Pull Assembly with Embedded Cables for Automated Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pull devices in automated article storage systems, such as belts with embedded cables and metal inserts, face limitations in weight capacity due to material embrittlement and risk of cable damage during the pull action, restricting the weight of loads that can be lifted.
Innovation Solution
A pull assembly featuring a belt with embedded pull cables and a direct mechanical connection via pull cleats, which supports forces without loading the flexible material, preventing embrittlement and potential cable damage, allowing for the lifting of larger loads without belt breakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If metal inserts and screws are used to attach latches to the belt body, then hooking capability is provided, but the flexible material becomes embrittled and weight capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the load-bearing function from the flexible belt material and transfers it to the pull cables. The cleat is directly connected to the pull cables without requiring metal inserts embedded in the belt body, thus removing the source of material embrittlement while maintaining hooking capability through the cleat-latch interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleat serves as an intermediary element that connects the latch to the pull cables directly, eliminating the need for metal inserts in the flexible belt. This mediator transfers the attachment function away from the belt material itself, preventing embrittlement while maintaining the hooking capability through the cleat-latch connection.
2Ease of manufacture
If metal inserts pass through the flexible material, then attachment points are created, but the material is embrittled and pull cables may be cut
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes metal inserts from the flexible belt material entirely. Instead, the cleat is directly connected to the pull cables through molding or other direct mechanical connections, eliminating the harmful penetration of metal through the flexible material while maintaining attachment functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleat is formed as a composite structure combining rigid material (for strength) with integrated pull cable connections. This composite approach allows direct connection to pull cables without requiring separate metal inserts that would penetrate and damage the flexible belt material.
3Device complexity
If the flexible material supports pull forces, then the belt structure is simple, but the material embrittles and breaks under heavy loads
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the load-bearing function from the flexible belt material and assigns it to the pull cables. The belt body retains only its flexible, connecting function, while the pull cables (with directly connected cleats) handle all tensile and pull forces, preventing material embrittlement while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention substitutes the flexible belt material's mechanical load-bearing role with a dedicated cable system. The pull cables, directly connected to the cleat, replace the flexible material as the primary load-bearing element, eliminating stress on the flexible material while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A load lifting system suitable for an automated article storage system, the load lifting system including a pull assembly including a belt having a flexible body and a plurality of pull cables embedded in the flexible body, and at least one pull cleat configured to carry a hooking device intended to be attached to the at least one pull cleat, wherein the at least one pull cleat has a direct mechanical connection with all or part of the plurality of pull cables.