Conveyance Carriage Load-Responsive Base

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional conveyance devices with a carriage-based object support system face challenges in handling heavy loads due to buoyancy issues, requiring a heavy conveyance carriage and increased surface pressure on cam follower rollers, which hinders the realization of a low-floor structure.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of an urging means, such as compression coil springs, to control the vertical movement of the object support base, allowing it to adjust its height based on load conditions, reducing the need for heavy conveyance carriages and minimizing surface pressure on rollers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the weight of the conveyance carriage is increased to counteract buoyancy from heavy loads, then the carriage can maintain stability, but the overall system weight increases and contradicts the low-floor structure goal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarriage stabilityVSAvoidcarriage weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an urging means (spring mechanism) that generates an upward urging force to counteract the downward buoyancy force generated by heavy loads on the object support base. This allows the carriage to maintain stability without increasing its own weight, as the spring provides the necessary counterbalancing force to prevent the carriage from floating up when loads exceed the carriage weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The urging means acts as an intermediary element between the object support base and the carriage body. Instead of directly increasing carriage weight to counteract buoyancy, the spring mechanism mediates the force interaction, providing a controllable urging force that adapts to load conditions while maintaining carriage stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stress or pressure

If the diameters of the elevating cam follower rollers are increased to reduce surface pressure, then the rollers can handle heavier loads, but the low-floor structure of the conveyance carriage cannot be realized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface pressure on rollersVSAvoidroller diameter
Core Design Contradiction:
Stress or pressureVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The urging means exerts an upward force on the object support base before the cam follower rollers come into contact with the cam rails during the elevating process. This preliminary action reduces the effective load on the rollers at the moment of contact, thereby reducing surface pressure without requiring larger roller diameters that would interfere with the low-floor structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Force

If the urging force of the urging means is increased to push up the object support base when no object is loaded, then the base can be positioned higher, but the base cannot be lowered according to load when an object is loaded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveurging forceVSAvoidload-responsive positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The urging means is designed with dynamic characteristics where the spring force naturally adjusts based on the load conditions. When no object is loaded, the spring pushes the object support base upward to a higher position. When an object is loaded, the increased weight compresses the spring, allowing the base to lower automatically. This dynamic response enables the system to adapt to different load conditions without requiring complex control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

This solution enables the conveyance of heavier loads while maintaining a lightweight and compact conveyance carriage, reducing surface pressure on rollers and facilitating a low-floor structure, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and safety.

Implementation Method 1

an urging means 45 which urges the object support base 11 upward is provided

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the urging means 45 may be made of a horizontal coil spring (compression coil spring 48)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 3

elevating cam rails 50 and 52 which push up the elevating cam follower rollers 30a, 30b, and 32

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCam mechanism: Cam

Implementation Method 4

an object support base 11 supported movably vertically via a crosslink mechanism 10

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFour-bar linkage: Four-Bar Linkage

Data Source

PatentEP2039581B1Conveyance device using carriage
Publication Date: 2013.12.04 DAIFUKU CO LTD
  • EP2039581B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2039581B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2039581B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention increases an allowable maximum weight of an object to be loaded on a conveyance device using a carriage including an object support base movable vertically controlled by cam rails on the floor side without increasing the weight of the conveyance carriage itself, and is characterized in that the object support base 11 is supported movably vertically on a conveyance carriage 1 via a crosslink mechanism 10, the crosslink mechanism 10 is provided with an elevating cam follower roller 32 which moves up and down in conjunction with standing and falling movements of the crosslink mechanism 10, and in a conveyance carriage traveling path, a cam rail 50 which pushes up the elevating cam follower roller 32 is provided, wherein an urging means 45 which urges the object support base 11 upward is provided, and an urging force of the urging means 45 is set so as to move up the object support base 11 when no object is loaded on the object support base 11, however, when an object is loaded on the object support base 11, to allow the object support base 11 to lower according to the load of the object.