Multi-Carrier Transport Control With Event-Driven Station Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport systems with multiple stations require complex memory management and unnecessary stopping of transport elements due to organizational aspects, leading to delays that increase with the number of stations.
Innovation Solution
A procedure for operating a transport system that creates instances for each transport element, generates lists for each station, and allows for event-controlled handovers of transport elements between stations without the need for defined transfer points, thereby optimizing the handling and movement of transport elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If transport elements are stopped at waiting positions and transfer points to ensure orderly transfer between stations, then the reliability of transport element management is improved, but the loss of time increases due to unnecessary stops and delays
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit determines in advance whether a receiving station is free before the transport element arrives at the waiting position. If the station is free, the transport element receives permission to advance directly to the station without stopping at the waiting position, eliminating unnecessary delays while maintaining reliable management through proactive coordination.
2Reliability
If each station is assigned memory to manage all transport elements simultaneously, then the reliability of station control is improved, but the device complexity increases due to unstructured storage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The memory management is segmented by creating a dedicated data structure (list) for each station. Each list stores only the indices of transport elements currently assigned to that station, organized in route order. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex unstructured storage and additional tracing measures, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable control.
Solution Approach 2:
Each station has localized memory (a list) that contains only the information relevant to that specific station - the indices of transport elements assigned to it. This local quality approach replaces the previous requirement for each station to have access to all transport element data, simplifying the overall system architecture while ensuring reliable local control.
3Reliability
If multiple stops are implemented during transport element journeys to ensure proper handover between stations, then the reliability of transfer operations is improved, but the productivity of the transport system decreases due to increased delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary checks to determine if the receiving station is free before the transport element reaches the waiting position. When the station is free, the transport element receives permission to advance directly to the station, eliminating unnecessary intermediate stops and maintaining reliable transfer operations through proactive coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport element moves continuously from the sending station directly to the receiving station when conditions permit, without unnecessary interruptions at waiting positions. This continuity of motion maintains productivity while reliability is ensured through the control unit's advance determination and coordination of transfer conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces memory requirements and minimizes unnecessary stopping of transport elements, leading to improved efficiency and reduced delays in the transport system, especially as the number of stations increases.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of linear motors arranged in a row and having a guide track, a plurality of transport elements movable along the guide track by means of the linear motors
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A method is used to operate a transport system, in particular a multi-carrier system, which comprises several linear motors arranged in series and having a guide track, several transport elements that can be moved along the guide track by means of the linear motors, and several stations along the guide track, each of the transport elements being assigned to one of the stations. The method has the following steps: - creating an instance for each of the transport elements, - creating a list for each of the stations, wherein the instance for each transport element assigned to the respective station is assigned to the list, and wherein, within the respective list, the instance of each transport element is linked to the instance of the transport element immediately preceding and to the instance of the transport element immediately following the transport element under consideration.- Transferring a transport element from a first station to an immediately subsequent second station and inserting the instance of this transport element into the list of the second station if a travel order extending beyond the first station exists for the transport element, wherein the transfer of the instance is event-driven and independent of a transfer point when a predetermined transfer condition is met, and - Controlling the linear motors to execute travel orders of the transport elements.