Flexible Slave Station Switch Lever for Dust-Resistant Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing switch lever structures for slave stations in picking systems face issues with decreased detection sensitivity due to dust accumulation when the rod member is placed vertically, and the cylindrical member requires frequent replacement due to wear, making the entire slave station replacement costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A slave station design featuring a flexible cylindrical member with a detachable switch portion, including a rigid rod member and a guiding member, where the detection element can use electrostatic, magnetic, light, or ultrasonic principles, allowing for easy replacement and maintaining operability regardless of the detection method, and the switch lever can be bent in any direction to avoid dust accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the rod member is placed in the vertical direction to improve user-friendliness, then the operability is improved, but the detection sensitivity decreases due to dust accumulation on the mirror surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical mirror-surface reflection system with a magnetic field detection system. Instead of using a mirror surface that accumulates dust and degrades optical detection, the invention uses a detection element with a reflective surface (electrostatic substance and magnetic metal substance) that interacts with a detecting portion through magnetic field changes. This substitution eliminates dust accumulation issues while maintaining detection functionality, allowing the rod member to remain vertically oriented for user-friendliness.
2Ease of manufacture
If the cylindrical member is made flexible and detachable to reduce replacement costs, then the maintenance cost decreases, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the switch lever into separable components: a flexible cylindrical member (first end fixed to base member, second end free) and a detachable switch portion (rod member, guiding member, detection element). The cylindrical member can be detached and replaced independently without replacing the entire slave station, reducing maintenance costs. The segmentation allows the flexible cylindrical member to maintain mechanical coupling while enabling easy replacement of worn components.
3Reliability
If the detection element uses multiple detection principles (electrostatic, magnetic, light, ultrasonic) to maintain detection sensitivity, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection element is designed with universal functionality by incorporating both electrostatic substance and magnetic metal substance with a reflective surface. This multi-functional design allows the same detection element structure to work with different detection principles (electrostatic, magnetic, light, or ultrasonic) depending on the specific implementation, maintaining detection sensitivity while avoiding the need for separate detection systems for each principle.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a cost-effective and user-friendly switch portion replacement that maintains detection sensitivity and operability, reducing maintenance costs and extending the lifespan of the slave station by allowing the switch portion to be easily replaced without affecting the entire system's functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The detection element comprises an electrostatic substance and a magnetic metal substance
Implementation Method 2
The detection element comprises an electrostatic substance and a magnetic metal substance
Implementation Method 3
The switch lever comprises a cylindrical member that has flexibility and stretchability and thus may be freely restored to the normal position
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a slave station that may not deteriorate even when a switch is placed in a vertical direction and that may replace only the worn switch with new one in low costs thereby having user-friendliness. The slave station according to the present invention comprises the switch. The switch comprising a flexible cylindrical member bendable in any directions and the flexible cylindrical member being detachably attached to a housing composed of a body, a rigid rod member attached to a free end of the flexible cylindrical member, a flexible rod member extending from a base end of the rigid rod member toward the base end of the flexible cylindrical member through the inside of the flexible cylindrical member, and a guiding member comprising a insertion opening for inserting and holding the flexible rod member, the guiding member allowing movement in a direction to the shaft line of the flexible cylindrical member. A detecting portion element is formed at the end of the flexible rod member protruded from the opening of the guiding member. The detecting portion element comprises an electrostatic substance and a magnetic metal substance. The detecting portion element comprises a reflective surface on the end surface or a side surface of the flexible rod member.