Eyeglass Manufacturing Object Picking With RFID Work-Order Grouping

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems are inadequate for storing and dispensing various types of items, particularly arbitrarily packaged items, in a controlled manner to facilitate optimized order picking, especially for the manufacture of eyeglasses.

Innovation Solution

A system with conveyor belts and handling devices that allow items to be stored at any position but dispensed in a targeted manner, ensuring related items are placed together on a conveyor belt and transported to a warehouse exit in a defined work order, using storage containers with RFID chips for identification and control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If items are stored at any position in the storage facility, then storage flexibility is improved, but item retrieval and assembly efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage flexibilityVSAvoiditem retrieval efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically transporting and grouping related items on conveyor belts before they reach the warehouse exit. Items belonging to the same work order are collected and positioned together in advance, so that when retrieval is needed, they are already organized and ready for efficient collection, eliminating the need for manual searching and sorting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Conveyor belts serve as intermediary transport mechanisms between storage positions and the warehouse exit. These intermediaries automatically move items, group them by work order, and deliver them to collection points, bridging the gap between flexible storage and efficient retrieval without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If items are manually placed and sorted, then picking accuracy is improved, but labor cost and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepicking accuracyVSAvoidtime consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically identifying, grouping, and transporting items based on work order information stored on the items themselves (e.g., RFID tags, barcodes). The conveyor system and control unit work autonomously to ensure accurate picking without manual intervention, maintaining high precision while eliminating labor time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical sorting and placement operations are replaced by an automated control system that uses sensors, RFID readers, and conveyor mechanisms. This substitution maintains picking accuracy through automated identification and grouping while dramatically reducing the time and labor required for item retrieval.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If items are dispensed in order of query, then system simplicity is improved, but work order assembly efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidwork order assembly efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts its dispensing behavior based on work order requirements. Rather than following a fixed query order, the control unit dynamically groups and transports items according to their association with specific work orders, allowing the system to maintain relative simplicity while achieving high assembly efficiency through flexible, demand-driven item collection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4304955B1System, method and use for picking objects for eyeglass manufacturing
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 SCHNEIDER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4304955B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4304955B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4304955B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a system (1), a method and a use for picking objects (2) for eyeglass manufacturing. The objects (2) are stored in storage containers (3) and are output by means of a collecting belt (16, 26, 36) in such a way that objects (2) belonging to a defined work order (4) are deposited adjacent to each other. At a storage output point (17, 27, 37), a transport box (50) is loaded with the deposited objects (2) belonging to a defined work order (4) and the loaded transport box (50) is transported out of the system (1).