Track Vehicle Transfer Mechanism for Maintenance Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional traveling vehicle systems require complex mechanisms to accommodate various sizes and enable movement within tracks, making it difficult to expose parts for maintenance without interfering with power feeders and magnetic plates.
Innovation Solution
A traveling vehicle system with a self-propelling section and a non-self-propelling section, utilizing a moving unit with a movable block and engagement parts to facilitate movement, including a linear motion mechanism and switching mechanism to simplify the configuration and allow maintenance without power feeders and magnetic plates in the non-self-propelling section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the track is configured such that the part of the maintenance is exposed, then maintenance access is improved, but the traveling unit cannot be self-propellable
Solution Approach 1:
The track is divided into two distinct sections: a self-propelling section with power feeders and magnetic plates for normal operation, and a non-self-propelling section without these components for maintenance access. This segmentation allows the traveling vehicle to maintain self-propellability where needed while enabling easy maintenance access where required.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a mechanism is configured to sandwich a traveling unit from front and back to fit various sizes, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex sandwiching mechanism is completely removed from the system. Instead, the traveling vehicle is moved on the non-self-propelling section by a simple moving unit that pushes the vehicle from one side, eliminating the need for front-and-back sandwiching mechanisms while maintaining the ability to handle various vehicle sizes.
3Ease of operation
If a mechanism is configured to move the traveling unit in a state in which the traveling unit is sandwiched, then movement capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex sandwiched movement mechanism is extracted and replaced with a simple side-pushing moving unit. This new mechanism moves the traveling vehicle from one side without requiring the vehicle to be sandwiched from front and back, significantly reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining movement capability.
4Ease of operation
If power feeders and magnetic plates are disposed on the track, then self-propellability is improved, but maintenance access deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The track is segmented into a self-propelling section with power feeders and magnetic plates for normal operation, and a non-self-propelling section without these components for maintenance access. This allows the traveling vehicle to maintain self-propellability where needed while enabling easy maintenance access where required.
Solution Approach 2:
The power feeders and magnetic plates are extracted from the non-self-propelling section, removing the components that interfere with maintenance access. The traveling vehicle can still access this section for maintenance while maintaining the ability to self-propel in the self-propelling section.
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 simple and cost-effective movement of the traveling vehicle in non-self-propelling sections, reducing installation time and effort, and allowing easy maintenance on the vehicle's upper portions.
Implementation Method 1
The moving mechanism may be a linear motion mechanism including a screw shaft and a driver
Data Source
AI summary
The traveling vehicle system includes a track having a portion that is a non-self-propelling section where the traveling vehicle is unable to be self-propellable, a traveling vehicle configured to travel along the track, and a moving unit configured to move the traveling vehicle in one direction in the non-self-propelling section. The moving unit includes a moving mechanism configured to move the movable block in the one direction. The traveling vehicle includes an engagement part capable of being engaged with the movable block, and a switching mechanism configured to switch the position of the engagement part between a first position at which the engagement part is engaged with the movable block and a second position at which the engagement part is separated from the movable block. The moving mechanism moves the traveling vehicle by moving the movable block in the one direction with the engagement part engaged.