Roll Material Transfer Buffer and OHT Feeding for Damage-Free Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing manufacturing processes for roll-type materials require manual loading and transportation, which can lead to damage, quality issues, and safety risks due to the heavy nature of the materials, necessitating an automated solution for loading, releasing, conveying, and inputting.

Innovation Solution

An automatic conveying and feeding facility that includes a roll buffer, transfer, and overhead hoist transport (OHT) with rod-to-rod movement, utilizing rods inserted into the roll-type materials and pusher units for automated handling, ensuring stable and efficient transfer between these components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual loading and transportation of roll-type materials is used, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to damage and quality issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an automated conveying facility as an intermediary system between storage and processing areas. This facility includes conveying mechanisms, transfer stations, and control systems that automatically handle roll-type materials, eliminating direct manual contact and transportation. The intermediary system ensures precise and damage-free material handling while maintaining operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If manual handling of heavy roll-type materials is performed, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to safety risks and worker burden

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidautomation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automated conveying facility enables self-service operation where the system automatically loads, conveys, and positions roll-type materials without human intervention. The facility includes automated transfer mechanisms, conveyors, and control systems that handle heavy materials safely and reliably, eliminating safety risks associated with manual handling while maintaining continuous operational reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If automated conveying facility is introduced, then manufacturing precision is improved through automated handling, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial handling precisionVSAvoidconveying facility complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveying facility is divided into distinct functional segments including loading stations, conveying sections, transfer points, and unloading areas. Each segment performs a specific function and can be independently controlled or maintained. This segmentation allows for precise material handling in each zone while simplifying the overall system architecture and easing maintenance requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If automated transfer and conveying systems are used, then productivity is improved through continuous operation, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial supply efficiencyVSAvoidautomation facility complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveying facility is designed to operate continuously without interruption, with materials being constantly loaded, conveyed, and transferred. The system includes multiple conveyors operating in sequence, automated transfer mechanisms that operate without stopping, and buffer storage areas that maintain continuous flow. This continuous operation maximizes productivity while the modular design keeps device complexity manageable through standardized components and procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP4292957B1Automatic transfer supply equipment for roll-type material
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4292957B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4292957B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4292957B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed herein is an automatic conveying and feeding facility for roll-type materials, and the automatic conveying and feeding facility includes: a roll buffer configured to receive a roll-type material loaded on a carriage in an X-axis direction and convey the received roll-type material on a YZ plane; a transfer configured to receive the roll-type material from the roll buffer in the X-axis direction, move to a set position on an XY plane in a state in which the roll-type material is loaded thereon, and convey the roll-type material upward in a Z-axis direction; and an overhead hoist transport (OHT) configured to receive the roll-type material loaded on the transfer that has moved upward in the Z-axis direction and having at least one or more rail guided vehicles configured to move to a destination along a trajectory of a conveying rail.