Rotatable Carriage Conveyor with Single Guide Rail
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor devices for workpieces, such as vehicle bodies, face challenges in flexibility and space efficiency, as they often require complex folding mechanisms and additional components like pivot plate shafts and guide profiles, which complicate construction and usage.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor device with a rotatable carriage that can change orientations relative to a single guide element, eliminating the need for folding devices, using traction rollers for guidance and load-bearing, and incorporating a rotation device for different orientations, allowing for compact and receiving positions, and an energy supply system that adapts to rotational changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a carriage is designed to be fixed in rotational orientation along a guide rail, then the structure is simple, but the system lacks flexibility in handling workpieces in different orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage is designed to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the guide rail, transforming from a static fixed-orientation structure to a dynamic adjustable-orientation structure. This allows the carriage to adapt to different workpiece orientations while maintaining a relatively simple single-rail guide structure, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and complexity.
2Volume of moving object
If a folding device is added to minimize space requirement when no workpiece is present, then space efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable carriage can dynamically change its rotational orientation to a compact position when no workpiece is present, eliminating the need for separate folding devices. The single rotational degree of freedom provides both space minimization and workpiece handling capabilities without adding complex folding mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotational movement mechanism serves dual purposes: it enables the carriage to handle workpieces in various orientations during operation and simultaneously provides space minimization when idle. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate folding devices, reducing overall device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple guide profiles are used to guide the carriage, then guidance precision improves, but the number of components and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single guide rail is segmented into different functional zones: a first guide rail portion for guiding the carriage in linear motion and a second guide rail portion for guiding the rotational movement. This segmentation of guidance functions within a single integrated structure maintains guidance precision while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate guide profiles.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the carriage is designed to rotate relative to the guide element, then flexibility in orientation improves, but the complexity of guidance and energy supply systems increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational capability of the carriage is implemented through a dynamic interface with the guide rail, where the carriage can rotate about its longitudinal axis while remaining guided by the single guide element. This dynamic design provides orientational flexibility without requiring multiple rigid guide structures or complex energy supply systems.
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 enables a simple, flexible, and space-efficient conveyor system that can handle workpieces in various orientations, reducing complexity and enhancing operational flexibility while maintaining effective guidance and energy supply across different positions.
Implementation Method 1
The carriage preferably comprises one or more traction units, which preferably each comprise several traction rollers which roll over the guide element of the guide device
Data Source
AI summary
In order to provide a conveyor device for conveying workpieces which is of simple construction and offers flexible possibilities of use, it is proposed that the conveyor device comprise at least one carriage for receiving and conveying the workpieces, and a guide device for guiding the at least one carriage, wherein the guide device comprises a guide element on which the at least one carriage is guided in a sliding manner.