Overhead Stocker Layout for Shelf Expansion Under Transport Tracks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing overhead transport vehicle systems in semiconductor manufacturing factories face inefficiencies in storing articles due to the need to avoid overhead tracks, limiting horizontal expansion of shelving and storage capacity.
Innovation Solution
A storage system design that includes an overhead stocker with vertically arranged shelving, a crane for transferring articles between tiers, and a transporter to move articles between the stocker and transport vehicle system, allowing for non-overlapping track and shelving arrangements and enabling efficient horizontal expansion of shelving.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the overhead track is arranged to align with transfer destinations, then the overhead transport vehicle can efficiently receive or deliver articles, but the shelving cannot be expanded in the horizontal direction due to space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional horizontal arrangement where shelving and tracks compete for space to a three-dimensional arrangement where shelving is positioned vertically below the tracks. This vertical stacking allows the shelving to occupy the space underneath the track without interfering with the horizontal transport function, effectively adding a vertical dimension to resolve the spatial conflict.
2Area of stationary object
If parallel overhead tracks are placed close together, then space is utilized efficiently, but shelving cannot be provided in the narrow spaces between tracks
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of attempting to fit shelving horizontally between closely spaced tracks, the invention positions shelving vertically below the tracks. This vertical placement removes the conflict between track spacing and shelving width requirements, allowing shelving to be arranged flexibly in the vertical space without being constrained by horizontal track spacing.
3Quantity of substance
If an integer multiple number of shelves are arranged in line, then storage capacity is optimized, but the space requirements conflict with overhead track positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The invention resolves the conflict between horizontal space requirements for multiple shelves and overhead track positioning by arranging shelves in the vertical dimension below the tracks. This allows multiple shelves to be stacked vertically, maintaining high storage capacity while eliminating horizontal space conflicts with the track system.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage system includes an overhead stocker including an overhead crane track, shelving in which tiers of storages to accommodate articles therein are arranged vertically, and a crane to travel along the overhead crane track and transfer an article between the tiers of storages, an overhead transport vehicle system to perform receiving or delivering of an article from or to a predetermined transfer destination, and a transporter to vertically transport an article between the overhead stocker and the overhead transport vehicle system, the overhead transport vehicle system being provided below a lower end of the overhead stocker.