Conveyance System Obstacle Detection for Restricted Area Entry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyance carriages may inadvertently enter restricted areas, potentially interfering with devices not designed for their presence, leading to operational issues and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A conveyance system equipped with sensors and contact detectors on conveyance carriages, positioned to avoid overlap with other carriages, detects restricted area members, preventing unauthorized entry by using optical and contact sensors to control carriage movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple types of conveyance carriages travel on the same track, then the conveyance system can handle diverse transport needs, but the risk of carriages entering restricted areas increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by installing detection members in restricted areas before conveyance carriages can accidentally enter them. The detection members are positioned in advance to detect approaching carriages and trigger prevention actions, such as stopping the carriage or activating barriers, thereby preventing restricted area entry before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses detection members as intermediaries between the control system and conveyance carriages. These detection members detect the presence and position of carriages and transmit information to the control system, which then coordinates appropriate responses to prevent unauthorized entry into restricted areas while maintaining smooth operation in allowed zones.
2Measurement precision
If sensors are positioned to detect restricted area members, then accurate detection is achieved, but the sensors may overlap with other conveyance carriages causing false detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning detection members at specific locations and heights that are unique to restricted area entry points. Rather than using uniform detection across the entire track, the detection members are strategically placed only where needed, at positions that exploit the local geometric characteristics of restricted area entrances to achieve accurate detection without interfering with normal carriage operations.
3Reliability
If the sensor detects members in restricted areas, then entry prevention is effective, but misoperation may occur if the member is detected too early or too late
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by creating a closed-loop detection and control system. Detection members continuously monitor for conveyance carriages approaching restricted areas, and the control system receives real-time detection information to adjust carriage speed or activate prevention mechanisms. This feedback loop ensures detection occurs at the optimal moment, preventing both premature and delayed responses that could cause misoperation.
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
Effectively prevents conveyance carriages from entering restricted areas by ensuring accurate detection and control, enhancing safety and preventing device interference, with a fail-safe mechanism to avoid misoperation.
Implementation Method 1
the one conveyance carriage that is not allowed to enter the restricted area can detects the member to be detected with the sensor
Implementation Method 2
the conveyance system may include a contact sensor that is provided to the one of the conveyance carriages, arranged at a position where the contact sensor comes in contact with the member to be detected, and detects contact with the member to be detected
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3
AI summary
A conveyance system that can prevent the conveyance carriages from entering by mistake is provided. The conveyance system 1 includes: a rail R that is constructed across a plurality of areas; a FOUP conveyance vehicle 10 that travels along the rail R; a reticle conveyance vehicle 20 that has a width and a height at least one of which differs from that of the FOUP conveyance vehicle 10; an optical sensor 15 that is provided to the FOUP conveyance vehicle 10, arranged at a position that does not overlap the rectile conveyance vehicle 20 in a traveling direction, and detects an obstacle in front; and a member 30 to be detected that is arranged, in an entry section into a certain area where only the rectile conveyance vehicle 20 is allowed to enter out of a plurality of areas, at a position where the rectile conveyance vehicle 20 is allowed to enter the certain area, the position being detectable by the optical sensor 15 provided to the FOUP conveyance vehicle 10.