Yoke Transport Device for Preform Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport devices for preform elements face challenges in maintaining stability and precise orientation during transport, especially when the center of gravity of the preform element is not perfectly aligned with the yoke, leading to potential tilting and complications during rotation and placement.
Innovation Solution
The transport device features a yoke equipped with gripper elements, attached to a lifting device via first and second rotation units coupled to a rotation shaft. This configuration allows the yoke to rotate around a horizontal axis, with bearings at both ends of the yoke, preventing tilting and enabling flexible orientation changes without requiring precise alignment of the center of gravity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the center of gravity of the preform element is perfectly aligned with the central yoke element, then the yoke remains stable during lifting and rotation, but the gripping and alignment process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by distributing lifting points asymmetrically across the yoke structure rather than using a single central lifting point. This allows the yoke to be stabilized during lifting without requiring precise alignment of the preform element's center of gravity with a central yoke element, thereby simplifying the gripping and alignment operation while maintaining stability during transport and rotation
2Adaptability or versatility
If the yoke is equipped with rotation means to change orientation of the preform element, then the adaptability to different blade mold surfaces is improved, but the complexity of the transport device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the rotation function into multiple independent rotational degrees of freedom, each controlled by separate rotation means. This allows the yoke to achieve complex orientation changes through composition of simpler rotational movements, maintaining adaptability while managing device complexity through modular functional decomposition
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by designing the rotation means to serve multiple functions: changing orientation for different blade mold surfaces, adjusting the preform element position, and stabilizing the yoke during transport. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated mechanisms, thereby managing device complexity while maintaining high adaptability
3Device complexity
If the yoke uses a central lifting point, then the structure is simple, but tilting occurs when the preform element's center of gravity is not precisely positioned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from a single central lifting point (zero-dimensional point) to multiple lifting points distributed across the yoke structure (two-dimensional distribution). This dimensional expansion provides geometric stabilization, allowing the yoke to maintain stability during lifting without requiring precise alignment, while the overall structure remains relatively simple
Data Source
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AI summary
Transport device for transporting preform elements (24) from a mold (22) to a receiving place, comprising a yoke (2) equipped with a number of gripper elements (5) for gripping the preform element (24), which yoke (2) is attached to a lifting device (6) by means of a first and a second rotation unit (7, 8) of the lifting means (6), which first and second rotation units (7, 8) are coupled to a rotation shaft defining a rotation axis of the yoke (2), wherein the first rotation unit (7) is coupled to a first end of the rotation shaft provided at a first end of the yoke (2) and the second rotation unit (8) is coupled to a second end of the rotation shaft at a second end of the yoke (2), wherein at least one drive motor (16) is provided for rotating the yoke (2) around the rotation axis relative to the first and second rotation unit (7, 8).