Adapter Locking Mechanism for Vehicle Body Conveyance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle production lines, adapters used to connect vehicle bodies to conveyor systems often require significant effort to detach, leading to reduced process reliability and increased operational challenges, especially when handling vehicles with different floor structures and mounting points.
Innovation Solution
A device with an adapter featuring a locking mechanism that selectively locks onto both the workpiece and the conveyor system, allowing for secure transfer and detachment without additional tools or effort, and optionally includes conventional adapters for compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional adapters are used to connect workpieces to the conveyor system, then the adapters can be locked in the receptacles of the body, but the adapters can only be separated from the body with difficulty or with great effort after the wedding
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to be dynamic and reversible, allowing it to transition between locked and unlocked states. The mechanism includes movable locking elements that can be actuated to release the adapter from the body receptacle, enabling easy detachment after the wedding process without requiring excessive force or special tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism acts as an intermediary between the adapter and the receptacles, providing a controlled connection that can be easily activated and deactivated. This intermediary structure allows for reliable locking during transport while enabling simple release when needed, resolving the contradiction between secure attachment and easy detachment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If adapters are used to compensate for different pick-up points on vehicles from different model series, then the conveyor system can handle various floor structures, but the adapters require significant effort to detach leading to reduced process reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter is designed with universal applicability to accommodate different floor structures and mounting points across various vehicle models. The standardized adapter interface works with multiple receptacle configurations, providing versatile adaptability while maintaining reliable and easy detachment through the integrated locking mechanism.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a device for conveying workpieces (10), in particular in a production line of motor vehicles, which comprises a conveyor system (12) for carrying and transporting the workpieces (10) and an adapter (18) for connecting the workpieces (10) to the conveyor system (12). Using said novel device, a workpiece (10) can be conveyed by means of the conveyor system (12) to a workpiece processing station, wherein the conveyor system carries the workpiece (10) by means of at least one adapter, and at least one adapter (18) of the at least one adapter is locked to a holder (60, 64) of the conveyor system (12); the workpiece (10) can be transferred into the workpiece processing station, wherein the at least one adapter (18) is detached from the conveyor system (12); and after processing of the workpiece (10) in the workpiece processing station, the at least one adapter (18) can be securely transferred again to a conveyor system (12), wherein the at least one adapter (18) is locked to a holder (60, 64) of the conveyor system (12).