Rotatable Support Members for Wear-Resistant Baggage Assist Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing assist devices for holding packages with different widths cause wires to extend diagonally, leading to wear on rotating bodies and wires, reducing durability, and are not effective for packages without side wall opening portions.

Innovation Solution

The assist device includes support members that can change orientation about the extension axes of arm portions, allowing wires to extend in the rotational direction, and hand portions with guide and biasing mechanisms to securely hold packages without side wall openings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the hand portions are suspended by wires that extend diagonally from the rotating bodies to hold packages with different widths, then the device can accommodate various package widths, but the wires and rotating bodies experience increased wear reducing durability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to hold packages with different widthsVSAvoiddurability of wires and rotating bodies
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support members are designed to be rotatable about the extension axes of the arm portions, allowing dynamic adjustment of the wire extension direction. This enables the system to adapt to different package widths by rotating the support members to the appropriate angle, while maintaining optimal wire tension and reducing wear on rotating bodies and wires.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The orientation of the support members can be changed (rotated) about the extension axes of the arm portions to adjust the diagonal direction of wire extension. By changing the rotational angle parameter of the support members, the system can accommodate different package widths while maintaining the wires in a state that reduces wear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the wires extend diagonally from the rotating bodies to accommodate different package widths, then various package widths can be held, but the wires intersect the rotational directions of the rotating bodies causing wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of different package widthsVSAvoidwear on rotating bodies and wires
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The support members are designed to be rotatable about the extension axes of the arm portions, allowing dynamic adjustment of the wire extension direction. This enables the system to adapt to different package widths by rotating the support members to the appropriate angle, while maintaining optimal wire tension and reducing wear on rotating bodies and wires.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful diagonal wire extension (which causes wear) into a beneficial feature by using the rotatable support members to control the wire direction. The wire extension angle is optimized through the rotational mechanism to minimize contact and wear between the wires and rotating bodies, transforming the wear-prone diagonal extension into a controlled, low-wear configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Ease of operation

If the hand portions are designed to hold packages by inserting into side wall openings, then packages with openings can be securely held, but packages without side wall openings cannot be held

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure holding of packages with side wall openingsVSAvoidability to hold packages without side wall openings
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The hand portions are designed with a universal gripping mechanism that can accommodate different package types. The support members and wire suspension system work together to provide a universal holding capability that functions whether or not the package has side wall openings, allowing the same device to securely hold various package configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotatable support members allow the hand portions to dynamically adjust their position and orientation. This dynamic capability enables the hand portions to adapt to packages without side wall openings by adjusting the angle and position of the support members to create an effective gripping configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

This configuration reduces wear on rotating bodies and wires, improves durability, and enables secure holding of packages with varying widths and those without side wall openings.

Implementation Method 1

support members that can change orientation about the extension axes of arm portions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotation:

Implementation Method 2

The hand portions (package) are raised by winding the wires using the lifting/lowering device, and the hand portions (package) are lowered by unwinding the wires using the lifting/lowering device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWinding and unwinding:

Implementation Method 3

the wires extend from the rotating bodies of the arm portions in rotational directions of the rotating bodies of the arm portions... this may lead to wear of the rotating bodies of the arm portions and the wires

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction reduction through optimal tension direction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3647255B1Assist device with hand portions for holding baggage
Publication Date: 2023.12.20 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP3647255B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3647255B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3647255B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An assist device includes a main body portion to be attached to a mid back portion of a worker, arm portions 2 that extend forward from the main body portion, and a lifting/lowering device that is provided in the main body portion and winds and unwinds wires 18 and 19. The assist device includes: support members 16 supported by the arm portions 2 so as to be capable of changing their orientations about respective extension axes P2 parallel to directions in which the arm portions 2 extend; fixing portions 34 capable of fixing and unfixing the support members 16 to and from the arm portions 2 at predetermined position about the extension axes P2, and rotating bodies 15 supported by the support members 16 so as to be capable of rotating about respective lateral axes P3 that intersect the extension axes P2. The wires 18 and 19 that extend from the lifting/lowering device are wrapped around the rotating bodies 15 and extend downward, and hand portions for load-holding are connected to extension ends of the wires 18 and 19.