Automated Load Sequencing Reducing Manifold Disturbance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automated load distribution systems face inefficiencies in sequencing loads for optimal flow rates and destination order compliance, leading to suboptimal manifold filling rates, increased waiting times, and increased complexity in buffer storage and sequencing systems.

Innovation Solution

A control system constructs a collection list to reduce disorder in load sequencing by allowing charges to be collected out of order, while ensuring compliance with destination order numbers, using a disorder calculation function to optimize the collection process and minimize constraints on sources and collectors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If loads are collected in a strict increasing destination order on the collector, then destination order compliance is improved, but manifold filling rate deteriorates and waiting times increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedestination order complianceVSAvoidmanifold filling rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional approach by allowing out-of-order collection on the collector manifold, then applying post-collection sorting at the destination. This reverses the sequencing operation from the collection point to the delivery point, enabling parallel loading while maintaining final order compliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by collecting all required loads onto the manifold regardless of destination order, then applies the ordering constraint as a final sorting step at the destination. This separates the collection efficiency from the ordering requirement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If loads are collected out of order to improve flow rates, then productivity is improved, but destination order compliance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow rateVSAvoiddestination order compliance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the sequencing operation into two independent phases: (1) parallel collection phase where loads are gathered on the manifold without order constraints, and (2) final sorting phase at the destination where destination order is enforced. This segmentation allows each phase to optimize for its specific function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The collector manifold acts as an intermediary buffer that temporarily holds loads in non-sequential order, decoupling the collection process from the destination order requirement. The destination system then serves as a second intermediary that reorders loads before final delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If strict sequencing is enforced at the collector, then destination order compliance is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedestination order complianceVSAvoidbuffer storage and sequencing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the sequencing constraint from the collector manifold and relocates it to the destination system. This removes the complexity of real-time sequencing logic from the collection process and concentrates it where the ordering is actually required for delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Productivity

If manifold filling is optimized by allowing out-of-order collection, then productivity is improved, but disturbance during load collection increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanifold filling rateVSAvoiddisturbance during load collection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harm of out-of-order collection (disturbance) into a benefit by accepting that disturbance as necessary for high-speed parallel collection, then compensating for it through the final sorting phase. The disturbance during collection is traded for overall system efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP3693901B1Method for sequencing loads in an automated timing system, with reduction of a disturbance during a load collection on a manifold

Publication Date: 2023.04.05 SAVOYE

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AI summary

A method for sequencing loads in an automated load distribution system comprising: k sources, with k≥2; at least one destination; k source buffer devices, of the FIFO type, each receiving loads from one of the k sources; a collector collecting the loads exiting the k source buffer devices and transporting them to at least one destination, the collector comprising k successive nodes, each configured to collect the loads exiting one of the k source buffer devices; and a control system configured to process commands, each command listing loads for a given destination and associated with a destination order number.The control system performs the following steps: construction (31) of a collection list containing n charges to be collected and reducing a disorder of the n charges with respect to an increasing order of destination order numbers, the n charges being contained in the source buffer devices, n=∑i=1i=kpi, with p(i) a number of charges to be collected in the ith source buffer device; and control (32) of the collector and the source buffer devices for a collection of charges on the collector conforming to the collection list.