Container supply device
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Solution Overview
Problem
The automatic beverage provision system's container storage with a spiral structure has low accommodation efficiency and work efficiency due to the need to feed containers one at a time, leading to inefficiencies in replenishing and retrieving containers.
Innovation Solution
A container supply device with a transfer mechanism that includes multiple container mounting lane units arranged in a column direction, intersecting with a row direction, and a lane transfer unit that moves these units to a feed position, along with a feed mechanism that uses a stopper unit and abutting member to facilitate sequential feeding of containers, improving accommodation and work efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If containers are stored in a spiral container conveyance path, then containers can be stored and retrieved automatically, but accommodation efficiency is low and work efficiency during replenishment is low
Solution Approach 1:
The container storage is divided into multiple independent container mounting lane units (first lane unit, second lane unit, third lane unit) arranged in parallel rows. Each lane unit can independently store and supply containers, allowing simultaneous operation of multiple lanes to improve overall productivity while maintaining automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple container mounting lane units are combined into a single integrated storage system with a common feed port. The lane transfer unit transfers containers from different lane units to the same feed position, merging their outputs to improve accommodation efficiency while maintaining automated retrieval.
2Ease of operation
If containers are fed one at a time to the feed port in a spiral structure, then sequential retrieval is enabled, but work efficiency during replenishment is low
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments containers into multiple lanes (first, second, third lane units) that can be independently managed. This allows replenishment workers to load containers into different lanes simultaneously, improving work efficiency while maintaining sequential retrieval capability through the feed mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-dimensional spiral path to a multi-dimensional grid structure with rows and columns of lane units. This dimensional change allows parallel loading operations during replenishment while maintaining sequential access during service through the feed port.
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a container supply device which is capable of improving accommodation efficiency of containers and simplifying accommodation work. The container supply device includes: a transfer mechanism which transfers the containers a feed position opposing a feed port of the containers of the container storage; and a feed mechanism which sequentially feeds the containers having been transferred to the feed position by the transfer mechanism toward the supply position through the feed port, wherein the transfer mechanism includes: one or more container mounting lane unit in which the containers are arranged so as to be movable in a column direction, the container mounting lane unit being arranged so as to be lined up in a row direction intersecting the column direction; and a lane transfer unit which moves the container mounting lane unit in the row direction and transfers the containers on a side of the feed port mounted on the container mounting lane unit to the feed position.