Liquid Socket Alignment Using Vision-Guided Plug Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid supply devices require manual handling and alignment of sockets and plugs, which can be hazardous and inefficient due to varying orientations and pressures of liquid storage containers, leading to potential misalignment and stress on components.
Innovation Solution
A liquid supply device equipped with a gripping mechanism and recognition unit that aligns the socket with the plug's orientation, allowing for reliable coupling of liquid channels regardless of the container's orientation, using a gripping mechanism and recognition unit to match the socket's attitude with the plug's axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual handling and alignment of sockets and plugs is used, then worker flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but work burden increases and exposure to hazards occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses vision recognition to automatically detect plug orientation and the gripping mechanism to autonomously align and attach the socket, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The system serves itself by using automated detection and adjustment mechanisms rather than requiring worker involvement.
2Productivity
If socket position is predefined in three-dimensional space, then attachment speed is improved, but misalignment occurs when plug orientation varies
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static predefined position approach to a dynamic adaptive approach. The gripping mechanism adjusts the socket's position and orientation based on real-time vision recognition data of the plug's actual orientation, allowing the system to adapt to varying conditions while maintaining high attachment speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The vision recognition unit provides feedback about the plug's actual position and orientation, which is then used by the control mechanism to adjust the socket's attachment position. This closed-loop feedback system ensures precise alignment even when the plug orientation varies from the predefined position.
3Productivity
If socket and plug are forcedly connected with unmatched orientations, then attachment is achieved, but stress is applied to components leading to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary orientation detection and adjustment before the actual attachment operation. The vision recognition unit identifies the plug's orientation in advance, and the gripping mechanism pre-aligns the socket to match this orientation, ensuring that the subsequent attachment occurs without forced connection or component stress.
4Extent of automation
If robot hand is used to grip socket, then automation is improved, but system complexity increases due to orientation recognition requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The vision recognition unit acts as an intermediary between the robot hand and the plug, providing the robot with the necessary orientation information without requiring direct complex interaction. This intermediary component simplifies the overall system architecture by separating the detection and execution functions.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a liquid supply device including: a plug having a plug side liquid channel; a socket having a socket side liquid channel; a hand configured to grip the socket and arrange the socket in a predetermined attitude at a three-dimensional position within the motion range; and an image capturing unit configured to recognize the orientation of the plug axis of the plug. The hand grips the socket so that the socket and the plug are in an attitude where the orientation of a socket axis matches the orientation of the plug axis recognized by the image capturing unit, and the socket gripped by the hand is inserted in the plug to couple the socket side liquid channel to the plug side liquid channel.