Overhead Vehicle Lateral Mechanism Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing overhead traveling vehicles face challenges in moving a transfer apparatus laterally to both sides efficiently, resulting in increased size, weight, and dust emission due to complex and rigid mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A compact lateral movement mechanism for an overhead traveling vehicle, utilizing a drive pulley system with belts and idler pulleys, and linear guides to enable lateral movement of a transfer apparatus by a large stroke, reducing weight and dust emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the stroke length is increased to enable lateral movement to both left and right sides, then the article transfer capability is improved, but the mechanism thickness and weight are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral drive mechanism is divided into multiple segments: a base unit, a middle unit, and a front unit. Each unit can move independently relative to the previous one, allowing the total stroke length to be the sum of individual unit strokes. This segmentation enables achieving a long overall stroke without requiring a single thick and heavy mechanism structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a complex mechanism is used to achieve lateral movement in both directions, then the article transfer versatility is improved, but the device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional units (base unit with drive means, middle unit with linear guides, front unit supporting transfer apparatus) are merged into a single integrated lateral drive mechanism. This combination achieves bidirectional lateral movement capability while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, as each unit performs a specific function that contributes to the total lateral displacement.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the mechanism thickness is increased to provide high rigidity for long stroke, then the structural stability is improved, but the overhead traveling vehicle size is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism is segmented into multiple thin units connected in series along the lateral direction. Each unit maintains sufficient rigidity for its small stroke, while the cumulative effect of multiple units achieves the total required stroke length. This avoids the need for a single thick structure and reduces the overall vehicle height.
4Length of moving object
If chains are used for lateral movement, then the large stroke capability is achieved, but dust emission is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chain-based mechanical transmission with a belt-driven system. The belt transmission mechanism achieves the same large stroke capability through pulleys and belts, but without the dust emission problems associated with chains. This substitution maintains the functional requirement while eliminating the harmful effect.
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
The solution allows for efficient lateral movement of a transfer apparatus by a large stroke with reduced weight, size, and dust emission, enhancing the operational capabilities of overhead traveling vehicles while maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a drive pulley as the drive means is provided in the base unit, the drive pulley driving a belt has both ends fixed to the middle unit for allowing the middle unit to move toward both of the left and right sides
Implementation Method 2
a rail in the base unit and a rail in the middle unit are provided in parallel, between the base unit and the middle unit, a first linear guide guided by the two rails is provided for guiding the middle unit by the base unit
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
An overhead traveling vehicle (2) has a lateral movement mechanism for moving a transfer apparatus toward left and right sides. The lateral movement mechanism includes a fixed base unit (22) having drive means (14), and a middle unit (24) supported by the base unit. The middle unit (24) is a slidable laterally by the drive means (14) toward both of the left and right sides and is provided at an intermediate position below the base unit. The mechanism has further a front unit (26) supporting the transfer apparatus, and being supported by the middle unit. The front unit is slidable laterally, moves with the movement of the middle unit, and is provided at a front end position below the middle unit (Fig. 1).