Adjustable Width Driverless Transport Device for Confined Space Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driverless transport devices are not capable of efficiently and collision-free handling of both bottom-open and bottom-closed pallets in confined spaces, requiring significant maneuvering areas and high energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A driverless transport system with a U-shaped chassis featuring transversely adjustable wheel arms that can position themselves either aligned below the lifting forks or laterally spaced outward, allowing for omnidirectional movement and efficient handling of both types of pallets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If counterbalanced forklifts with rigidly or transversely adjustable lifting forks are used, then stability is improved, but energy consumption increases and maneuvering area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel arms are made transverse-adjustable, allowing dynamic repositioning between a first position (aligned below lifting forks) and a second position (laterally spaced). This dynamic adjustment enables the system to adapt its configuration based on operational needs, eliminating the need for heavy counterweights while maintaining stability and reducing energy consumption.
2Stability of the object's composition
If counterbalanced forklifts with rigidly or transversely adjustable lifting forks are used, then stability is improved, but maneuvering area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse-adjustable wheel arms can be repositioned dynamically between aligned and laterally spaced configurations. This dynamic capability allows the forklift to maintain stability when needed while minimizing its footprint during maneuvering operations, significantly reducing the required maneuvering area compared to fixed configurations.
3Device complexity
If wheel arms are rigidly arranged in vertical alignment with forks, then structural simplicity is improved, but pickup of pallets closed at the bottom is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel arms are designed with transverse adjustability, allowing them to move between a first position (vertically aligned with lifting forks) and a second position (laterally spaced). This dynamic repositioning capability enables the system to handle both pallets open at the bottom and pallets closed at the bottom, significantly enhancing versatility while maintaining relatively simple structural design.
4Ease of operation
If wheel arms are laterally spaced from the load, then collision-free flush pickup is improved, but unrestricted omnidirectional mobility is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel arms can be dynamically repositioned between laterally spaced configuration (for collision-free flush pickup) and vertically aligned configuration (for omnidirectional mobility). This dynamic adaptability allows the system to achieve both collision-free operation and unrestricted mobility as needed, resolving the contradiction between these two operational requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a driverless transport device for the automatic, space-saving and collision-free picking-up, transport, lifting and delivery of pallets closed at the bottom and pallets open at the bottom, wherein the wheel arms of the chassis, which is substantially U-shaped in plan view, can be displaced transversely together or independently of one another relative to the base unit or to the lower part of the base unit of the transport device and can be positioned in a first position in alignment below and in a second position laterally outwardly spaced from the lifting fork tines in the width of the transport device, wherein the lifting fork tines are movable with the lifting fork back independently of the wheel arms relative to the base unit or to the lower part of the base unit independently of the wheel arms, and the transport device can be moved omnidirectionally along any trajectories from any first point to any second point. In this way, pallets open at the bottom, the width of which is smaller than the width of the transport device, can be picked up or deposited flush, e.g. laterally on the inner walls of loading containers or other lateral boundary surfaces, without collision. The driverless transport device according to the invention is particularly light, requires no counterweight, has the lowest possible energy consumption and the lowest possible space requirement and requires no additional equipment.