Multi-EOAT Case Packer for Conveyor-Matched Article Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic arms for case packing are expensive, bulky, and require precise coordination, leading to inefficiencies and errors in article placement due to variations in article placement, orientation, or movement.
Innovation Solution
A multi-axis robotic arm assembly with independently movable end-of-arm tools (EOATs) that can match the speed, position, and orientation of articles on a conveyor, eliminating the need for multiple robotic arms and precise coordination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple robotic arms are used to package more articles quickly, then productivity increases, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple EOATs (end-of-arm tools) onto a single robotic arm assembly, allowing one arm to perform the work of multiple arms. The robotic arm can simultaneously engage multiple articles from the conveyor and deposit them into cases, achieving high productivity while reducing system complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arm assembly is designed with universal capability to handle multiple articles simultaneously through multiple EOATs. The system can adapt to different packaging configurations and article types, providing multi-functional operation from a single robotic unit rather than requiring separate specialized arms for each task.
2Manufacturing precision
If precise positioning and conveyance speed are required for efficient packaging, then manufacturing precision improves, but reliability decreases due to sensitivity to variations
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm assembly is designed with dynamic movement capabilities along multiple axes (X, Y, Z axes) that allow it to adapt to variations in article position, orientation, and conveyor speed. The system can dynamically adjust its positioning and timing to accommodate real-world variations while maintaining precise article placement, thereby improving reliability without sacrificing precision.
3Reliability
If multiple robotic arms are deployed to handle variations in article placement and orientation, then reliability improves, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple EOATs onto a single robotic arm assembly, enabling one arm to simultaneously handle multiple articles with varying positions and orientations. This approach achieves the reliability benefits of multiple handling points while avoiding the complexity and space requirements of multiple separate robotic arms.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arm assembly utilizes multi-axis movement (X, Y, Z dimensions) to approach and engage articles from different spatial positions and angles. This dimensional flexibility allows a single arm to perform the functions that would otherwise require multiple arms, maintaining reliability while reducing system complexity.
4Device complexity
If a single robotic arm is used instead of multiple arms, then device complexity and cost decrease, but productivity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple EOATs on a single robotic arm, allowing the arm to simultaneously pick up and deposit multiple articles in one operational cycle. This merging approach maintains low system complexity while achieving high productivity equivalent to or exceeding that of multiple separate robotic arms.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arm assembly is designed to continuously engage multiple articles from the moving conveyor and deposit them into cases in an uninterrupted sequence. The multi-axis movement and multiple EOATs enable continuous operation without the need for the arm to return to a home position between picks, maximizing productivity while using a single arm.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, its components, and method of operation for loading articles into multiple cases is presented and includes a robotic assembly having a vertical arm movably connected to a frame at one end and a rail centrally engaged at the other. At least two end of arm tools (EOATs) are engaged to the rail, with each EOAT being capable of independent and coordinated sliding and rotational movement relative to the rail. A sensor is positioned above an upstream location of an article conveyor to detect speed, position and orientation characteristics of articles and communicating those characteristics to the robotic assembly. The robotic assembly is configured to move each of the EOATs to match the speed, position and orientation of one of the articles, and then, pick up each article, and transport each article to one of a plurality of cases positioned in a loading area.