Transfer Fork Range Control for Multi-Structure Article Accommodation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing article accommodation facilities face challenges in performing appropriate transfer operations across multiple locations with different structures, as the operational range of transfer forks is restricted by the varying structures of transfer locations, leading to inefficiencies in transferring articles between storage/retrieval sections and accommodation sections.
Innovation Solution
The facility incorporates a transfer machine with a fork that includes a projection/retraction mechanism and an elevation mechanism, controlled by a device that adjusts the raising/lowering range of the fork's support portion to match the specific requirements of each transfer location, allowing for appropriate positioning and transfer operations across different structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single fixed raising/lowering range is used for the fork, then the structure is simple, but the transfer operation becomes inefficient when facing different transfer location structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the fork's raising/lowering range based on the detected transfer location type. The control device changes the lower set position and/or upper set position of the support portion according to whether the transfer location is an accommodation section or storage/retrieval section, enabling the fork to adapt its operational range to different structural requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameters (lower set position and upper set position) of the support portion based on the transfer location type. By detecting the transfer location and adjusting these parameters accordingly, the system optimizes the fork's raising/lowering range for each specific transfer scenario, improving transfer efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If the fork's raising/lowering range is adjusted for each transfer location type, then transfer operations become more efficient, but the control system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The control device detects the transfer location type (accommodation section or storage/retrieval section) and uses this feedback information to automatically adjust the fork's raising/lowering range. This closed-loop control ensures that the appropriate raising/lowering range is selected based on the actual transfer location, making the operation more appropriate without requiring manual intervention.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the fork uses a fixed operational range, then the mechanism is simple, but it cannot accommodate different transfer location structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the fork's operational range dynamic by allowing the lower set position and upper set position to be adjusted based on the transfer location type. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the fork to adapt to different transfer location structures (accommodation sections vs. storage/retrieval sections) while maintaining a relatively simple underlying mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A transfer machine raises and lowers a support portion in a transfer operation between a lower set position that is set below a placement portion of a transfer location subject to the transfer operation, and an upper set position that is set above the placement portion, and a control device changes setting of at least one of the lower set position and the upper set position to set a different raising/lowering range of the support portion that covers a range from the lower set position to the upper set position, between a case where an article is transferred to the transfer location provided in a storage/retrieval section, and a case where the article is transferred to the transfer location provided in accommodation sections.