Vertical Container Carrier Transport for High-Density Part Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for stocking parts, particularly plastic products, require significant installation space, are complex to manufacture and maintain, and have limited storage capacity, making them inefficient and costly.

Innovation Solution

A device with multiple transport devices that allow flexible movement of container carriers along a transport route, reducing complexity and increasing storage density, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, while maintaining robustness, by using a combination of guide devices and drive systems to manage container movement and positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a transport device with multiple container carriers moving along a closed circumferential transport path is used, then storage capacity is increased, but installation space requirement increases and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a horizontal circumferential transport path to a vertical transport path where container carriers move up and down guide rails. This dimensional change allows the storage device to utilize vertical space instead of horizontal space, significantly reducing the installation footprint while maintaining high storage capacity through multiple tiers of container carriers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Quantity of substance

If a transport device with closed circumferential transport path and multiple container carriers is used, then storage capacity is increased, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidtransport path complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the storage device into multiple independent vertical guide rail assemblies, each handling a subset of container carriers. This segmentation allows each guide rail system to be simpler in design compared to a single complex circumferential path, while the collection of segmented guides achieves the same overall storage capacity through modular repetition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If container carriers are guided along a closed circumferential transport path, then storage capacity is increased, but manufacturing and maintenance complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidmanufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The storage device is divided into multiple independent vertical guide rail modules that can be manufactured separately and assembled. Each module contains simpler linear guide rails rather than complex curved circumferential paths, making individual components easier to manufacture while the assembled system achieves high storage capacity through vertical stacking of multiple modules

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4442612A1Device for pre-filling parts, in particular plastic products, in particular injection-moulded parts and system
Publication Date: 2024.10.09 AKG GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4442612A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4442612A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4442612A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A device (3, 3.1, 3.2) for storing parts (2), in particular injection-molded parts, comprises a support structure, a parts feeding device (8) for automatically feeding the parts (2) into a container (11), a parts dispensing device for automatically dispensing the parts from the container (11), at least two container supports (17) for each supporting at least one container (11) for receiving the parts (2), a guide device (14) formed on the support structure for guided movement of the at least two container supports (17) along a transport path, a first transport device with a motor-driven transport means for moving the at least two container supports (17) along a first transport section of the transport path at a defined transport distance from each other,and a second transport device with a motor-driven transport means for relocating at least one of the container carriers (17) along a second transport section of the transport route adjacent to the first transport section and along the transport route relative to at least one of the container carriers (17) in the first transport device.