Overhead Carrier Pivot Control for Load Port Orientation Transfer
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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 orientation.
Innovation Solution
The overhead transport vehicle is equipped with an article holding unit, a linear drive unit, and a pivoting drive unit controlled by a control unit to adjust the orientation of the article based on the load port orientation, allowing flexible and efficient transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rail-guided trolley is used to convey articles along a rail, then the article can be transported overhead, but the article cannot be transferred in a desired orientation to a load port due to orientation variations
Solution Approach 1:
The overhead transport vehicle is equipped with a pivoting drive unit that enables the article holding unit to pivot horizontally around a vertical axis. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the vehicle to change the orientation of the held article during transport, ensuring the article can be transferred to the load port in the desired orientation regardless of its initial orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The article holding unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a transport carrier and an orientation adjustment mechanism. By integrating the pivoting drive unit directly into the article holding unit, the system can handle articles in various orientations without requiring separate orientation adjustment equipment, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining adaptability.
2Ease of operation
If the overhead transport vehicle includes pivoting drive unit to adjust article orientation, then the article can be transferred in desired orientation, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting drive unit is merged with the article holding unit, forming an integrated orientation adjustment mechanism. This combination reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall vehicle structure while still providing the necessary orientation control functionality. The linear drive unit and pivoting drive unit work together as a coordinated system rather than independent mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system controls article orientation by changing the pivot angle parameter of the article holding unit. The control unit adjusts this angular parameter to achieve the desired orientation, providing a simple and effective method for orientation control without requiring complex mechanical structures. The pivoting mechanism allows continuous adjustment of the orientation parameter throughout the transport process.
Data Source
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 orientation of the article held by the article holding unit and orientation of a load port on which the article is placed.