Garment Handling Robotic System Using Collar-Based Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual loading and unloading of garments on and off processing equipment for sewing, printing, or other operations is time-consuming, repetitive, and poses safety risks due to the need for precise positioning and alignment, which can affect the quality of the output and is not efficiently automated.
Innovation Solution
A robotic system with a product holding module and support assembly that includes adjustable support arms and sensors for precise positioning and handling of garments, enabling automated loading, processing, and unloading, as well as transportation between equipment and storage systems, using a processor, memory, and sensing devices for control and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual loading and unloading is used, then operational flexibility is maintained, but productivity is low and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The garment itself serves as the positioning reference through its collar structure. The collar points are used as natural registration features that the automated system aligns with the processing equipment, allowing the garment to participate in its own positioning process without requiring complex external fixtures or manual alignment procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning with an automated vision-guided system. Sensors and cameras detect collar points and calculate precise positioning, substituting human operators' manual alignment actions with automated image processing and robotic movement control
2Manufacturing precision
If precise positioning is required for quality output, then manufacturing precision is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar points are pre-configured as positioning features during garment construction. The processing equipment is pre-programmed with the geometric relationships and transformation matrices needed to convert collar point coordinates into accurate cutting or sewing positions, eliminating the need for time-consuming measurements and calculations during actual processing
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy of the garment's collar geometry through image capture and processing. This digital model is then used for positioning and alignment calculations, replacing physical measurement and manual marking processes with rapid computational geometry operations
3Productivity
If automated handling is implemented, then productivity increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar-based positioning system serves multiple functions: it provides positioning references for cutting, sewing, and other processing operations; it enables garment identification and tracking; and it facilitates automated alignment without requiring separate systems for each function. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity despite high productivity requirements
Data Source
AI summary
Various examples are provided related to processing and handling of products. In one example, among others, a material product holding system includes a product holding assembly and a structure supporting the product holding assembly, the structure coupled to the positioning assembly. The product holding assembly can include support arms and a positioning assembly that can adjust positioning of the support arms with respect to each other to engage with at least a portion of a product supported by the support arms. In another example, a method include engaging support arms with a surface of at least a portion of a product, the support arms tensioning the product, positioning the support arms to load the product on a workstation, contracting the support arms to remove the tension, processing the product, re-engaging the support arms after completion of the processing, and unloading the product from the workstation.