Force-Controlled Packing Apparatus for Unfixed Box Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packing apparatuses face challenges in accurately housing objects in box bodies that are not fixed to a mounting surface, leading to potential movement and unintended events during unpacking, such as objects dropping from packing materials.
Innovation Solution
A packing apparatus equipped with a movable unit and a force detection part that allows for force-controlled positioning of box bodies and objects within, ensuring accurate placement even when the box body is not fixed, using force sensors to guide the movement and placement of objects within the box body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the box body is not fixed to the mounting surface, then the ease of operation is improved (box body can be moved and positioned flexibly), but the stability of the object's composition deteriorates (box body may move during packing operations)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the control parameter from pure position control to force control. The movable unit applies a predetermined force to the box body, and the force detection part monitors this force to determine when positioning is complete. This allows the box body to be free-moving (improving ease of operation) while still achieving stable positioning through force-based detection (compensating for the lack of fixed mounting).
Solution Approach 2:
The force detection part provides real-time feedback on the force applied to or received by the box body. This feedback loop allows the control unit to determine when the box body has reached its target position based on force characteristics, enabling stable positioning without physical fixation to the mounting surface.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the box body is not fixed to the mounting surface, then the adaptability is improved (box body can be positioned anywhere), but the manufacturing precision deteriorates (difficulty to accurately house objects in the box body)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from position-based positioning to force-based positioning. By controlling and detecting force rather than position, the system achieves precise object placement (manufacturing precision) while allowing the box body to be freely positionable anywhere (adaptability). The force detection part enables accurate determination of box body state without restricting its positional freedom.
3Productivity
If the packing material is unpacked without confirming housing status, then the productivity is improved (unpacking process is faster), but the reliability deteriorates (unintended events such as objects dropping may occur)
Solution Approach 1:
The force detection part performs preliminary detection of the housing status before the unpacking operation begins. By detecting force characteristics that indicate whether objects are properly housed, the system can confirm the state in advance and adjust the unpacking process accordingly, preventing objects from dropping (improving reliability) while maintaining efficient unpacking speed (productivity).
Solution Approach 2:
The force detection part provides feedback on the housing status, enabling the control unit to make informed decisions about the unpacking process. This feedback mechanism ensures that unpacking is performed safely based on actual object positioning information, preventing unintended events while maintaining productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
For accurate housing of an object to be packed even in an unfixed box body, a packing apparatus includes a movable unit and a force detection part provided in the movable unit and houses an object to be packed in a box body formed from a packing material based on an output value of the force detection part.