Rack Depth Supports Guide Gripping Arms Without Width Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load-handling devices for storage and retrieval systems are complex, costly, and heavy due to the need for elaborate guiding mechanisms to compensate for leverage forces and accommodate varying storage good widths, and they often require additional components for precise positioning and stabilization, which increases manufacturing costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A rack device with depth supports that guide and support gripping arms in both height and depth directions, allowing for simpler construction and reduced material usage, eliminating the need for width-adjustment mechanisms and stabilizing mechanics, and enabling secure storage and retrieval without additional sensors for position verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If elaborate guiding mechanisms are used to compensate for leverage forces and accommodate varying storage good widths, then positioning precision and stability are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding function is segmented between the depth support (providing vertical guidance) and the groove in the depth support (providing horizontal guidance). This segmentation allows each component to have a simpler structure while collectively achieving precise positioning of the gripping arm during extraction and retraction
Solution Approach 2:
The groove in the depth support acts as an intermediary element that guides the gripping arm's movement. Instead of using complex guiding mechanisms, the groove provides a simple geometric constraint that ensures precise positioning while reducing device complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional components such as width-adjustment mechanisms and stabilizing mechanics are added, then adaptability to varying storage good widths is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the width-adjustment mechanism and stabilizing mechanics from the load-handling device. The depth support's groove structure inherently provides the necessary guidance and stability without requiring these additional components, thereby reducing device complexity and weight while maintaining adaptability
3Measurement precision
If additional sensors for position verification are installed, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The groove in the depth support provides self-guidance for the gripping arm, ensuring that the arm follows the correct trajectory during extraction and retraction. This self-guiding mechanism eliminates the need for additional sensors to verify position, as the geometry of the groove inherently ensures accurate positioning
Data Source
AI summary
A rack device including a storage and retrieval device for storing and retrieving storage goods in and from rack compartments. The storage and retrieval device includes a load-handling device having at least one gripping arm moveable in a depth direction of the rack compartments and including a gripping device for moving the goods along the depth direction. The gripping arm includes a first guiding device, and the rack device includes rack compartments. The rack compartments include a shelf and at least two depth supports extending along the depth direction and distanced from each other in a longitudinal direction, thereby defining a storage location. The depth supports include a second guiding device extending in the depth direction configured to cooperate with the first guiding device such that the gripping arm, during storage or retrieval, is in contact with and guided by the depth support via the guiding devices.