Multi-Floor Article Sorting Layout to Minimize Path Intersections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing article sorting facilities face inefficiencies in article transport due to increased intersections of transport vehicle paths, leading to reduced transport efficiency and larger facility sizes when attempting to increase vehicle numbers.
Innovation Solution
The article sorting facility design includes a first floor with multiple travel paths and a second floor at a different height, connected by elevation mechanisms, allowing transport vehicles to travel between floors and minimize path intersections, with overlapping second travel paths that reduce the facility's vertical size while increasing transport efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of transport vehicles is increased to improve article transport efficiency, then the transport capacity is improved, but the number of path intersections increases causing more temporary stops and reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a multi-floor three-dimensional path structure where transport vehicles operate on different vertical levels. First travel paths are on a first floor and second travel paths are on a second floor, connected by elevation mechanisms. This vertical dimension separation allows paths to overlap in the plan view without creating intersections, enabling increased vehicle numbers and transport capacity without the harmful effect of intersection-based temporary stops.
2Productivity
If the number of passages or lanes is increased to improve transport efficiency, then the transport capacity is improved, but the facility area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by implementing multiple floors for travel paths. Instead of expanding horizontally with more passages or lanes that would increase facility area, the system stacks travel paths vertically and connects them through elevation mechanisms, maintaining a compact horizontal footprint while providing multiple routing options for transport vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent nests travel paths across different vertical levels, with first and second travel paths positioned at different heights. The elevation mechanisms serve as connection points between these nested paths, allowing the system to pack multiple routing options into a compact vertical space rather than requiring proportional horizontal expansion.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple travel paths are created to improve transport efficiency, then the routing flexibility is improved, but the number of intersections increases causing vehicle delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the intersection problem by routing different travel paths on different vertical floors. First travel paths connect supply sections to receiving sections on the first floor, while second travel paths connect receiving sections back to supply sections on the second floor. Elevation mechanisms provide controlled transitions between floors, eliminating uncontrolled intersections and maintaining routing flexibility without the complexity of multiple crossing points.
Data Source
AI summary
An article sorting facility includes: a first floor including a plurality of first travel paths; a second floor installed at a different height from the first floor in a vertical direction, and including a plurality of second travel paths; a plurality of first elevation mechanisms connecting terminating ends of the first travel paths to starting ends of the second travel paths; a plurality of second elevation mechanisms connecting terminating ends of the second travel paths to starting ends of the first travel paths; a plurality of receiving sections configured to receive articles from the transport vehicles; and at least one supply section configured to supply the articles to the transport vehicles. The plurality of second travel paths overlap corresponding first travel paths or corresponding receiving sections as viewed in the vertical direction, at least in a partial segment.