Overhead Carrier Coupling for Tool-Free Support Exchange
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport carrier systems for overhead conveying devices face challenges in efficiently and cost-effectively exchanging supporting bodies, which are prone to defects and require significant effort, limiting flexibility and adaptability to different hanging articles.
Innovation Solution
A connecting device with profile grooves and projections, forming a positive engagement, allows for easy and tool-free exchange of supporting bodies on a base body, ensuring stability and durability, and enabling versatile use of the same base body with various supporting bodies designed for different hanging articles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a force fit connection is used between base body and supporting body, then the supporting body can be mounted without additional positive engagement elements, but the exchanging operation requires considerable effort
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting device is segmented into a profile groove in the base body and a profile projection in the supporting body. This segmentation allows the connection to be divided into geometric interlocking elements that engage easily while providing secure attachment, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and easy operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The profile groove and profile projection are designed with asymmetric geometries where the projection fits into the groove in a specific orientation. This asymmetric design enables tool-free exchange by providing natural alignment and engagement features that guide the supporting body into the correct position during insertion.
2Ease of operation
If a positive engagement element (locking lug) is added to the plug connection, then the supporting body can be exchanged more easily, but additional elements are required to absorb weight force
Solution Approach 1:
The profile groove and profile projection are merged into a single integrated geometric connection system. The interlocking geometry simultaneously provides both the ease of exchange operation and the structural strength to support weight, eliminating the need for separate positive engagement elements and locking lugs.
Solution Approach 2:
The profile groove-projection connection system serves multiple functions: it enables easy tool-free exchange, provides structural support for weight forces, ensures proper alignment, and maintains connection stability. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction by making additional elements unnecessary.
3Reliability
If rigid positive engagement elements are used in the connecting device, then durability is improved and defects are reduced, but the exchange operation requires more precision
Solution Approach 1:
The profile groove and profile projection are designed with preliminary alignment features that guide the supporting body into the correct position during insertion. This preliminary action reduces the precision requirement during exchange operations while ensuring proper engagement of the rigid elements for durable connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system utilizes three-dimensional geometric interlocking where the profile groove and projection engage in multiple dimensions. This spatial design provides inherent alignment and tolerance compensation, reducing the precision requirement while maintaining the durability benefits of rigid engagement elements.
Data Source
AI summary
In a transport carrier system for an overhead conveying device, a transport carrier includes a universally applicable base body and a supporting body exchangeable using a connecting device. The supporting body in a first configuration has a completely enclosed receiving opening and is configured for transporting transport bags, and in a second configuration has a suspension hook and is configured for transporting an article suspended on a clothes hanger. The connecting device includes a profile groove and a profile projection each extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The profile groove forms an undercut and has an insertion opening on the end side in the direction of its longitudinal extension. The profile projection includes a profile web and a profile head formed thereon so as to expand the cross section. Moreover, an overhead conveying device has such a transport carrier system.