Pivotable Work Platform for Stacker Crane Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional article storage facilities with work platforms interfere with stacker cranes when stored, and require frequent movement during work, making it difficult to access high areas efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A work platform with a suspended portion and platform portion that can pivot between a riding posture and a folded posture, allowing it to extend along the longitudinal direction of the movement path, reducing interference with stacker cranes and enabling easy access to wide areas without frequent movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the work platform is configured as a ladder suspended by a movement rail, then the worker can access high areas, but the platform width is reduced causing interference with stacker crane traveling when stored
Solution Approach 1:
The platform portion is made pivotable about a pivot axis, allowing it to dynamically change between a riding posture (extending along the longitudinal direction) and a folded posture (reducing width). This dynamic transformation enables the platform to provide adequate working space when in use while minimizing interference with the stacker crane when stored at the terminal end of the movement path
Solution Approach 2:
The work platform is divided into a suspended portion and a platform portion connected by a pivot axis. This segmentation allows the platform portion to be independently positioned and oriented, enabling it to extend along the longitudinal direction during work operations while being foldable to reduce width during storage, thus resolving the conflict between worker accessibility and stacker crane clearance
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the platform portion is folded to reduce width for storage, then interference with stacker crane is minimized, but the worker cannot effectively work over wide areas
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable platform portion allows the worker to switch between a folded posture for storage (minimizing interference) and a riding posture for work operations (maximizing working area coverage). When in the riding posture, the platform extends along the longitudinal direction, enabling the worker to move and work over wide areas without frequent platform relocation
3Adaptability or versatility
If the platform portion extends along the longitudinal direction for work, then the worker can access wide areas, but the platform width increases causing interference when stored
Solution Approach 1:
The platform portion's ability to pivot between postures enables it to extend along the longitudinal direction during work operations, providing the worker with mobility over wide areas. When storage is required, the same platform portion can be folded to reduce its width, eliminating interference with the stacker crane's traveling path
Data Source
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AI summary
A work platform 3 on which a worker can ride includes a suspended portion 14 suspended and supported above a floor surface, the suspended portion 14 being movable by a movement rail 13 provided upwardly of a movement path S along the longitudinal direction of the movement path S, and a platform portion 15 provided in the form of a plate on which the worker can ride, the platform portion 15 having a base end thereof connected to a lower end portion of the suspended portion 14 to be pivotable about a pivot axis P1 extending along the direction of lateral width of the movement path S. With pivotal movements thereof about the pivot axis P1, the platform portion 15 can selectively assume a riding posture wherein the platform portion 15 extends along longitudinal direction of the movement path S so that the worker riding on this platform portion 15 can move along the longitudinal direction of the movement path S and a folded posture wherein the platform portion 15 is folded toward the suspended portion 14 to extend along the vertical direction.