Box Stack Resorting with Dual Grippers and Deposit Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for managing and sorting stacks of trays or boxes lack the ability to efficiently rearrange or resort the order of boxes within a stack, and often require complex mechanisms that do not allow for independent gripper operations or deposit areas for efficient box exchange.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a mobile transport device with two grippers and a movable deposit area to lift and rearrange stacks of boxes, allowing for independent gripper operations and efficient exchange of boxes between different transport devices, enabling the rearrangement of box orders within a stack.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single gripper is used to handle boxes, then the device structure is simple, but the resorting efficiency and automation level are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The single gripper is divided into two independent grippers (first gripper and second gripper) that can operate separately. Each gripper can independently pick up, hold, and place boxes, enabling parallel operations that significantly improve resorting efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design
2Productivity
If boxes are transferred directly between transport devices, then the process is simple, but efficient box exchange and resorting cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
A deposit area is introduced as an intermediary zone between transport devices. Boxes can be temporarily deposited here and picked up by grippers for resorting operations. This intermediary structure enables efficient box exchange and complex resorting patterns without requiring direct complex transfers between transport devices
3Adaptability or versatility
If grippers operate independently with deposit area, then resorting flexibility is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deposit area serves multiple functions: temporary storage, transfer zone, and sorting platform. The grippers can perform multiple operations including picking from transport devices, placing on deposit area, picking from deposit area, and placing on transport devices. This multi-functionality provides resorting flexibility while avoiding the need for separate specialized mechanisms for each operation
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a system for storing and organizing materials, comprising: —a storage system; at least a first layer, which comprises a plurality of storage places, which are preferably arranged in rows in two horizontal directions perpendicularly to each other and are used to receive boxes in stacks; at least one transport device, which has a receiving region for individual boxes or stacks of boxes for or from the storage system; a transport system, more particularly a rail assembly, on which the at least one transport device is mounted for movement to and within the storage system and for advancement for the purpose of individually stacking boxes; and a resorting device having at least one gripper, the resorting device being connected to the storage system via the transport system and being designed to receive a subset of boxes or all boxes of a stack of boxes from the transport device, to lift the received boxes and to transfer them to the transport device or to an additional transport device.