Wireless Lifting Frame Charging for Wear-Free Gripper Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container-handling vehicles face issues with worn lifting bands causing signal and power disruptions, leading to potential short circuits and operational delays, especially when handling storage containers in a three-dimensional grid storage system.
Innovation Solution
A container-handling vehicle with a lifting device featuring a rechargeable power supply and wireless light communication for controlling gripper elements, where the power supply is charged via a cantilever connector system and the communication is handled through Visible Light Communication (VLC), Li-Fi, or Optical Wireless Communication, eliminating direct electrical connections within the storage grid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lifting bands are used to transfer power and signals to the lifting frame, then the lifting device can be controlled, but worn lifting bands cause signal and power disruptions leading to short circuits and operational delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power and signal transfer function from the lifting bands by introducing a wireless communication system. The transmitter on the vehicle body and receiver on the lifting frame eliminate the need for physical electrical connections through the bands, thus removing the source of signal disruptions and short circuits caused by worn bands.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical electrical connection system (cables embedded in lifting bands) with an optical wireless communication system. This substitution eliminates the mechanical wear and associated electrical failures while maintaining the control functionality of the lifting device.
2Ease of operation
If cables are embedded in lifting bands to provide power and signals, then the gripper elements can be controlled, but worn lifting bands with embedded cables increase the risk of short circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable-based electrical connection with an optical wireless communication system. The transmitter on the vehicle body communicates with the receiver on the lifting frame through light signals, eliminating the physical cables that are susceptible to wear-induced short circuits while maintaining full control capability of the gripper elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light as an intermediary medium for power and signal transfer between the vehicle body and the lifting frame. This intermediary approach allows control signals to reach the gripper elements without direct electrical contact through the lifting bands, thereby eliminating the short circuit risk associated with worn cables.
3Reliability
If lifting bands are continuously worn and replaced, then the system can maintain basic functionality, but operational delays occur due to maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical lifting band system with wear-prone embedded cables with a wireless optical communication system. This eliminates the need for periodic replacement of worn components, as the wireless system has no physical contact points subject to wear, thereby eliminating maintenance downtime while maintaining system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless communication system requires no maintenance intervention for the power and signal transfer components. The transmitter and receiver automatically maintain communication without requiring human intervention for replacement or repair, enabling continuous operation without maintenance downtime.
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
This solution reduces the risk of short circuits and operational delays, enhances reliability, and ensures continuous operation by maintaining power and signal integrity, even as lifting bands wear out, thereby improving the safety and efficiency of container handling.
Implementation Method 1
a first rechargeable power supply (42) for supplying energy to the gripper elements (24)
Implementation Method 2
A container-handling vehicle with a lifting device featuring a rechargeable power supply and wireless light communication for controlling gripper elements
Data Source
AI summary
A container-handling vehicle for picking up storage containers from a three-dimensional grid of an underlying storage system includes a vehicle body and at least one lifting device with a lifting frame with gripper elements for releasable connection to a storage container, and a transmitter for communicating instructions for controlling the gripper elements. The lifting frame includes a first rechargeable power supply for supplying energy to the gripper elements. The container handling vehicle has at least one second rechargeable power supply configured to charging the first rechargeable power supply when the lifting frame is in a top most position. The at least one second rechargeable power supply is connected to at least one upper charger connector and the first rechargeable power supply is connected to at least one lower charger connector. The at least one lower charger connector is attached to the upper side of the horizontal lifting frame and is connected to the first rechargeable power supply.