Mobile Frame Positioning With Tapered Pin-and-Roller Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor-vehicle production lines using AGVs for handling and moving mobile frames suffer from poor positioning precision and repeatability, leading to positioning errors that are one or two orders of magnitude higher than required for processing operations, and result in inefficient management of paths and increased investment.
Innovation Solution
A positioning system with a receiving element and pin mechanism that uses a double ring of rollers and a tapered pin to align and couple mobile frames with fixed frames, allowing for precise positioning despite low-precision handling devices like AGVs, through a mechanical and automatic process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If AGVs are used for handling and moving mobile frames, then the need for underground structures and civil works is eliminated, but positioning precision and repeatability deteriorate to levels one or two orders of magnitude higher than required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a receiving element with rollers as an intermediary mechanism between the AGV and the fixed frame. This mediator captures the mobile frame and performs precise positioning through the tapered pin-roller interaction, bridging the gap between the low-precision AGV and the high-precision positioning requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex underground mechanical conveyor systems with a simpler AGV-based system. The AGV, while less precise, is supplemented by a compact mechanical positioning mechanism (tapered pin and rollers) that achieves the required precision without requiring extensive underground infrastructure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If each AGV transports a single pallet throughout the processing cycle, then handling flexibility is maintained, but the number of automated vehicles increases considerably and path management becomes impracticable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the mobile frame universally compatible with multiple AGVs by equipping it with standardized receiving elements. This allows any AGV to handle any mobile frame, enabling a smaller fleet of multi-purpose vehicles rather than dedicated one-to-one assignments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic reconfigurability to the system where the association between AGVs and mobile frames is not fixed but can be changed as needed. The mobile frame's receiving elements can interact with different AGVs throughout the processing cycle, allowing flexible redistribution and optimization of vehicle usage.
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
Enables precise positioning of mobile frames with respect to fixed frames, reconciling the need for high precision with the use of low-precision handling devices, facilitating flexible industrial plant layouts without underground or embedded structures.
Implementation Method 1
a movement of the pin towards the rollers causes a horizontal movement of the mobile frame relative to the fixed frame
Implementation Method 2
a double ring of rollers... configured for connection to the mobile frame... a movement of the pin towards the rollers causes a horizontal movement of the mobile frame
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Described herein is a positioning system (1; 200) for positioning a mobile frame (103), in particular a pallet for supporting motor-vehicle body shells, with respect to a fixed frame (102). The positioning device (1; 200) comprises a receiving element (2; 202) with at least one ring of rollers (8, 10; 208) and a pin (4; 204) configured for coupling to the receiving element. The positioning device (1; 200) enables release of the mobile frame (103) on the fixed frame (102) by means of a low-precision handling device in so far as the positioning device enables the desired relative position to be reached in an automatic way.