Frame Unit Door Drive With Shared Transmission for Compact Sorting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing frame units require multiple drive sources for each opening/closing table, leading to increased size and space requirements.

Innovation Solution

A frame unit design with a single drive source and transmission mechanism to operate multiple door members, allowing articles to accumulate on closed door members and pass through when opened, reducing the need for multiple drive sources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If multiple drive sources are provided for each opening/closing table, then each door member can be independently driven, but the number of drive sources increases and the size of the frame unit increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent driving of door membersVSAvoidsize of frame unit

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple door members are driven by a single drive source through a transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism distributes driving power from one drive source to multiple door members, merging the driving function into a single unit while maintaining independent operation of each door member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The transmission mechanism serves multiple functions: it transmits driving power from the single drive source to multiple door members, enables independent operation of each door member, and reduces the overall number of drive sources required in the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If multiple drive sources are provided for each opening/closing table, then each door member can be independently driven, but the space required to dispose drive sources increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent driving of door membersVSAvoidspace for drive sources

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The driving function for multiple door members is merged into a single drive source with a transmission mechanism. This consolidation significantly reduces the space required to dispose drive sources, as one compact drive source with transmission mechanism occupies less space than multiple separate drive sources would require.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Volume of stationary object

If one drive source drives multiple door members through a transmission mechanism, then the number of drive sources is reduced and the frame unit size is reduced, but the transmission mechanism is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesize of frame unitVSAvoidtransmission mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission mechanism is segmented into multiple components that can be distributed and integrated at different locations. This segmentation allows the transmission function to be achieved with simpler, more compact elements rather than a single complex transmission system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12428228B2Frame unit

Publication Date: 2025.09.30 DAIFUKU CO LTD

AI summary

A frame unit includes door members that are provided in correspondence with openings and change in orientation between an open orientation in which the openings are open and a closed orientation in which the openings are closed, and a door drive section that drives the door members in order to cause the door members to change in orientation. The door drive section includes a drive source and a transmission mechanism that transmits driving power from the drive source to the door members.