133 comprises a thrust bearing mounted on the second support counter portion 1222 of the drive screw 122. This thrust bearing not only serves to support the drive screw 122, but due to its design, also provides axial fixation to prevent axial displacement of the drive screw 122 under load conditions.

[0032] In the embodiment described above, as also in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the support assembly 13 comprises a bracket 134 and a fastening nut 135. The bracket 134 is rigidly mounted to the base 11 and supports both the thrust bearing and the second support bearing 132. The thrust bearing is arranged on the outer side of the second support bearing 132 facing away from the drive motor 121. The fastening nut 135 is screwed to the outer side of the thrust bearing with the drive screw 122. By locking the outer side of the thrust bearing by means of the fastening nut 135, unintentional axial displacement of both the thrust bearing and the drive screw 122 is reliably prevented, thereby improving the structural integrity and operational reliability of the drive mechanism 1 as a whole.

[0033] The bracket 134 includes a main structure 1341 and a positioning structure 1342 extending upward from the main structure 1341, the main structure 1341 being fixedly mounted to the base 11. The positioning structure 1342 is disposed between the second support bearing 132 and the thrust bearing to position the assembly of the second support bearing 132 and the thrust bearing. The thrust bearing is provided with a receiving space on one side toward the fastening nut 135, and the fastening nut 135 is mounted in the receiving space to prevent an increase in the axial dimensions of the drive screw 122.

[0034] In other embodiments, the axial fastener 133 may also be a limiting plate, a limiting rib, a limiting block, or the like formed with the second support mating portion 1222, but this is not limited by the present disclosure. The axial fastener 133 may be mounted to the second support mating portion 1222 for limited fit with structures such as the base 11 or the bracket 134 that are fixedly mounted to the base 11, and the axial fastener 133 may also be mounted to the base 11 for limited fit with the second support mating portion.

[0035] In some embodiments, as in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the second support counter portion 1222 includes a first step 1222a, a second step 1222b, and a third step 1222c that are successively reduced in size, the third step 1222c being located at the end of the drive screw 122, the second support bearing 132 being mounted to the first step 1222a, the thrust bearing being mounted to the second step 1222b, and the fastening nut 135 being mounted to the third step 1222c. By providing the second support counter portion 1222 of the drive screw 122 with a stepped structure such that the second support bearing 132, the thrust bearing, and the fastening nut 135 are arranged on different steps, the assembly and positioning of the second support bearing 132, the thrust bearing, and the fastening nut 135 is facilitated, which improves assembly reliability.

[0036] In certain embodiments, such as in Fig. 3, the drive motor 121 includes a motor main body 1211 and a connecting wire harness 1212. The motor main body 1211 is provided with an axially extending mounting recess 1213, from which the connecting wire harness 1212 extends along the mounting recess 1213 in a direction away from the drive screw 122. By disposing the mounting recess 1213 in the motor main body 1211, the connection wire harness 1212 can be prevented from occupying the outer space of the motor main body 1211 and the size of the drive mechanism 1 can be reduced. The connecting harness 1212 is mounted in the mounting recess 1213 and extends in a direction away from the drive screw 122 so that the connecting harness 1212 enters the chain release of the handling device, thereby avoiding an increase in cost and increased space requirements that could be caused by bending the connecting harness 1212.

[0037] In the embodiment described above, the motor main body 1211 may include a lower surface 1211b facing the base 11 and an upper surface 1211a opposite the lower surface 1211b. The mounting recess 1213 is arranged on the upper surface 1211a so that the connecting wire harness 1212 extends from the upper surface 1211a. By arranging the mounting recess 1213 on the upper surface 1211a, the outlet position of the motor is optimized and the connecting wire harness 1212 is facilitated to enter the chain release of the handling device.

[0038] Here, the motor main body 1211 may include a side surface 1211c connecting the lower surface 1211b and the upper surface 1211a, with the mounting recess 1213 disposed at a corner of the upper surface 1211a adjacent to the side surface 1211c. The overall aesthetics of the motor main body 1211 and the ease of wiring harness assembly may be improved by disposing a mounting recess 1213 at the corner.

[0039] The present disclosure further relates to a handling device comprising a head plate 16, a scissor arm assembly 14, and a drive mechanism 1. The drive mechanism 1 has a threaded transmission element 123 that cooperates with the drive screw 122; The head plate 16 and the base 11 are each connected to the two ends of the scissor arm assembly 14. The threaded transmission element 123 is coupled to the scissor arm assembly 14 to drive it.

[0040] Under the action of the drive mechanism 1, the scissor arm assembly 14 and the head plate 16 can move according to the movement of the drive mechanism 1, thereby realizing the function of loading cargo.

[0041] As in Fig. 4, the scissor arm assembly 14 may include a sliding member 143 and a first scissor arm 141 and a second scissor arm 142 pivotally connected to each other. One end of the first scissor arm 141 pivotally engages the base 11, and the other end of the first scissor arm is slidably connected to the head plate 16; one end of the second scissor arm 142 pivotally engages the head plate 16, and the other end of the second scissor arm is slidably connected to the base 11; the sliding member 143 is pivotally connected to one of the first scissor arm 141 and the second scissor arm 142, respectively, and the sliding member. When the drive screw 122 drives the threaded transmission member 123 for axial movement, the sliding member slides relative to the first chute, pulling the sliding member 143 toward the desired movement.Then, the sliding member 143 urges the interactively hinged first scissor arm 141 and second scissor arm 142 to rotate relative to each other, with one end of the first scissor arm 141 sliding relative to the head plate 16 and the second scissor arm 142 sliding relative to the base 11. Therefore, the head plate 16 is given a lifting motion path, so that loading and unloading of goods can be achieved through the head plate 16. The sliding member 143 may be a rod.

[0042] In some embodiments, as in Fig.As shown in Figure 5, the handling device may also include a sensor 15 and a test reference part 161. One of the sensor 15 and the test reference part 161 is arranged on the base 11, and the other is arranged on the head plate 16. For example, the sensor 15 is fixedly arranged on the base 11, and the head plate 16 is provided with the test reference part 161 corresponding to the position of the sensor 15. The test reference part 161 is arranged on the head plate 16, and the sensor 15 is arranged on the fixedly positioned base 11. The sensor 15 may be located below the test reference part 161, which can visually obtain the height position of the head plate 16, improving testing convenience and accuracy, and avoiding the error caused by indirectly calculating the height of the head plate 16. The test reference part 161 may be a plate-like structure arranged on the head plate 16 and arranged towards the base 11.

[0043] The specific embodiments described herein merely illustrate the spirit of the present disclosure. One skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains may make various modifications, additions, or substitutions by similar methods to the specific embodiments described without departing from the spirit of this disclosure or going beyond the scope as defined in the appended claims.

[0044] The various technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any combination, and all possible combinations of the various technical features of the above embodiments have not been described for the sake of brevity of description; however, as long as there are no contradictions in the combinations of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of the present specification. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] CN 202222918036.0

[0001]

Claims

[1] Drive mechanism comprising: a base; a support assembly mounted on the base; the support assembly comprising a first support bearing, a second support bearing, and an axial fastener; and a power assembly comprising a drive motor and a drive screw, wherein the drive motor is mounted on the base; wherein one end of the drive screw is provided with a connecting end and a first supporting portion proximate the connecting end; wherein the other end of the drive screw is provided with a second supporting portion; wherein the connecting end is connected to an output end of the drive motor, wherein the first supporting bearing is mounted on the first supporting portion; wherein the second supporting bearing is mounted on the second supporting portion, wherein the axial fastening element and the second supporting portion cooperate to provide axial limitation of the drive screw. [2] Drive mechanism according to claim 1, characterized byin that the drive motor comprises a motor main body and a connecting wire harness, wherein the motor main body is provided with an axially extending mounting recess; wherein the connecting wire harness extends from the mounting recess in a direction away from the drive screw along the mounting recess. [3] Drive mechanism according to claim 2, characterized by that the motor main body comprises a lower surface facing the base and an upper surface opposite the lower surface, wherein the mounting recess is arranged on the upper surface. [4] Drive mechanism according to claim 2, characterized by that the motor main body has a lower surface facing the base, an upper surface opposite to the lower surface, and a side surface connecting the lower surface and the upper surface, wherein the mounting recess is arranged at a corner of the upper surface adjacent to the side surface. [5] Drive mechanism according to claim 1, characterized by that at least one of the first support bearing or the second support bearing has a spherical angular bearing. [6] Drive mechanism according to claim 1, characterized by that the axial fastening element comprises a thrust bearing mounted on the second support counter portion. [7] Drive mechanism according to claim 6, characterized by in that the support assembly comprises a bracket and a fastening nut, the bracket being fixedly mounted to the base, the thrust bearing and the second support bearing being mounted to the bracket, the thrust bearing being mounted on the outside of the second support bearing, the fastening nut being locked to the drive screw on the outside of the thrust bearing. [8] Drive mechanism according to claim 7, characterized byin that the bracket comprises a main structure and a positioning structure extending upwardly from the main structure, the main structure being fixedly mounted to the base, the positioning structure being arranged between the second support bearing and the thrust bearing to position the assembly of the second support bearing and the thrust bearing. [9] Drive mechanism according to claim 7, characterized by that the thrust bearing is provided with a receiving space facing one side of the fastening nut, the fastening nut being mounted on the receiving space. [10] Drive mechanism according to claim 7, characterized byin that the second support counter section comprises a first stage, a second stage and a third stage which become successively smaller, the third stage being located at one end of the drive screw; the second support bearing being mounted on the first stage, the thrust bearing being mounted on the second stage, the fastening nut being mounted on the third stage. [11] Handling device, characterized by that it comprises a head plate, a scissor arm assembly and a drive mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a threaded transmission element which cooperates with the drive screw; wherein the head plate and the base are connected to both ends of the scissor arm assembly; wherein the threaded transmission element is connected to the scissor arm assembly to drive the scissor arm assembly. [12] Handling device according to claim 11, characterized bythat the scissor arm assembly comprises a sliding element and a first and a second scissor arm which are hinged together, wherein one end of the first scissor arm is pivotally engaged with the base and the other end of the first scissor arm is slidably connected to the head plate; wherein one end of the second scissor arm is pivotally engaged with the head plate and the other end of the second scissor arm is slidably connected to the base; wherein the sliding element is pivotally connected to one of the first scissor arm and second scissor arm or the sliding element. [13] Handling device according to claim 11, characterized by that it further comprises a sensor and a test reference part, one of the sensor and the test reference part being arranged on the base and the other on the head plate.

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