Cantilever Load Detector With Swingable Slope for Caster Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing load detectors are cumbersome to operate, particularly when trying to place casters under a bed, as they require simultaneous alignment on placement plates, making it tiresome to move heavy objects with casters.

Innovation Solution

A load detector with a beam-type load cell and a placement part featuring a slope that guides the subject onto the placement plate, where the slope is swingable or movable to facilitate easy alignment of casters, including a lever mechanism to accommodate the caster's movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a fixed placement plate is used, then the structure is simple, but it is difficult to align casters onto the placement plate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of aligning castersVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The placement plate is made movable relative to the load cell, allowing it to move in the width direction to accommodate casters of different positions. This dynamic adjustment enables easy alignment of casters onto the placement plate without requiring precise manual positioning, while the movable mechanism is designed to be simple and maintain stable measurement functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If four casters must be simultaneously aligned on placement plates, then accurate load detection is achieved, but the operation becomes tiresome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesetup efficiencyVSAvoidtime to position casters
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The movable placement plate automatically adjusts its position to match the caster's location, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual alignment. This dynamic adaptation allows each caster to be independently and quickly positioned on its corresponding placement plate, significantly reducing setup time and improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the placement plate is made movable to facilitate caster alignment, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of placing castersVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The placement plate is designed with a simple movable mechanism that allows it to move in the width direction relative to the load cell. This basic translational movement is sufficient to accommodate casters at different positions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that does not significantly increase device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3534123B1Load detector and load detection system
Publication Date: 2021.10.13 MINEBEAMITSUMI INC
  • EP3534123B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3534123B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3534123B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A load detector (100) includes: a beam-type load cell (21, 22) supported on a support base (11b, 12b) in a cantilever manner; and a placement part (30) connected to the beam-type load cell. The placement part has a placement plate (P30, P31, P33, P34, P35, P36) onto which a subject is placed, and a slope (SL) which is configured to guide the subject from a floor surface onto the placement plate. A forward end (SLT) of the slope is swingable about a first perpendicular axis perpendicular to the placement plate or a second perpendicular axis perpendicular to the slope, and/or is movable in a width direction of the placement plate.