Dynamic AGV Loading via Acute Angle Transfer

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for loading cargo items onto automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are energy-intensive and restrict throughput due to the need for braking and restarting, which reduces the autonomy of the vehicles and requires complex gripper systems, leading to inefficiencies in sorting and transportation.

Innovation Solution

A method where the cargo item approaches the AGV at a predefined acute angle, allowing it to transfer onto the vehicle at a speed that matches the vehicle's travel speed, eliminating the need for complex grippers and reducing the space required for delivery, using either a tilt tray or cross-belt conveyor to maintain throughput and prevent sliding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the AGV stops at a transfer point to load cargo items, then the cargo item can be loaded onto the AGV, but the throughput of cargo items is restricted and energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloading operationVSAvoidthroughput of cargo items

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The AGV maintains dynamic motion during the loading process rather than stopping. The cargo item is delivered at an acute angle to the AGV's direction of travel, allowing the AGV to continue moving at its travel speed while accepting the cargo item. This dynamic loading approach eliminates the need to stop, thereby maintaining throughput and reducing energy consumption associated with braking and restarting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the AGV stops at a transfer point to load cargo items, then the cargo item can be loaded onto the AGV, but the autonomy of the AGV is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloading operationVSAvoidautonomy of the AGV

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The AGV maintains dynamic motion during the loading process rather than stopping. The cargo item is delivered at an acute angle to the AGV's direction of travel, allowing the AGV to continue moving at its travel speed while accepting the cargo item. This dynamic loading approach eliminates the need to stop, thereby maintaining throughput and reducing energy consumption associated with braking and restarting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If complex gripper systems are used to load cargo items onto the AGV, then the cargo item can be securely loaded, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure loading of cargo itemVSAvoidgripper system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The AGV maintains dynamic motion during the loading process rather than stopping. The cargo item is delivered at an acute angle to the AGV's direction of travel, allowing the AGV to continue moving at its travel speed while accepting the cargo item. This dynamic loading approach eliminates the need to stop, thereby maintaining throughput and reducing energy consumption associated with braking and restarting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical gripper systems with a simpler delivery mechanism. The cargo item is delivered along a delivery path at an acute angle to the AGV's direction of travel, using the AGV's own motion and the delivery system's positioning to achieve secure loading without requiring complex gripping mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11485590B2Method and system for loading a driverless transport vehicle

Publication Date: 2022.11.01 KERBER SUPPLY CHAIN LOGISTICS GESELLSCHAFT MITT BESCHLENKTEL HAFZUNG

AI summary

Driverless transport vehicles or DTVs, which are automatically guided vehicles, are gaining importance in the sorting of cargo. A method for loading a driverless transport vehicle with a cargo item in a transfer point, includes loading the DTV with the cargo item by using a known delivery system during the journey of the DTV. In order to prevent cargo items from falling during loading, a higher-level control sets the delivery speed of the cargo item and the speed of travel before the cargo item is transferred to the transport vehicle, such that the delivery speed component of the transport direction is equal to the speed of travel of the transport vehicle. In this way, the continued use of existing delivery systems such as are known under the term HSI (high speed induction) is possible. A system for loading a driverless transport vehicle is also provided.