Calibration Tool for Automated Pharmacy Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated pharmacy systems face challenges in calibration, particularly after installation or when position-sensitive components are replaced, leading to unreliable operation due to the lack of efficient calibration methods for ensuring accurate positioning of robotic arms relative to various stations.
Innovation Solution
A calibration tool and method for automated materials handling systems, featuring a cylindrical body with a groove and cylindrical flange, allowing the carrier to grip and perform calibration functions, and a method involving calibration points, recording locations, and determining key component positions using a calibration tool with gripping jaws and a cylindrical flange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automated pharmacy systems are installed or components are replaced, then the system becomes operational, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to lack of calibration
Solution Approach 1:
A calibration tool serves as an intermediary between the robotic arm and the calibration points. The tool includes a gripping interface that couples with the carrier and a contact interface that touches calibration points at known locations, enabling accurate position determination without complex direct measurement systems
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration tool creates a simplified copy or representation of the calibration process by using pre-defined calibration points with known coordinates. The robotic arm learns positions by touching these points and recording their coordinates, creating a reference map that enables accurate positioning without requiring complex real-time measurement systems
2Measurement precision
If calibration points are recorded and key component positions are determined, then positioning precision improves, but calibration time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Calibration points are pre-defined at known locations throughout the system before the robotic arm needs to operate. This preliminary setup allows the system to quickly reference predetermined positions during calibration rather than discovering positions through complex real-time measurement, reducing calibration time while maintaining precision
3Adaptability or versatility
If the robotic arm positions itself relative to multiple stations, then system versatility improves, but positioning reliability deteriorates without proper calibration
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration tool is designed with a universal gripping interface that couples with the carrier and a contact interface that can touch calibration points at various stations. This single tool enables calibration across multiple stations and components, providing a universal solution that maintains positioning reliability throughout the entire system while supporting versatile operations
Data Source
AI summary
A method of calibrating positions within a materials handling system, wherein the materials handling system includes multiple stations for carrying out tasks and a carrier that is movable between the multiple stations, includes the steps of: providing calibration points at a plurality of the multiple stations; moving the carrier to at least some of the calibration points; contacting the calibration points; recording the locations of the calibration points; and determining locations of key components of the stations based on the locations of the calibration points. In some embodiments, the method includes contacting the calibration points with a calibration tool, which may include: a cylindrical body; a groove in the cylindrical body sized and configured to receive jaws from the carrier; and a cylindrical upper flange positioned on an upper end of the cylindrical body. In this configuration, the tool can be gripped by the carrier and employed to perform a variety of calibration functions.