Buffer Device Movable Carriage for Rapid Container Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
In distribution facilities, the speeding up of pick-up operations in buffer devices can lead to delays in supplying article containers to the pick-up area, and existing sequential transport systems using conveyors are inefficient in restocking frequently removed articles.
Innovation Solution
A buffer device with multiple placing units, a movable carriage unit, and a transfer device that allows for efficient and quick supply of article containers to the pick-up area by arranging them in a last-in-first-out manner and using a movable shuttle to transport them from storage conveyors to the pick-up area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If sequential transport system using conveyor is used, then articles are transported in transfer order, but speeding up of transport to pick-up position is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable carriage unit that can dynamically move along the placing unit to transport article containers. This dynamic mechanism allows the system to adapt transport speed to demand, enabling faster delivery of frequently picked articles to the pick-up position while maintaining the ability to handle varied transfer orders efficiently
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer device is segmented into multiple functional units including placing units, a movable carriage unit, and a transfer device. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component - the placing units can store multiple containers while the movable carriage provides rapid selective retrieval, resolving the contradiction between ordered transport and speed
2Quantity of substance
If article container is stocked in warehouse after pick-up operation, then storage is achieved, but it is inefficient for frequently taken out articles
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer device pre-positions article containers in the placing units based on predicted or frequent pick-up demands. The movable carriage unit keeps frequently needed containers readily accessible near the pick-up area, performing preliminary preparation so that when pick-up operations occur, the articles are already in optimal positions for rapid retrieval, eliminating restocking delays
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates different storage zones with different characteristics - the placing units with movable carriage serve as a high-accessibility zone for frequently picked articles, while the warehouse provides bulk storage. This local differentiation of storage quality allows efficient handling of frequent items without compromising overall storage capacity
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a buffer device for temporarily storing an article container for containing an article to be picked up, including: a placing unit on which the article container is placed and which is configured to transport the placed article container in a direction away from a pick-up area; a supply unit which supplies the article container from the pick-up area to an end area on a side of the placing unit close to the pick-up area; a movable carriage unit which is configured to travel in a transport direction of the article container in the placing unit and which allows the article container to be placed; and a transfer device which transfers the article container at least between the placing unit and the movable carriage unit.