Autonomous Conveyor Vehicles With Buffer Storage for Flexible Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conveying systems lack flexibility and efficiency in transporting and processing objects, particularly in processing systems like painting systems, limiting the overall flexibility of the system.
Innovation Solution
A conveying device comprising conveyor vehicles with self-propelled, autonomous, and automatically controllable units, equipped with receiving elements and buffer storage locations, along with a higher-level control system for coordinating multiple vehicles, ensuring flexible and efficient object transport and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional conveying systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but the flexibility and efficiency of object transport are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying system is divided into multiple independent autonomous vehicles, each capable of independent operation. Each vehicle has its own drive device, receiving device, and control unit, allowing them to function as separate units while contributing to the overall system capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous vehicles are designed with universal functionality to perform multiple tasks including transporting objects, temporarily storing objects in buffer storage locations, and coordinating with higher-level control systems. The receiving devices can accommodate different object types and the vehicles can navigate to various destinations within the processing system.
2Productivity
If conventional conveying systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but the efficiency of object transport is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple autonomous vehicles operate simultaneously and continuously to transport objects through the processing system. The vehicles can maintain continuous movement and coordination, reducing idle time and ensuring uninterrupted object flow, which significantly improves transport efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Each autonomous vehicle is equipped with a control unit that receives commands from a higher-level control system and provides feedback on vehicle status, position, and object handling. This feedback mechanism enables real-time coordination and optimization of transport operations.
3Ease of operation
If autonomous self-propelled vehicles are used, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying vehicles are designed as autonomous units with self-propulsion capabilities through integrated drive devices. Each vehicle independently navigates, positions itself, and handles objects without requiring manual operation, thereby improving ease of operation while the self-contained design manages the complexity within each unit.
Data Source
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AI summary
In order to provide a conveying device by means of which objects to be transported can be transported simply and flexibly and by means of which in particular the flexibility of a processing installation can be increased, it is proposed that the conveying device comprises the following: - one or more conveying vehicles for conveying objects, in particular motor vehicle bodies; a buffer device for temporarily storing the objects, the buffer device comprising one or more buffer storage spaces, wherein one buffer storage space serves for storing one object in each case; wherein the objects can be entered into the buffer device and/or can be removed from the buffer device by means of the one or more conveying vehicles.