Container Transfer Holder with Guided Engagement Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport facilities face challenges in appropriately transferring containers between a container mount and a transport vehicle due to inadequate support and positioning mechanisms, leading to inefficient container handling and transfer processes.
Innovation Solution
A transport facility with a holder that includes a pair of supports with a holder driver to change posture between holding and releasing positions, and engagement portions guided by guide portions to ensure accurate positioning relative to a container mount, allowing for effective support and transfer of containers between the transport vehicle and the container mount.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pair of supports moves toward and away from each other to change posture between holding and releasing, then the holder can hold and release the container, but the positioning accuracy of the container may be insufficient leading to inappropriate transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces engagement portions and engagement receivers as intermediary elements that mediate between the movable pair of supports and the container. These intermediaries provide precise positioning references that ensure accurate container transfer while maintaining the operational flexibility of the movable supports.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement portions and engagement receivers are pre-positioned at fixed locations before the holding operation begins. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the pair of supports moves into the holding posture, the container is already correctly positioned for accurate transfer, eliminating positioning errors that would occur without pre-established reference points.
2Device complexity
If the holder structure is simplified to enable easy movement of supports, then the device complexity is reduced, but the positioning and support accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is segmented into functional components: the movable pair of supports for operation, and the fixed engagement portions with guide portions for precision. This segmentation allows the simple movable supports to work in conjunction with precision-engineered engagement elements, achieving both ease of operation and high positioning accuracy without overall structural complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the engagement portions are guided by guide portions during holding operation, then the positioning accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide portions are merged with the engagement portions, forming an integrated guidance and engagement system. This combination eliminates the need for separate guidance mechanisms, achieving precise positioning through the inherent geometry of the engagement structure itself, thereby improving accuracy without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A transport facility includes a container mount that supports a container, and a transport vehicle that transports the container. The transport vehicle includes a holder that holds and releases the container, and a lifter that lifts and lowers the holder. The holder includes a first support and a second support that are pair of supports, a holder driver that causes the pair of supports to change a posture between a holding posture for holding the container and a releasing posture for releasing the container, a first engagement portion fixed to the first support, and a second engagement portion fixed to the second support. The container mount includes a container positioner that positions the container, a first engagement receiver, and a second engagement receiver. At least one of the holder or the container mount includes a first guide portion, and a second guide portion.