Ceiling Transport Vehicle Cleaning Apparatus with Short Partition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning apparatus for ceiling transport vehicles in clean rooms require a long partition to prevent dust dispersion, occupying excessive space and being inefficient in their design.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning apparatus with a partition that allows the ceiling transport vehicle to enter a closed-off space where the air blower can clean it while stationary, using a fan filter unit to contain and clean the dust, and a controller to manage the cleaning operation based on dust concentration measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the partition is made long to correspond to the distance traveled by the moving ceiling transport vehicle during cleaning, then dust can be prevented from dispersing into the clean room, but the cleaning apparatus occupies excessive space and becomes inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedust containment effectivenessVSAvoidspace occupied by partition

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the cleaning system from a moving cleaning apparatus to a stationary one. The ceiling transport vehicle moves into the stationary cleaning space, reverses, and stops for cleaning. This dynamic reversal of motion allows the partition to be short (only needing to enclose the vehicle, not the travel distance) while still achieving effective dust containment during the stationary cleaning phase

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning operation is performed periodically when the ceiling transport vehicle stops at the cleaning space, rather than continuously during travel. This periodic stationary cleaning allows dust containment with a short partition, as cleaning occurs only when the vehicle is stopped and enclosed within the partition-defined space

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Productivity

If the partition length corresponds to the travel distance during cleaning, then cleaning can be performed while the vehicle moves, but the installation requires a long area along the travel path

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning operation continuityVSAvoidpartition length in travel direction

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system utilizes the natural movement and reversal of the ceiling transport vehicle to bring it into the stationary cleaning space. The vehicle travels along the rail, reverses direction, and stops within the short partition enclosure. This dynamic approach maintains productivity by allowing continuous operation cycles while minimizing the stationary partition length to only what's needed to enclose the vehicle

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If a long partition is used to contain dust during vehicle travel, then dust dispersion is prevented, but the cleaning apparatus structure becomes large and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedust containmentVSAvoidcleaning apparatus structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the cleaning operation from the moving travel path and places it within a separate, stationary cleaning space defined by a short partition. The vehicle is taken out of its normal travel mode and stopped within this compact enclosure for cleaning. This separation allows effective dust containment within a small, simple structure rather than requiring a long partition along the entire travel path

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The short partition acts as an intermediary structure that creates a temporary enclosed cleaning space. Instead of requiring a long continuous partition along the travel path, this intermediate stationary enclosure suffices because the vehicle stops within it during cleaning, isolating dust generation to a small confined area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design allows for efficient use of space in clean rooms by reducing the length of the partition needed and ensures reliable cleaning operations without excessive containment time, effectively preventing dust dispersion into the clean room.

Implementation Method 1

an air blower (C) for blowing air to a ceiling transport vehicle (3) to clean the ceiling transport vehicle (3)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir flow:

Implementation Method 2

the partition is preferably provided with a fan filter unit which includes a fan for drawing in air in the closed off space, and for discharging air to outside the closed off space, and a filter for cleaning the air to be discharged

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS9687889B2Cleaning apparatus

Publication Date: 2017.06.27 DAIFUKU CO LTD

AI summary

A cleaning apparatus for a ceiling transport vehicle is provided which can be advantageously installed in a clean room. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a ceiling transport vehicle includes an air blower for blowing air to the ceiling transport vehicle when the ceiling transport vehicle, which can travel along a travel rail provided on a ceiling side in a clean room, is stationary in a closed off space which is closed off from exterior space.