Load-Handling Wheel Control for Multi-Track Container Grids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load-handling devices face challenges in efficiently navigating complex storage structures with multiple tracks and containers, requiring redundant and costly control systems for wheels, which can lead to inefficiencies and increased weight and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A load-handling device with combined wheel and wheel-control units, where a single controller manages multiple wheels, reducing the number of controllers needed and optimizing weight, space, and cabling, while enabling efficient movement across different tracks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a separate controller is provided for each wheel, then each wheel can be independently controlled, but the number of controllers increases leading to increased weight, complexity, and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple wheel control functions into a single controller unit. This controller is configured to control any one or more of the plurality of wheels, eliminating the need for separate controllers for each wheel. The merging reduces the overall number of controllers in the system, thereby reducing weight, complexity, and cost while maintaining the capability to independently control each wheel through the unified controller's multiple output channels.
2Ease of operation
If a separate controller is provided for each wheel, then precise wheel control is achieved, but the weight of the load-handling device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple wheel control functions into a single controller unit, which significantly reduces the total weight of controllers in the system. The unified controller maintains precise control capability for each wheel through its configuration to control any one or more wheels, while eliminating the redundant weight of multiple separate controller units.
3Reliability
If redundant control systems are provided for each wheel, then reliability is improved, but the cost and complexity of the system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines control functions into a single unified controller that can control any one or more wheels, reducing system complexity while maintaining reliability. The unified controller integrates multiple control channels and can be configured to provide redundant control paths, achieving reliability without the complexity of multiple separate controller systems.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple controllers are used to manage wheels across different tracks, then track switching capability is improved, but the number of controllers and cabling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges wheel control functions into a single controller that can manage wheels for different tracks. The unified controller is configured to control any one or more wheels, enabling track switching capability through software configuration rather than requiring separate physical controllers for each track. This reduces cabling requirements and controller quantity while maintaining adaptability for multi-track operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
A load-handling device (31) for lifting and moving containers (9) stacked in stacks (11) in a storage structure (1), the storage structure (1) including, above the stacks (11) of containers (9), a first set of tracks (17) extending in a first direction and a second set of tracks (19) extending in a second direction which is transverse to the first direction, the load-handling device (31) being configured to move on the tracks (17, 19) above the stacks (11), the load-handling device (31) comprising at least one wheel (35, 37) which is provided by a combined wheel and wheel-control unit (51) comprising the at least one wheel (35, 37) and a controller (53) configured to control rotation of the at least one wheel (35, 37).