Mobile Label Replacement Robot with Image Sensor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual replacement of labels on support structures in retail and warehouse environments is time-consuming and error-prone, requiring frequent updates due to changes in product placement and pricing.
Innovation Solution
A mobile automation system equipped with a locomotive assembly, label generator, effector assembly, and image sensor-enabled label manipulator that autonomously navigates to support structures, detects reference features, and replaces labels using image data to ensure accurate and efficient label placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual label replacement is used, then flexibility in label updates is maintained, but time consumption and error rate increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automation where the mobile apparatus autonomously performs label replacement operations without continuous human intervention. The apparatus independently navigates to shelves, detects label positions using image sensors, and executes replacement tasks based on received instructions, thereby eliminating manual labor while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of label replacement with an automated mobile apparatus equipped with image sensors, effector assemblies, and control systems. This substitution transforms the purely manual operation into an automated system that uses optical detection and robotic manipulation to achieve faster, more accurate label updates.
2Reliability
If manual label replacement is used, then simple equipment is required, but error rate and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates image sensors that capture visual feedback of shelf and label positions. This feedback is processed by the control system to verify correct label placement and detect positioning errors. The feedback mechanism ensures high reliability by confirming that labels are placed accurately on the intended shelves before completing the replacement operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile apparatus is designed as a multi-functional system that can perform various label manipulation operations including removal, replacement, and positioning on different shelf types. The effector assembly and image sensors are configured to handle diverse label formats and shelf configurations, making the system universally applicable across different retail environments without requiring multiple specialized devices.
3Loss of information
If frequent label updates are performed manually, then product information remains current, but operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated system enables continuous label update operations without the interruptions and delays inherent in manual processes. The mobile apparatus can systematically traverse through shelves and update labels in sequence, maintaining continuous productive action. This continuity ensures product information remains current while maximizing operational efficiency through uninterrupted automated execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system autonomously performs the complete label update cycle from navigation to placement without requiring repeated manual intervention for each label. The self-service capability allows the apparatus to independently execute multiple label replacements in succession, ensuring information currency while dramatically improving operational efficiency compared to manual methods.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for labeling support structures includes: a chassis having a locomotive assembly, and supporting a label generator and an effector assembly with an end movable relative to the chassis and carrying a label manipulator with an image sensor; a controller coupled to the locomotive assembly, label generator, effector assembly and label manipulator, and configured to: obtain label placement data defining a location relative to a support structure reference feature for replacement of a previous label with a new label; control the locomotive assembly to travel to the support structure; detect the reference feature via image data captured at the image sensor; control the effector assembly to place the label manipulator at the location relative to the reference feature; control the effector assembly and the label manipulator to remove and discard the previous label, retrieve the new label from the label generator, and place the new label at the location.