Deformable Conveyor Structure for Safe High-Speed Pick-and-Place
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic installations struggle to handle fragile or variable-dimension objects while maintaining high production rates and ensuring safety, particularly in the agri-food industry, as traditional pick-and-place robots and collaborative robots are either too hazardous or too slow for such applications.
Innovation Solution
A deformable robot with a deformable conveying structure connecting handling ends, utilizing soft structures like belts or peristaltic movements to safely transport objects between picking and placement areas, allowing for high operating rates without rapid and hazardous movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional pick-and-place robots with rigid articulated arms are used, then high operating speed can be achieved, but safety deteriorates due to hazardous movements and inability to handle fragile objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a deformable robot with a flexible conveying structure that can bend and adapt its shape, replacing rigid articulated arms. This flexible structure maintains high operating speed while eliminating safety hazards through its inherent compliance, allowing safe interaction with fragile objects and human operators.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot's conveying structure dynamically changes its physical parameters (shape, curvature, tension) to adapt to different objects and operational requirements. This parameter variability enables the system to maintain optimal speed while ensuring safety through continuous adaptation to environmental conditions.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If collaborative robots with presence detection devices are used, then safety is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to slowed operation
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable robot's flexible structure inherently provides safety through its compliance and ability to adapt to surroundings, eliminating the need for complex presence detection devices that slow down collaborative robots. The structure itself serves the safety function while maintaining high cycling rates.
3Speed
If rigid articulated arms are used, then high speed movement is achieved, but adaptability deteriorates for handling fragile or variable dimension objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a deformable conveying structure with flexible elements that can bend, stretch, and conform to objects of varying shapes and sizes. This flexibility provides inherent adaptability for handling fragile or variable dimension objects while maintaining high movement speed through efficient actuation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot's conveying structure dynamically adjusts its configuration in real-time to match the geometry and fragility characteristics of different objects. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to handle diverse objects at high speed without compromising safety or effectiveness.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If restrictive workspace arrangement is used, then safety is improved for traditional robots, but device complexity increases and versatility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable robot's flexible structure inherently reduces safety hazards through its compliance, eliminating the need for restrictive workspace arrangements. This simplifies the overall system configuration and increases versatility while maintaining safety without imposing spatial constraints.
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
The deformable robot effectively handles fragile or variable-dimension objects with high efficiency and safety, maintaining high production rates by using soft structures that distribute contact forces and adapt to object dimensions, ensuring safe and precise object handling.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable robot... The deformable robot comprises a first handling end, at which the deformable robot picks up an object... and a second handling end... The deformable robot further comprises a deformable conveying structure connecting the first handling end and the second handling end
Implementation Method 2
This device is particularly advantageous because it can be made from soft structures, such as belts or peristaltic movement structures
Data Source
AI summary
A pick-and-place device including a deformable robot designed to be arranged proximate to a picking area and a placement area. The deformable robot includes a first handling end, at which the deformable robot picks up an object in the picking area, and a second handling end, at which the deformable robot places an object in the placement area. The first handling end is able to be moved in the picking area, or the second handling end is able to be moved in the placement area. The deformable robot further comprises a deformable conveying structure connecting the first handling end and the second handling end so as to convey an object picked up by the first handling end up to the second handling end.