Pivoting Payload Container Loading Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transfer of shipments from unmanned transport devices to receiving containers is challenging, particularly due to the risk of damaging fragile items during the transfer process.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a loading device that pivots and lifts the payload container to align its supports with corresponding contours on the transport device, ensuring secure engagement and preventing falling, while also providing a non-linear movement for safe insertion and locking mechanisms to stabilize the payload container during transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the payload container is transferred by a non-linear movement with pivoting, then the shipment transfer safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The loading device employs dynamic pivoting movement to transfer the payload container from a horizontal position to an inclined position, allowing the container to be inserted into the loading opening at an angle. This dynamic approach enables safe transfer of fragile items while managing the complexity through controlled motion sequences.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a spatial dimension by pivoting the payload container at an angle rather than moving it linearly. The container is tilted and inserted diagonally into the loading opening, utilizing three-dimensional space to achieve safe transfer while accommodating the structural constraints of the transport device.
2Measurement precision
If the support engages with the counter contour for secure positioning, then the positioning precision is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The payload container's support and the loading opening's counter contour are designed to automatically engage with each other during the pivoting insertion process. This self-aligning mechanism ensures precise positioning without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances, as the geometry of the support and counter contour guides the container into the correct position.
Solution Approach 2:
The support and counter contour act as intermediary elements that mediate between the loading device and the payload container. Their specifically designed geometry facilitates precise positioning through mechanical engagement, distributing the positioning requirements across multiple contact points rather than demanding single-point precision.
3Reliability
If the payload container is inserted at an angle into the loading opening, then the transfer safety is improved, but the loading time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The loading process is divided into periodic stages: positioning the payload container horizontally, pivoting it to the insertion angle, inserting it into the loading opening, and then returning to the initial position. This periodic sequence allows for controlled, safe transfer while maintaining efficient operation through repetition and optimization of each cycle.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method by means of which an unmanned transport device (3) docked on a receiving container (1) is loaded with a payload container (7) for a consignment (4), having a loading device (8) for loading the transport device (3) with the payload container (7), wherein the payload container (7) has a bearing means (9) at its first end (8a), the transport device (3) has a loading opening (6) on its underside (5) for receiving the payload container (7), and the loading opening (6), at its front end (19), has a mating contour (20) corresponding to the bearing means (9), and the method has the following steps: the payload container (7), arranged on the loading device (8), is pivoted in relation to the horizontal by the loading device (8) such that the first end (8a) is elevated in relation to a second, opposite end (14) of the payload container (7), the loading device (8) is raised until the payload container (7) ends up at least with its first end (8a) located within and/or beneath the loading opening (6), and the payload container (7) is pivoted by the loading device into the horizontal for introduction into the loading opening (6) such that, first of all, the bearing means (9) comes into engagement with the mating contour (20) and, subsequently, the second end (14) of the payload container (7) comes into engagement with a rear end (22) of the loading opening (6).