Flexible Radial Roller for Ground Object Picking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for picking objects from a ground surface are laborious for users, often requiring repeated bending and produce noise due to powerful aspirating means, making them unsuitable for private use and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A picking device with a roller featuring radial elements that flex to allow object passage and a vacuum aspirating system, allowing objects to be collected without manual intervention, enabling easy use while maintaining the user in an erect position and reducing noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual picking is used, then the device complexity is low, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to repeated bending required
Solution Approach 1:
The roller is designed to autonomously pick up objects from the ground surface through its rotation and radial elements, eliminating the need for manual bending or intervention. The device serves itself by using the roller's natural rotation to capture and transport objects via the flexible radial elements and collecting means.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful action of manual bending is extracted and removed from the operation. The user is separated from the picking action, which is now performed automatically by the roller mechanism, allowing the user to maintain an erect position while the device handles object collection.
2Productivity
If powerful aspirating means are used, then the productivity is improved, but the object-generated harmful factors worsen due to considerable noise levels
Solution Approach 1:
The powerful mechanical aspirating system is replaced with a gentler picking mechanism based on the roller's rotation and flexible radial elements. Objects are captured through mechanical interaction with the radial elements during roller rotation, then transported without requiring high-power aspiration, thereby reducing noise while maintaining picking efficiency.
3Productivity
If self-propelling vehicles are used, then the productivity is improved, but the weight of moving object worsens making them unsuitable for private use
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into essential functional components (roller with radial elements, collecting means, vacuum stage) and non-essential components (self-propelling system, large vehicle platform). By eliminating the self-propelling vehicle and keeping only the core picking mechanism, the weight is dramatically reduced while maintaining picking productivity, making it suitable for private use.
4Strength
If radial elements are made rigid, then the strength is improved, but the object-generated harmful factors worsen due to object impact damage
Solution Approach 1:
The radial elements transition from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure. During roller rotation, the radial elements flex and adapt to objects on the ground surface, reducing impact forces. The elements maintain sufficient strength to capture and transport objects while their flexibility absorbs shock and prevents damage from hard impacts.
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 device allows for efficient and ergonomic picking of objects without manual bending, is compact and economical, making it suitable for private use, and reduces noise compared to self-propelling aspirating devices.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum stage configured such as to aspirate said objects. Said vacuum stage communicates with said aspirating mouth via a conveyor conduit
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A picking device (1) of objects from a ground surface, comprising a roller (2) able to roll on the ground surface and comprising a plurality of radial elements (21) radially arranged about a rotation axis (X) and extending for a majority thereof parallel to the rotation axis (X); the arrangement of the radial elements (21) defines a plurality of intermediate openings extending for a majority thereof along a parallel direction to the rotation axis (X) and the radial elements (21) being configured so as to flex in such a way as to cause a dilation of the opening that is sufficient to enable passage of the objects internally of a volume delimited by a totality of the radial elements (21) and from there to inside collecting means comprising a central support body (3) that is at least partly hollow. A picking method of objects from a ground surface (100) comprises: a first step of reciprocal movement of at least a pair of radial elements (21) being a part of a roller (2) of a picking device (1) susceptible of being made to slide on the ground surface for the picking; a following step of engulfing the objects internally of a volume defined externally of the plurality of radial elements (21) radially arranged about a central support element (3); and a following step of collecting the objects internally of collecting means, the collecting step comprising extraction of the objects from the volume.