Mobile Body Storage Control for Wear Balancing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional article storage facilities restrict simultaneous entry of multiple mobile bodies into a common range, limiting transport capacity and requiring frequent maintenance due to uneven wear and tear on mobile bodies.
Innovation Solution
An article storage facility with a control device that switches between total and partial operation modes, allowing all mobile bodies to transport articles simultaneously in total mode and selectively routing mobile bodies to reduce wear in partial mode, thereby optimizing transport capacity and minimizing maintenance interruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple mobile bodies are allowed to transport articles simultaneously to storage units in the common range, then transport capacity is improved, but control complexity and risk of collision increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage structure into a common range and multiple individual ranges. The common range is further segmented into multiple transport paths (first transport path and second transport path). This segmentation allows multiple mobile bodies to operate simultaneously in different segments without collision, resolving the contradiction between improved transport capacity and control complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension by creating multiple transport paths (first and second transport paths) within the common range. Mobile bodies are assigned to different paths based on their destination storage units, transforming a one-dimensional control problem into a multi-dimensional spatial routing problem that enables simultaneous operations.
2Productivity
If mobile bodies operate continuously in the common range to maximize transport capacity, then productivity increases, but wear and tear on mobile bodies increases requiring frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic routing where mobile bodies are assigned to different transport paths based on real-time conditions and destination requirements. The control device can dynamically switch between using the first transport path, second transport path, or having mobile bodies wait in individual ranges, creating a dynamic system that balances productivity with mobile body utilization and durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables periodic rotation of mobile bodies between different transport paths and individual ranges. By periodically assigning mobile bodies to different routes and allowing them to rest in individual ranges, the system distributes wear and tear more evenly across the mobile body fleet, extending their operational life while maintaining high transport capacity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a common range is created for multiple mobile bodies to access, then versatility of the storage facility is improved, but risk of collision and control difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The common range is segmented into multiple independent transport paths (first and second transport paths), each with its own control logic. This segmentation maintains the versatility of having a shared common range while reducing collision risk by isolating mobile bodies into separate paths, effectively resolving the contradiction between versatility and operational safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device acts as an intermediary that manages access to the common range. It assigns mobile bodies to specific transport paths based on destination storage units and monitors their movement, mediating between the need for versatile shared access and the requirement for collision-free operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An article storage facility includes a controller for controlling operation of a plurality of mobile bodies. The controller is constructed switchable between a total operation mode for causing all of the mobile bodies to engage in an article transporting operation for transporting articles between storage units and an article support, and a partial operation mode for causing part of the mobile bodies to engage in the article transporting operation. In the partial operation mode, a mobile body not selected as mobile body for the article transport operation is caused to travel to a retreating position clear of a traveling range of a mobile body selected as the mobile body for the article transport operation.