Lifter Table Protrusions for Horizontal Unit Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lifters struggle to maintain units with front panels larger than the metal housing horizontal during insertion and removal, leading to potential damage from main circuit contactors protruding from the back surface, especially when units are heavy or handled in unstable conditions.
Innovation Solution
A lifter with a table featuring protrusions and a low-friction surface, where the protrusions guide and support the unit's front panel to maintain it horizontally, preventing contact with shelf plates and allowing smooth insertion and removal without manual lifting or handling of the protrusions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the unit is placed on the table of the lifter with the front panel protruding downward, then the unit can be inserted into the unit chamber, but the main circuit contactor contacts with the shelf plate causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
A buffer member is introduced as an intermediary between the main circuit contactor and the shelf plate. The buffer member contacts the main circuit contactor first during insertion, preventing direct contact between the contactor and shelf plate, thus avoiding damage while facilitating unit insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer member is positioned in advance on the shelf plate to provide cushioning protection. Before the main circuit contactor can contact the shelf plate, the buffer member is already in place to absorb the impact and prevent damage during the insertion process.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the unit is kept horizontal on the lifter table, then the front panel does not protrude downward, but the unit cannot be properly inserted into the unit chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The solution moves the problem to another dimension by adding the buffer member in the vertical dimension. This allows the unit to remain horizontal (maintaining stability) while the buffer member compensates for the height difference, enabling proper insertion by providing an intermediate contact surface.
3Ease of operation
If manual handling is used to insert/draw the unit, then the worker has direct control, but the unit might drop from unstable position or heavy weight
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer member acts as a mediator that provides a stable contact surface between the unit and the shelf plate. This intermediary structure prevents the unit from dropping by ensuring proper support during manual handling operations, combining worker control with enhanced stability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A lifter (1) includes: a wheeled base (2); a support portion (3) extending vertically from the wheeled base (2); and a rectangular table (5) provided vertically and ascendably/descendably with respect to the support portion (3), and having a plate shape of which an upper surface is a placement surface (5a) for placing an object to be placed, a side surface on the support portion (3) side is a front side surface (5b), a side surface opposed to the front side surface (5b) is a rear side surface (5c), and side surfaces connecting the front side surface (5b) and the rear side surface (5c) are a left side surface (5d) and a right side surface (5e). The table (5) has, on the placement surface (5a), a guide (6) provided along the front side surface (5b) and having a shape protruding from the placement surface (5a), and two protrusions (8) provided so as to be opposed to each other in parallel to a direction in which the left side surface (5d) and the right side surface (5e) extend.