Movable Support Portion for Multi-Level Article Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing article transport facilities with multiple storage levels require complex configurations due to the need for elevation mechanisms that can move the transport device's holding section by the height of the article, leading to increased complexity and potential interference between storage sections.
Innovation Solution
The transport device includes a holding section with an elevation mechanism and a movement mechanism that protrudes to one side, allowing it to transfer articles between multiple storage sections without the need for an elevation mechanism beyond the article's height, using a movable support portion and a fixed support portion to switch positions between overlapping and non-overlapping positions, thereby simplifying the configuration and reducing interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the transport device is provided with an elevation mechanism that elevates and lowers the holding section by the height of the article to enable transfer to both upper and lower storage sections, then the article can be transferred to multiple storage levels, but the configuration of the transport device becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The first support portion is made movable in the path width direction, allowing it to dynamically switch between overlapping and non-overlapping positions. This dynamic positioning enables the storage device to adapt its configuration based on transfer requirements, eliminating the need for complex elevation mechanisms in the transport device while maintaining multi-level transfer capability
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the degree of freedom from the vertical dimension (elevation mechanism in transport device) to the horizontal dimension (movable support portion in storage device). By allowing the first support portion to move in the path width direction, the system achieves multi-level access without requiring vertical elevation capability in the transport device, thus simplifying its configuration
2Ease of operation
If the holding section protrudes to the first side to transfer articles to storage sections, then the transfer operation can be performed, but the protrusion may interfere with the movement path or other components
Solution Approach 1:
The holding section's protrusion is made dynamic rather than static. The movement mechanism controls the protrusion to occur only when needed for transfer operations, and retracts it when not needed. This dynamic control eliminates continuous interference with the movement path while enabling transfer operations when required
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary positioning of the holding section before transfer operations. The movement mechanism positions the holding section to protrude to the first side only when the transport device is at the appropriate location for transfer, preventing interference during movement and ensuring readiness for transfer when needed
Data Source
AI summary
A first storage section includes a first support portion that supports an article and a movable support portion that movably supports the first support portion in the path width direction. A second storage section includes a second support portion whose position in a path width direction relative to a movement path is fixed, and supports the article. A space occupied by the article in a state of being supported by the second support portion is a target space, a position at which the first support portion overlaps the target space in an up-down view along an up-down direction is an overlapping position, and a position that is adjacent to a first side relative to the overlapping position and at which the first support portion does not overlap the target space in the up-down view is a non-overlapping position.