Slidable Buffer Carrier Transport System for High-Density Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to increase the number of carriers that can be temporarily stored without increasing the height of the local vehicle, as providing a lateral transfer mechanism for the local vehicle would otherwise necessitate additional height adjustments.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a transport system with slidable buffers along the travelling rail for the local vehicle, allowing for increased storage capacity without altering the vehicle's height, where overhead travelling vehicles transfer carriers between slidable buffers at rearward positions and the local vehicle transfers between forward positions, with controlled interlock mechanisms to prevent interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the local vehicle is provided with a lateral transfer mechanism for carriers, then the height of the local vehicle increases, but the number of carriers that can be temporarily stored decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces slidable buffers that move in the traveling direction (longitudinal dimension) rather than using lateral transfer mechanisms (lateral dimension). By positioning multiple slidable buffers at different locations along the traveling rail and using the overhead traveling vehicle to transfer carriers between buffers at rearward positions while the local vehicle operates at forward positions, the system achieves multi-carrier storage without increasing local vehicle height or adding lateral transfer complexity.
2Quantity of substance
If additional buffers are provided to increase storage capacity, then the number of carriers that can be temporarily stored increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each slidable buffer is equipped with its own buffer controller that independently manages buffer operations. The buffer controllers communicate with the overhead traveling vehicle controller and local vehicle controller through terminals, enabling autonomous decision-making for each buffer while maintaining system-wide coordination. This distributed control approach increases storage capacity without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If the local vehicle waits at a position separated from the load port, then interference between local vehicle and overhead traveling vehicle is reduced, but transfer time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slidable buffers are positioned at both rearward and forward locations along the traveling rail. The overhead traveling vehicle transfers carriers to buffers at rearward positions before the local vehicle arrives, and the local vehicle picks up carriers from buffers at forward positions after the overhead vehicle has departed. This preliminary positioning and timing coordination enables simultaneous independent operations, reducing interference while maintaining efficient transfer timing.
Data Source
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AI summary
Carriers to be temporarily stored is increased in number, without providing a local vehicle with a lateral transfer mechanism. Carriers are transported between load ports of equipment by overhead travelling vehicles and local vehicles, both provided with a hoist, and the overhead travelling vehicles are provided with a lateral transfer mechanism for laterally translating the hoist. A travelling rail for the overhead travelling vehicles is provided so as to pass over a load port, and a travelling rail for the local vehicle is provided below the travelling rail for the overhead travelling vehicles and over the load port. Slidable buffers are provided and configured to slide between forward positions under the travelling rail for the local vehicle and rearward positions laterally separated from the positions under the travelling rail for the local vehicle. A space over the slidable buffers at the rearward position is open for the transfer of carriers.