Transportable Conveyor Platform for Robot Load Transfer at Height

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile robots used for material handling face challenges in lifting loads to heights due to limited battery power, which leads to frequent recharging and potential lift mechanism failure when lifting heavy loads.

Innovation Solution

A transportable conveyor platform with powered rollers is used, where the lift mechanism, powered by its own electrical source, lifts the platform to desired heights, and the rollers then move loads to desired locations, reducing the reliance on the robot's battery power for lifting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If a mechanical lift is incorporated on the robot to raise and lower loads, then the robot can transport loads to heights above its own height, but the battery power is consumed significantly, leading to frequent recharging and potential lift mechanism failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport heightVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the lifting function from the mobile robot to a separate lift mechanism. The robot handles horizontal transport while the dedicated lift mechanism handles vertical transport, segmenting the overall material handling task to optimize energy usage for each function separately.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A transportable conveyor platform serves as an intermediary between the mobile robot and the lift mechanism. The robot transports the platform to the lift mechanism, which then lifts the platform to the desired height, avoiding the need for the robot's lift mechanism to consume battery power.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the robot uses its battery power for lifting heavy loads, then the lift mechanism can function properly, but the battery depletes quickly requiring frequent recharging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelift mechanism operationVSAvoidrecharging time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting function is extracted from the mobile robot system and assigned to a separate lift mechanism with its own power source. This extraction removes the burden of heavy lifting from the robot's battery, allowing continuous operation without frequent recharging interruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the robot incorporates a lift mechanism, then it can handle loads at various heights, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload height handlingVSAvoidrobot structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transportable conveyor platform serves multiple functions: it acts as a carrier for the mobile robot, a platform for the lift mechanism, and a conveyor for load transfer. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11738977B2System and method for transfer of loads from mobile robots

Publication Date: 2023.08.29 SOUTHWORTH PRODUCTS CORP

AI summary

A system for transferring loads from a mobile robot device. The system includes a transportable conveyor platform. The mobile robot device transports the transportable conveyor platform to/from a lift mechanism. The lift mechanism lifts the transportable conveyor platform and any load thereon from the mobile robot device and to a desired height for unloading the load.