Overhead Carrier Guide Roller Adjustment for Lift Unit Inclination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing overhead transport vehicles face challenges in easily adjusting the inclination of the lifting unit due to variations in winding amount and machine errors, leading to operator burden and instability.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a winding drum driven by a single winding drive unit, guide rollers, and an actuator to move the guide roller's position, allowing for easy adjustment of the lifting unit's inclination, with a configuration of suspending members that suspend the lifting unit at three points for stability, and using control units to maintain desired inclination states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual adjustment methods (attaching tape to winding part) are used to reduce variations in lifting unit inclination, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to large operator burden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment (attaching tape by hand) with an automated actuator system that mechanically adjusts the guide roller position. The actuator automatically moves the guide roller to compensate for winding variations, eliminating manual intervention while maintaining inclination precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-adjustment through the actuator that automatically compensates for winding variations without operator intervention. The actuator monitors and corrects the lifting unit inclination in real-time, making the system self-regulating and eliminating the need for manual service.
2Reliability
If multiple factors (winding timing, thickness error, diameter error) are compensated to reduce lifting unit inclination variations, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide roller as an intermediary element between the winding drum and the lifting unit. The actuator adjusts the guide roller position to compensate for multiple error sources (winding timing, thickness variations, diameter errors) in a unified manner, simplifying the overall system while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the position parameter of the guide roller dynamically to compensate for various error sources. By adjusting the guide roller location rather than modifying multiple components, the system maintains reliability while avoiding increased complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy and stable adjustment of the lifting unit's inclination, ensuring secure article delivery by matching the lifting unit's inclination with the transfer part, reducing the risk of falling and enhancing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator configured to move a position of the at least one guide roller so that a connecting portion of the suspending member to the lifting unit moves in a lifting direction
Implementation Method 2
a winding drum configured to be driven by one winding drive unit and to cause the lifting unit to be lifted and lowered by winding and paying out the suspending members
Data Source
AI summary
An overhead transport vehicle includes: a winding drum configured to be driven by one driving motor, and to cause a holding unit to be lifted and lowered by winding and paying out a plurality of belts; at least one second idler roller around which the belt paid out from the winding drum is wound; a base provided on a traveling unit, and configured to support the winding drum and the second idler roller; and a linear motion mechanism configured to move a position of the at least one second idler roller so that a connecting portion of the belt to the holding unit moves in a lifting direction.