Overhead Transport Vehicle Lifter Linkage for Sway Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing overhead transport vehicles struggle to further reduce vibrations and swaying of articles, particularly as the variety of transported items increases.
Innovation Solution
The overhead transport vehicle incorporates a lifter with a base supported by first and second buffers, connected by a link mechanism that allows relative movement in vertical and horizontal directions, utilizing elastic members to minimize vibrations and sway.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a link mechanism is used to bring supporting parts closer together, then swaying of the article is reduced, but vibrations transmitted to the article increase
Solution Approach 1:
A vibration reduction mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the link mechanism and the supporting parts. This intermediary component absorbs and dampens vibrations generated by the link mechanism's operation, preventing them from being transmitted to the article while allowing the link mechanism to effectively reduce swaying by bringing supporting parts closer together.
2Stability of the object's composition
If buffers are made rigid to reduce vertical movement, then vertical stability improves, but vertical vibrations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The buffers are designed with adjustable damping characteristics, allowing the vertical movement parameters to be optimized. By changing the damping coefficient and stiffness parameters of the buffers, the system achieves both vertical stability and vibration reduction, as the buffers can adapt their rigidity to filter out vibrations while maintaining position stability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the lifter structure is made more flexible to reduce vibrations, then vibration transmission decreases, but structural strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lifter structure employs composite materials that combine high strength properties with vibration-damping characteristics. These composite materials maintain the structural strength necessary to support the article while simultaneously reducing vibration transmission, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and strength.
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
This configuration effectively reduces both vertical and horizontal vibrations, preventing swaying of articles by allowing the lifter to move relative to the supports, thus enhancing stability and vibration reduction.
Implementation Method 1
a first buffer to support the base so as to be vertically movable from below in a vertical direction... a second buffer to support the base so as to be vertically movable from below in the vertical direction
Implementation Method 2
a link connecting the first support and the second support and operable to bring, closer to each other, a first distance between the first support and the base in the vertical direction and a second distance between the second support and the base in the vertical direction
Data Source
AI summary
An overhead transport vehicle includes a first support, a second support, and a link. The first support includes a first buffer and is connected to a belt on one side of a body in a width direction in plan view. The second support includes a second buffer and is connected to a belt at the other side of the body in the width direction. The link connects the first support and the second support, and reduces each of a first distance between the first support and a base and a second distance between the second support and the base in the vertical direction. The link includes at least one of a third buffer to allow relative movement of the base in a travel direction and a fourth buffer to allow relative movement thereof in the width direction with respect to the first and second supports.