Stocker Crane Automatic Evacuation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stocker systems require cumbersome and time-consuming manual operations to move stacker cranes to maintenance areas, which complicates the evacuation process and increases operator workload.
Innovation Solution
A stocker system equipped with a controller and sensors that automatically control the crane's movement towards a maintenance area, allowing it to travel at high speed until close to the area, then decelerate and stop accurately within the maintenance area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual operation is used to move the stacker crane to the maintenance area, then the operator can control the crane movement, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The stacker crane performs self-evacuation to the maintenance area through automatic control by the controller, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention. The controller automatically controls the crane's movement based on sensor signals, making the system self-sufficient and reducing both operational complexity and time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical operation of moving the crane is replaced with an automated control system consisting of sensors and a controller. The first sensor detects the crane's approach to the maintenance area, and the controller automatically adjusts speed and stops the crane, substituting manual mechanical control with an automated electromechanical system.
2Speed
If the crane travels at high speed continuously, then the evacuation process is faster, but the crane cannot stop accurately within the maintenance area
Solution Approach 1:
The crane's traveling speed is made dynamic rather than constant. The controller adjusts the crane's speed based on its position relative to the maintenance area: high speed during normal travel and reduced speed when approaching the maintenance area. This dynamic speed adjustment allows both fast evacuation and accurate positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The first sensor provides feedback to the controller about the crane's position and speed. Based on this feedback, the controller automatically reduces the crane's speed before entering the maintenance area and controls the stopping process, ensuring accurate positioning while maintaining overall fast evacuation.
3Ease of operation
If the operator manually controls the crane movement, then detailed control is possible, but the operator workload increases and the process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The evacuation process becomes self-service oriented, where the stacker crane automatically handles its own evacuation to the maintenance area without requiring operator intervention. The controller manages the entire process autonomously based on sensor inputs, significantly reducing operator workload and simplifying the operational process.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex manual control process is replaced with an automated sensor-controller system. The first sensor automatically detects when the crane needs to slow down, and the controller automatically executes the speed reduction and stopping sequence, substituting complex manual operations with an automated electromechanical system.
Data Source
AI summary
A stocker includes a crane to travel on a travel route, a maintenance area on an extension of the travel route, a controller to cause the crane to travel toward the maintenance area, a first sensor to detect that the crane is positioned at an entry position, and a second sensor to detect that the crane has arrived at a stop position. The controller is configured or programmed to control the crane to decelerate in accordance with a detection result of the first sensor and control the crane to stop in accordance with a detection result of the second sensor.