Rotating Carrier Ports for Non-Sequential Loading and Unloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carrier storage systems face inefficiencies in loading and unloading carriers, particularly in semiconductor manufacturing processes, due to the need for sequential unloading of carriers and the inability to handle error carriers without disrupting the logistics flow.
Innovation Solution
A carrier storage device and system with rotatable first and second ports, each coupled to rotating carriages, allowing for independent alignment and movement of carriers, enabling efficient loading and unloading regardless of the order of carrier placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If carriers are stored in fixed ports, then the storage structure is simple, but the loading and unloading efficiency is low due to sequential processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the ports rotatable rather than fixed. Each port is coupled to a rotating carriage that can independently rotate to align with transport containers, enabling dynamic reconfiguration of port positions. This allows carriers to be loaded and unloaded in any order without sequential processing, directly improving productivity while the modular rotating carriage design keeps the added complexity manageable.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple carriers are stored in a fixed sequence, then the storage management is simple, but the system cannot handle error carriers without disrupting logistics flow
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable ports enable dynamic repositioning of carriers within the storage device. When an error carrier is detected, the system can rotate specific ports to isolate the error carrier from the main logistics flow while keeping other ports accessible for normal operations. This maintains adaptability to handle error carriers without disrupting overall logistics flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device is segmented into multiple independently rotatable ports, each capable of being positioned and operated separately. This segmentation allows the system to handle error carriers in one port without affecting the operation of other ports, maintaining ease of logistics flow management while improving adaptability.
3Loss of time
If carriers are loaded and unloaded from fixed positions, then the system structure is simple, but the loading and unloading time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating carriage mechanism allows ports to dynamically reposition themselves to optimal positions for loading and unloading operations. This reduces the time required to access specific carriers by eliminating the need to sequentially access ports in a fixed order, directly reducing loss of time while the automated rotation mechanism manages the added structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system can preliminarily rotate ports to anticipated positions based on loading/unloading schedules, reducing wait times and improving operational efficiency. This preliminary positioning action helps minimize the time carriers spend in the loading and unloading process.
Data Source
AI summary
A carrier storage device, including first ports disposed in a first region having a ring shape that is located in a vertical plane, wherein each of the first ports is configured to accommodate a corresponding carrier therein, a first rotating carriage coupled to each of the first ports and configured to rotatably move the first ports, second ports disposed in a second region having a ring shape that is located in the vertical plane, the second region being disposed in a space formed by the ring shape of the first region, wherein each of the second ports is configured to accommodate a corresponding carrier, and a second rotating carriage coupled to each of the second ports and configured to rotatably move the second ports, wherein a first opening is provided between two adjacent first ports, wherein the opening is configured to receive a transport container.