Elastically Deformable Conveyor Surface for Fruit Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fruit and vegetable objects with curved shapes, such as oranges and apples, tend to roll and change position/orientation on packaging surfaces, leading to inaccuracies in robotic removal due to mismatched digital data, making automated packaging challenging.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing an elastically deformable deposition surface that creates an imprint under the weight of objects, stabilizing them and maintaining their position/orientation until removal, preventing rolling during transport and handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If objects with curved shapes are deposited on a horizontal surface, then they can be easily deposited and transported, but they roll and change position/orientation over time
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor surface is pre-configured with elastically deformable elements that automatically activate upon object contact. These elements preemptively counteract the rolling tendency by deforming under the object's weight to create a stabilizing imprint, preventing position changes before they occur during transport
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor surface incorporates elastically deformable elements that dynamically adapt to each object's weight and shape. The surface transitions from a rigid state to a deformable state upon object contact, creating a customized imprint that stabilizes the object, then returns to its original state for the next object
2Measurement precision
If digital data is recorded at deposition time, then robotic removal can be programmed accurately, but the data becomes inaccurate when objects roll during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary stabilization of objects on the conveyor surface before transport begins. By ensuring objects are firmly wedged in their imprints ahead of time, the digital data recorded at deposition remains accurate throughout transport, enabling reliable robotic removal without repositioning errors
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses optical detection means to verify object positions on the deformable conveyor surface and provides feedback to the control system. This closed-loop approach ensures that digital data accurately reflects actual object positions, compensating for any minor movements and maintaining data reliability for robotic removal
3Productivity
If the conveyor is moved to transport objects, then packaging productivity increases, but objects change position due to acceleration and deceleration
Solution Approach 1:
The elastically deformable elements in the conveyor surface act as a cushioning mechanism that anticipates and absorbs the effects of acceleration and deceleration. During conveyor movement, these elements maintain continuous contact with objects, absorbing shock and preventing position shifts that would otherwise occur during speed changes
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor surface changes its physical parameters dynamically - remaining rigid during loading but becoming elastically deformable during transport to accommodate objects. This parameter change allows the surface to provide both stable deposition and stable transport, maintaining position precision across different operational phases
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
Ensures accurate and stable positioning of objects over time, enabling reliable automated packaging by maintaining the initial position and orientation of objects on conveyor surfaces, even during movement and handling phases.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically deformable deposition surface which, when an object is deposited thereon, creates, under the effect of the weight of the object, an imprint in said surface which tends to wedge said object in said imprint
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for packaging objects which are included in a plurality of objects belonging to the fruit and vegetable group and the shape of which is such that the objects included in the plurality of objects can roll along a surface. The objects included in the plurality of objects are deposited onto a solid surface of a system for packaging the objects. The deposition surface is substantially horizontal, suitable for receiving the objects included in the plurality of objects and elastically deformable such that the deposition of each object on the deposition surface creates, under the weight of the object concerned, a recess in the deposition surface. This tends to wedge the object in the recess, then the objects included in the plurality of objects deposited onto the deposition surface and held in a position relative to the deposition surface which position is fixed during deposition and held subsequent to deposition due to the deposition surface, are removed from the deposition surface for the purpose of packing in a packaging container.