Rotatable Ceiling Carrier Slider for Flexible Article Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing ceiling conveyance vehicle systems are limited in adjusting the transfer position of articles as the lateral slider can only move in the traveling direction, restricting movement in orthogonal directions and article orientation adjustments.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a second rotationally driven article holder or hoisting-and-lowering driver around a perpendicular axis, allowing 180-degree rotation, and a rotatable lateral slider that can move 270 degrees, enabling movement in any direction on a grid-like track, with a controller to set the rotational position for efficient transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the lateral slider is fixed to move only in the traveling direction, then the structure is simple, but the article holder cannot be moved in orthogonal directions and transfer position cannot be adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral slider is made rotatable around the first perpendicular axis by the first rotational driver, transforming it from a fixed linear mover to a dynamically adjustable component. This allows the slider to change its movement direction relative to the main body while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical structure, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The addition of rotational freedom around the first perpendicular axis adds a new dimension of movement control. The lateral slider can now be oriented at different angles (including orthogonal directions) relative to the traveling direction, enabling article holder movement in multiple directions without significantly complicating the base slider mechanism.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the main body maintains fixed orientation when switching tracks, then the tracking mechanism is simple, but the article transfer position cannot be adjusted to match transfer destinations
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral slider's rotational capability around the first perpendicular axis provides dynamic adjustment of the article holder's position and orientation. This allows the system to adapt to different transfer destinations by rotating the slider to appropriate angles, improving transfer position adjustability without requiring complex repositioning of the entire main body.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller rotates the lateral slider to the appropriate orientation before the main body completes its travel to the transfer position. This preliminary adjustment of the slider's rotational position ensures that the article holder is already correctly oriented when the main body arrives, simplifying the overall transfer operation and reducing last-minute adjustments.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the lateral slider can rotate 270 degrees, then movement in any direction is enabled, but the control system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The first rotational driver enables dynamic rotation of the lateral slider within a 270-degree range, allowing the system to cover all necessary movement directions (including orthogonal and opposite directions) while maintaining controlled rotational limits. This dynamic rotational capability provides comprehensive movement coverage without requiring an unbounded or 360-degree complex mechanism.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a ceiling conveyance vehicle and a ceiling conveyance vehicle system that can easily adjust a transfer position of an article by slidingly moving a lateral slider in a desired direction. A ceiling conveyance vehicle 100 includes a traveling wheel 21 rolling on a track R including a first track R1 and a second track R2 and a main body 10 placed below the track R and coupled to the traveling wheel 21. The ceiling conveyance vehicle 100 includes a direction changer 34 switching between a first state in which the traveling wheel 21 rolls on the first track R1 and a second state in which the traveling wheel 21 rolls on the second track R2, with an orientation of the main body 10 with respect to the track R maintained, an article holder 13 capable of holding an article M, a hoisting-and-lowering driver 14 hoisting and lowering the article holder 13, a lateral slider 11 slidingly moving the hoisting-and-lowering driver 14 in a horizontal, linear direction, and a first rotational driver 15 rotationally driving the lateral slider 11 around a first perpendicular axis AX1 with respect to the main body 10.