Automated Adjustable Tote Divider Manipulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Facilities that use adjustable containers for packaging and shipping face inefficiencies due to the manual adjustment of dividers, which increases processing time as they handle an increasing volume of items.
Innovation Solution
An automated system and apparatus that includes a manipulation tool with sensors and actuators to automatically adjust the position of dividers within adjustable containers, allowing for rapid configuration of the container's volume to minimize packaging material usage and optimize item placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual adjustment of dividers is used, then operational simplicity is maintained, but processing time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated self-adjustment of dividers through actuators that automatically position divider panels based on item dimensions, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining operational simplicity through intuitive control interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The container structure transitions from static to dynamic by incorporating movable divider panels that can be automatically repositioned via actuators, allowing the packaging configuration to adapt rapidly to different item sizes and shapes, thereby increasing processing speed without proportionally increasing system complexity
2Productivity
If automated manipulation is implemented, then productivity increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated system is divided into modular functional components including sensors for item detection, controllers for logic processing, and actuators for physical adjustment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, increasing overall packaging speed while managing system complexity through modular design that facilitates easier maintenance and scaling
Solution Approach 2:
The automated manipulation system is designed with multi-functional capabilities that allow the same hardware components to perform multiple operations - sensors detect both item presence and dimensions, controllers manage both divider positioning and container selection, and actuators adjust both divider panels and container configurations. This universality increases packaging speed across different item types while avoiding the need for separate specialized systems for each function
3Adaptability or versatility
If container volume is increased, then item placement flexibility improves, but packaging material consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container system employs dynamic divider panels that can be automatically repositioned to create optimal packaging configurations for different item sizes. This dynamic adjustment allows the same container to adapt to various item dimensions, providing placement flexibility while minimizing the actual volume occupied by packaging materials, thereby reducing material consumption without sacrificing versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the spatial parameters of the container by adjusting divider positions based on detected item dimensions. This parameter adjustment optimizes the container volume to match the actual item size, providing flexibility for different items while minimizing excess packaging material usage through precise volume matching
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatus, and techniques for automated manipulation of an adjustable container are described. An example apparatus includes a gantry and a plurality of motors. The plurality of motors are attached to the gantry. The plurality of motors are adapted to automatically adjust one or more dividers within a container to form a volume around one or more items within the container.