Floating Slotted Gripper for Twistlock Alignment

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for automatically removing or inserting twistlocks from container fittings on lashing platforms are prone to damage due to imprecise container positioning, which prevents automatic processing and causes damage to the slotted grippers.

Innovation Solution

The vertically movable slit gripper is mounted in a floating manner in the horizontal plane, allowing it to automatically align with the wedge-shaped twistlocks and adjust position for proper engagement, using a hydraulic cylinder and guide elements for horizontal deflection, enabling operation despite imprecise container placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the slotted gripper is fixed in position to ensure precise alignment with container fittings, then the alignment precision is improved, but the device cannot accommodate imprecise container positioning and is prone to damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidaccommodation of imprecise positioning

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The slotted gripper is designed to be movable in the horizontal direction rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position to align with container fittings that may be imprecisely positioned. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction by enabling both precise alignment (when needed) and accommodation of positioning variations (when containers are misplaced).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A guide element acts as an intermediary between the fixed device structure and the slotted gripper. The guide element translates the horizontal movement of the container into corresponding horizontal movement of the slotted gripper, mediating the interaction and enabling automatic alignment without direct mechanical coupling that would cause damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If the slotted gripper is made rigid to maintain structural strength, then the strength is improved, but the device cannot automatically align with wedge-shaped twistlocks when container positioning varies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidautomatic alignment capability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into a fixed structural part and a movable functional part (the slotted gripper). The fixed part maintains structural strength, while the movable part provides adaptability for automatic alignment. This segmentation allows both strength and adaptability to coexist without compromise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The slotted gripper is designed to be movable in the horizontal direction rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position to align with container fittings that may be imprecisely positioned. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction by enabling both precise alignment (when needed) and accommodation of positioning variations (when containers are misplaced).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the slotted gripper is constrained to vertical movement only to simplify the mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced, but the device cannot handle imprecise container positioning without damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanism simplicityVSAvoiddamage prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A guide element acts as an intermediary between the fixed device structure and the slotted gripper. The guide element translates the horizontal movement of the container into corresponding horizontal movement of the slotted gripper, mediating the interaction and enabling automatic alignment without direct mechanical coupling that would cause damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The slotted gripper is designed to be movable in the horizontal direction rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position to align with container fittings that may be imprecisely positioned. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction by enabling both precise alignment (when needed) and accommodation of positioning variations (when containers are misplaced).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

This solution allows for the automatic processing of containers with imprecise positioning without damaging the lashing platform components, ensuring reliable operation and preventing damage to the slotted grippers.

Implementation Method 1

The support 30 is connected to a device H which changes the vertical position of the support and is preferably in the form of a hydraulic cylinder H

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

Due to the floating mounting of the slotted grippers and the wedge-shaped contour of the twistlocks, the slotted grippers can be automatically aligned with the contour of the twistlocks as a positioning aid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWedge: Wedge

Data Source

PatentEP2470457B1Device to remove Twistlocks from container fittings or to insert Twistlocks in container fittings

Publication Date: 2013.07.10 KAPELSKI RAINER

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Figure 3a~3d

AI summary

The invention relates a device (10), comprising at least one slot gripper for removing twistlocks from container fittings or for inserting twistlocks into container fittings, which slot gripper can be moved vertically between a resting position and a working position, characterized in that the slot gripper is supported in the horizontal plane in a floating manner.