Rotating Chuck Transfer Layout for Compact OHT Conveyance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional OHT conveying carriages with horizontally arranged carriers occupy significant space, reducing the number that can be disposed in proximity and decreasing conveyance efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A conveyance device with a carriage that travels along a track and a transfer section capable of being raised and lowered, featuring gripping parts that revolve about a rotation center, allowing for compact design and efficient space utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If carriers are horizontally arranged side by side, then the conveying carriage can accommodate multiple carriers, but the carriage size increases and occupies more space in the conveyance direction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of carriers accommodatedVSAvoidcarriage length in conveyance direction

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from horizontal arrangement to vertical arrangement of carriers, changing the spatial dimension from horizontal (x-axis) to vertical (y-axis). This allows multiple carriers to be stacked one above another, accommodating the same number of carriers while significantly reducing the carriage length in the conveyance direction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a nested structure where multiple carriers are stacked vertically within a single carriage. The carriers are arranged in layers, with upper carriers positioned above lower carriers, creating a compact nested configuration that maximizes space utilization in the vertical direction while minimizing horizontal footprint.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Productivity

If the carriage size is reduced to increase density, then more carriages can be disposed in proximity, but the gripping mechanism complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconveyance efficiencyVSAvoidgripping mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gripping mechanism is designed with multi-functionality to handle carriers in multiple positions (upper and lower levels) simultaneously. The gripping parts can operate on carriers at different vertical levels without requiring separate mechanisms for each level, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to service compactly arranged carriers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The compact design enables increased density of conveyance devices, enhancing conveyance efficiency by allowing more devices to be positioned closely together without interference.

Implementation Method 1

a transfer section (4) hung from the carriage (1) so as to be capable of being raised and lowered, the transfer section including a plurality of gripping parts (41) each of which is configured to revolve about a rotation center provided in the transfer section (4)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotation:

Data Source

PatentUS12492079B2Conveyance device

Publication Date: 2025.12.09 DAIFUKU CO LTD

AI summary

A size of a conveyance device is reduced. A conveyance device includes: a carriage configured to travel along a track; and a transfer mechanism hung from the carriage so as to be capable of being raised and lowered. The transfer mechanism includes a plurality of chucks each of which is configured to revolve about a rotation center provided in the transfer mechanism.