Dispensing System Camera-Based Liquid Surface Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing systems face challenges in executing dispensing work reliably due to variations in liquid surface and boundary positions, leading to inefficiencies in liquid suction and potential empty suction.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing system comprising a robot, camera, and controller that acquires location information for the liquid surface, boundary, and dispenser tip based on captured images, allowing precise control of the dispenser's position to maintain contact with the liquid surface and ensure reliable suction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the dispenser tip is kept in contact with the liquid surface to ensure reliable suction, then the reliability of dispensing is improved, but the system becomes more sensitive to variations in liquid surface position and boundary position
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a camera to detect the liquid surface position and boundary position, providing real-time feedback to the control device. The control device adjusts the dispenser tip position based on this feedback, maintaining reliable contact with the liquid surface despite variations in liquid level or container boundary position.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical position sensing with an optical detection system (camera). The camera captures images of the liquid surface and boundary, and the control device processes these images to determine positions, substituting complex mechanical measurement mechanisms with optical-field-based detection.
2Productivity
If the dispenser tip is lowered deeper to ensure sufficient liquid suction, then the suction efficiency is improved, but the risk of empty suction increases when liquid surface position varies
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the dispenser tip position based on real-time detection of liquid surface position. Rather than using a fixed depth, the control device calculates the appropriate tip position by adding a predetermined offset to the detected liquid surface position, ensuring the tip remains optimally positioned for suction while adapting to liquid level variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from a fixed mechanical depth setting to a dynamic position calculated based on detected liquid surface position plus a predetermined offset. This parameter change allows the system to maintain optimal suction efficiency while avoiding empty suction conditions.
3Device complexity
If the system uses fixed position control for the dispenser tip, then the device complexity is reduced, but the system cannot adapt to variations in liquid surface position and boundary position
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses camera-based detection to provide feedback on liquid surface position and boundary position. The control device processes this feedback information and adjusts the dispenser tip position accordingly, enabling the system to adapt to position variations while maintaining relatively simple control logic based on detected positions plus predetermined offsets.
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 system ensures reliable dispensing by maintaining the dispenser tip at a shallow position relative to the liquid surface, preventing empty suction and ensuring efficient liquid transfer, even with varying boundary positions.
Implementation Method 1
a camera 43 for capturing an image including at least the tip 30a of the dispenser 30, the liquid surface SF1 of the liquid C1, and the object C2 not to be dispensed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3
AI summary
A dispensing system 1 includes: a robot 10 configured to move a dispenser 30 for suctioning a liquid C1 to be dispensed; a camera 43 for capturing an image including at least a tip 30a of the dispenser 30, a liquid surface SF1 of the liquid C1, and an object C2 not to be dispensed located below the liquid surface SF1; an image processing module 120 configured to acquire location information for the liquid surface SF1, location information for a boundary BD1 between the liquid C1 and the object C2 not to be dispensed, and location information for the tip 30a of the dispenser 30 based on the image; and a lowering control module 133 configured to control, when suctioning the liquid C1 into the dispenser 30, the robot 10 to lower the dispenser 30 based on the location information for the tip 30a, the location information for the liquid surface SF1, and the location information for the boundary BD1.