Luminous Indicator Sorting Conveyor Manual Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing object handling systems face inefficiencies when the automatic device is not present or malfunctioning, leading to objects being incorrectly placed in seats, resulting in delayed sorting due to unnecessary re-routing back to the loading area.
Innovation Solution
The integration of luminous indicators on each seat, activated by the control apparatus, to guide operators in correctly placing objects, combined with unloading means like conveyor belts controlled by drive mechanisms to ensure accurate placement and unloading into designated chutes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual loading is used without guidance, then the system can operate when automatic devices are unavailable, but objects are frequently misplaced leading to sorting delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual judgment with an optical guidance system. Luminous indicators (lights) are installed on each seat to automatically show operators which seat is active, substituting human decision-making with an automated optical signaling system that prevents misplacement without requiring automatic loading machinery.
Solution Approach 2:
The luminous indicator acts as an intermediary between the control apparatus and the operator. Instead of the operator directly interpreting system state, the light signal mediates this information transfer, clearly indicating which seat should receive the next object and reducing errors in manual loading.
2Ease of operation
If objects are misplaced in seats, then manual loading flexibility is maintained, but unnecessary re-routing occurs reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback through luminous indicators that continuously show operators which seat is currently active and should receive the next object. This real-time feedback prevents misplacement before it occurs, eliminating the need for re-routing while maintaining manual loading flexibility.
3Manufacturing precision
If luminous indicators are added to guide manual loading, then sorting accuracy improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses luminous indicators (light signals) to provide visual information to operators. This optical signaling method achieves high sorting accuracy with minimal added complexity, as it only requires light sources and control circuitry rather than complex mechanical or electronic guidance systems.
Data Source
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Figure 2
Figure 2A
AI summary
An object handling system comprises a loading area, a conveyor, a plurality of discharge chutes arranged at intervals along the sides of the conveyor, a carriage with at least one pair of adjacent seats (14, 15; 17, 18) for receiving respective objects and movable from the loading area into a position in correspondence of a discharge chute, for unloading the object into the discharge chute, a control apparatus able to recognize the object arriving from the loading area and cause displacement of the carriage until the carriage is brought into the position for unloading of the object into the discharge chute and a luminous indicator (22, 23; 24, 25) associated with each seat (14, 15; 17, 18), visible to an operator which is standing in the loading area and selectively activated by the control apparatus so as to indicate to the operator the seat in which the object should be manually deposited by the operator.