Article Transport Facility Route Segmentation for Congestion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing article transport facilities face inefficiencies due to article transport vehicles waiting at ports, leading to congestion and hindered passage on main routes, which limits the ability to increase vehicle numbers and transport efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a travel route configuration with a main transport route, a first branch route allowing loaded vehicles to wait upstream of transfer positions, and a second branch route allowing empty vehicles to wait downstream, enabling efficient dispatch and reducing congestion by allowing vehicles to wait without hindering others on the main route.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If article transport vehicles stop at ports on the main transport route to load/unload articles, then article delivery and unloading can be performed, but the passage of other article transport vehicles on the main route is hindered, causing congestion and reduced transport efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The transport route is segmented into a main transport route for through-traffic and branch routes (first and second branch routes) for loading/unloading operations. This segmentation allows vehicles to be divided into those continuing on the main route and those accessing ports via branch routes, eliminating the hindrance to passage while maintaining delivery functionality
Solution Approach 2:
Branch routes serve as intermediary pathways between the main transport route and processing device ports. Vehicles use these intermediary routes to access ports without stopping on the main route, thus mediating between the need for article delivery and the need to maintain smooth traffic flow on the main route
2Speed
If article transport vehicles wait in front of ports on the main route, then they can be quickly dispatched when articles are ready, but congestion occurs and the number of vehicles that can be deployed is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Waiting areas are segmented into dedicated zones on branch routes separate from the main transport route. Loaded vehicles wait in the first standby section on the first branch route, while empty vehicles wait in the second standby section on the second branch route. This segmentation allows quick dispatch while preventing congestion on the main route
Solution Approach 2:
Vehicles perform preliminary waiting actions in designated standby sections on branch routes before being dispatched to ports. This preliminary positioning allows for rapid response when articles are ready without blocking the main route, thereby maintaining both dispatch speed and overall system efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
An article transport facility includes a plurality of article transport vehicles. A travel route includes a main transport route; a first branch route that branches from the main transport route, passes through a transfer position at which an article is transferred, and merges with the main transport route; and a second branch route that branches from the first branch route at a position downstream of the transfer position, or branches from the main transport route, and merges with the first branch route at a position upstream of the transfer position. The first branch route includes a first standby section at a position upstream of the transfer position, and the second branch route includes a second standby section.