Plate Storage Assembly With Lifting Arms And Cradle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for storing large plates and sheets are inefficient, as they often result in damage and safety hazards due to poor stacking and inadequate protection, with limited access to individual items.
Innovation Solution
A storage assembly comprising a rack, a tray, and a loading device with lifting arms and a cradle that allows trays to be moved between storage and access positions, enabling easy access and protection of sheets, with features like rollers and helical indexing devices for efficient handling and support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If simple stacking with packing material is used, then storage is easy and device complexity is low, but protection against damage is inadequate and safety hazards arise
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system is divided into modular components: a rack structure for support, removable trays for holding sheets, and a loading device with lifting arms for manipulation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall system reliability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray acts as an intermediary between the rack and the sheets, providing a protected platform that prevents direct contact between sheets and the rack structure. The loading device with lifting arms serves as an intermediary mechanism that safely manipulates trays and sheets without requiring direct human handling, thereby protecting against damage and improving safety.
2Device complexity
If simple stacking is used, then device complexity is low, but access to individual sheets is limited to the top sheet only
Solution Approach 1:
The loading device incorporates movable lifting arms that can be dynamically positioned to access different trays at different heights. The drawing arm with end roller can be pivoted to move along the channel, enabling dynamic access to any sheet regardless of its position in the stack. This dynamic mechanism transforms a static simple stack into an accessible multi-level system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service operation where the loading device automatically maneuvers trays and sheets into position for access. The lifting arms and drawing arm work together to bring any sheet to an accessible location without requiring complex manual manipulation, allowing users to easily access individual sheets while maintaining relatively simple overall structure.
3Quantity of substance
If trays are stacked on rack rails, then storage capacity is maximized, but movement between storage and access positions becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The loading device merges multiple functions into a single integrated mechanism: the lifting arms handle both vertical movement and tray support, while the drawing arm with end roller handles horizontal movement along the channel. This combination of functions in one device simplifies the overall movement mechanism compared to having separate systems for each motion, while still enabling full movement between storage and access positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The end roller serves as an intermediary element that engages with the channel to facilitate smooth horizontal movement of the tray. The lifting arms act as intermediaries that transfer the tray from the rack rails to the cradle and back. These intermediary components simplify the movement process by providing guided, controlled motion without requiring complex actuation mechanisms.
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 provides safe and efficient access to any tray, reduces damage risk, and allows for easy handling and storage of multiple sheets, enhancing operational safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The drawing arm is pivotally connected to the cradle at a first end and includes an end roller at a second end, wherein the end roller cooperates with a channel in the tray, such that pivoting the drawing arm moves the end roller along the channel and thereby moves the tray between the storage position and the access position
Implementation Method 2
the drawing arm comprises support roller and the cradle comprises an arcuate frame member, such that the support roller moves along the arcuate frame member to support the drawing arm throughout its rotation
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 6~9
AI summary
A storage assembly (10) has a plurality of trays (14), each tray (14) being selectively moved from the storage position (Fig. 1) to an access position (Fig. 2). The assembly (10) includes a rack (12) which has a series of rails (13) at each end on which trays (14) are supported. The storage assembly (10) includes a loading device (16) including lifting arms (18). The lifting arms (18) support a cradle (20) that includes rails (22), and the cradle (20) is connected to the lifting arms (18) by rollers (23). The loading device (16) can access different trays (14) by being raised and lowered. Once the lifting device (16) is moved into position adjacent a tray (14), the tray can be moved from the stored position on the rack (12) to the access position on the cradle (20) via a drawing arm (35).