Passive Transfer Station for Driverless Conveyor Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driverless transport systems face challenges with complex and space-consuming transfer mechanisms between driverless transport vehicles (DTVs) and continuous conveyors, requiring precise alignment, additional drives, and sensor systems, which increase energy consumption and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A driverless transport system with a passive, ramp-like transfer station using an inclined non-driven multi-track transfer conveyor and a DTV equipped with switchable finger members for exchanging transport items, allowing the DTV to underpass the transfer conveyor without additional drives or sensors, optimizing space usage and reducing control effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a driven spaghetti conveyor is used for active item exchange, then the transfer conveyor can actively deliver items, but the drive requires space, complicates suspension, increases control effort, and consumes energy
Solution Approach 1:
The drive mechanism is completely removed from the transfer conveyor system. The patent employs a passive transfer conveyor where items are exchanged through the inertial interaction between the DTV's load-handling device and the conveyor, eliminating the need for motors, control systems, and associated infrastructure that would consume space and energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive transfer conveyor utilizes the kinetic energy and motion of the passing DTV itself to effect the item exchange. The DTV's movement through the conveyor structure provides the necessary force for item transfer without requiring an external drive system, making the system self-sufficient and space-efficient.
2Productivity
If the DTV passes under the main conveyor for item exchange, then the transfer can occur, but space is required that cannot be used otherwise, restricting layout freedom
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a vertical underpass configuration to a horizontal meshing interaction. Instead of the DTV passing underneath the main conveyor vertically, the load-handling device with its fingers meshes with the transfer conveyor in a horizontal plane, allowing item exchange without vertical clearance requirements and preserving layout flexibility.
3Device complexity
If rigid fingers are used on the load-handling device, then the structure is simple, but mechanical contact causes wear and increases maintenance costs
Solution Approach 1:
The finger members are designed to be movable rather than rigidly fixed, allowing them to adapt their position during the item exchange process. This dynamic capability reduces impact forces and mechanical wear while maintaining structural simplicity, as the fingers can flex and adjust to the natural variations in item positioning and conveyor motion.
4Measurement precision
If sensors and active control are used for item exchange, then synchronization is improved, but control effort and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses passive inertial interaction between the moving DTV and the transfer conveyor to achieve item exchange synchronization. The natural dynamics of the moving components self-regulate the transfer timing without requiring external sensors or active control systems, eliminating the energy consumption associated with monitoring and control while maintaining synchronization accuracy.
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 system minimizes space requirements, reduces energy consumption, and simplifies control by eliminating the need for sensor systems, while ensuring efficient and precise transfer of items between the DTV and continuous conveyors.
Implementation Method 1
an inclined non-driven, in particular freely rotating, multi-track transfer conveyor which is configured to be meshingly underpassed by the DTV
Implementation Method 2
The receiving and delivering preferably takes place passively, in particular inertia-based, in that the DTV drives through rigidly arranged receiving, or delivering, members of a loading station
Data Source
AI summary
A DTS and a method for exchanging transport items between a DTV and a transfer station. The driverless transport system, DTS, has at least one ramp-like transfer station configured to exchange a transport item with a continuous conveyor horizontally couplable thereto; and a driverless transport vehicle (DTV) for transporting the transport item from and/or to the at least one transfer station; wherein the DTV has a load-handling device forming a flat transport surface on which the transport item rests during a transport travel, wherein the load-handling device, in an end portion thereof, comprises at least one finger member switchable between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein the at least one finger member in the raised position protrudes from the transport surface; wherein each of the transfer stations consists (exclusively) of an inclined non-driven multi-track transfer conveyor which is configured to be meshingly underpassed by the DTV such that: in case, while the transport item rests on the transfer conveyor, the transport item is received by the DTV from the transfer conveyor by the DTV exiting the transfer conveyor and the at least one finger member being in the raised position; and in case, while the transport item rests on the transfer conveyor, the transport item is delivered by the DTV to the continuous conveyor by the DTV entering the transfer conveyor and the at least one finger member being in the raised position.