Tile Transport AGV Centring Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing transport and storing system of tiles faces issues with positioning errors during stacking and transport due to vibrations and floor irregularities, leading to potential damage and increased costs due to the need for slower movement and additional vehicles.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a support structure with centring elements and seats, and an automatically-guided vehicle with vertically mobile forks and raising elements, ensuring the support structure remains centered during transport and stacking, using conical coupling profiles for precise alignment and disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the automatically-guided vehicle moves at normal speed during transport, then transport efficiency is improved, but positioning errors occur due to vibrations and floor irregularities causing the support structure to shift during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The centring elements and seats are designed to establish proper alignment before transport begins. The conical centring elements are inserted into the centring seats in advance, creating a pre-aligned configuration that prevents subsequent positioning errors during high-speed transport
Solution Approach 2:
The centring elements act as intermediary components between the support structure and the automatically-guided vehicle. These elements mediate the connection by providing a mechanical interface that maintains centring during transport, allowing the vehicle to move at normal speeds without positioning errors
2Manufacturing precision
If the automatically-guided vehicle moves slowly during transport, then positioning accuracy is maintained, but transport time increases requiring additional vehicles and increasing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The centring mechanism is established before transport begins, creating a stable aligned configuration that enables high-speed transport without compromising positioning accuracy. This preliminary alignment eliminates the need for slow-speed transport
Solution Approach 2:
The centring elements are designed to self-align and maintain centring automatically during transport without requiring active control or slow movement. The mechanical design of the conical elements and seats provides self-centring action that works effectively at normal transport speeds
3Device complexity
If the support structure is stacked without centring elements, then device complexity is reduced, but positioning errors occur during stacking leading to potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The centring function is segmented into separate reusable centring elements that are distinct from the main support structure. These elements can be independently manufactured and replaced, keeping the overall system simple while providing reliable centring during stacking operations
Solution Approach 2:
The centring elements serve as intermediary components between the support structure and the stacking mechanism. They provide a dedicated interface for precise alignment during stacking, improving reliability without requiring complex integrated solutions
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
This solution maintains the support structure's centering during transport, reducing the risk of positioning errors and damage, while optimizing transport efficiency and reducing the need for additional vehicles, thus lowering costs.
Implementation Method 1
The first centring element (38) and the second centring element (39) have a conical shape, while the first centring seat (24) and the second centring seat (25) are conical seatings
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~15
AI summary
Transport and storing system of tiles (1), comprising: a support structure of tiles (2), comprising a loading plane (21) for supporting a plurality of tiles (22); an automatically-guided vehicle (3) (AGV), which in turn comprises: a main body (31); a projecting frame (32) which extends from the main body (31); a pair of forks (33) which are flanked to the projecting frame (32) and which are vertically mobile so as to raise or lower the support structure of tiles (2). The support structure of tiles (2) and the automatically-guided vehicle (3) are configured in such a way that: at least a part of the projecting frame (32) can insert below the loading plane (21) of the support structure of tiles (2) when the support structure (2) is resting on a floor surface. The support structure of tiles (2) comprises a first centring seat (24) and a second centring seat (25) and the automatically-guided vehicle (3) further comprises a first raising element (34), a second raising element (35), a third raising element (36) and a fourth raising element (37). At least two from the first raising element (34), the second raising element (35), the third raising element (36) and the fourth raising element (37) are shaped as a first centring element (38) and a second centring element (39) which are couplable respectively to the first centring seating (24) and the second centring seating (25) of the support structure of tiles (2) for raising the support structure of tiles (2) from the floor surface for the centring of the support structure of tiles (2) with respect to the automatically-guided vehicle (3) during transport.