Clean Room Closure Handling With Robotic Jam Rectification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In aseptic and clean room environments, manual operator intervention is required to rectify jammed closure components on vibratory or centrifugal conveyors due to the inability to automatically detect and handle closures at various points, leading to process inefficiencies and contamination risks.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a receptacle, a robot arm with a tool (vacuum suction cup, electric gripper, or gecko effect microstructured film), a sensor device for position and orientation detection, and a vibration mechanism to reorient closures, allowing for automated handling and sorting within a sterile environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual operator intervention is used to rectify jammed closure components, then the closure components can be manually accessed and rectified, but the risk of contamination increases and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic detection and rectification of jammed closure components through the robot arm and sensor device, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention and thereby preventing contamination while maintaining process safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical intervention with an automated robot arm system equipped with sensor devices, allowing the system to self-correct jams without human contact in the sterile environment
2Reliability
If manual operator intervention is used to rectify jammed closure components, then the closure components can be manually accessed and rectified, but operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects and rectifies jams without requiring operator intervention, eliminating downtime and maintaining continuous operation, thereby improving productivity while ensuring process safety
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor device continuously monitors the conveyor for jammed closure components and provides feedback to the control system, enabling immediate automatic correction and preventing operational delays
3Object-affected harmful factors
If automated handling is implemented, then manual intervention is reduced and contamination risk decreases, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot arm system performs multiple functions including picking up closures, transporting them, and placing them on containers, replacing multiple separate devices and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining sterility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a barrier system with a robot arm that acts as an intermediary between the sterile and non-sterile environments, allowing automated handling while maintaining the integrity of the clean room environment
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
Enables process-safe and efficient handling of closures, reducing the need for manual intervention and minimizing contamination risks by automatically detecting and reorienting closures for proper alignment and handling, thereby improving operational efficiency in clean room settings.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration device (22). This is designed to vibrate the receptacle (14) in such a way that the orientation and/or position of the closure received in the receptacle, in particular a plurality of closures, in particular all closures, received in the receptacle is/are changed as a result of the vibration
Implementation Method 2
The tool can be a vacuum suction cup
Data Source
AI summary
A device (10) for handling closures (12) inside a clean room, in particular in a sterile environment, a clean room with a corresponding device (10) and a method for handling closures (12) within a clean room, in particular in a sterile environment, are proposed.