Interlocking Flexible Fork Arm for Compact Container Picking Robots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing telescopic arms in robots for picking and placing containers are too long, leading to increased robot size and reduced warehouse space utilization due to the need for wider lanes, which compromises container storage capacity.
Innovation Solution
A telescopic mechanism using flexible members that interlock to form a rigid arm for container handling and unlock to reduce size during retraction, allowing for compact storage and efficient space utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a long rigid telescopic arm is used to pick up large-volume containers, then the container handling capability is improved, but the robot overall size increases and warehouse space utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic arm is divided into multiple telescopic sections that can extend and retract relative to each other. This segmentation allows the arm to achieve a long extended length for handling large containers while maintaining a compact retracted volume within the robot
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic sections are nested within each other when retracted, with each section containing the next smaller section. This nesting arrangement minimizes the overall volume of the telescopic arm when not in use, allowing the robot to have a smaller overall size while still capable of extending to the required length for container handling
2Ease of operation
If a long telescopic arm is used to ensure engagement with containers, then the container picking capability is improved, but the lane width requirement increases reducing warehouse storage capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic arm transitions from a static long structure to a dynamic extendable structure. When not in use, the arm remains retracted to a compact size, allowing narrower lanes in the warehouse. When container handling is required, the arm extends to the necessary length to engage with containers effectively
3Adaptability or versatility
If the telescopic arm structure is extended to reach large containers, then the container size adaptability is improved, but the fork volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fork's telescopic arm is segmented into multiple extendable sections that can be extended to match the size of different container volumes. This allows the fork to adapt to various container sizes while maintaining a compact form factor when the sections are retracted
Solution Approach 2:
The length parameter of the telescopic arm is made variable through the telescopic mechanism. The arm can change its effective length from a short retracted state to a long extended state, allowing the fork to handle containers of different sizes without requiring a permanently large volume
Data Source
AI summary
A picking or placing assembly includes: a body structure, a telescopic mechanism, and a driving mechanism. The telescopic mechanism includes a first flexible member and a second flexible member. When the telescopic mechanism is in an extended state relative to the body structure, at least part of the first flexible member and at least part of the second flexible member are interlocked to form a rigid arm, where at least part of the rigid arm is configured to extend relative to the body structure. When the telescopic mechanism is in a retracted state relative to the body structure, at least part of the first flexible member and at least part of the second flexible member are separated from each other, and at least part of the first flexible member and at least part of the second flexible member are bent. The driving mechanism is connected to the telescopic mechanism.