Overhead Storage Rack Layout for Dense Multi-Vehicle Article Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing overhead storage systems face inefficiencies in storing a large number of articles without upsizing the system, particularly in rail-guided vehicle systems like those described in WO 2018/037762.
Innovation Solution
An overhead storage system with a grid-patterned rail and overhead transport vehicles that include a body section and a transfer device, allowing articles to be placed in a storage rack with a matrix layout, and a control unit to manage operations, preventing transfer device jutting into adjacent cells during transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If articles are stored in a storage rack below the rail with multiple article placement areas per cell, then the storage capacity is increased without upsizing the system, but the complexity of managing transfer operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage rack is divided into multiple article placement areas within each cell, allowing independent storage positions. This segmentation enables increased storage capacity while maintaining organized, manageable access points through the transfer device
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer device is designed to universally transfer articles to any article placement area within any cell, providing multi-functionality that handles diverse storage operations through a single mechanism, thereby managing complexity
2Ease of operation
If the transfer device is positioned to access all article placement areas, then storage accessibility is improved, but the risk of jutting into adjacent cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer device is designed with localized access characteristics for each cell, where the transfer mechanism extends only to the boundaries of its assigned cell. This local quality ensures full accessibility within each cell while preventing interference with adjacent cells through controlled positioning
3Productivity
If multiple overhead transport vehicles operate on the grid-patterned rail, then transport efficiency is increased, but interference between vehicles may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The rail system uses a grid pattern with vertical and horizontal rails creating three-dimensional spatial separation. Vehicles operating on different rows or columns of the grid can move simultaneously without interference, utilizing the grid's dimensional structure to eliminate conflicts while maintaining high transport efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
An overhead storage system includes an overhead transport vehicle including a traveling unit configured to travel on a rail arranged in a grid pattern and a body section suspended from the traveling unit and configured to hold an article below the rail; a storage rack disposed below the rail; and a control unit configured to control operation of the overhead transport vehicle. The body section includes a transfer device capable of transferring the article to and from the storage rack. In the storage rack, a plurality of article placement areas on which the article is able to be placed by the transfer device are set in a storage area corresponding to each of cells forming a matrix in the grid pattern of the rail.