Integrated Stocker With Robotic Arm Eliminates AGV Wait Times
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Solution Overview
Problem
In manufacturing processes, the coordination of automatic guided vehicles and robotic stockers leads to undesirable delays due to poorly scheduled vehicle operations and traffic conditions, affecting the throughput of products between process bays.
Innovation Solution
The integration of metrology or inspection operations into self-contained stockers, which include embedded stations and a robotic arm mechanism, enables automated storage, retrieval, and sorting, eliminating wait times for vehicles by performing these operations within the stocker itself.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate transportation systems and stockers are used for conveying work-in-process parts between process bays, then flexibility in transportation and storage is improved, but wait times increase due to poor coordination between vehicles and stocker operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the transportation system and stocker into an integrated automated material handling system where the stocker is directly coupled with the AGV/RGV/OHT system. This merging eliminates the interface between separate systems, allowing workpieces to be transferred directly from the vehicle to the stocker without waiting for coordination, thus resolving the contradiction between system flexibility and wait time.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system performs multiple functions: transportation, storage, and automated transfer operations. The stocker serves both as a storage device and as a transfer interface with the transportation system, eliminating the need for separate coordination mechanisms and reducing wait times while maintaining flexibility.
2Extent of automation
If automated guided vehicles, rail guided vehicles, or overhead transport systems are used to transport work-in-process parts, then automation level is improved, but throughput is reduced due to traffic conditions and scheduling delays
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated stocker system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning workpieces and maintaining ready queues at the transfer interface. When a vehicle arrives, workpieces are already prepared for immediate transfer, eliminating scheduling delays and improving throughput while maintaining high automation levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous useful action by ensuring that the stocker is always ready to receive or dispatch workpieces. The integrated design eliminates idle time between vehicle arrivals and stocker operations, keeping the system continuously productive without sacrificing automation.
3Quantity of substance
If stockers are installed between process bays to provide buffering space, then buffering capacity is improved, but coordination complexity increases leading to scheduling delays
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated stocker system provides self-service by autonomously managing the transfer of workpieces between vehicles and storage locations. The system automatically coordinates its own operations without external scheduling intervention, reducing coordination complexity while maintaining buffering capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) for storing workpieces includes a main body, a robotic arm mechanism and at least one first station. The workpiece comprises a first container configured to hold at least one article. The main body includes at least one side wall configured to confine a storage space for the workpieces in at least one first direction parallel to a floor. The robotic arm mechanism is configured to reach the storage space, the storage space being further confined by the robotic arm mechanism in at least one second direction opposite to the at least one first direction. The at least one first station is configured with at least one first accessing port located within the storage space, and configured for the ASRS to perform a routine for a process flow.