Component Mounter Warehouse With Robotic Container Loading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing warehouse systems for component mounters require manual loading of component containers into supply units, limiting labor savings despite the availability of automated devices for component delivery.

Innovation Solution

A warehouse system equipped with a conveyance robot that automates the conveyance and loading of component containers and supply units, eliminating the need for manual intervention in the loading process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If manual loading of component containers into supply units is used, then device complexity is reduced, but labor savings and automation are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation of loading workVSAvoidcomplexity of warehouse system
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the warehouse into separate storage areas for component containers and supply units, with the conveyance robot operating between them. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each storage area while achieving automated loading through the robot's coordinated movements between the two zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The conveyance robot serves as an intermediary device between the component container storage area and the supply unit storage area. It automatically transports component containers to the loading position and supplies units to the mounting device, eliminating the need for manual intervention in the loading process while maintaining system modularity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If automated conveyance devices are introduced, then labor savings are achieved, but carry-in operations still require manual intervention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveefficiency of loading workVSAvoidmanual carry-in operations
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service operation where the conveyance robot automatically performs both the carry-in of component containers from storage and their subsequent loading into supply units. The robot autonomously navigates to storage positions, retrieves containers, transports them to loading positions, and executes the loading operation without human intervention throughout the entire process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Extent of automation

If operator involvement in loading operations is reduced, then labor savings are achieved, but automation of the loading process is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation of component container loadingVSAvoidtime for preparation work
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by having the conveyance robot store component containers in designated storage positions and prepare supply units in advance before actual mounting operations begin. This advance preparation ensures that when mounting is needed, both component containers and supply units are already positioned and ready, eliminating waiting time and enabling immediate automated loading when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4068936B1Warehouse system
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 FUJI CORP
  • EP4068936B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4068936B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4068936B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A warehouse system includes a component container warehouse configured to store multiple component containers that accommodate multiple components, a component supply unit warehouse configured to store multiple component supply units used when supplying the components accommodated in the component container to a component mounter, a component container loader configured to load the component container into the component supply unit, and a conveyance robot configured to move between the component container warehouse, the component supply unit warehouse, and the component container loader to convey the component container and the component supply unit to the component container loader.