Stacker Crane Positioning With Barcode Feedback and Friction Drive

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in automated stereoscopic warehouses is achieving accurate positioning of stackers in both the traveling and lifting directions for efficient and safe access operations.

Innovation Solution

The stacker incorporates a traveling device with a friction transmission mechanism and horizontal positioning assembly, a lifting device with a vertical positioning assembly, and a control device that utilizes barcode scanners and deceleration sensors to ensure precise positioning and safe operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional manual handling and storage methods are used, then operational simplicity is maintained, but productivity and efficiency cannot meet growing semiconductor demand

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation and storage efficiencyVSAvoidautomation equipment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stacker is equipped with barcode scanners that automatically scan and identify articles, and a control system that automatically controls the aisle-type stacker's movement and positioning, enabling the system to perform tasks autonomously without continuous human intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical handling with an automated control system that uses sensors, barcode scanning, and computer control to manage the stacker's movement, positioning, and article retrieval operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If the stacker travels at higher speeds to improve efficiency, then productivity increases, but positioning accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess operation speedVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The stacker is equipped with positioning sensors that detect the stacker's current position and provide feedback to the control system, which then adjusts the stacker's movement to achieve accurate positioning at the target location

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control system pre-calculates the optimal path and speed profile for the stacker to reach the target position, adjusting speed in advance to ensure accurate positioning before the stacker arrives at the destination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the stacker operates autonomously to improve productivity, then productivity increases, but operational safety deteriorates due to potential collisions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomated access operation efficiencyVSAvoidcollision prevention safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The stacker is equipped with sensors that detect obstacles and potential collision risks in advance, allowing the control system to take preventive action by adjusting the stacker's path or speed before a collision can occur

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

Real-time sensor feedback monitors the stacker's surroundings and operational status, providing continuous information to the control system that adjusts operations to maintain safe distances from obstacles and prevent collisions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

This configuration enables accurate and safe access operations by ensuring the stacker reaches the correct positions in both directions, preventing collisions and enhancing operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a friction drive wheel that passes through the traveling box and is in friction fit with a friction track on the ground

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

a first code scanner mounted on the traveling box, and the first code scanner is configured to scan the traveling position barcodes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical scanning:

Implementation Method 3

a traveling deceleration sensor assembly configured to trigger the control device to perform a corresponding horizontal deceleration operation in response to sensing that the stacker travels to a corresponding horizontal deceleration position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSensor detection:

Data Source

PatentEP4714890A1Stacker crane
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 MEETFUTURE TECH (SHANGHAI) CO LTD
  • EP4714890A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4714890A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4714890A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A stacker includes a traveling device, which includes a traveling box (100), a friction transmission mechanism (200) mounted in the traveling box (100), and a horizontal positioning assembly (101) for positioning a traveling position. The friction transmission mechanism (200) includes a friction drive wheel (201) in friction fit with a friction track (901) and a traveling power mechanism (202). The stacker further includes a lifting device, which includes a lifting frame (300) mounted at the top of the traveling box (100), a robotic arm carrier assembly (400) mounted on the lifting frame (300), a lifting transmission assembly for driving the robotic arm carrier assembly (400) to be lifted or lowered, a lifting power mechanism (501) for driving the lifting drive assembly, and a vertical positioning assembly (401) for positioning a lifting position of the robotic arm carrier assembly (400). The stacker further includes a control device (600),which is configured to control the traveling power mechanism (202) to drive the traveling device to travel to a target traveling position according to the traveling position fed back by the horizontal positioning assembly (101), and further configured to control the lifting power mechanism (501) to drive the robotic arm carrier assembly (400) to be lifted to a target lifting position according to the lifting position fed back by the vertical positioning assembly (401). The stacker can realize accurate positioning in a traveling direction and a lifting direction.