AGV Receiving Station Carriage for Faster Pallet Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional automatic guided vehicle (AGV) loading and unloading processes in manufacturing plants are inefficient, leading to increased time costs and traffic jams due to the need for dramatic velocity reduction and alignment challenges with guiding lines.

Innovation Solution

A receiving station with a carriage and linear drive equipment that hooks and moves a pallet away from or towards the AGV, allowing for perpendicular loading and unloading without turning or side movement, utilizing retractable engagement members and guiding rotational elements to facilitate smooth motion and alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the AGV turns or moves sideways to enter the hosting station for loading/unloading, then the AGV can access the station, but the velocity must be dramatically decreased and time cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloading/unloading accessibilityVSAvoidloading/unloading time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of the AGV turning or moving sideways to access the hosting station, the carriage is extended perpendicularly from the guiding line to reach the AGV. This inverts the traditional approach by having the station move towards the vehicle rather than the vehicle maneuvering to the station, enabling loading/unloading without velocity reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The carriage extends in a direction perpendicular to the guiding line (a different dimension from the AGV's travel path), allowing the hosting station to access the AGV without requiring the AGV to turn or change its travel direction, thus maintaining constant velocity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the AGV turns or moves sideways at the hosting station, then loading/unloading can occur, but alignment with the guiding line becomes difficult and guidance may be lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloading/unloading capabilityVSAvoidguidance alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The hosting station extends its carriage to reach the AGV rather than the AGV maneuvering to align with the station. This maintains the AGV's straight-line travel along the guiding line, ensuring continuous reliable guidance while enabling loading/unloading operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If the AGV stops near the receiving station for loading/unloading, then material transfer can occur, but traffic flow in the manufacturing plant decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial transfer capabilityVSAvoidtraffic flow

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The carriage extends from the receiving station to the AGV, allowing the AGV to remain stationary without blocking the guiding line. Other AGVs can continue traveling along the guiding line uninterrupted, maintaining traffic flow while enabling material transfer at the receiving station.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS20230002176A1Loading and unloading for automatic guided vehicle

Publication Date: 2023.01.05 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG

AI summary

Embodiments of present disclosure relate to a receiving station, an automatic guided vehicle (AGV), a pallet for use therewith, a conveying system, and a method for conveyance control. The receiving station comprises a carriage adapted to hook a pallet. The receiving station further comprises linear drive equipment operable to move the carriage in a first direction away from an AGV to load the pallet from the AGV or move the carriage in a second direction opposite to the first direction towards the AGV to unload the pallet onto the AGV, wherein the AGV stops near the receiving station, and wherein the carriage hooks the pallet during the movement of the carriage such that the pallet is moved along with the carriage.