Compliant Joint Pick Tool for Tightly Packed Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
In order fulfillment environments, tightly packed containers hinder the efficient removal of items by automated and semi-automated system components, leading to slowed processing and reduced efficiency due to the difficulty in extracting items from densely packed totes or containers.
Innovation Solution
A pick assembly with a pick tool featuring a pair of fingers connected via a compliant joint, allowing for passive or active movement, which engages items within containers and removes them by applying forces to rotate and lift the items out, facilitating their placement on conveyors for further handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If containers are filled to full capacity to optimize storage space, then storage space utilization is improved, but item removal difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pick tool is divided into multiple fingers (typically three fingers) that can independently engage with different portions of an item. This segmentation allows the tool to grip items effectively even when tightly packed, as each finger can adjust to contact the item from different angles, solving the problem of difficult item removal from fully packed containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The pick tool employs a compliant joint that allows passive or active movement between the fingers, creating a dynamic gripping mechanism. This dynamic capability enables the fingers to adapt their positions to engage with items in tightly packed containers, maintaining ease of operation while maximizing storage utilization.
2Volume of moving object
If aggressive packing is used to maximize container capacity, then storage optimization is improved, but item extraction difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pick tool segments the gripping function across multiple fingers that can independently engage with different surfaces of an item. This segmentation simplifies the extraction process from aggressively packed containers, as the distributed finger contacts can engage with items even in tight spaces without requiring complex tool mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The compliant joint enables parameter changes in the finger positions and angles, allowing the pick tool to adapt to the specific geometry and density of tightly packed items. This parameter adaptability reduces extraction complexity by automatically adjusting to various packing configurations without requiring complex control systems.
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 the aggressive packing of inventory items within containers, optimizing storage space while improving the efficiency of item removal and handling, thereby enhancing the overall order fulfillment process.
Implementation Method 1
a pick tool having a plurality of fingers configured to engage one or more items disposed within the container and to remove such items from the container. The pick tool may be connected to a moveable arm or other structure of the pick assembly
Implementation Method 2
removes them by applying forces to rotate and lift the items out, facilitating their placement on conveyors for further handling
Data Source
AI summary
An example system includes a moveable arm, a pick tool connected to the arm, and a controller. The pick tool includes a first finger, a second finger disposed opposite the first finger, a first handler disposed at a first end of the first finger, and a second handler disposed at a first end of the second finger. Rotation of the first and second handlers while first and second forces are applied to an item by the first and second handlers, respectively, causes movement of the item.