Overhead Transport Rail Storage With Built-In Maintenance Walkway
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Solution Overview
Problem
In manufacturing facilities, such as semiconductor manufacturing factories, the existing transport systems with grid-patterned rails hinder maintenance access due to the need to remove storage frames to accommodate aerial work platforms, which is time-consuming and cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A transport system that includes a grid-patterned rail, an overhead transport vehicle, a suspender, and a frame surrounding cells in a plan view, with a scaffold serving as a walkway allowing operators to access and perform maintenance on the vehicle, rail, and article storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the storage is suspended from the grid-patterned rail and placed at a high position for effective use of space, then space utilization is improved, but maintenance access becomes difficult requiring frame removal
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a vertical dimension by providing a scaffold that extends upward from the floor toward the storage unit. This allows operators to access maintenance points at elevated positions without requiring horizontal movement or frame removal, effectively adding a vertical access pathway that resolves the contradiction between high placement and maintenance accessibility.
2Ease of repair
If the aerial work platform is brought into the storage for maintenance work, then maintenance capability is improved, but the frame must be removed which takes time and effort
Solution Approach 1:
The scaffold is pre-installed as a permanent or semi-permanent structure within the storage unit, preparing the maintenance environment in advance. This eliminates the need for temporary frame removal and aerial work platform insertion, as the access infrastructure is already in place and ready for immediate use during maintenance operations.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the frame surrounds the cells in the storage, then structural stability is improved, but operator access to overhead components becomes obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The scaffold acts as an intermediary structure between the floor and the overhead components. It provides a stable platform that allows operators to reach maintenance points without needing to physically enter or disassemble the frame structure, thus maintaining frame integrity while enabling operator access to overhead components.
Data Source
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AI summary
The object is to provide a transport system that enables an operator to easily access and perform maintenance work on an overhead transport vehicle, a grid-patterned rail, and an article, at the article storage suspended from the grid-patterned rail. A transport system includes: a grid-patterned rail that has a plurality of first rails extending in a first direction and a plurality of second rails extending in a second direction different from the first direction and intersecting with the first rails and that forms a plurality of cells with the plurality of first rails and the plurality of second rails; an overhead transport vehicle that travels along the grid-patterned rail, a suspender that is suspended from the grid-patterned rail; and a frame surrounding one of the cells in a plan view and is provided below the suspender. A placement section onto which an article is placed by the overhead transport vehicle and a scaffold serving as walkway on which an operator can walk are provided below the cells within the frame.