Article Transport Crossing Guide Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing article transport facilities with crossing portions have complex structures due to the need for movable rails and actuator devices to prevent tilting and leaning of the transport vehicle, which complicates the design and functionality.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a simple structure for crossing portions in article transport facilities, where fixed guide members allow movement and restrict vertical movement of guided members in specific states, eliminating the need for movable parts and actuator devices, by using discontinuous sections in the travel rail pairs to prevent contact with crossing rails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If movable rails and actuator devices are provided in crossing portions to prevent tilting and leaning of the transport vehicle, then the stability and safety of the transport vehicle is improved, but the device complexity and structural complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the actuator device and movable rail mechanisms from the crossing portion, extracting the complex control system entirely. Instead, fixed guide members are used to passively guide the transport vehicle through the crossing portion, eliminating the need for active control while maintaining stability and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed guide members are positioned such that they automatically guide the transport vehicle through the crossing portion without requiring external control. The guide members work passively, using the vehicle's own movement to maintain proper alignment and prevent tilting, eliminating the need for actuator devices.
2Reliability
If movable rails are used in crossing portions to prevent contact between mounted members and crossing rails, then the reliability of the transport system is improved, but the ease of manufacture and device complexity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the movable rail mechanism and replaces it with fixed guide members that are simpler to manufacture. The fixed guide members are stationary structures that eliminate the need for complex movable rail assemblies and their associated actuators, significantly easing manufacturing while maintaining the function of preventing unwanted contact.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using movable rails that actively move to prevent contact, the patent uses fixed guide members that passively guide the vehicle. The approach is inverted from active control to passive guidance, simplifying the structure while achieving the same reliability outcome.
3Device complexity
If fixed guide members are used instead of movable rails, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to dynamically adjust to prevent tilting may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed guide members are pre-positioned at optimal locations that anticipate the transport vehicle's path through the crossing portion. By carefully selecting the positions and orientations of the guide members before the vehicle arrives, the system prepares the guidance geometry in advance to naturally prevent tilting and leaning without requiring dynamic adjustment during vehicle passage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the fixed guide members (such as their positions, angles, and spacing) to create a guidance configuration that passively compensates for potential tilting. By optimizing these fixed parameters, the system achieves adaptability without movable parts, maintaining stability through carefully designed static geometry rather than dynamic adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
First travel rail pair provided along a first path has a first discontinuous section. And second travel rail pair provided along a second path has a second discontinuous section. First guide members allow movement of guided members along a travel direction and restrict vertical movement of one or more of the guided member when the article transport vehicle travels through a crossing portion along the first path. Second guide members allow movement of the guided members along the travel direction and restrict vertical movement of one or more of the guided members when the article transport vehicle travels through a crossing portion along the second path.