Electronic Locker Cabinet Dimension Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic lockers face difficulties in instantly determining the appropriate cabinet size for commodity products, leading to inefficient use as dealers often select larger cabinets, resulting in occupied space and reduced capacity for larger items.

Innovation Solution

An electronic locker equipped with a measurement unit, such as a Time of Flight (ToF) sensing camera, and a controller that compares measured dimensions of products to a stored table of cabinet dimensions to select the most suitable unoccupied cabinet, ensuring proper sizing and efficient use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a dealer manually selects a cabinet for storing a commodity product, then the selection process is simple, but the cabinet size may not be optimal leading to wasted space and reduced locker capacity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecabinet selection processVSAvoidusable storage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement unit automatically measures the commodity product dimensions without dealer intervention, and the controller autonomously selects the appropriate cabinet based on measured dimensions and stored cabinet size data, enabling the system to serve itself rather than relying on manual dealer selection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-stores cabinet dimension data in the controller and performs automatic measurement and matching before the dealer places the product, so that when the dealer arrives, the suitable cabinet is already identified and ready for use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the dealer selects larger cabinets for all products to ensure adequate space, then all products can be stored, but smaller cabinets remain unused reducing overall system efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage efficiencyVSAvoidcabinet size matching system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The manual mechanical process of visual inspection and judgment by the dealer is replaced with an automatic optical measurement system and electronic control system that precisely matches product dimensions to cabinet capacities using stored reference data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses precise dimensional parameters of both the commodity product and cabinets to make matching decisions, transforming the subjective judgment process into an objective parameter-based automated selection system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This solution allows for instantaneous recognition and selection of the appropriate cabinet size, optimizing storage space and reducing waste by ensuring each product is stored in the most suitable cabinet, enhancing the overall efficiency of the locker system.

Implementation Method 1

A measurement unit 3 capable of measuring a dimension of an object

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime of Flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentUS10242522B2Electronic locker

Publication Date: 2019.03.26 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic locker includes a plurality of cabinets, a measurement unit capable of measuring a dimension of an object, and a controller. The controller compares the dimension of the object measured by the measurement unit with a table of dimensions of the plurality of cabinets stored previously to select a cabinet suitable for the dimension of the object out of the plurality of cabinets.