Multi-Entrance Conveyor Loading to Prevent Warehouse Robot Congestion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing warehouse management systems experience congestion and inefficiencies due to robots waiting to place materials on conveyor lines when the total quantity exceeds the line's capacity, leading to reduced material transferring efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that control the quantity of materials placed by robots at conveyor line entrances to balance material carrying capacity, allowing smooth material placement and retrieval, preventing congestion and lockup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If robots place all materials at one entrance simultaneously, then material placement speed is improved, but robot congestion and conveyor line lockup occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the material placement operation into multiple segments by controlling different robots to place materials at different entrances of the conveyor line. Instead of all robots placing materials at one entrance simultaneously, the system segments the placement locations across multiple entrances (e.g., first robot at first entrance, second robot at second entrance), thereby distributing the material flow and preventing congestion and lockup while maintaining overall placement productivity.
2Quantity of substance
If robots wait for other robots to fetch materials, then material quantity balance is maintained, but robot efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and pre-assigning material placement quantities to different robots based on their respective entrances. The warehouse management device determines in advance how many materials each robot should place at each entrance, allowing robots to operate independently without waiting for others to fetch materials. This preliminary planning maintains material quantity balance while eliminating waiting time and improving overall robot efficiency.
3Productivity
If multiple robots operate at the same entrance, then material placement capacity is increased, but mutual congestion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the congestion problem by adding a spatial dimension to the operation distribution. Instead of multiple robots operating at the same entrance (one-dimensional concentration), the system distributes robots across multiple different entrances (multi-dimensional distribution). This dimensional expansion allows the system to maintain high material placement capacity while ensuring each robot operates smoothly at its designated entrance without mutual interference or congestion.
Data Source
AI summary
A material transferring method includes: controlling a first robot transferring materials to move to a first entrance of the M entrances; and controlling the first robot to place a first quantity of materials at the first entrance, the first quantity being less than or equal to a second quantity. The first entrance is one of the M entrances that is in an idle state. The second quantity is a total quantity of materials to be placed on the conveyor line by the first robot.