Driverless Transport Unit with Detachable Retaining Mechanism
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveying and sorting systems lack flexibility in handling transport containers and goods items, limiting their adaptability to changing processes and parameters.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor system featuring a controlled, drivable, and movable driverless transport unit with a discharge device and retaining mechanism for detachable connection with transport containers, allowing for flexible routing and unloading options, including tipping for side-angle discharge, and equipped with camera and sensor systems for independent navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional conveying and sorting systems are used, then the system structure is simple and fixed, but the flexibility in handling transport containers and goods items is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the transport units driverless and controllable, allowing them to move autonomously along routes. The system transitions from static, fixed conveyor paths to dynamic, programmable routes that can be adjusted via control units in the transport units themselves, enabling flexible adaptation to different processes and parameters without physical reconfiguration
Solution Approach 2:
The transport units are designed as multi-functional devices that can perform multiple operations: they can convey goods items, transport transport containers, discharge goods items at various locations, and navigate different routes. The discharge device can handle both goods items and transport containers, and the retaining mechanism allows for selective attachment and detachment, making the system universally applicable to different conveying and sorting tasks
2Adaptability or versatility
If driverless transport units with control units are introduced, then process flexibility and routing adaptability improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transport units are equipped with their own control units that enable autonomous operation. The transport units navigate and execute their functions independently based on programmed instructions, without requiring external continuous control. This self-service capability reduces the need for complex external control systems while maintaining high routing flexibility and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical conveyor systems with fixed rails and physical guides with driverless transport units that use control units for navigation. The routing is determined by electronic control rather than mechanical constraints, allowing routes to be changed through programming rather than physical reconfiguration, thereby reducing mechanical complexity while increasing adaptability
3Adaptability or versatility
If transport containers are detachably connected to transport units, then handling flexibility improves, but connection reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining mechanism is designed to be dynamically controllable, allowing the connection between transport containers and transport units to be selectively activated or released based on operational requirements. This dynamic control enables the system to switch between secure connection during transport and detached state for discharge operations, maintaining both reliability and flexibility
Data Source
AI summary
Conveyor system for the conveying of goods items, with at least one transport container for accommodating a goods item and a controlled, drivable and movable, driverless transport unit for accommodating and conveying a transport container; where the transport unit comprises a discharge device for unloading a goods item, situated on the accommodated transport container, from the transport container and a retaining mechanism for establishing a detachable connection between the transport container and the transport unit, by means of which the transport container is to be held on the transport unit.