Molding Carrier Transport System with Dynamic Lifter Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport systems for molding carriers, such as H-cassettes, often damage the carrier feet during alignment and centering due to inaccuracy and require excessive force, leading to wear and maintenance issues.
Innovation Solution
A transport system featuring a vertically movable lifter that frees the carrier feet during alignment, allowing the underside to be supported by a positioning device, which uses movable positioning arms to align and center the carrier with minimal effort and without clamping, thus protecting the feet and reducing wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed roller system is used to fix and center the molding carrier, then the carrier is securely positioned, but the feet of the carrier are damaged and wear occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The lifter is designed to be vertically movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. During alignment operations, the lifter can be lowered to free the feet from support, preventing damage. During transport, the lifter rises to provide stable support. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction between secure positioning and preventing foot damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary alignment and centering operations before the carrier is loaded onto the transport means. By lowering the lifter beforehand, the feet are freed from support, allowing the positioning device to align the carrier without risking foot damage. This preliminary action prevents harm before it can occur.
2Manufacturing precision
If force is applied to align and center the molding carrier on the transport means, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the carrier structure may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The movable lifter creates a dynamic support configuration that allows the carrier to be aligned with minimal force. By lowering the lifter, the carrier rests on its underside rather than being forced into position, reducing the alignment force required and preventing structural damage while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning device acts as an intermediary mechanism that guides the carrier into the correct position without requiring direct force application to the carrier structure itself. The device mediates the alignment process, allowing precise positioning through guided movement rather than forceful imposition.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the feet of the molding carrier are supported during alignment, then stability is maintained, but the feet are exposed to wear and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary alignment operations with the lifter lowered, freeing the feet from support before the carrier is loaded onto the transport means. This preliminary action allows the carrier to be stabilized and aligned while the feet are vulnerable, then the lifter rises to provide stable support during transport, preventing foot wear and damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifter dynamically transitions between supporting the carrier during transport and freeing the feet during alignment operations. This dynamic behavior allows the system to maintain stability when needed while protecting the feet from wear and damage during critical alignment phases.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The transport system has a mold carrier for receiving shaped articles, where two lateral feet (21) and a positioning member (22) are arranged on the lower side (23). A jack is lowered to one of the lateral feet until the lateral feet of the mold carrier is set free. The mold carrier has a rectangular shape, where each lateral foot is arranged at one of two opposite end sides (25). An independent claim is also included for a transport method for shaped articles.