Switchable Drive System for Animal Treatment Stand
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal treatment stands pose safety risks due to animals stepping between holding straps, leading to dangerous situations for operators, and the use of forceful door mechanisms can result in injuries to both animals and operators.
Innovation Solution
A treatment stand with a switchable drive system for holding elements that can be configured for rapid or slow movement with varying force, utilizing different gear ratios and actuator configurations to securely lift and hold animals, along with a controlled door mechanism for safe entry and exit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the holding elements are moved quickly to prevent animals from stepping between them, then safety is improved, but the force required to move the holding elements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is made switchable between two configurations: first configuration for rapid movement (prioritizing speed) and second configuration for gentle movement (prioritizing force control). This dynamic switching allows the system to adapt its characteristics based on operational requirements, resolving the contradiction between speed and force.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator's transmission ratio is changed between two discrete values depending on the operational phase. By switching the transmission ratio parameter, the system can optimize for either speed (first configuration) or force (second configuration), thereby resolving the contradiction between these two parameters.
2Force
If the actuator provides high force to move holding elements, then the animal can be securely lifted, but the movement speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator dynamically switches between two configurations optimized for different operational requirements. The second configuration provides high force for secure lifting, while the first configuration provides high speed for rapid positioning, resolving the contradiction between force and speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator operates in periodic cycles, alternating between first configuration (high speed, lower force) for rapid movement and second configuration (high force, lower speed) for secure lifting. This periodic switching between operational modes resolves the contradiction by applying the appropriate characteristics at the appropriate times.
3Productivity
If the door is moved with strong forces to drive the animal into position, then the animal can be positioned quickly, but injuries to operators and animals occur
Solution Approach 1:
The door actuator includes a reversibility feature that allows it to immediately reverse direction if resistance is encountered. This preliminary anti-action mechanism prevents the door from exerting harmful forces on the animal or operator by automatically reversing when abnormal resistance is detected, thus preventing injuries while maintaining positioning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The door actuator system incorporates feedback through its reversibility mechanism, which detects resistance forces during door movement. When resistance exceeds a threshold, the system automatically reverses the door movement, providing real-time feedback control that prevents harmful forces while maintaining efficient animal positioning.
Data Source
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AI summary
The presented invention relates to a treatment stand (100) for treating an animal, wherein the treatment stand (100) comprises a frame (101) which delimits a treatment area (103) for receiving the animal from several sides, a number of holding elements (105) for holding the animal and a drive (107) for moving the holding elements (105) between an entry position and a holding position, wherein the drive (107) is switchable between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein a speed at which the drive (107) moves the number of holding elements (105) is greater in the first configuration than in the second configuration, and wherein a force with which the drive (107) moves the number of holding elements is greater in the second configuration than in the first configuration.