Overhead Traveling Vehicle Lateral Feeding for Temporary Article Storage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Overhead traveling vehicle systems face limitations in storage capacity and efficiency, particularly in temporarily storing articles between load ports, which obstructs transfer operations and delays subsequent transportation commands.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a first and second article rack in the overhead space, with lateral feeding means and sensors to manage article transfer and storage, allowing temporary placement of articles on upstream racks and efficient re-routing when load ports are occupied, enhancing storage capacity and operational efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a buffer is provided between load ports for temporal storage of articles, then storage capacity is improved, but the buffer obstructs transfer operations and delays subsequent transportation commands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from ground-level buffering to overhead space utilization. Article racks are positioned above the traveling rail, moving the storage function vertically to a different dimension. This allows the buffer to coexist with load ports without spatial obstruction, resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and transfer efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multiple article racks (first article rack and second article rack) positioned at different locations in the overhead space. These racks serve as distributed buffer copies, allowing articles to be temporarily stored at various points along the traveling rail, thereby maintaining transfer flow while providing temporal storage capacity.
2Quantity of substance
If stockers are used for temporal storage of articles, then storage capacity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the buffering function with the existing overhead traveling vehicle system infrastructure. The article racks are integrated into the overhead space structure, combining storage capability with the transportation system's existing spatial framework. This eliminates the need for separate ground-level stockers, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The overhead space and article racks serve multiple functions: they provide temporal storage for articles, maintain transfer operations, and enable flexible routing. The same overhead structure supports both transportation and storage functions, reducing the need for dedicated separate components and thereby lowering system complexity.
3Quantity of substance
If lateral feeding means with double speed mechanism is used, then lateral storage capacity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral feeding means employs a double speed mechanism that can operate at different velocities. This dynamic capability allows the system to efficiently load articles laterally into the overhead racks while maintaining flexibility in operation. The variable speed operation optimizes the balancing act between increasing lateral storage capacity and managing the complexity of the feeding mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A lower buffer 6 is placed under a traveling rail for an overhead traveling vehicle 16, and a side buffer 8 is provided on a side of the traveling rail. The overhead traveling vehicle 16 has a hoisting frame 30, and a lateral feeding unit 24 for laterally feeding the hoisting frame 30.