Rotary Article Supports With Attitude Control for Faster Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing article transport apparatuses face inefficiencies in transport speed and complexity due to reliance on raising/lowering mechanisms and rotary bucket-type designs that suffer from rattling and poor durability.
Innovation Solution
A rotary article transport apparatus with supports rotated about a single main shaft, featuring a driving portion, attitude maintenance mechanism, and comb-like delivery portions for efficient article handling and reduced structural complexity, ensuring durability through stable support rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a raising/lowering mechanism is used to transport containers vertically, then article picking can be performed, but transport efficiency deteriorates because the next container cannot be received until the mechanism is lowered again
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a static raising/lowering mechanism to a dynamic rotary support system where supports continuously rotate about a horizontal axis. This dynamic configuration allows containers to be transported and presented for picking without waiting for vertical repositioning, as the rotation continuously brings new containers into the picking position.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotary support system enables continuous operation by maintaining constant rotation, allowing multiple containers to be in different stages of the transport-picking cycle simultaneously. This eliminates the idle waiting time inherent in sequential raising/lowering operations, as the system continuously presents containers for picking without interruption.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a raising/lowering mechanism with delivery portion withdrawal is used, then interference with the mechanism is avoided, but apparatus complexity increases in terms of both structure and control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a rotary mechanism where supports rotate about a horizontal axis, creating a circular motion path. This curved trajectory naturally separates the transport path from the picking position, eliminating interference without requiring complex withdrawal mechanisms. The circular motion inherently provides spatial separation between the moving supports and the stationary delivery portion.
3Ease of operation
If multiple supporting rotators with eccentric rotation axes are used, then supports can be rotatably supported, but supports are likely to rattle and have poor durability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric support design where each support has a specific orientation and position relative to the rotation axis. The supports are arranged at different angular positions around the horizontal axis, with each support configured to maintain stable contact during rotation. This asymmetric arrangement prevents rattling by ensuring proper alignment and contact points throughout the rotational cycle.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is an article transport apparatus 1 including a plurality of supports 20, a supporting rotator 30 that rotatably supports the supports 20 at a plurality of positions, a driving portion 50 for rotating the supporting rotator 30, an attitude maintenance mechanism 60 for keeping the plurality of supports 20 in a constant attitude irrespective of a phase of the supporting rotator 30, an article carry-in portion 70 for carrying an article C into the support 20 located at a first position P1, and an article carry-out portion 80 for carrying an article C out of the support 20 located at a second position P2.