Hierarchical Scheduler Control for Conveyor Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transfer apparatuses for semiconductor and display device manufacturing lack efficient control over conveyor operations, leading to inefficiencies and potential collisions during object transfer.
Innovation Solution
A transfer apparatus comprising a plurality of conveyors with an upper scheduler creating transfer paths and providing transfer information to lower schedulers, which control conveyor operations based on speed, location, and obstacle detection, ensuring seamless and collision-free object transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single control unit controls all conveyors, then the control structure is simple, but the transfer efficiency and collision prevention capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into an upper scheduler that creates transfer paths and lower schedulers that control individual conveyors. This segmentation allows each conveyor to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system coordination, resolving the contradiction between simple control structure and high transfer efficiency.
2Productivity
If conveyors operate at high speed, then transfer efficiency improves, but collision risk and operational reliability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The lower schedulers receive real-time transfer information from the upper scheduler and continuously adjust conveyor operations. This feedback mechanism enables high-speed operation while maintaining collision prevention through real-time monitoring and coordination of all conveyors in the transfer path.
3Productivity
If multiple schedulers are introduced for detailed control, then transfer efficiency and collision prevention improve, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The control architecture adds a hierarchical dimension with upper and lower schedulers operating at different levels. The upper scheduler manages overall transfer paths while lower schedulers handle individual conveyor control, allowing detailed coordination without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and method for transferring an object are disclosed. The apparatus includes a transfer track comprising a plurality of conveyors for transferring an object, an upper scheduler creating a transfer path for transferring the object and creating transfer information for controlling operations of conveyors constituting the transfer path, and a plurality of lower schedulers each receiving the transfer information from the upper scheduler and each controlling the operations of the conveyors based on the transfer information.