Conveyor Car System With Segmented Tracks And Transfer Sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transport vehicle systems experience congestion due to increased density of vehicles in areas with high throughput, limiting the overall conveying capability.
Innovation Solution
A transport vehicle system with separate tracks for first and second transport vehicles, where the first vehicle handles intra-bay conveyance and the second vehicle handles inter-bay conveyance, using transfer sections to efficiently transfer objects between them, thereby maintaining a constant number of first transport vehicles in areas and reducing congestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of transport vehicles is increased to handle higher conveyance demand, then the conveying capability is improved, but the density of transport vehicles in high throughput areas increases causing chronic congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments transport vehicles into two distinct types: first transport vehicles that travel only on intra-bay routes within areas, and second transport vehicles that travel on inter-bay routes between areas. This segmentation prevents first transport vehicles from entering inter-bay routes, thereby maintaining constant density in areas while improving overall conveying capability through dedicated second transport vehicles for inter-area conveyance
Solution Approach 2:
Transfer sections serve as intermediary interfaces between intra-bay routes and inter-bay routes. These transfer sections enable article transfer between first and second transport vehicles without requiring first transport vehicles to leave their designated intra-bay routes, thus resolving the congestion problem while maintaining conveying capability
2Productivity
If a second transport vehicle is locally arranged near processing devices with high throughput to improve conveying capability, then local conveying capability is improved, but the first transport vehicle still needs to enter the intra-bay route from the inter-bay route causing congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the track network into distinct intra-bay routes (first tracks) and inter-bay routes (second tracks) with clearly defined roles. First transport vehicles operate exclusively on intra-bay routes while second transport vehicles operate on inter-bay routes, eliminating the need for first transport vehicles to enter inter-bay routes and thus preventing congestion without complicating track arrangement
Solution Approach 2:
Second transport vehicles serve a dual function: they convey articles between areas via inter-bay routes and also serve local high throughput areas by transferring articles to and from first transport vehicles at transfer sections. This multi-functionality improves local conveying capability without requiring first transport vehicles to leave their designated routes
Data Source
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AI summary
A transport vehicle system (1) includes: a first transport vehicle (40A) configured to travel on a lower track (20) in one direction; a second transport vehicle (40B) configured to travel on an upper track in one direction; a first transfer section (13) onto which a conveyed object (F) is delivered from the second transport vehicle and from which the conveyed object is received by the first transport vehicle; and a second transfer section (15) onto which the conveyed object is delivered from the first transport vehicle and from which the conveyed object is received by the second transport vehicle. The area (10) has a first region (10A) and a second region (10B), the lower track is arranged across the first region and the second region, and the first transfer section and the second transfer section are arranged in the first region. A third transfer section (11A) in which the conveyed object can be transferred to or from the first transport vehicle is arranged in the second region. The lower track in the first region is arranged along the second transfer section and the first transfer section in this order in the one direction. The upper track in the first region is arranged along the first transfer section and the second transfer section in this order.