Medication Picking System With Dual Gripper Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current order-picking systems for medicines face challenges in efficiently and reliably dispensing medication packs, particularly with fast-moving items, due to manual handling and the risk of damage or disorderly dispensing, which leads to delays and inefficiencies in pharmacy operations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a dual gripper device system with multidimensional axis movement, synchronized with an automatic storage device, allows for parallel operation on both fast-moving and slow-moving shelves, enabling precise and efficient storage and retrieval while maintaining order and reducing the risk of damage through controlled conveyor belt positioning and anti-slip mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If medication packages are dispensed through inclined dispensing channels, then dispensing speed is improved, but medication packages may break or open due to falling from varying heights
Solution Approach 1:
A conveyor belt is introduced as an intermediary element between the inclined dispensing channels and the collection area. The conveyor belt receives medication packages from the channels and transports them horizontally, eliminating the harmful effect of falling from height while maintaining the speed advantage of inclined channel dispensing.
2Productivity
If multiple medication packages are dispensed rapidly through inclined channels, then productivity is improved, but packages become disorganized and mixed up on the conveyor belt
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt serves as an organizing intermediary that receives packages from multiple inclined channels simultaneously. It maintains the sequence and organization of packages from different channels while enabling rapid dispensing, preventing mixing and disorganization despite high throughput.
3Device complexity
If a single gripper robot is used to restock both buffer rack and dispensing rack, then device complexity is reduced, but storage time increases due to limited capacity and sequential operations
Solution Approach 1:
The single gripper robot is segmented into two specialized gripper devices: one dedicated to the buffer rack and another to the dispensing rack. This segmentation allows parallel restocking operations, reducing storage time while managing system complexity through functional specialization.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer rack serves as a preliminary storage stage where medication packages are pre-positioned before being transferred to the dispensing rack. This preliminary action enables the dispensing rack to be restocked more quickly without requiring the gripper to travel to the storage area each time.
4Speed
If fast-moving items are prioritized in the dispensing rack, then retrieval speed is improved, but restocking efficiency decreases because the system must access each storage location individually
Solution Approach 1:
Fast-moving items are pre-positioned in the dispensing rack from the buffer rack, which is pre-stocked from the storage area. This preliminary action allows rapid retrieval without requiring individual access to storage locations during dispensing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into storage area, buffer rack, and dispensing rack, allowing parallel operations. While the dispensing rack is being accessed for fast-moving items, the buffer rack can be independently restocked from storage, improving overall restocking efficiency.
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 significantly increases the speed and reliability of medication pack dispensing, ensuring fast-moving items are replenished quickly and slow-moving items are stored effectively, reducing storage time and minimizing damage, thus enhancing overall pharmacy operations efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The sloping dispensing channels cause the medication packages to slide downwards
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A picking system (1') for storing and retrieving packages of medicine (2), wherein the picking system (1') comprises a dispensing rack (3) with a plurality of dispensing shelves (30) arranged one above the other, which are inclined obliquely downwards from a storage side (31) of the dispensing rack (3) to a retrieval side (32) of the dispensing rack (3) and each have a plurality of parallel dispensing channels (33), and a buffer rack system (10) arranged at a transfer distance (U) opposite the storage side (31) of the dispensing rack (3) with at least two individual racks (101, 102, 103) arranged parallel to each other and having a maneuvering distance (M) from each other or movable into the maneuvering distance (M) from each other, wherein each of the individual racks (101, 102, 103) has a plurality of buffer shelves (130) arranged one above the other, characterized in thatthe picking system (1') has a first gripper device (11) movable in a vertical direction (HA ) and in a horizontal direction (BA ) of the output rack (3) on the storage side (31) of the output rack (3) and a second gripper device (12) movable in a vertical direction (Hp ), a horizontal direction (Bp ) and a horizontal direction (Lp ) of the buffer rack system (10) on and between the individual racks (101, 102, 103) of the buffer rack system (10) and within the transfer distance (U) and synchronized with the first gripper device (11) with regard to its movement and positioning.