Lift and Rotate Unit for Warehouse Payload Handling
Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotics systems in warehouses lack a combined lifting and rotating mechanism for efficiently moving and orienting payloads, with most devices either focusing solely on lifting or rotating, failing to meet the demands of complex logistics operations in Industry 4.0 environments.
Innovation Solution
A lift and rotate unit comprising a first drive unit for lifting and a second drive unit for rotating, featuring a lead screw shaft, lift and rotary gears, motors, and bearings, allowing for simultaneous lifting and 360-degree rotation of payloads, integrated with autonomous mobile robots or automated guided vehicles for autonomous movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate lifting apparatus and indexing/rotating devices are used, then lifting function and rotating function are achieved, but device complexity increases and space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the lifting mechanism and rotating mechanism into a single integrated device. The lifting apparatus includes a lead screw shaft with lift gears, while the indexing mechanism includes a rotary shaft with rotary gears. Both mechanisms share a common base plate and are coordinated through a control system, allowing simultaneous or sequential lifting and rotating operations without requiring separate independent devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate serves multiple functions: it supports the lifting mechanism, supports the rotating mechanism, and provides a mounting surface for the payload. The lead screw shaft and rotary shaft both extend through the base plate and are driven by separate motors, allowing the single device to perform both vertical lifting and horizontal rotating operations.
2Productivity
If multiple AGVs or AMRs are used to pick up specific shelves/racks, then productivity is improved, but device complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates lifting and rotating capabilities into a single apparatus mounted on the AGV/AMR. This combined unit can handle both the vertical lifting of shelves/racks from storage locations and the horizontal rotation for picker access, reducing the need for multiple specialized vehicles or devices while maintaining high productivity.
3Ease of operation
If the shelf on top of AGV/AMR rotates 360 degrees at packer's location, then access to all sides of shelf is enabled, but time for rotation and positioning is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The indexing mechanism is designed to rotate the shelf to predetermined angular positions corresponding to different picker locations. The rotary shaft with rotary gears can quickly index the shelf to these pre-planned positions, reducing the time needed compared to continuous 360-degree rotation. The mechanism enables rapid positioning at specific angles rather than requiring full rotational movement.
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
Enables efficient transportation and orientation of payloads in warehouses, enhancing productivity by providing a combined lifting and rotating mechanism that can handle complex logistics tasks with increased flexibility and autonomy.
Implementation Method 1
a lead screw shaft, a lift motor, a lead screw nut
Implementation Method 2
a second drive unit with the plurality of rotary gears arranged in one plane, an driven rotary gear, a rotary motor, a rotary motor gear
Implementation Method 3
the rotating plate with at least one linear bearing from a plurality of linear bearings to house the plurality of guide shafts
Data Source
AI summary
In robotic system, lot of complex mechanism exists for lifting/rotating payloads at industrial warehouse. A lift and rotate unit to perform lifting and rotating of plurality of payloads is provided. The lift and rotate unit with a first drive unit include plurality of lift gears, lead screw shaft, lift motor, lead screw nut, lift motor gear, and a top plate; a second drive unit with plurality of rotary gears, driven rotary gear, rotary motor, rotary motor gear, and a rotating plate; the top plate with at least one guide shaft from plurality of guide shafts is configured as a surface on which the plurality of payloads is loaded; and the rotating plate with at least one linear bearing from a plurality of linear bearings to house the plurality of guide shafts at a plurality of corners and to rotate the top plate by the second drive unit.