Item Dispensing Bays With Selective Conveyor and Door Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional item dispensing vehicles lack the ability to selectively control item transporting media for each bay and do not allow dynamic re-configuration of bays to accommodate items of varying dimensions, leading to potential damage during dispensing.
Innovation Solution
The system includes a computing device that controls conveyor belts within each bay, allowing selective operation based on item dimensions and delivery locations, with a door that opens to a customizable position for safe dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional item dispensing vehicles use fixed bay configurations with universal transporting media, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to items of varying dimensions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple bays separated by dividers, with each bay having independently controllable transporting media. This segmentation allows selective operation of individual bays based on item dimensions and delivery locations, improving adaptability without requiring complete reconfiguration of the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The bay configurations are made dynamic through movable dividers and selectively controllable transporting media. The system can dynamically adjust which bays are active and how they are configured based on real-time delivery requirements, enabling adaptation to varying item dimensions while maintaining manageable complexity through automated control.
2Reliability
If conventional vehicles operate all transporting media simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but item damage risk increases due to lack of selective control
Solution Approach 1:
Each bay is equipped with its own independently controllable transporting media, allowing local quality control where only the specific bay needed for the current delivery is activated. This prevents items in other bays from being unnecessarily moved or handled, reducing damage risk while maintaining efficient dispensing of the required items.
Solution Approach 2:
The computing device automatically determines which bays and transporting media should be operated based on item dimensions and delivery location information. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual selection and ensures that only the appropriate transporting media are activated, preventing damage while maintaining productivity.
3Measurement precision
If the door opens to fixed positions, then device complexity is reduced, but delivery precision to specific locations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The door is equipped with adjustable positioning capability, allowing it to open to different angles and positions based on the specific delivery location requirements. This dynamic positioning enables precise delivery to various locations while the computing device automatically manages the complexity of coordinating door position with transporting media operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An item dispensing vehicle with selectively controllable bays is described herein. In an example, a system includes a first bay configured to retain a first set of items on a first set of conveyor belts that ends at a first opening. The system also includes a second bay configured to retain a second set of items on a second set of conveyor belts that ends at a second opening. The system additionally includes a divider positioned between the first bay and the second bay and a door comprising a third set of conveyor belts and operable between one or more open positions and a closed position. The door blocks the first opening and the second opening in the closed position. The first opening and the second opening can be at least partially unblocked in an open position of the one or more open positions.