Adaptive Contact-Surface Gripper for Selective Parcel Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing handling devices struggle to efficiently handle a wide range of piece goods with different properties such as parcels or mail, requiring multiple devices or manual intervention, which increases costs and reduces automation.
Innovation Solution
A handling device with a gripping mechanism that adapts its contact surface based on the properties of the piece goods, using a variable contact surface to selectively grip and move goods without affecting adjacent items, incorporating features like SCARA robots, suction and mechanical grippers, and optical sensors for property detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single suction cup is used to pick up smaller parcels, then precision in picking up individual parcels is improved, but the ability to handle larger, heavier parcels deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The suction cup is divided into multiple independently controllable suction zones. Each zone can be activated or deactivated separately, allowing the system to use only the necessary number of suction zones for each parcel size and weight, thereby maintaining precision for small parcels while providing sufficient gripping force for larger parcels.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction cup's contact surface is made dynamically adjustable through independent control of multiple suction zones. The system can adapt the active suction area and distribution of suction force in real-time based on the detected properties of each parcel, enabling it to handle both small and large parcels effectively with a single device.
2Weight of moving object
If several or larger suction cups are used to pick up larger, heavier parcels, then the lifting capability is improved, but the ability to specifically pick up a single shipment from a stream deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The suction cup is segmented into multiple independently controllable suction zones. This segmentation allows the system to activate only the specific zones needed to grip a single parcel, even when using a large overall suction surface, thereby maintaining the ability to selectively pick up individual shipments from a stream while providing sufficient total suction force for heavy parcels.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions (suction zones) of the suction cup can apply different levels of suction force independently. This allows the system to concentrate suction force precisely on the target parcel while minimizing force on adjacent parcels, enabling selective gripping of individual items from a stream even when the overall suction surface is large.
3Adaptability or versatility
If two or more devices with different numbers of suction cups are connected in series, then the range of piece goods that can be handled is improved, but space requirements and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single suction cup device is designed with multiple independently controllable suction zones that can be dynamically configured to handle different parcel sizes and weights. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple separate devices, allowing one device to perform the work of several devices with different suction cup configurations, thereby reducing space requirements and costs while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction cup's contact surface and suction force distribution are made dynamically adjustable through independent control of multiple suction zones. This dynamic adaptability allows a single device to effectively replace multiple static devices designed for different parcel types, reducing the overall space and cost requirements while maintaining the ability to handle a wide range of piece goods.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient handling of a broad spectrum of piece goods with varying properties using a single device, improving automation and reducing space and operational costs by allowing precise gripping and movement without unintentionally affecting neighboring items.
Implementation Method 1
The gripping device can, for example, be or comprise a suction gripper
Data Source
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AI summary
A handling device (10) for picking up at least one piece of goods is provided. The handling device (10) comprises at least one gripping device (11) which is designed to grip a piece of goods in a gripping position, wherein the gripping device (11) has a contact surface (12) with which the gripping device (11) is in contact with the at least one gripped piece of goods during the gripping position, wherein the gripping device (11) is designed to vary the contact surface (12) based on at least one piece of goods property of the at least one piece of goods to be gripped. Furthermore, a method for picking up at least one piece of goods is provided.