Rotating Top-Plate Transport Vehicle for Low-Force Rack Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport systems require a large force for a robot arm to extract packages from racks, which is inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A transport system with a transport vehicle equipped with a top plate, an extendable and retractable arm, and a rotation mechanism that allows the arm to change its extension direction by rotating the top plate, reducing the force needed for object retrieval and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a robot arm directly extracts packages from the rack, then the extraction function is achieved, but a large force is required which reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism consisting of the top plate and arm assembly that acts as a mediator between the rack and the robot arm. The top plate rotates to position packages, and the arm extends to push packages onto the top plate, reducing the force required by the robot arm. This intermediary system transforms the direct high-force extraction into a multi-step low-force process.
Solution Approach 2:
The extraction process is segmented into multiple distinct steps: (1) The top plate rotates to orient the rack, (2) The arm extends to push the package, (3) The package is placed on the top plate, and (4) The top plate transports the package to the robot arm. This segmentation divides the high-force extraction task into multiple low-force operations, improving overall efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If the loading platform and robot arm are separately provided, then flexible operation is achieved, but a large force is required when the robot arm takes out packages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the loading platform functions with the robot arm by integrating the top plate and arm assembly into the robot arm structure. This combination allows the top plate to rotate and position packages while the arm extends to push packages, creating a unified system that maintains operational flexibility while reducing the force required for package retrieval.
Solution Approach 2:
The top plate serves multiple functions: it acts as a rotating positioning mechanism, a transport surface for packages, and a interface between the rack and robot arm. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate high-force extraction mechanisms while maintaining operational flexibility across different package handling scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A transport vehicle includes at least one rack, a top plate, an arm attached to the top plate and extendable and retractable in a horizontal direction, a rotation mechanism that changes an extension direction of the arm by rotating the top plate with a vertical direction as a rotation axis, and a control unit that controls operation of the rotation mechanism and the arm. The control unit extends and retracts the arm to pull out an object from the at least one rack or a rack installed outside, rotates the top plate on which the pulled-out object is placed, and extends the arm to store the object in the rack when the object has been pulled out from the at least one rack, and extends the arm to store the object in the at least one rack when the object has been pulled out from the rack.