Guide-Plate Transport Unit for Damage-Free Flexible Element Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for transporting flexible elements, such as those used in battery and fuel cell manufacturing, face challenges in achieving gentle and damage-free transport, particularly during the transition between continuous and discrete systems, and often result in longer cycle times.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a transport unit with a guide plate and drive unit, where the guide plate has a non-circular geometry to adapt to varying distances and speeds, ensuring the transport unit remains in contact with the guide contour, and uses vacuum or suction to hold elements, allowing for precise positioning and reduced damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional transport devices are used, then the flexible elements can be transported, but the transport causes damage and longer cycle times
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting device dynamically adjusts the distance between the drive shaft and transport device during rotation, allowing the transport unit to maintain optimal contact with the guide contour while accommodating varying distances at different positions. This dynamic adjustment enables gentle acceleration and deceleration of flexible elements, preventing damage while maintaining efficient cycle times.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the positional parameter of the transport device relative to the drive shaft during rotation. By varying the distance between the drive shaft and transport device according to the guide contour geometry, the system optimizes the transport path to minimize damage while maintaining high-speed operation.
2Measurement precision
If the transport unit is kept in constant contact with the guide contour, then positioning precision is improved, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting device combines the functions of torque transmission and positional adjustment into a single integrated mechanism. By coupling the transport device to the drive shaft through this combined mechanism, the system achieves precise positioning along the guide contour without requiring separate control systems, thereby reducing overall complexity while maintaining high positioning accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the drive shaft is positioned centrally, then the structure is simplified, but the transport unit cannot adapt to varying distances along the guide contour
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting device introduces dynamic adaptability by allowing the transport device to change its distance from the drive shaft during rotation. This dynamic adjustment mechanism enables the system to follow the non-circular guide contour while maintaining a simple central drive shaft structure, achieving adaptability without significantly increasing structural complexity.
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 device enables efficient, damage-free transport of flexible elements between continuous and discrete systems, reducing cycle times and improving production output by minimizing defects and enhancing positional accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
The lifting device (5) couples the transport device (2) and the drive unit (4) to each other in a torque-transmitting manner and is configured to adjust, in a second direction (Z), the distance between the drive shaft (16) and the transport device (2), which depends on the position of the transport device (2) relative to the guide plate (3)
Implementation Method 2
uses vacuum or suction to hold elements
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device (1), a transport unit (43), and a method (50) for transporting flexible elements (48), in particular for the manufacture of a battery and/or fuel cell. The device (1) comprises a transport device (2) for transporting a flexible element (48) from a first area (A) to a second area (B), a guide plate (3) for guiding the transport device (2), a drive unit (4) for moving the transport device (2), a lifting device (5) for coupling the drive unit (4) and the transport device (2), and a mounting frame (6), wherein the guide plate (3) has a plate-like main body (13), a self-contained guide contour (14), and a through-opening (15); the transport device (2) is guided by means of the guide contour (14);the drive unit (4) has a drive shaft (16) extending in the first direction (X) and axially fixed in the through-opening (15) of the guide plate (4); and the lifting device (5) couples the transport device (2) and the drive unit (4) to each other in a torque-transmitting manner and is configured to adjust a distance between the drive shaft (16) and the transport device (2) in a second direction (Z) depending on the position.