AGV Reader Angle for Identifier Detection Across Object Heights
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport devices face challenges in automatically reading identifiers mounted on objects of varying heights without increasing the device's size or complexity, as they require mechanisms to move or rotate the reader to align with different heights.
Innovation Solution
The transport device employs a reader tilted with respect to the traveling and vertical directions, allowing the reading area to change position automatically as the device moves, enabling automatic identifier reading without additional mechanisms for reader movement or rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mechanisms are added to move or rotate the reader to align with different object heights, then identifier reading capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reader is tilted at an angle relative to the vertical direction, changing the dimensional approach from direct vertical alignment to angular intersection. This allows the reader to capture identifiers on objects of varying heights by reading across a tilted plane, eliminating the need for vertical movement mechanisms while maintaining adaptability to different object heights
2Adaptability or versatility
If mechanisms are added to move or rotate the reader to align with different object heights, then identifier reading capability is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
By tilting the reader at an angle rather than adding vertical movement capability, the device maintains a compact footprint. The tilted configuration allows the reader to sweep across different heights along its reading path without requiring additional space for movement mechanisms, thus preserving device compactness while achieving height adaptability
3Adaptability or versatility
If mechanisms are added to move or rotate the reader to align with different object heights, then identifier reading capability is improved, but control sequence complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tilted reader configuration passively achieves identifier capture across different heights through its angular orientation and natural movement along the transport path. This eliminates the need for complex control sequences that would coordinate reader movement, rotation, and timing with object positions, simplifying the control system to basic reader activation
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a transport device includes a main part, a wheel, and a reader. The main part supports or pulls an object. The wheel is mounted to the main part, and rolls over a traveling surface. The reader is fixed with respect to the main part, and reads an identifier in a direction tilted with respect to a first direction and a second direction. The first direction is along the traveling surface, and the second direction is perpendicular to the traveling surface. The identifier is mounted to a surface, which crosses the first direction, of the object. A position of an area of the surface read by the reader changes along the second direction as the transport device moves in the first direction.