Vertical Roll Storage With Optical Crane Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Storing mill rolls in a horizontal position requires significant space and centering a grasping and lifting device over the elevated trunnion of vertically stored mill rolls is difficult due to wheel float in cranes.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using a sensor to determine and compensate for wheel float by aligning a grasping and lifting device with the center of a vertically stored mill roll, utilizing a target shape and optical sensor to correct crane position, allowing for precise lifting and storage in a vertical orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If mill rolls are stored in a horizontal position, then they are easy to store and protect, but they occupy a large amount of space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal storage to vertical storage orientation, changing the dimensional arrangement of mill rolls. This orientation change allows rolls to be stacked vertically on racks, significantly reducing the floor space required while maintaining protection and accessibility. The vertical arrangement utilizes the third dimension (height) to accommodate more rolls in the same footprint area.
2Area of stationary object
If mill rolls are stored in a vertical position, then storage space is reduced, but centering the grasping and lifting device over the elevated trunnion is difficult due to wheel float in cranes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical crane positioning system with an optical guidance system. A sensor (optical device) detects the position of the mill roll and provides feedback to automatically adjust the crane's grasping device positioning. This substitution eliminates the difficulty of manual centering caused by wheel float, as the optical system precisely locates the roll and guides the lifting device to the correct position automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control system where a sensor detects the actual position of the mill roll and communicates this information to the crane control system. The system uses this feedback to automatically compensate for positioning errors and center the grasping device over the elevated trunnion, resolving the difficulty caused by wheel float in traditional mechanical positioning systems.
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 efficient use of space by storing mill rolls vertically and accurately lifting them using a crane, reducing the need for large storage areas and ensuring safe, stable transport.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor to determine and compensate for wheel float by aligning a grasping and lifting device with the center of a vertically stored mill roll, utilizing a target shape and optical sensor to correct crane position
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly, system and method for compensating a crane position offset error based on wheel float by viewing, with an optical sensor located on a trolley on the crane, a target or target shape adjacent a storage rack containing a vertically stored mill roll and determining a positional compensation signal based on a separation or offset of a center of a field of view of the sensor from a center of the target shape. The assembly, system or method compensates for the crane position offset error by moving the crane, as instructed by the positional compensation signal, a distance equal to the separation or offset of the center of the field of view of the sensor from the center of the target.