Integrated Fork Assembly for AMR Chassis Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) are bulky and designed for cart handling, with large openings and a mast unit for payload lifting, which increases cost and limits their ability to handle both stringer and non-stringer pallet types efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A chassis with an integrated single fork assembly for AMRs/AGVs, featuring a fork assembly with bushings, guide rods, a ball screw and bevel gear assembly, and a fork motor, which allows for compact design, efficient payload handling, and counteraction of imbalance and deflection during payload placement and movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional forklift AMRs are designed with two forks and a mast unit for payload lifting, then they can handle pallets effectively, but the vehicle becomes bulky and the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the mast unit from the traditional forklift AMR design, extracting the payload lifting function from the vehicle body and integrating it into the fork assembly itself. This eliminates the bulky mast structure while maintaining the ability to lift and handle pallets, directly resolving the contradiction between pallet handling capability and vehicle bulkiness.
Solution Approach 2:
The fork assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the payload carrying structure and the lifting mechanism. The integrated design allows the same component to handle both stringer and non-stringer pallet types, providing universal functionality that reduces the need for separate specialized components and decreases overall vehicle complexity.
2Power
If traditional forklift AMRs are designed with a mast unit for payload lifting, then they can lift payloads, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the payload lifting function with the fork assembly by integrating a ball screw mechanism directly into the fork structure. This consolidation eliminates the need for a separate mast unit and its associated components, reducing the number of parts to manufacture and assemble, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining payload lifting capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated ball screw mechanism replaces the expensive mast unit with a simpler, more cost-effective lifting mechanism. The design uses readily available components like ball screws and linear bearings that are generally cheaper than traditional mast assemblies, reducing the overall cost of the payload lifting system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional AMRs are designed for cart handling with large openings, then they can handle pallets, but they cannot efficiently handle both stringer and non-stringer pallet types
Solution Approach 1:
The fork assembly incorporates a ball screw mechanism with linear bearings that enable dynamic adjustment of the fork plates' position and angle. This dynamic system allows the forks to be positioned at different angles and heights to accommodate both stringer and non-stringer pallet types, providing the adaptability needed for versatile pallet handling without compromising operational efficiency.
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 integrated fork assembly enables compact, multi-purpose AMRs that efficiently handle both stringer and non-stringer pallets, reducing space requirements and operational costs while maintaining stability and balance during payload handling.
Implementation Method 1
a ball screw and bevel gear assembly coupled to the bearing retainer using one or more bearings, wherein the ball screw and bevel gear assembly comprises a ball screw and a bevel gear arrangement
Implementation Method 2
a ball screw and bevel gear assembly coupled to the bearing retainer using one or more bearings, wherein the ball screw and bevel gear assembly comprises a ball screw and a bevel gear arrangement
Implementation Method 3
a first set of guide rods and a second set of guide rods, each guide rod from the first set of guide rods and the second set of guide rods is configured to slide through the circular end and a corresponding linear bearing comprised in a corresponding bushing
Implementation Method 4
a first set of bushings and a second set of bushings, wherein each bushing from the first set of bushings and the second set of bushings comprises a circular end and a flange end
Data Source
AI summary
A compact and mast-less apparatus for an autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) or autonomous guided vehicle (AGVs). The apparatus includes a chassis having a fork assembly with a first plate and second plate, wherein the first plate is provided with a first and second set of bushings mounted thereon, a first and second set of guide rods configured to slide within the bushings and provided with linear bearings, a bearing retainer mounted on the first plate, a ball and bevel gear assembly coupled to the bearing retainer, a hinge clamp mounted on an end of a ball screw nut of the ball and bevel gear assembly, a fork motor operatively coupled to the ball screw and bevel gear assembly and wherein the second plate is provided with mounting holes for mounting the guide rods and hinge clamp.