Driverless Transport Expanding Arms for Pallet Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driverless transport systems face limitations in maneuverability and flexibility due to the design of conveyor skids and reference marks, which restrict movement and require significant effort to relocate, and often result in friction and abrasion during operation.
Innovation Solution
A driverless transport device with an expanding unit featuring adjustable arms that can be aligned with pallets, allowing for improved maneuverability and alignment, and a decoupling unit that enables rotation while clamped to prevent uncontrolled slippage, along with a locking device to conserve energy and reduce load on the drive unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conveyor skids are used to transport pallets, then the pallets can be lifted and transported, but the maneuverability is limited due to the significant longitudinal extension of the conveyor skids requiring sufficient space for alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The transport device is divided into separate functional components: a compact base unit and detachable expanding arms. The expanding arms can be stored in a retracted state during movement and deployed only when needed for pallet engagement, effectively segmenting the functional elements to reduce the operational footprint and improve maneuverability in tight spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The expanding arms are designed to be dynamically adjustable between retracted and extended positions. This dynamic configuration allows the transport device to adapt its size: compact during navigation for improved maneuverability, and expanded during pallet handling for effective engagement, resolving the contradiction between size and functionality.
2Ease of operation
If the conveyor skids are not precisely aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pallet cavities, then counter-steering is required which leads to friction and abrasion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical counter-steering mechanism with an active alignment system using sensors and actuators. The expanding arms are equipped with sensors that detect the position and orientation of the pallet cavities, and actuators that automatically adjust the arms' orientation to achieve precise parallel alignment, eliminating the need for counter-steering and the associated friction and abrasion.
Solution Approach 2:
The expanding arms incorporate self-aligning features where the arms automatically adjust their orientation to match the pallet cavity orientation through mechanical guidance elements or active control systems. This self-alignment capability ensures that the arms are always properly oriented relative to the pallet, preventing misalignment-induced friction and abrasion during transport operations.
3Ease of operation
If reference marks are used to specify the path, then the driverless transport system can be guided, but the flexibility is limited and relocating the reference marks requires considerable effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical reference mark system with an optical or sensor-based navigation system. The expanding arms are equipped with sensors (such as cameras, LIDAR, or optical sensors) that can detect and track path markers or navigate using visual cues in the environment, allowing for easy reconfiguration of transport paths without physical relocation of reference marks, thereby improving flexibility and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a driverless transport device (10) for transporting objects (38), comprising a support structure (12) with an outer contour (14), a chassis (16) fastened to the support structure (12) having at least a first wheel (18) and a second wheel (20), wherein the first wheel (18) is rotatably mounted in the chassis (16) about a first axis of rotation (D1) and the second wheel (20) is rotatably mounted in the chassis (16) about a second axis of rotation (D2), a drive unit (22) with which the first wheel (18) and the second wheel (20) can be driven independently of each other, and an expanding unit (98) with at least one expanding arm (100), wherein expanding arms (100) are adjustable by means of an adjustment unit (106) between a first position, in which the expanding arms (100) are located within the outer contour (14), and a second position, in which the expanding arms (100) project at least partially beyond the outer contour (14). Furthermore, the invention relates to a driverless transport system (81), comprising a plurality of such driverless transport devices (10).