Overhead Hoist Drop Prevention Without Container Width Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing overhead hoist transport systems in semiconductor manufacturing face issues with containers dropping due to vibrations, necessitating width measurement parts to adjust drop preventing members, which complicates the transfer process.
Innovation Solution
An article transfer apparatus with a vehicle, hoist module, drop preventing member, and controller that adjusts the movement interval of the drop preventing member based on loading/unloading information without measuring the container's width, using a stock detecting sensor to ensure secure transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a measurement part is installed to detect container width, then the drop preventing member can be adjusted according to container size, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the measurement part from the system and uses only the essential drop preventing members. The drop preventing members are configured to work effectively without requiring width measurement, thereby simplifying the device while maintaining the reliability of preventing container dropping during vibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The drop preventing members are divided into multiple segments positioned at different locations. Each segment can independently function to prevent dropping, and their collective arrangement provides comprehensive protection without requiring complex measurement and adjustment mechanisms.
2Manufacturing precision
If width measurement is performed to adjust drop preventing member interval, then the transfer process becomes more precise, but the transfer time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drop preventing members are pre-configured in the vehicle body at appropriate positions and intervals. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for real-time measurement and adjustment during the transfer process, thereby reducing transfer time while maintaining sufficient precision for effective drop prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement and adjustment functions are removed from the transfer process. The system relies on the pre-configured drop preventing members that are designed to work effectively without requiring measurement of container width, thus eliminating the time loss associated with measurement and adjustment operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple drop preventing members are installed at different locations, then the adaptability to different container sizes is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drop preventing members are segmented into multiple units positioned at different locations within the vehicle body. Each segment is simple in structure but collectively they provide adaptability to handle different container sizes. The segmentation allows the system to accommodate various container dimensions without requiring each component to be complex or adjustable.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an article transfer apparatus. The article transfer apparatus includes a vehicle that travels along a driving rail installed on a ceiling, a hoist module that picks up an article-to-be-transferred, a vehicle body, on which the hoist module is mounted and which is connected to the vehicle, a drop preventing member provided in the vehicle body, and that prevents the article-to-be-transferred from dropping while the vehicle travels, and a controller that receives loading/unloading information of the article-to-be transferred to determine a size of the article-to-be-transferred, and to drive the drop preventing member according to a size of the article-to-be transferred.