Ceiling Transport Vehicle Intermediate Transfer Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing article transport facilities face inefficiencies due to traffic congestion and space constraints, as ceiling transport vehicles cannot directly transfer articles to delivering and receiving portions without complicating their configuration and requiring additional space, and intermediate racks obstruct direct transfers.
Innovation Solution
The facility includes a ceiling transport vehicle with a vertically movable grip portion and an intermediate rack located above the delivering and receiving portion, allowing direct transfers by vertically moving the grip portion at specific stop positions, and an intermediate transfer device that moves between the ceiling transport vehicle and delivering and receiving portions to avoid interference, optimizing space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an intermediate rack is provided between the ceiling transport vehicle and the article delivering and receiving portion, then traffic congestion of ceiling transport vehicles is prevented, but the ceiling transport vehicle cannot transfer articles directly to the article delivering and receiving portion
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate transfer device is designed to be movable along the travel rail, allowing it to dynamically change its position between the ceiling transport vehicle and the article delivering and receiving portion. This dynamic positioning enables the system to switch between direct transfer mode (when the intermediate transfer device is retracted) and indirect transfer mode via the intermediate rack (when the intermediate transfer device is extended), thereby maintaining high throughput while simplifying transfer operations.
2Area of stationary object
If the intermediate rack is located in vertical alignment with the ceiling transport vehicle and article delivering and receiving portion, then space is efficiently utilized, but the grip portion cannot directly transfer articles to the article delivering and receiving portion
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate transfer device serves as a mediator between the ceiling transport vehicle and the article delivering and receiving portion. When direct transfer is needed, the intermediate transfer device retracts to allow the grip portion to reach the delivering and receiving portion directly. When buffering is needed, the intermediate transfer device extends to transfer articles to the intermediate rack, thus maintaining both direct transfer capability and space efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If a transfer device with lateral movement mechanism is provided, then direct transfer to article delivering and receiving portion is enabled, but the configuration becomes complicated and installation space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral movement function is extracted from the ceiling transport vehicle and transferred to the intermediate transfer device. The intermediate transfer device handles all lateral movement along the travel rail, while the ceiling transport vehicle maintains its simple vertical movement capability. This extraction simplifies the ceiling transport vehicle configuration while enabling direct transfer operations.
4Volume of moving object
If the intermediate transfer device is positioned below the ceiling transport vehicle, then vertical space is utilized, but the grip portion and article may interfere with the intermediate transfer device during vertical movement
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate transfer device is designed with dynamic positioning capability along the travel rail, allowing it to move laterally to avoid the vertical path of the grip portion during article transfer operations. This dynamic avoidance mechanism enables the system to utilize vertical space effectively while preventing interference between the grip portion and the intermediate transfer device.
Data Source
AI summary
An intermediate transfer device 6 which is capable of transferring an article W to an article delivering and receiving portion 4 and to an intermediate rack 5 which is located upwardly of the article delivering and receiving portion 4 and downwardly of a ceiling transport vehicle 2, by vertically moving a transfer device grip portion 7, is provided such that the intermediate transfer device 6 is in vertical alignment with the ceiling transport vehicle 2 and the article delivering and receiving portion 4 and is capable of traveling in a travel direction, while guided and supported by a guiding support 17, to and among a transfer position for the delivering and receiving portion, a transfer position for the intermediate rack, a transfer-time retracted position, and a temporary-storage-time retracted position for avoiding interfering when the ceiling transport vehicle 2 transfers an article to or from the article delivering and receiving portion 4 or the intermediate rack 5. The guiding support 17 is configured to form a space through which the grip portion 3 and an article W can pass in the vertical direction when the ceiling transport vehicle 2 transfers the article W.