Linkage Mechanism for Lid Fall Prevention in Transport Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing article transport vehicles face challenges in preventing lid fall during transport without increasing device size or complexity, particularly due to the need for additional actuators and weight distribution issues when using vertically movable members and SCARA mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
An article transport vehicle with a travel member, grip portions, and an operatively connecting mechanism that moves lid fall prevention members between near and away positions in synchronization with the grip portions' movement, eliminating the need for a separate actuator and reducing weight and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If lid fall prevention members are mounted to cover portions on the ceiling side, then the structure is simple, but the lid fall prevention members cannot perform their function when the article is being raised or lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The lid fall prevention member is merged with the vertically movable member that grips the article, rather than being separate on the ceiling side. This integration ensures that the lid fall prevention member moves with the article during raising and lowering operations, maintaining its protective function while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid fall prevention member is designed to be movable relative to the vertically movable member, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. It can be switched between a fall prevention position (when the article is being transported) and a retracted position (when the article is being loaded or unloaded), ensuring continuous functionality throughout the operational cycle.
2Reliability
If lid fall prevention members are mounted to the vertically movable member with a separate actuator, then the lid fall prevention function is maintained, but the size and weight of the vertically movable member increase
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator for the lid fall prevention member is merged with the actuator for the grip portions, sharing the same motor and transmission mechanism. This integration eliminates the need for a separate actuator, reducing the weight and size of the vertically movable member while maintaining the lid fall prevention function.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls both the grip portions for gripping/releasing the article and the lid fall prevention member for preventing lid fall. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of actuators needed, thereby reducing weight and complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the actuator is kept in the main body and transmission is maintained during vertical movement, then the lid fall prevention member can be controlled, but the arrangement becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is positioned in the vertically movable member itself rather than in the main body, and the transmission mechanism is integrated into the vertically movable member's structure. This eliminates the need for complex transmission mechanisms that would need to function during vertical movement, simplifying the overall arrangement while maintaining full control capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An article transport vehicle is provided which can prevent a lid from falling from the container gripped by grip portions and which can prevent increase in the size of the device. A lid fall prevention member is provided which can be moved between a near position in which the lid fall prevention member is close to the lid on the side the outer surface of the lid is located, to prevent the lid from falling, and an away position in which the lid fall prevention member is farther away from the lid to allow the lid to be detached and attached. An operatively connecting mechanism is also provided which moves the lid fall prevention member from the near position to the away position as a pair of the grip portions are moved from gripping positions to grip release positions by grip actuator portion, and which moves the lid fall prevention member from the away position to the near position as the pair of the grip portions are moved from the grip release positions to the gripping positions by the grip actuator portion.