Movable Support Carriage for Compact Piece Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carriages for loading and unloading pieces are inconvenient to use and arrange, have large dimensions, and pose safety risks during operations.
Innovation Solution
A carriage with a frame equipped with wheels and movable support surfaces that can switch between operative and inactive positions, allowing for safe and efficient loading and unloading of pieces using sensor detection and automatic loading devices, with support surfaces featuring progressively denser prongs for secure piece placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple support surfaces are stacked vertically to increase loading capacity, then the carriage can carry more pieces, but the overall height increases making storage and arrangement difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The support surfaces are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to change position between a stacked configuration for compact storage and an extended configuration for loading operations. This dynamic arrangement enables the carriage to adapt its height based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The support surfaces are arranged in a nested or stacked configuration when not in use, with each surface positioned above the previous one. This nesting principle allows multiple support surfaces to occupy minimal vertical space during storage while still providing multiple loading levels when deployed.
2Productivity
If the second support surface remains in operative position to allow easy loading, then loading efficiency is improved, but the upper part of the first support surface is blocked preventing additional piece placement
Solution Approach 1:
The second support surface is designed to move between operative and inactive positions dynamically. During loading operations, it can be positioned to allow access to the first support surface, then moved to operative position for efficient loading of the second surface, enabling flexible adaptation to different loading scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The loading process is segmented into distinct phases where different support surfaces are activated sequentially. The first support surface can be loaded independently when the second surface is in inactive position, and then the second surface can be loaded when in operative position, allowing flexible piece placement strategies.
3Device complexity
If manual loading operations are used to simplify the device structure, then device complexity is reduced, but safety risks and accident occurrence increase during operations
Solution Approach 1:
Sensor means are integrated to detect the presence or absence of pieces on the support surfaces and provide feedback to the control system. This feedback mechanism enables automatic control of the support surface movement, ensuring that surfaces are only moved when safe to do so, thereby preventing accidents while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The carriage system performs self-monitoring and self-protection through the sensor means that automatically detect piece presence and prevent unsafe operations. The system serves itself by detecting potential hazards and automatically adjusting its operation to avoid accidents, reducing the need for complex manual safety procedures.
Data Source
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AI summary
Described is a carriage (1, 1') for loading and unloading pieces (P) comprising: a frame (2, 2') equipped with a plurality of wheels (3, 3') for moving, in use, on a floor (F, F'); and at least one first support surface (5, 4') connected to said frame (2, 2') and at least one second support surface (5, 4') which is placed above said at least one first support surface (5, 4') and connected with said frame (2, 2') in a movable way between an operative position, where said at least one second support surface (5, 4') is placed substantially horizontal such as to allow laying at least one piece (P) on said at least one second support surface (5, 4'), and an inactive position, where said at least one second support surface (5, 4') is placed such as to keep free the upper part of said at least one first support surface (5, 4') to allow laying at least one piece (P) on said at least one first support surface (5, 4'). The invention also relates to a method for loading pieces (P) on the carriage (1, 1').