Offset Roller Joint Axes for Tolerance-Free Transport Pallet Guidance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport systems face challenges in achieving highly precise and tolerance-free guidance of transport pallets, especially in concave sections of the transport route, which is crucial for medical inspections and processing.
Innovation Solution
A transport system with chain-like transport elements connected via chain joints and driven by chain wheels, featuring a guide device with offset joint axes and rollers that provide a biased, contact-locking mechanism for precise guidance, allowing for almost tolerance-free movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional guide devices are used to guide transport pallets along a concave trajectory, then the transport system can operate, but the guidance precision is insufficient and tolerances cannot be eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The joint axis is segmented into two separate sections (first joint axis section and second joint axis section), each supporting a separate roller. This segmentation allows independent positioning and adjustment of each roller, enabling precise control of the transport pallet's trajectory and eliminating cumulative tolerances that would exist in a single-axis design.
Solution Approach 2:
Two rollers act as intermediary elements between the guide device and the transport pallet, with each roller supported by its own joint axis section. These intermediaries distribute the guidance function across two independent contact points, allowing each to be precisely positioned and preloaded, thereby achieving tolerance-free guidance through the combined action of both rollers.
2Manufacturing precision
If a single joint axis is used for the chain joint, then the structure is simple, but the guidance precision and tolerance-free operation cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The single joint axis is divided into two separate joint axis sections, each supporting an individual roller. This segmentation increases guidance precision by allowing independent adjustment of each roller's position, while the modular nature of the segmentation keeps the manufacturing process manageable through standardization of the separate sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The two joint axis sections are combined into a single integrated chain joint assembly that functions as one unit. This merging maintains structural coherence and simplifies installation, while internally each section independently performs its guidance function, achieving both precision and structural efficiency.
3Manufacturing precision
If rollers are not preloaded, then the structure is simpler, but guidance precision and tolerance-free operation are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The rollers are preloaded during assembly by positioning them between the first and second guide surfaces with a predetermined force. This preliminary action eliminates play and ensures precise guidance from the start of operation, while the preload mechanism is integrated into the basic roller support structure rather than being a separate complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
The preload changes the contact force parameter between the rollers and the guide surfaces, transforming the guidance from a loose fit to a precision fit. By adjusting this force parameter during assembly, the system achieves tolerance-free operation without requiring complex active control mechanisms, as the preload is set once during installation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables highly precise and almost tolerance-free guidance of transport pallets along the transport route, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of object inspection and processing, particularly in concave sections.
Implementation Method 1
the first roller rests in a first contact section of the first guide surface and the second roller rests in a second contact section of the second guide surface and is guided with preload relative to each other
Implementation Method 2
the first and second contact sections are offset from each other along the pivot axis and are opposite each other... by clamping the respective first and second rollers of the first and second guide devices to each other along opposite sides of the axis
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a transport system (1) for transporting objects along a transport track (TS). The present invention is characterized in particular by the fact that at least one articulation axis (GAS) of at least one transport pallet (3) of the transport system (1) has a first and second articulation axis section (GAA1, GAA2) at the first and second free ends (GAS1, GAS2), wherein the first articulation axis section (GAA1) forms a first axis of rotation (RA1) for the respective first roller (34 and 36) and the respective second articulation axis section (GAA2) forms a second axis of rotation (RA2) for the respective second roller (35 and 37), and wherein the respective first axis of rotation (RA1) is offset, in particular parallel, to the respective second axis of rotation (RA2).