Movable Gripper Head System for Dynamic Article Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for handling articles struggle with efficiently and accurately transferring multiple articles into outer packaging, particularly when articles are dimensionally unstable or deformed, leading to errors and downtimes due to positional inaccuracies and varying dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A device with a gripper system that includes a manipulator head with movable gripper heads, capable of translational and rotational movement, and imaging sensors for real-time detection and alignment, allowing for precise adaptation to the actual positions of articles and enabling simultaneous handling and packaging of articles of varying dimensions and shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a gripping device with fixed gripper heads is used to transfer articles, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to articles with varying positions and dimensions, leading to handling errors and downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper heads are made movable relative to the manipulator head through translation and rotation mechanisms. This allows the gripping device to dynamically adjust its configuration to match the actual positions and orientations of articles on the conveyor, enabling adaptation without requiring multiple fixed gripper positions
Solution Approach 2:
The movable gripper heads can serve multiple functions by adjusting to different article positions and orientations. A single gripper head can handle various article types and positions, replacing the need for multiple specialized fixed grippers, thus improving versatility while managing complexity
2Manufacturing precision
If the gripper heads are made movable to adapt to article positions, then handling accuracy improves, but the device complexity and potential downtime for adjustments increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses imaging sensors to detect the actual positions and orientations of articles on the conveyor. This visual feedback is processed to calculate the required adjustments for the gripper heads, enabling real-time adaptation to article variations without manual intervention or complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms with a more streamlined system combining imaging sensors, computational processing, and controlled movement of gripper heads. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity while maintaining or improving handling accuracy through sensor-guided positioning
3Productivity
If multiple gripper heads are used to handle multiple articles simultaneously, then productivity increases, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring actual article positions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging sensors capture images of all articles on the conveyor simultaneously, providing visual feedback on the actual positions and orientations of multiple articles. This enables the system to detect and measure the state of multiple articles at once, maintaining position detection accuracy even as productivity increases with multiple gripper heads
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging sensors create visual copies (images) of the articles and their positions on the conveyor. These digital copies are then processed to determine the precise locations and orientations of multiple articles, making it easier to detect and measure their states without direct physical measurement, thus facilitating simultaneous handling of multiple items
Data Source
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AI summary
A device and a method for handling articles (02) are described.The procedure provides that, first, at least several articles (02) arriving consecutively in one transport direction (FR) are taken from an infeed (03), then, while simultaneously lifted, the articles (02) are transferred together from the infeed (03) to a staging area (04) on which one or more outer packagings (05) are ready, into which the articles (02) taken from the infeed (03) are to be placed, individually or in groups in a direction parallel to the transport direction (FR) by increasing and/or decreasing individual distances between the articles (02) according to a predetermined arrangement (20) and thus grouped, and finally, the articles (02) arranged according to the predetermined arrangement (20) are simultaneously lowered and released into the one or more outer packagings (05) ready on the staging area (04).The device comprises a feed (03) of articles (02) transported in a transport direction (FR), at least one staging area (04) arranged adjacent to the feed (03) in the direction of a horizontal axis (06), on which outer packaging (05) to be filled with articles (02) taken from the feed (03) is available and/or provided, and from which the outer packaging (05) is transported after the articles (02) have been inserted into it, and a gripping device (07) for simultaneously gripping several articles (02) from the feed (03). The gripping device (07) has one gripper head (70) for each article. The gripping device (07) has at least one manipulator (71) with a horizontally and vertically movable manipulator head (72) on which the gripper heads (70) are arranged.The gripper heads (70) are arranged to be translationally movable relative to each other at least parallel to the transport direction (FR) on the manipulator head (72).