Operator Station Movable Seat Orientation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operators face discomfort and risk of damaging machine consoles when entering or exiting an operator station, as the seat is often not oriented correctly towards the door used for entry, requiring cumbersome reorientation and potentially causing downtime.
Innovation Solution
A movable seat system within the operator station, controlled by a controller that moves the seat to different positions based on signals from sensors or switches, ensuring it is always oriented towards the door used for entry or exit, using a combination of guide structures and rotary assemblies for sliding and rotational movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the seat is fixed in position within the operator station, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the operator must climb over consoles and systems to access the seat when entering through different doors, causing discomfort and potential damage to machine components
Solution Approach 1:
The seat is transformed from a fixed structure to a dynamic, movable structure that can change its position and orientation. The seat includes a sliding mechanism along guide structures and a rotary assembly that allows it to rotate, enabling it to move from a first position facing a first door to a second position facing a second door, thus adapting to different operator entry points
Solution Approach 2:
The seat automatically moves to the appropriate position before the operator needs to enter. When a door is opened, the seat proactively slides and rotates to face that door, so the operator finds the seat already in the correct orientation, eliminating the need to climb over consoles and systems
2Ease of operation
If the seat is movable towards each door to facilitate operator exit, then operator accessibility is improved, but the seat remains in improper orientation when a new operator enters through a different door, requiring time-consuming reorientation
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors or switches on the doors to detect when a door is opened. This feedback signal is sent to the controller, which then automatically commands the seat to slide and rotate to face the opened door, enabling real-time adaptation without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The seat automatically reorients itself in response to door opening without requiring operator intervention. The controller receives signals from door sensors and autonomously controls the sliding and rotary mechanisms to position the seat facing the correct door, eliminating the need for manual reorientation
3Ease of operation
If the seat is manually reoriented by the operator, then the seat can be positioned correctly, but the operator must climb over consoles and systems, causing discomfort and potential damage to machine components
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical action of the operator climbing and physically moving the seat is replaced with an automated mechanical system. Motors or actuators driven by the controller perform the sliding and rotating operations, eliminating the need for the operator to physically interact with the seat in a way that could damage surrounding components
Data Source
AI summary
An operator station for a machine is disclosed. The operator station includes a first door, a second door, a seat, and a controller. The first door and the second door provide access to the operator station. The seat is disposed inside the operator station and is movable to a first position and to a second position. Further, the controller is configured to move the seat to the first position based on a first signal, and move the seat to the second position based on a second signal.