Tray State Tracking for Collection and Delivery Shelves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing management systems cannot differentiate between the collection and delivery states of a tray when it is used for both collection and delivery operations.
Innovation Solution
A processing apparatus that includes acquisition units to gather tray usage state, position, and identification information, and an update unit to manage whether the tray is in a collection or delivery state, using a tray with a tag and reading units on support units to associate and update this information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a management system uses identification information of a tray to manage delivery state, then the delivery state can be managed, but it cannot manage whether the usage state is a collection state or a delivery state when the tray is used for both collection and delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The tray usage state is segmented into distinct types (collection state, delivery state, idle state) and each state is managed separately through dedicated acquisition units that detect and record specific state information, allowing the system to track both collection and delivery operations independently
Solution Approach 2:
A processing apparatus acts as an intermediary between the tray, reading units, and management system. This apparatus acquires tray identification information, usage state information, and position information, then integrates and manages this data to determine whether the tray is in a collection or delivery state, preventing information loss
2Measurement precision
If the management system tracks tray position and identification, then location management is improved, but it cannot differentiate between collection and delivery operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by associating specific attributes with the tray based on its current state: when in collection state, collection-related information is emphasized; when in delivery state, delivery-related information is emphasized. This allows position tracking to be complemented by operation-type differentiation
Solution Approach 2:
The processing apparatus dynamically updates the tray state information based on real-time acquisition from reading units. As the tray moves between collection and delivery operations, the system dynamically adjusts the recorded usage state information, maintaining accurate differentiation between operation types throughout the process
Data Source
AI summary
A processing apparatus capable of managing whether a usage state of a tray is a collection state or a delivery state is provided. A processing apparatus includes: a first acquisition unit that acquires latest usage state information including collection and delivery information of the tray; a second acquisition unit that acquires position information of the tray; a third acquisition unit that acquires identification information of the tray which is read by a reading unit provided for each of support units in the shelf and stored in a tag provided in the tray; and an update unit that updates the usage state information of the tray and the position information of the tray associated with the identification information of the tray based on the latest usage state information of the tray, the position information of the tray, and the identification information of the tray.