Transport Vehicle Exit Control for Article Flow Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing article transport facilities face inefficiencies due to unpredictable transport vehicle failures, leading to either frequent stops or reduced vehicle numbers, both of which decrease overall transport efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An article transport facility with a control system that classifies transport vehicles into normal, transport-performable abnormal, and transport-unperformable abnormal levels, allowing only vehicles classified as unperformable to be exited from the path for maintenance, while those that can continue operating are not targeted for exit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the criterion for exit in the inspection is set low to detect abnormalities early, then the reliability of transport vehicles is improved, but the productivity decreases due to excessive vehicle exits and reduced transport efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by establishing multiple inspection result levels (normal level, transport-performable abnormal level, and transport-unperformable abnormal level) instead of a single binary pass/fail criterion. This multi-level classification system allows the system to adjust the strictness of inspection criteria based on the actual condition of transport vehicles, thereby resolving the contradiction between detecting abnormalities early and maintaining transport efficiency.
2Productivity
If the criterion for exit in the inspection is set high to maintain transport vehicle availability, then the productivity is improved, but the reliability decreases as abnormal vehicles continue operating and may fail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the inspection results into three distinct levels: normal level, transport-performable abnormal level, and transport-unperformable abnormal level. This segmentation allows for differentiated handling of transport vehicles based on their inspection results, enabling the system to maintain high productivity by allowing vehicles with minor abnormalities to continue operating while ensuring reliability by mandating exit for vehicles with severe abnormalities.
3Reliability
If transport vehicles are frequently exited for inspection and maintenance, then the reliability is improved, but the loss of time increases due to vehicles leaving the path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by implementing a continuous inspection system that monitors transport vehicles and provides real-time classification of inspection results. The control system uses this feedback to make informed decisions about vehicle exit status, allowing vehicles to remain on the path as long as they meet the appropriate inspection criteria. This feedback mechanism reduces unnecessary exits and associated time losses while maintaining reliability through ongoing monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
An article transport facility includes a control system configured to classify inspection results on transport vehicles which inspection results are acquired by an inspection apparatus into a normal level, a transport-performable abnormal level as an abnormal level which does not reach the normal level but in which a corresponding transport vehicle is able to continue transporting an article, and a transport-unperformable abnormal level as an abnormal level in which a corresponding transport vehicle is not able to continue transporting the article, and to perform an exit process on a transport vehicle having an inspection result classified as the transport-unperformable abnormal level, in such a manner as to cause the transport vehicle to exit out of a path via an exit section in the path.