Cargo Handling Apparatus with Selective Suction for Package Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cargo-handling apparatuses face challenges in efficiently and accurately removing packages from a mount portion, particularly when packages have varying dimensions and orientations, leading to instability and inefficiency in handling and conveying.
Innovation Solution
A cargo-handling apparatus equipped with upper surface sucking portions, side surface sucking portions, detectors, and a control unit that selects the appropriate sucking portions based on package dimensions and orientation, ensuring stable suction and movement of packages onto a conveyor belt.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single suction configuration is used for all packages, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to packages with varying dimensions and orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The sucking device is divided into multiple independent sucking portions (first sucking portion for upper surface, second sucking portion for side surface, third sucking portion for another side surface) that can be selectively activated. Each sucking portion has its own suction generation capability, allowing the system to adapt to different package configurations by engaging only the necessary portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The sucking device incorporates movable components including a movable platform that can shift position, and adjustable sucking portions that can change their engagement state. The system dynamically selects which sucking portions to activate based on package detection, enabling adaptation to varying dimensions and orientations without requiring a completely different configuration for each package type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sucking portions are used to handle varying package dimensions, then adaptability improves, but the risk of suction force loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system includes a detection device that identifies package dimensions and characteristics, and the control device uses this information to selectively activate appropriate sucking portions. This feedback mechanism ensures that suction force is applied only where needed, maintaining stability by avoiding unnecessary suction activation that could lead to force loss or inconsistent handling.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sucking portions are positioned to target specific surfaces of the package (upper surface, side surfaces) with localized suction force. The control device activates only the sucking portions that correspond to the detected package configuration, ensuring that suction force is concentrated where it is most effective and stable for that particular package geometry.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the sucking device is made more complex to handle various orientations, then handling capability improves, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sucking device uses a universal set of sucking portions that can handle multiple package orientations through selective activation. The same physical components (movable platform, multiple sucking portions) serve multiple functions by being dynamically positioned and activated based on package orientation, eliminating the need for separate specialized mechanisms for each orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable platform and selectively activatable sucking portions create a dynamic system that adapts its configuration to match package orientation. Rather than building fixed structures for each orientation, the system dynamically repositions and activates appropriate sucking portions, maintaining compact size while achieving versatile handling capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus ensures stable and efficient handling of packages by adapting to different dimensions and orientations, preventing loss of suction force and maintaining package stability during conveyance, thus preventing size increase of the handling apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of upper surface sucking portions 62 capable of sucking an upper surface 5a of the package 5, and a plurality of side surface sucking portions 63 capable of sucking a side surface 5b of the package 5
Data Source
AI summary
According to the present embodiment, a cargo-handling apparatus includes a plurality of upper surface sucking portions, at least one side surface sucking portion, a detector, a first moving device, a control unit, and a conveyor. The control unit is configured to select an upper surface sucking portion to be used from the upper surface sucking portions based on the information on the upper surface detected by the detector and control the first moving device to suck the upper surface by the selected upper surface sucking portion and suck the side surface by the side surface sucking portion.