Segmented Workpiece Conveyance Device with Foldable Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional workpiece conveyance devices in automobile assembly lines have complex structures, leading to high costs and reduced effectiveness due to restricted auxiliary stand sizes, necessitating additional mechanisms for branching and meeting points, which increase equipment costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece conveyance device comprising a central support carriage and auxiliary carriages that allow the workpiece to be supported at various heights, with a high-position supporting mechanism that can be switched between rising and folded postures, and low-position supporting means on auxiliary carriages that can support the workpiece at multiple heights, eliminating the need for elevating guide columns and simplifying the structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional variable-length workpiece conveying traveling body with auxiliary stands is used, then the workpiece can be supported at different positions, but the structure becomes complicated and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying traveling body is divided into separate components: a main conveying carriage and independent auxiliary carriages. The auxiliary carriages can be selectively attached or detached from the main carriage, allowing the system to be segmented into different configurations based on work requirements. This segmentation simplifies the overall structure by eliminating the need for complex variable-length mechanisms while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary carriages are designed with universal functionality to perform multiple roles. They can serve as support structures for workpieces, provide additional conveying capacity, or be detached when not needed. This multi-functionality allows a single standardized component to replace multiple specialized structures, reducing overall system complexity.
2Volume of moving object
If auxiliary stands are accommodated in carriage main body or switched into hanging posture, then space is saved, but the size of auxiliary stands is restricted and effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary carriages are designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing them to be positioned at optimal locations relative to the workpiece rather than being fixed or constrained to hanging positions. They can be laterally moved and positioned independently to provide effective support where needed, maximizing their utility without space restrictions.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary support functionality is extracted from the main carriage body and implemented as separate, independent auxiliary carriages. This extraction allows the auxiliary stands to have full size and effectiveness without being constrained by the limited space within the main carriage body, while still providing space-efficient solutions through selective deployment.
3Ease of operation
If means for taking out and in auxiliary stands with automatic control is added, then auxiliary stands can be automatically positioned, but equipment cost becomes significantly higher
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary carriages are designed to be manually positionable and attachable to the main conveying carriage without requiring complex automatic control systems. The simplicity of the coupling mechanism allows operators to easily configure the system by hand, eliminating the need for expensive automated positioning and control infrastructure while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Workpiece conveyance device employs a workpiece conveying traveling body composed of a workpiece support carriage supporting a longitudinal central portion of a workpiece and two auxiliary carriages and positioned below both longitudinal end portions of the workpiece. The workpiece support carriage includes a workpiece high-position supporting means switchable between a rising posture of supporting the workpiece at a high position and a folded posture. The two auxiliary carriages nd include workpiece low-position supporting means and to support front and rear two places in the longitudinal direction of the workpiece at a height higher than the workpiece high-position supporting means in the folded posture.