Transport Command Buffering for Congested Conveyance Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
In conventional transport systems, articles may be left at transfer ports due to insufficient buffer availability, leading to increased processing load on the host controller as it constantly monitors for vacant buffers to manage transport commands.
Innovation Solution
The system stores first transport commands when the number of transport vehicles is at a predetermined level, and generates second transport commands to move articles to buffers if available, or deletes them if not, allowing the host controller to manage commands without constant monitoring, ensuring articles are not left at transfer ports and reducing processing load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the host controller constantly monitors buffers to generate second transport commands when vacant buffers occur, then articles can be prevented from being left at transfer ports, but the processing load on the host controller increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control function is segmented between the host controller and area controller. The area controller independently monitors buffer availability within its control area and generates second transport commands when vacant buffers are detected, while the host controller only manages first transport commands. This segmentation eliminates the need for constant host controller monitoring of buffers, preventing articles from being left at transfer ports while significantly reducing host controller processing load.
2Device complexity
If the area controller stores the first transport command when the number of transport vehicles is at the predetermined number, then the command management is simplified, but the article may be left at the transfer port if no vacant buffer is available
Solution Approach 1:
The area controller implements a feedback mechanism by continuously monitoring buffer availability status. When a first transport command is stored due to insufficient transport vehicles, the area controller checks for vacant buffers and generates second transport commands accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that articles are reliably delivered to buffers when available, while simplifying command management by allowing the area controller to autonomously handle the monitoring and command generation.
Data Source
AI summary
A transport system includes a track, transport vehicles, an area controller, buffers, and a host controller. The area controller, when a number of the transport vehicles present within a control area is a predetermined number and when receiving a first transport command to convey an article from a transfer port to a transport destination outside the control area from the host controller, stores the first transport command and transmits a report that the first transport command is not able to be assigned to the transport vehicle to the host controller. The host controller, when receiving the report, when the buffer is present, transmits a command to delete the stored first transport command to the area controller, generates a second transport command to convey the article from the transfer port to the buffer, and transmits the second transport command to the area controller.