Telescopic Fork Wireless Power for Automated Container Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated container handling systems face issues with the short lifespan and increased size of catenary cable holders, leading to inefficiencies in space optimization and reduced cycle life, particularly when handling smaller containers.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a telescopic fork with energy accumulating means, such as a capacitor battery, and a wireless connecting module for the actuators, allowing for reduced overall size and extended cycle life, while optimizing space usage by eliminating the need for traditional catenary cable holders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a catenary cable holder is used to electrically supply actuators, then the actuators can be powered, but the cable holder has a short lifespan (maximum 100,000 cycles) compared to the telescopic system (about 3 million cycles)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the catenary cable holder from the system by using a wireless power transmission mechanism. The actuators are powered wirelessly through electromagnetic induction, removing the mechanical cable holder that limited the system to 100,000 cycles and allowing the telescopic system to achieve its full 3 million cycle potential.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical catenary cable holder system with an electromagnetic wireless power transmission system. This substitution eliminates the mechanical wear and fatigue issues of the cable holder while maintaining reliable electrical supply to the actuators throughout the extended operational life of the telescopic system.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a catenary cable holder is used to electrically supply actuators, then the actuators can be powered, but the holder increases the vertical lateral overall sizes and encumbrance of the telescopic system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the catenary cable holder entirely from the system architecture. By implementing wireless power transmission through electromagnetic fields, the system eliminates the physical cable holder that added vertical lateral dimensions, thereby reducing the overall volume and encumbrance of the telescopic system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a three-dimensional mechanical cable holder occupying vertical lateral space to an electromagnetic field-based power transmission that operates in the electromagnetic dimension. This dimensional shift allows power supply without physical encumbrance, reducing the system's spatial footprint.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a catenary cable holder is used, then electrical supply is provided, but the increased encumbrance prevents optimization of automatic warehouse sizes for smaller containers
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting and removing the catenary cable holder, the patent enables the telescopic system to achieve its minimum possible dimensions. This elimination of excess volume allows the system to adapt to and efficiently handle smaller containers, improving versatility across different container sizes while maintaining full power supply capability through wireless transmission.
4Use of energy by moving object
If the encumbrance of the catenary cable holder is included, then electrical supply is ensured, but the minimum shelf height increases to about 200 mm, causing space waste for smaller boxes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the catenary cable holder that imposed the 200 mm minimum shelf height constraint. By replacing it with wireless power transmission, the system reduces its vertical footprint, allowing shelves to be positioned at optimal heights for smaller containers and eliminating the 20 mm space waste per shelf.
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
The solution provides a reliable automated container handling system capable of three million cycles with reduced dimensions, optimizing space between shelves for containers of various sizes, thereby enhancing storage efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
energy accumulating means, such as a capacitor battery
Implementation Method 2
wireless connecting module for the actuators
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
An automated system (1) for handling containers is described, comprising a vertically arranged telescopic fork (10) which comprises a fixed base (5) and at least one slider (20, 30) telescopically sliding with respect to the fixed base (5) on a series of rollers (14) which support said at least one slider (20, 30), further comprising thrusting means (21) driven by actuators (22) and configured for thrusting the containers inside a shelving, or for removing them, following the movement of the slider (20, 30) to which they are connected, said automated handling system (1) further comprising a supplying system (15), installed on the slider (30) to electrically supply the actuators (22) of the thrusting means (21), said supplying system (15) comprising energy accumulating means (16) configured to store the electric energy for supplying the electric moto-reducers (22).