Overhead Article Transfer With Rotating Placement Portions
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Solution Overview
Problem
In semiconductor manufacturing transport systems, the inefficiency arises when overhead transport vehicles on different tracks have differing traveling directions, leading to challenges in article orientation and placement, which limits the efficiency of transporting articles between vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A transport system with overhead tracks and vehicles equipped with rotators that allow articles to be rotated around a vertical axis, enabling efficient delivery and reception between vehicles traveling on parallel tracks with opposite orientations, and including placement portions that facilitate lateral movement and rotation of articles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If articles are transported between overhead transport vehicles on different tracks with opposite traveling directions, then the versatility of the transport system is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for multiple rotators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the rotation function into the placement portion structure itself, merging the rotation mechanism with the existing placement function. This allows articles to be rotated between vehicles on opposite tracks without adding separate rotator devices to each vehicle, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The placement portion acts as an intermediary element between the overhead transport vehicles and the destination. By equipping the placement portion with rotation capability, it mediates the orientation adjustment needed when vehicles travel in opposite directions, eliminating the need for each vehicle to have its own rotator
2Ease of operation
If rotators are provided on both overhead transport vehicles and placement portions, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies rotation capability selectively at the placement portion where orientation adjustment is most needed during transfer operations, rather than uniformly on all vehicles. This localized approach maintains operational ease while reducing manufacturing costs by avoiding redundant rotators on vehicles that don't require them
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple rotators are provided on vehicles and placement portions, then the adaptability to different track configurations is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The placement portion is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a transfer platform and as a rotation mechanism. This universal design allows the same structure to handle articles between vehicles on opposite tracks without requiring additional specialized rotators, thereby maintaining adaptability while reducing complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
The efficiency of transporting articles is improved by smoothly delivering and receiving the articles between overhead transport vehicles traveling on different tracks. A transport system SYS1 includes: a first overhead transport vehicle 60 that travels on a first overhead track 23; a second overhead transport vehicle 50 that travels on a second overhead track 31 and a third overhead track 32; and a first placement portion 14a and a second placement portion 14b that allow articles to be delivered and received between the first overhead transport vehicle 60 and the second overhead transport vehicle 50. At least one of the first overhead transport vehicle 60, the second overhead transport vehicle 50, the first placement portion 14a, and the second placement portion 14b is provided with a rotator (15, 56, 66) that rotates an article 2 around a vertical axis.