Suspended Conveyor Carrier Control for Flexible Switch Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing overhead conveyor systems for picking systems lack flexibility in their supporting structure design and do not allow for individual movement of transport carriers, leading to performance losses and increased installation space requirements.
Innovation Solution
A suspended conveyor device for a picking system that allows for a driving surface for transport carriers, enabling individual selection of route, speed, acceleration, and distance, with control algorithms to counteract pendulum motion and includes a detection unit to read route markings on the support structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If transport carriers are moved collectively with other transport carriers in known picking systems, then the supporting structure can be designed with simpler constraints, but this leads to performance losses and requires a comparatively large amount of installation space
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the transport carrier movement into individual autonomous units rather than collective movement. Each transport carrier is equipped with its own drive device, allowing it to move independently along the support structure. This segmentation enables flexible supporting structure design while reducing the space required for installation, as carriers can navigate efficiently without requiring large buffer zones for collective movement control.
2Ease of operation
If transport carriers are moved collectively, then the system operation is simpler to control, but this results in performance losses and reduced operational efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
Each transport carrier is equipped with its own drive device and control capabilities, enabling it to move autonomously along the support structure. The carriers can independently determine their routes, speeds, and acceleration profiles without requiring complex centralized coordination. This self-service approach maintains operational simplicity while significantly improving system performance and throughput.
3Productivity
If individual movement of transport carriers is enabled with drive devices, then operational efficiency and flexibility are improved, but the device complexity of each transport carrier increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive devices are designed as universal, standardized components that can be integrated into each transport carrier. This multi-functional approach allows the same drive mechanism to handle multiple tasks: propulsion, positioning, and coordination with the control system. By using universal drive devices rather than custom-built systems, the patent reduces overall device complexity while maintaining individual carrier movement capability and high productivity.
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
Enables flexible design and efficient movement of transport carriers, maintaining constant throughput and reducing installation space by allowing individual control of transport carrier movement and pendulum motion, enhancing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The drive device comprises drive elements which bear against the driving surface
Implementation Method 2
a holding force generator by which the transport body adheres movably to the support structure
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling transport carriers (3) in order to transport hanging goods on an overhead conveying device (1) for an order picking system. According to the invention, a travel path marker (U, VI) is provided along a transport path. The transport carrier (3) is moved along the transport path in accordance with a travel specification which is stored in a memory of the transport carrier (3). The travel path marker (U, VI) comprises a retrieval marker (VI) which marks a switch portion (W), and at which the travel specification is retrieved from the electronic memory. In accordance with the travel specification, in the switch portion (W) the transport carrier can be moved in a straight line or diverted. The travel path marker (U, VI) also comprises a signalling point marker, at which an additional travel specification for subsequent switch portions (W) is transferred to the transport carrier (3). The invention also relates to a corresponding transport carrier (3) and to an overhead conveyor device.