Handling System Automatic Restart After Disruption

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cargo handling systems are unable to automatically resume operation after electrical power failures or other disturbances without manual intervention, leading to increased personnel effort and production downtime.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize a handling device to reinitialize and automatically restart the horizontal conveyor and handling process after a fault event, allowing for seamless continuation of the cargo handling and positioning process without manual intervention by storing and retrieving the positions of cargo and using control routines for automatic restart.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual intervention is required to restart the system after a fault event, then the system can be reset to a known state, but production downtime and personnel effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem restart capabilityVSAvoidproduction downtime
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically detecting fault events, storing the state of general cargo positions, and resuming operation without manual intervention. The control system monitors itself and initiates restart procedures autonomously when faults are detected and resolved.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system takes preliminary action by storing the positions of all general cargo on the conveyor before a fault occurs. This pre-stored information enables the system to resume operation from the correct state after a fault, eliminating the need for manual reset and reducing downtime.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Extent of automation

If the system stores and retrieves cargo positions to enable automatic restart, then automatic recovery is achieved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic restart capabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical reset operations with an automated control system that uses electronic storage and retrieval of cargo position data. This substitution of mechanical/manual processes with automated control achieves the desired automation while managing complexity through software-based solutions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple conveyor belts and complex mechanisms are used for cargo positioning, then precise positioning is achieved, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecargo positioning precisionVSAvoidconveyor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring the positions of general cargo on the conveyor and storing this information. This feedback mechanism enables precise positioning control and automatic restart capability without requiring complex mechanical positioning mechanisms, as the control system uses information feedback to manage positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3558852B1Handling system and method for handling piece goods
Publication Date: 2022.04.20 KRONES AG
  • EP3558852B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3558852B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3558852B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and a handling system for manipulating and/or handling piece goods (2) which are moved on a horizontal conveyor device (6) one behind the other in at least one row (1, 1a, 1b) in a transport direction (TR). In the method and the handling system, at least one transported piece good (2), in each work cycle, is gripped from the at least one row (1, 1a, 1b) in a clamped and/or force-locked and/or form-fitting manner by means of at least one handling device (10), is spatially separated from the row (1, 1a, 1b), and is brought into a defined target position and/or target orientation relative to subsequent piece goods (2), whereupon the at least one separated and moved piece good (2) is further transported in the same transport direction (TR) as before. After a disruption event occurs with an at least temporary standstill of the horizontal conveyor device (6) and/or the handling device (10), the handling device (10) is initialized, wherein after the disruption is resolved, the horizontal conveyor device (6) automatically restarts and the previously interrupted handling and/or position-changing process is continued.