Article Storage Facility with Orthogonal Conveyors for Order Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing article storage facilities face complexity and increased cost due to the need for additional devices to manage the order of article transportation, compromising efficiency and size.
Innovation Solution
A configuration that includes a transport device with dual transfer devices and a supply device comprising multiple conveyors, allowing simultaneous delivery and order switching of articles to these devices, using orthogonal conveyors to manage article placement and transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a device for switching the order of transport of articles is installed upstream of the supply device, then the efficiency of storage operation is improved, but the overall configuration becomes complicated and increases in size and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a conveyor arranged in a direction orthogonal to the travel direction of the travel cart, creating a two-dimensional article supply system. This allows articles to be supplied from multiple directions (front and side) simultaneously, enabling order switching without requiring additional upstream switching devices. The orthogonal conveyor configuration transforms a one-dimensional linear supply system into a two-dimensional multi-directional supply system, resolving the contradiction between operational efficiency and system complexity.
2Device complexity
If articles are transported one at a time to the travel cart, then the configuration remains simple, but the storage operation efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple article supply paths into a coordinated system. The front conveyor and side conveyor are integrated to supply articles to the same travel cart simultaneously or sequentially, allowing multiple articles to be supplied in an organized manner. This merging of supply paths enables efficient batch operations while maintaining configuration simplicity through the use of standard conveyor components working in coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic article supply where the travel cart can receive articles from different conveyors based on operational needs. The system can flexibly switch between receiving one article at a time or multiple articles simultaneously from different directions, allowing the configuration to adapt to varying efficiency requirements without becoming permanently complex.
Data Source
AI summary
A supply device (4) includes a first conveyor (4A) arranged to be adjacent on a first side (Y1) in a second direction with respect to the first transfer device (30A), a second conveyor (4B) arranged to be adjacent on the first side (Y1) in the second direction with respect to a second transfer device (30B), and a third conveyor (4C) including a first connection portion (5A) connected to an end on the first side (Y1) in the second direction of the first conveyor (4A) and a second connection portion (5B) connected to an end on the first side (Y1) in the second direction of the second conveyor (4B). A plurality of articles (W) can be arranged side-by-side in a second direction (Y) on the first conveyor (4A), and a plurality of articles (W) can be arranged side by side in the second direction (Y) on the second conveyor (4B).