Divided Placement Support Portions for Short Article Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional article transfer devices cannot efficiently transfer articles with short lengths in the lateral direction due to limitations in the movement of side support portions, which restrict the ability to support both side portions of the article, thereby limiting the range of article lengths that can be transferred.
Innovation Solution
The article transfer device incorporates a placement support portion with a pair of divided placement support portions that can move closer together to support articles of varying lengths, allowing the clamp portions to adjust their grip positions based on the article's length, enabling the transfer of articles with shorter lengths by positioning the support portions at approach limit positions where they face each other in close proximity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a central support portion is fixedly provided to support the central part of the article, then the placement support portion can support articles of various lengths, but the side support portions cannot be moved closer than the central support location, limiting the ability to support short articles
Solution Approach 1:
The placement support portion is divided into a central support portion and a pair of side support portions that can independently move in the article lateral direction. This segmentation allows each support portion to be positioned independently, enabling the side support portions to move closer together to support short articles while the central support portion remains fixed to provide stability for longer articles.
Solution Approach 2:
The side support portions are configured to be movable in the article lateral direction, transforming from a static support structure to a dynamic one. This movability allows the side support portions to adjust their positions based on article length, enabling them to approach each other for short articles and move apart for longer articles, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and minimum distance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the side support portions are moved toward each other to support short articles, then more article lengths can be accommodated, but the support structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The movable side support portions serve multiple functions: they can move outward to support long articles, move inward to support short articles, and their movable nature allows a single structure to handle the full range of article lengths. This multi-functionality increases adaptability without requiring separate support structures for different article sizes, thus managing complexity while enhancing versatility.
Data Source
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AI summary
An object is to provide an article transfer device in which articles, that have a length in the article lateral direction that is as small as possible, can be transferred. An article transfer device includes a placement support portion that is provided to a base platform and that includes a pair of divided placement support portions 17F and 17R for separately receiving and supporting both side portions, in the article lateral direction, of the bottom surface of an article, and a pair of clamp portions 18F and 18R that can be projected and retracted along an article transfer direction with respect to the placement support portion and that can be moved toward and away from each other by a clamp actuator M4 between gripping positions and releasing positions that are spaced apart wider, wherein the pair of divided placement support portions 17F and 17R are configured to be moved toward and away from each other within a movable range defined in the article lateral direction by a placement support portion actuator M4 and to face each other in close proximity when located in approach limit positions of the movable range.