Modular Storage Frame Structure for Automated Material Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage and delivery systems in warehouses, particularly in the SMT industry, face inefficiencies due to manual processes, high error rates, and the need for skilled labor, making it difficult to manage and retrieve materials effectively, especially in high-volume and multi-variety electronic product manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
An assemble-type storage frame structure with space limiting units, fixing rods, side plates, and positioning plates that form a reception chamber to securely hold material trays, allowing for automatic storage and sorting, and utilizing anti-static composite materials to enhance the system's functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual storage and delivery systems are used, then operation flexibility is maintained, but productivity is low and error rate is high
Solution Approach 1:
The storage frame is divided into multiple modular components including vertical slots, reception chambers, and positioning units that can be independently assembled and configured. This segmentation enables automated systems to efficiently store and retrieve material trays while maintaining operational flexibility through modular reconfiguration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed storage locations are used, then material classification is simplified, but adaptability to different materials is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system employs dynamic positioning plates with vertical slots that can be adjusted to different positions, allowing the reception chambers to be reconfigured for different material tray sizes and types. This dynamic adjustability provides versatility while maintaining a relatively simple modular structure.
3Extent of automation
If steel shelves are used, then structural strength is sufficient, but automatic storing and sorting functionality is difficult to implement
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional steel shelf structure is replaced with a modular frame system using positioning plates, vertical slots, and reception chambers that are specifically designed to interface with automated storage and retrieval mechanisms. This substitution enables automatic material handling while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized components.
4Quantity of substance
If more shelf space is utilized, then storage capacity increases, but material access time may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning plates and vertical slots act as intermediaries that organize material trays in standardized reception chambers, enabling automated systems to quickly locate and retrieve specific materials even in high-capacity configurations. This intermediary structure maintains efficient access times while maximizing storage capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage frame structure for an automatic depot includes: several space limiting units, each having a plug-in surface formed with vertical slots and two opposite ends, at least one of the opposite ends being formed with an insert hole; several fixing rods abutting with the limiting units respectively; two side plates connected to the fixing rods in such a manner that the fixing rods extend parallel to one another between the side plates; and two positioning plates, each having two opposite insert ends extending into the vertical slots of an adjacent pair of the limiting units, thereby defining a reception chamber therebetween to retain a material tray stably in the chamber. The storage frame structure has simple construction and is applicable in automation industry (like SMT electronic industry) for material storing and sorting.