Medicament Picking Space Imaging for Obstacle Collision Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Picking devices for medicaments often experience downtime due to collisions with obstacles left behind, which can result in damage to the device and misplacement of medicament packages, requiring manual intervention and causing operational disruptions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an optical detection device that creates an image of the movement space and compares it with a reference image to detect obstacles, allowing the system to either inhibit movement or navigate around them, thereby preventing collisions and minimizing downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If manual intervention is allowed for cleaning and maintenance, then the picking device can be properly maintained, but obstacles may be left behind causing collisions and downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The optical detection device creates images of the movement space before and after maintenance operations to detect obstacles left behind. This preliminary and follow-up detection allows the system to identify and respond to obstacles before they cause collisions, maintaining operational reliability while allowing necessary manual intervention for maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses optical detection devices to continuously monitor the movement space and provides feedback to the control device. When obstacles are detected, the system can inhibit operating device movement or alert operators, creating a closed-loop feedback mechanism that prevents collisions while allowing maintenance activities.
2Productivity
If the operating device moves automatically without detection systems, then the picking device operates efficiently with minimal intervention, but collisions with obstacles can cause damage and downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The optical detection device captures images of the movement space before the operating device moves, allowing the system to identify obstacles in advance. This preliminary detection enables the control device to inhibit movement or alert operators before collisions occur, protecting the operating device while maintaining efficient automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical detection device acts as an intermediary between the operating device and obstacles in the movement space. It detects obstacles and transmits information to the control device, which then mediates by inhibiting movement or alerting operators, preventing direct collision between the operating device and obstacles.
3Reliability
If an optical detection device is added to detect obstacles, then collisions are prevented and downtime is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical detection device and image processing system enable the picking device to self-monitor and self-protect against obstacles. The system automatically detects obstacles, processes images to identify hazards, and inhibits movement or alerts operators without requiring external monitoring systems, achieving reliable collision prevention through self-service functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical detection systems with optical detection devices that use light-based imaging to detect obstacles. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity while improving detection reliability, as optical systems can identify obstacles without physical contact or complex mechanical sensors.
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
The solution effectively prevents collisions and reduces downtime by identifying and addressing obstacles within the picking device's movement space, ensuring continuous operation and maintaining the integrity of medicament storage and retrieval processes.
Implementation Method 1
an optical detection device arranged in the picking device and configured to create an image of the movement space
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for operating a picking devices for medicaments are provided. An image of a movement space detectable by an optical detection device is created with an optical detection device inside the picking device after a predetermined event. Predetermined areas of the image of the movement space are compared with corresponding areas of a reference image, and based on the comparison it is determined whether an obstacle is present in the detected portion of the movement space. Based on the determination of the presence of an obstacle, corresponding signals are provided to prevent a movement of the operating device and/or request a removal of the obstacle by a user. Picking devices for medicaments are also provided.