Load Carrier Conveyor Units With Under-Load Collision Sensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor devices lack flexibility and collision avoidance capabilities in unenclosed areas, limiting their application in production and logistics where they must operate safely near people and obstacles.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor device with identical, independently moving units equipped with sensor systems that detect environmental parameters beyond the load carrier's outline, allowing for collision-free movement in any direction, including lateral movement, using a combination of optical, thermal, and radar-based sensors for comprehensive environmental detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conveyor units are equipped with sensor systems for collision detection in all directions, then collision avoidance capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is divided into multiple independent sensor units, each responsible for detecting a specific direction or area. This segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive collision detection coverage while maintaining modular complexity, where each individual sensor unit remains relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor units are designed to perform multiple functions: detecting obstacles, determining direction of travel, and providing collision warnings. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized sensors for each function, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conveyor units can move independently in any direction including lateral movement, then flexibility and space utilization are improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor units are designed with dynamic movement capabilities, allowing them to change direction and position autonomously based on sensor input and control signals. This dynamic design enables flexible movement in any direction while the control system manages complexity through real-time adaptive coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor systems provide continuous feedback about the environment and unit position to the control system. This feedback mechanism enables the control system to coordinate independent unit movements efficiently, managing complexity through real-time information about unit positions and environmental obstacles.
3Reliability
If sensor detection plane extends beyond the load carrier outline when raised, then environmental detection capability is improved, but risk of collision with the load carrier itself increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor detection plane is positioned to extend beyond the load carrier outline when raised, creating a preliminary detection zone that warns of potential collisions before they occur. The control system uses this early warning to take preventive action, such as adjusting the path or speed, thereby avoiding actual collisions with the load carrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system performs preliminary detection of the environment beyond the immediate load carrier area, allowing the control system to plan and execute collision-free paths in advance. This preliminary action enables the conveyor units to move flexibly while maintaining safety margins.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a conveying apparatus (10) for conveying laden or unladen load carriers (16), the apparatus having a first conveying unit (12a) and a second conveying unit (12b), wherein each conveying unit (12a, 12b) comprises a chassis, at least one carrying element (18) for supporting the load carrier (16), at least one raising/lowering unit for raising and lowering the carrying element, a sensor system (25) for detecting ambient parameters, and at least one drive system (30), which drives at least one base roller of the conveying unit (12a, 12b). Each conveying unit (12a, 12b) here can be moved relative to the respectively other conveying unit (12a, 12b), and independently of the respectively other conveying unit (12a, 12b), along any desired direction of travel. The invention is characterized in that, by the arrangement of the sensor system (25) in the two conveying units (12), the area surrounding the conveying apparatus (10) can be sensed in the raised state by way of a detection plane (19) beneath the load carrier (16), and in the non-raised state the detection plane intersects the load carrier (16).