Article Storage Facility Relay Spot Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing article storage facilities with two transportation mechanisms face a limitation in the number of stored articles due to the need for a reserved relay spot, which reduces the available storage compartments and the maximum number of articles that can be stored.
Innovation Solution
An article storage facility with a controller that allocates a third storage spot for both transportation mechanisms to use as an evacuation spot and a relay spot, allowing efficient transportation between first and second storage spots without reducing the number of storage compartments available for article storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a storage compartment is reserved for the relay spot independently from evacuation spots, then the first and second transportation mechanisms can exchange articles, but the number of storage compartments available for article storage is reduced and the maximum number of stored articles is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the relay spot function and evacuation spot function into a single storage compartment. The storage compartment serves dual purposes: it can hold articles for relay between transportation mechanisms and simultaneously serve as an evacuation spot when articles need to be moved from the transportation path. This eliminates the need for a separate dedicated relay spot, thereby increasing the number of storage compartments available for article storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage compartment is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both a relay spot for article transfer between the first and second transportation mechanisms and as an evacuation spot for removing articles from the transportation path. This universal design allows the same compartment to fulfill multiple operational requirements, maximizing space utilization.
2Ease of operation
If multiple separate spots are allocated for relay and evacuation functions, then transportation operations can proceed smoothly, but the device complexity and number of required storage compartments increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional spots (relay spot and evacuation spot) into a single storage compartment, reducing the total number of required compartments while maintaining operational smoothness. The controller manages the dual functions through coordinated control, ensuring that article relay and evacuation operations can proceed without interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage compartment equipped with both relay and evacuation functions can autonomously handle different operational modes based on controller instructions. The same compartment structure serves different purposes depending on the operational requirements, eliminating the need for separate dedicated structures for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
An article storage facility includes: storage compartments, each including a first storage spot configured to store a first article; and a second storage spot configured to store the first article; a first transportation mechanism including a first support configured to support and transport the first article, the first transportation mechanism being configured to transport the first article between: each one of the first and the second storage spots; and a first support spot where the first article is supported by the first support; a second transportation mechanism including a second support configured to support and transport the first article, the second transportation mechanism being configured to transport the first article between: each one of the first and the second storage spots; and a second support spot where the first article is supported by the second support; and a controller configured to control transportation of the first article.