Non-overlapping Transport Conveyors for Automated Storage Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional article transport facilities face inefficiencies due to articles jamming when merging into transport portions, leading to difficulties in efficiently transporting articles received at receiving portions to loading portions.
Innovation Solution
The article transport facility features multiple automated storages with vertically arranged shelves, transport carriages, relay portions, and lift bases, along with non-overlapping transport conveyors that receive and load articles into the storages, reducing the likelihood of jamming by distributing the load across different heights and paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If all articles are gathered at one transport portion and then transported to loading portions, then the transport portion can be simplified in structure, but articles jam when merging into the transport portion reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single transport portion into multiple separate transport portions, each serving specific receiving portions. This segmentation prevents articles from jamming at a single merging point by distributing the flow across multiple parallel paths, while keeping each individual transport portion结构简单 (simple in structure).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces vertical dimension by installing transport portions at different heights (first height and second height). This spatial differentiation allows articles from multiple receiving portions to be transported simultaneously without interference, improving efficiency without increasing horizontal complexity.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple receiving portions are used to receive articles, then the facility can handle more articles simultaneously, but articles jam when merging into the transport portion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transport system into multiple dedicated transport portions, each connected to specific receiving portions. This ensures that articles from multiple receiving portions are transported simultaneously without converging and jamming at a single point, maintaining high throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
By arranging transport portions at different vertical heights, the patent enables parallel transport of articles from multiple receiving portions without spatial interference. This multi-level arrangement allows the system to handle more articles simultaneously while maintaining efficient flow.
3Area of stationary object
If transport portions are arranged to merge articles, then the structure is compact, but articles experience interference and jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension to arrange transport portions at different heights, allowing compact horizontal footprint while preventing article interference. Articles from multiple receiving portions are transported on different vertical levels, eliminating jamming while maintaining space efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Each of a plurality of automated storages includes: storage shelves with multiple levels; a plurality of transport carriages; a plurality of relay portions; and a lift base capable of being raised and lowered. A transport device includes a plurality of transport conveyors. Each of the plurality of transport conveyors includes: a plurality of receiving portions configured to receive articles; a loading portion configured to deliver articles transported by the transport conveyor and to load the articles to the automated storages; and a transport portion configured to transport articles received at the receiving portions to the plurality of loading portions. The transport portion included in each of the plurality of transport conveyors is installed such that a movement trajectory of articles transported by the transport portion does not overlap a movement trajectory of articles transported by another transport portion. A plurality of loading portions that deliver articles to the lift base of each one of the automated storages are installed at different heights.