Beverage Container Sorting via Sensor Detection and Manipulator Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drink sorting systems require significant space and often damage beverage containers during the sorting process, particularly when using transport tapes.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a conveyor facility to transport packaging with multiple beverage containers to a detection area where sensors differentiate between containers based on target criteria, allowing a manipulator to selectively remove and sort only the predetermined containers without damaging them.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conveyor belts are used to transport and sort beverage containers, then sorting automation is improved, but surface damage (scuffing) occurs on the containers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful transport function from the sorting process. Instead of using conveyor belts to both transport and sort containers, the container packs are moved gently on a conveyor while only the manipulator arm moves rapidly to extract and remove containers needing sorting. This separates the gentle transport function from the active sorting function, eliminating scuffing during transport while maintaining automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical conveyor belt sorting system with a sensor-based detection system combined with a manipulator arm. Sensors optically detect container characteristics and trigger the manipulator to remove specific containers. This substitutes direct mechanical contact sorting with a combination of optical detection and targeted mechanical removal, reducing overall mechanical stress on containers.
2Measurement precision
If all beverage containers are unpacked and arranged in a linear array for sorting, then sorting accuracy is improved, but space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a linear array arrangement (one-dimensional sorting space) to a three-dimensional container pack structure. Multiple containers are sorted simultaneously from vertical and horizontal positions within each pack, utilizing the third dimension (height/depth) to reduce the horizontal space footprint while maintaining detection and sorting accuracy through sensor systems that can detect containers in packed arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple sorting operations into a single integrated process. Instead of unpacking all containers and sorting them individually in sequence, the system processes entire container packs together, using a single manipulator arm to selectively remove containers from multiple packs in succession. This combines transport, detection, and sorting functions into one compact workflow, reducing overall space requirements.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If manual separation of single-variety and third-party containers is performed, then sorting gentleness is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service sorting where containers effectively sort themselves through their physical characteristics. Sensors detect container features (labels, shapes, sizes) and automatically identify which containers need sorting based on predetermined criteria. The manipulator then autonomously removes the identified containers without human intervention, combining the gentleness of selective handling with automated high-speed processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection and identification of containers requiring sorting before the actual removal action. Sensors scan and analyze container characteristics in advance, pre-identifying target containers within each pack. This preliminary action allows the manipulator to efficiently remove only the necessary containers at high speed, maintaining gentleness by avoiding unnecessary handling of containers that don't meet sorting criteria while achieving high productivity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method (100) for sorting beverage containers (3, 4, 5, 6) is disclosed, in which packages (12), each containing several beverage containers (3, 4, 5, 6), are fed into a detection area of a sensor (17). The sensor (17) detects which beverage containers (3, 4, 5, 6) in a given package (12) meet predefined target criteria. A manipulator (40) then removes only those beverage containers (3, 4) that meet the predefined target criteria from the respective package (12) and places them on a horizontal conveyor (20), whereupon the beverage containers (3, 4) placed on the horizontal conveyor (20) are transported away via the horizontal conveyor (20).