Elevator Carriage Rail Switching for Mixed Human and Robot Transport

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing elevator systems that accommodate both people and unmanned transport vehicles are inefficient due to the need for multiple movable rails and actuators for each story, leading to increased parts, maintenance, and costs.

Innovation Solution

An elevator system with a movable rail in the second space for unmanned transport vehicles, actuated by an actuator, which switches between connected and disconnected states, eliminating the need for multiple movable rails and actuators per story.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple movable rails and actuators are installed for each story to accommodate unmanned transport vehicles, then the elevator can transport both people and unmanned vehicles, but the number of parts increases, leading to increased maintenance and costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to transport both people and unmanned vehiclesVSAvoidnumber of movable rails and actuators

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of multiple story-specific movable rails and actuators into a single movable rail and actuator system. The movable rail can be positioned at different stories to provide connection, eliminating the need for separate rails and actuators at each story while maintaining the capability to serve multiple stories.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single movable rail and actuator system is designed to be universal, capable of serving multiple stories by being repositioned along the elevator cage. This multi-functional design allows the same component to replace multiple story-specific components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If multiple movable rails and actuators are installed for each story, then the elevator can serve multiple stories with unmanned vehicles, but maintenance effort and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice coverage for multiple storiesVSAvoidmaintenance effort and costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

By combining multiple story-specific rails and actuators into a single repositionable system, the patent reduces the total number of components that require maintenance. Fewer parts mean less frequent maintenance and lower costs while maintaining the ability to serve multiple stories.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single movable rail system can be repositioned and reused across different stories, eliminating the need to install and maintain separate permanent rails at each story. This recovery and reuse approach reduces maintenance effort and material costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentEP4696636A1Elevator and delivery system

Publication Date: 2026.02.18 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A

AI summary

An elevator (200) includes: an elevator carriage (210) that moves up and down; a partition (221) that divides a space within the elevator carriage (210) into a first elevator space (211) for a person to board and a second elevator space (212) for an unmanned transport vehicle (100) to board; an elevator rail (32) that includes a movable rail (32a) and is arranged in the second elevator space (212); and an actuator that moves the movable rail (32a). The unmanned transport vehicle (100) travels along the elevator rail (32), and the movable rail (32a) is switched between a first rail state and a second rail state by actuation of an actuator. In the first rail state, the first end (32k) of the movable rail (32a) is connected to the second end (31k) of the story rail (31), and in the second rail state, the first end (32k) is not connected to the second end (31k).