Article Conveying Device Using 3D Detection to Separate Overlapping Items
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveying systems face challenges in efficiently picking up overlapping articles without reducing system capacity, as existing techniques often require costly dedicated devices and struggle with irregularly supplied or conveyed items, leading to undetected articles not being conveyed to their destination.
Innovation Solution
An article conveying device equipped with a supplying section, position/orientation detecting section, movement amount detecting section, working section, and article selecting section, which uses three-dimensional detection and movement data to selectively pick up articles while avoiding overlaps, allowing for efficient article selection and movement based on detected positions and orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a dedicated device is used to reposition overlapped articles, then article positioning accuracy is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the overlapped article from the conveying stream and processes it separately. The article selection unit identifies overlapped articles, and the conveying unit separates them from the main flow, allowing individual processing without affecting other articles. This eliminates the need for complex repositioning devices while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing area where overlapped articles are temporarily held and processed. The article selection unit detects overlapped articles, and the conveying unit moves them to a separate processing zone, acting as an intermediary between detection and final processing. This mediator approach simplifies the overall system by avoiding direct intervention in the main conveying stream.
2Measurement precision
If a dedicated device is used to reposition overlapped articles, then article detection accuracy is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary detection of article overlap status before the articles reach the processing point. The article selection unit continuously monitors and identifies overlapped articles in advance, allowing the system to prepare for separation without interrupting the main conveying flow. This preliminary action ensures detection accuracy while maintaining continuous productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous conveying of articles through the system while simultaneously processing overlapped articles. The article selection unit and conveying unit operate continuously, with overlapped articles being identified and separated without stopping the main conveying stream. This continuous operation preserves both detection accuracy and system productivity.
3Productivity
If articles are conveyed while overlapping, then conveying capacity is improved, but article selection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the article selection unit continuously monitors article positions and overlap status, and this information feeds back to the conveying unit for real-time adjustment. The system detects overlapped articles and immediately adjusts the conveying action to separate them, creating a closed-loop control system that manages complexity through intelligent feedback rather than mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the article selection and conveying system to automatically identify and handle overlapped articles without external intervention. The article selection unit autonomously detects overlap conditions, and the conveying unit autonomously adjusts its operation to separate affected articles. This self-service capability reduces system complexity by eliminating the need for dedicated repositioning devices or manual intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
An article conveying device, capable of selecting and taking out an appropriate article, even when plural articles are conveyed while overlapping each other. The device has: a supplying section for conveying articles; a position/orientation detecting section for detecting 3-D position/orientation of the article on the supplying section; a movement amount detecting section for detecting an amount of movement of the supplying section; a working section for taking out the article while following a conveying motion of the supplying section, based on the detected 3-D position/orientation and based on the detected amount of movement; and an article selecting section for, when the articles are conveyed while being overlapped with each other, selecting an article to be taken out, on which another article is not overlapped on the object in a determined take-out direction, and outputting a command to the working section for taking out the selected article.