Movable Guide Rail Holding Mechanism for Energy-Efficient Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing article transport facilities require significant electric power to maintain the movable guide portion in the guiding position, which is inefficient and increases energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
An article transport facility with a movable guide portion that moves to the guiding position under its own weight, supported by an engaging member and an electromagnet, where the engaging member is held in position by a holding device with reduced power consumption by controlling the electric power supply based on fire detection and power availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the holding device generates operating force by supplying electric power to hold the movable guide portion in the guiding position, then the movable guide portion is reliably held in position, but the electric power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holding device operates periodically rather than continuously. Electric power is supplied only when needed to move the movable guide portion to the guiding position and to hold it there temporarily. Once positioned, the holding device stops supplying power, allowing the movable guide portion to remain in place due to its position relative to the fixed guide portion geometry. This periodic operation significantly reduces electric power consumption while maintaining holding reliability when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the gravitational force and geometric arrangement of the movable and fixed guide portions to maintain the guiding position without continuous external energy input. The movable guide portion, when in the guiding position aligned with the fixed guide portion, naturally maintains its position through the mechanical arrangement itself, reducing dependence on continuous power supply from the holding device.
2Ease of operation
If the movable guide portion is moved to the out-of-the-way position under its own weight by stopping power supply, then the fire door can pass freely, but the movable guide portion may not return to the guiding position automatically
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a complex mechanical return mechanism to automatically bring the movable guide portion back to the guiding position after it moves to the out-of-the-way position, the system inverts the approach by using active control (holding device) to return the movable guide portion to the guiding position when needed. This simplifies the passive mechanical structure while maintaining operational effectiveness for fire door passage.
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 reduces the amount of electric power needed to hold the movable guide portion in the guiding position, allowing for efficient energy use while ensuring the guide rail can still move to an out-of-the-way position during a fire without power interruption.
Implementation Method 1
a holding device for generating an operating force with electric power supplied from an electric power supply to hold the engaging member in the engaging position against an urging force of the urging member
Implementation Method 2
the movable guide portion is moved from the guiding position to the out-of-the-way position under a weight of the movable guide portion
Data Source
AI summary
An article transport facility includes an engaging member capable of being moved to an engaging position at which the engaging member is in engagement with a movable guide portion and with a fixed guide portion to hold the movable guide portion in the guiding position, and to a releasing position at which the engaging member is not in engagement with at least one of the movable guide portion and the fixed guide portion wherein the engaging member supports the movable guide portion from below when in the engaging position; an urging member for urging the engaging member; a holding device for generating an operating force with electric power supplied from an electric power supply to hold the engaging member in the engaging position against an urging force of the urging member; and a power-supply controller for controlling the operation of the electric power supply. The power-supply controller maintains electric power supply in an electric power supplying state while fire information is not outputted from a fire detector and switches the electric power supply to an electric power non-supplying state if fire information is outputted from the fire detector.