Adjustable Guide Portions for Article Transfer Displacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing article transport vehicles face difficulties in transferring articles when the transfer device is displaced relative to the housing rack in the width direction, as guide portions can restrict movement and cause articles to become caught between them.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a pair of first guide portions with a guide driving device that adjusts the distance between them in the width direction, controlled by a unit to increase this distance during the transfer process, allowing for proper guidance and reducing the risk of articles being caught.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If guide portions are provided to guide the article during transfer, then the article can be guided properly from the transfer device to the housing rack, but the guide portions may prevent the transfer device from appropriately transferring the article when there is displacement in the width direction
Solution Approach 1:
The guide portions are designed to be movable in the width direction rather than fixed. The first guide portions on the transfer device and second guide portions on the housing rack can adjust their positions dynamically during the transfer process, allowing the system to adapt to displacements while maintaining proper article guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The distance between the first guide portions and second guide portions in the width direction is changed during the transfer process. By adjusting this parameter dynamically, the system can accommodate displacements and ensure smooth article transfer without the article becoming caught between the guide portions.
2Device complexity
If the distance between guide portions is fixed, then the structure is simple, but the article may become caught between guide portions when displacement occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The guide portions are designed with movable structures that allow dynamic adjustment of the distance between them. This dynamic capability prevents article catching during transfer while maintaining relatively simple overall structure through the use of straightforward mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the guide portions maintain a fixed distance, then the guide structure is stable, but the article cannot be transferred appropriately when the transfer device is displaced relative to the housing rack
Solution Approach 1:
The guide portions transition from a static fixed-distance configuration to a dynamic adjustable configuration. This allows the system to maintain stability during normal operation while adapting to displacements when needed, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
An article transport vehicle includes: a transfer device (24) that transfers an article (W) to a housing rack (1) by moving, along a protruding/retracting direction (A), a contact portion (46) that comes into contact with an article (W); a pair of first guide portions (28) that are located on opposite sides in a width direction (B) relative to an article (W) being transferred by the transfer device (24) and guide the article (W) in the protruding/retracting direction (A); a guide driving device (29) that changes a distance (D) between the two first guide portions (28) in the width direction (B); and a control unit (H) that controls the guide driving device (29).