Overhead Carrier Pivot Control for Load Port Orientation Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing overhead transport vehicles face difficulties in transferring articles in a desired orientation to load ports due to variations in article and load port orientations.
Innovation Solution
The overhead transport vehicle is equipped with an article holding unit, linear drive unit, pivoting drive unit, and control unit that adjusts the orientation of the article based on the load port orientation, allowing precise orientation control through multiple pivoting mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple overhead transport vehicle without pivoting mechanism is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to transfer articles in desired orientation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by introducing a pivoting drive unit that enables the article holding unit to rotate horizontally. This dynamic mechanism allows the vehicle to adapt its orientation in real-time based on the article's initial orientation and the load port's required orientation, thereby resolving the contradiction between simple structure and orientation control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoting drive unit serves multiple functions: it orients articles correctly at load ports, compensates for varying article orientations, and works with the linear drive unit to achieve precise positioning. This multi-functionality allows a single added component to address orientation control across diverse scenarios without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Measurement precision
If multiple pivoting drive units are added to control article orientation, then the article orientation control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The orientation control function is segmented into two independent pivoting drive units: one for horizontal pivoting and another for vertical pivoting. This segmentation allows each unit to specialize in a specific rotational axis, achieving precise three-dimensional orientation control while keeping each individual drive unit's complexity manageable and modular.
Solution Approach 2:
The article holding unit acts as an intermediary between the pivoting drive units and the article. It provides a standardized interface that couples the article to the pivoting mechanisms, allowing the complex orientation control functions to be isolated in the drive units and holding unit while keeping the article itself simple and unchanged.
3Productivity
If fixed traveling paths are used, then the system simplicity is maintained, but traffic congestion occurs and conveyance efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rail system transitions from fixed static paths to dynamic selectable paths. The overhead transport vehicle can dynamically choose different traveling paths based on real-time traffic conditions, article destinations, and load port requirements, thereby preventing congestion and improving conveyance efficiency without requiring a completely complex reconfiguration system.
Data Source
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AI summary
An overhead transport vehicle includes: an article holding unit configured to hold an article; a linear drive unit configured to drive the article holding unit to move linearly; a pivoting drive unit configured to drive the article holding unit to pivot horizontally; and a control unit configured to control the pivoting drive unit in accordance with an orientation of the article held by the article holding unit and an orientation of a load port on which the article is placed.