Cart Conveyance Engagement Using Camera-Based Height Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyance devices struggle with accurately recognizing the position to engage carts, often lifting them more than necessary, leading to inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A conveyance device equipped with a camera to capture images, a height detection section to process the images, and a control section to engage an engagement member at a predetermined position on the cart based on detected height, ensuring precise engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the placement section is lifted to a certain height without accurate position recognition, then the cart can be engaged, but the lifting distance exceeds the necessary amount
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical approach of lifting the placement section to a fixed height with an optical measurement system (camera and image processing) to detect cart position. This allows the engagement member to be positioned precisely at the required height without excessive lifting, reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliable engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from fixed lifting distance to dynamically adjusted lifting distance based on detected cart height. By using image processing to measure the cart's position and adjusting the engagement member's height accordingly, the system achieves precise engagement with minimal energy expenditure.
2Reliability
If the placement section is lifted more than necessary, then the cart engagement is ensured, but the conveyance efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the trial-and-error mechanical lifting approach with an optical measurement and control system. The camera captures cart position, image processing determines the exact height, and the engagement member is positioned precisely, eliminating unnecessary lifting cycles and improving conveyance efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses automatic image processing and height detection to determine the optimal engagement position without requiring manual intervention or excessive lifting. The conveyance device self-adjusts based on detected cart characteristics, improving efficiency while ensuring reliable engagement.
3Loss of energy
If accurate height detection is implemented, then unnecessary lifting is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an image processing system as an intermediary between the camera and the engagement control. This intermediary processes the captured images to extract height information and translates it into control signals for the engagement member, achieving accurate positioning with moderate system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera and image processing system serve multiple functions: capturing cart position, determining engagement height, and providing feedback for control. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized sensors and simplifies the overall detection system while achieving accurate height detection.
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyance device capable of conveying or pulling a cart having multiple wheels at a bottom portion thereof, includes a main body configured to travel, an engagement member provided in the main body and configured to engage at a predetermined position of the cart, a camera configured to capture an image of the cart, a height detection section configured to process the image of the camera to detect a height of the predetermined position of the cart, and a control section configured to cause the engagement member to engage at the predetermined position of the cart based on the height of the predetermined position of the cart detected by the height detection section.