Transfer Vehicle Arms With Openable Hooks For Precise Article Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transfer vehicles risk damaging articles by catching them on their arms during transfer, and attempting to avoid this by providing a gap results in imprecise positioning.
Innovation Solution
A transfer vehicle with extendable and retractable arms equipped with openable and closable hooks, controlled by a programmed controller to clamp and position articles precisely without catching them on the arms, ensuring accurate placement and preventing displacement or protrusion during transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If arms are used to clamp and position articles, then positioning precision is improved, but articles may get caught on arms causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by advancing the arms before clamping to ensure the hooks pass the article, and by opening the arms after clamping to create a gap. This sequence of actions prevents the article from getting caught on the arms while maintaining positioning precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamics by making the arm spacing adjustable through the arm opening and closing mechanism. The arms can dynamically change their spacing to clamp the article securely during positioning, then open to create a gap that prevents catching during transport.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a gap is provided between article and arms to avoid catching, then article damage is prevented, but positioning precision becomes imprecise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses preliminary action by clamping the article with the arms before the article is pulled in, establishing precise positioning. Then, after clamping, the arms are opened to create a gap that prevents the article from getting caught during subsequent transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the operation into distinct phases: clamping phase for positioning, and transport phase with gap for safety. The arm opening and closing mechanism enables this segmentation by adjusting arm spacing at different operational stages.
3Reliability
If hooks are closed to pull article onto transfer vehicle, then article securing is improved, but article may get caught on arms during pulling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by advancing the arms to a position where the hooks pass the article before closing the hooks. This ensures that when the hooks are closed to secure the article, the article has already been positioned and is not at risk of getting caught on the arms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamics by coordinating the arm movement with hook closing. The arms are advanced and positioned dynamically before the hooks are closed, creating a safe sequence that prevents the article from getting caught while ensuring reliable securing.
Data Source
AI summary
A transfer vehicle includes a lateral pair of extendable and retractable arms, openable and closable hooks at front and rear ends of the arms, an arm opening and closing mechanism configured to change spacing between the arms, and a controller configured and programmed to control the arms and the arm opening and closing mechanism as well as the hooks. During article pickup, the controller pulls in an article onto the transfer vehicle by causing the arms to protrude to a position beyond the article in a state in which the hooks at a distal end in a pickup direction as viewed from the transfer vehicle are opened, thereafter closing the hooks to clamp the article, opening the arms after the clamping to provide a gap between the article and at least one of the arms, and retracting the arms in a state in which the hooks are closed.