Industrial Truck Height Control Snapping to Predetermined Levels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial trucks with height-adjustable load bearing means face challenges in accurately and efficiently approaching desired lifting heights, especially in warehouse environments where precise control and speed adjustments are necessary for storage and removal tasks.
Innovation Solution
The industrial truck is equipped with a lifting height detection system, control unit for manual speed adjustment, and lifting height controls that automatically adjust the load bearing means to the closest predetermined height when the specified speed falls below a threshold, allowing for 'snapping in' to the next appropriate height based on direction and task type (storage or removal), with optional load sensing for height adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the load bearing means is manually controlled to approach desired lifting heights, then the operator can precisely control the positioning, but the operator cannot simultaneously maintain high speed and achieve automatic height selection
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic height selection and positioning through the lifting height detection system and control unit. The load bearing means automatically snaps into predetermined lifting heights based on detected warehouse shelf heights, eliminating the need for manual height positioning while maintaining operational efficiency. The system serves itself by autonomously selecting and adjusting to appropriate heights without continuous operator intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit automatically changes the speed parameter of the load bearing means based on the detected lifting height. When approaching a predetermined lifting height, the system reduces speed to enable precise snapping into position. This dynamic parameter adjustment allows the system to maintain high speed during most of the movement while automatically slowing down for precise positioning at the target height.
2Productivity
If the load bearing means moves at maximum speed continuously, then productivity is maximized, but precision in approaching the target lifting height deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic speed adjustment based on the proximity to predetermined lifting heights. The control unit continuously monitors the lifting height and periodically adjusts the speed - maintaining maximum speed when far from the target and reducing speed when approaching the target height. This periodic speed modulation enables both high productivity during transit and precise positioning when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting height detection system provides continuous feedback to the control unit about the current position of the load bearing means. Based on this feedback, the control unit automatically adjusts the speed to ensure precise snapping into the predetermined lifting height. The feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain high speed during most of the movement while automatically slowing down for precise positioning at the target height.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple predetermined lifting heights are saved in the controls, then adaptability to different warehouse configurations is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-saves multiple predetermined lifting heights in the lifting height controls before operation. These predetermined heights correspond to typical warehouse shelf configurations. During operation, the system simply selects from these pre-configured heights rather than calculating and determining heights in real-time. This preliminary configuration approach enables adaptability to different warehouse types while keeping the control system relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
An industrial truck having height-adjustable load bearing means, lifting height controls in which a plurality of predetermined lifting heights are saved, a lifting height detection system for the load bearing means that detects an actual value of the lifting height and provides it to the lifting height controls, and a control unit that allows the lifting height of the load bearing means to be manually adjusted at different speeds, wherein the lifting height controls move the load bearing means to one of the predetermined lifting heights when the speed for adjusting the load bearing means specified by the control unit falls below a predetermined threshold, wherein the lifting height assumed by the lifting height controls corresponds to the lifting height of the predetermined lifting heights that most closely approximates the actual value of the lifting height in the direction in which the load bearing means is moving.