Conveyance-Surface End Effectors for Gentle Robotic Item Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fulfillment centers face challenges in efficiently handling and transporting items due to the complexity of inventory management, varying item dimensions, and the need for precise robotic handling, which leads to time-consuming logistics and potential item damage.
Innovation Solution
End of arm tools with conveyance surfaces, featuring extendable blades and parallel paddles with conveyors, enhance item handling by creating space and ensuring smooth ejection, reducing damage, and optimizing process flows for improved throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional robotic handling methods are used, then automation is achieved, but item damage occurs and handling time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a padded cradle as an intermediary element between the robotic gripper and the item. The cradle with its compliant padding material absorbs handling forces and provides a gentle interface, preventing direct contact between the rigid robotic mechanism and the item, thereby eliminating damage while maintaining automated handling
Solution Approach 2:
The cradle is pre-equipped with padding material that provides cushioning before the item is placed or grasped. This beforehand cushioning ensures that any contact forces are immediately absorbed, protecting the item from damage during the entire handling process while maintaining automation
2Manufacturing precision
If precise robotic handling is implemented, then handling accuracy improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cradle with its compliant padding surface enables items to self-align and self-position during placement. The compliant surface automatically conforms to the item's shape and orientation, eliminating the need for complex robotic positioning algorithms and high-precision control, thereby maintaining accuracy while reducing processing time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the handling interface by introducing a compliant, deformable padding surface instead of a rigid flat surface. This parameter change allows the interface to adapt to various item shapes and sizes, maintaining handling accuracy across different items while reducing the time required for precise positioning
3Object-affected harmful factors
If manual item handling is used, then item damage is minimized, but labor costs increase and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The padded cradle serves as a mediator that combines the benefits of manual handling (gentle contact, damage prevention) with automated handling (speed, consistency). The compliant padding interface replicates the gentle handling of manual operations while being driven by automated robotic systems, achieving both damage prevention and high productivity
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for end of arm tools having conveyance surfaces and related item manipulation devices. In one embodiment, an example item manipulation device may include a first conveyor assembly having a first conveyance surface configured to actuate in a first direction, a second conveyor assembly having a second conveyance surface that opposes the first conveyance surface, the second conveyance surface configured to actuate in the first direction, where the item manipulation device may grasp an item between the first conveyor assembly and the second conveyor assembly, and a controller configured to cause the item to be grasped between the first conveyor assembly and the second conveyor assembly, and actuate the first conveyor assembly and the second conveyor assembly to unload the item from the item manipulation device.