Multi-Gripper Article Discharge for Compact Weight-Based Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing article discharge system tends to increase in size due to grippers being attached to independent movable members, making it less compact.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates plural grippers attached to a single movable member, with a control unit that moves the grippers to grip articles from an article group, performs weight calculations, and releases articles based on target weights, reducing the need for multiple drive units and allowing for a more compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If each gripper is attached to a separate movable member, then each gripper can operate independently to grip articles, but the system size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple grippers are attached to a single movable member instead of each gripper having its own separate movable member. This merging of multiple gripper units onto one shared movable member reduces the overall system size and number of components while still allowing each gripper to independently grip and release articles based on control signals
2Ease of operation
If multiple separate movable members with grippers are used, then each gripper can be positioned independently, but the number of drive units increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple grippers share a single movable member and thus share the drive unit that moves the movable member. This reduces the total number of drive units required in the system while maintaining the ability to position and operate each gripper independently through selective actuation
Solution Approach 2:
The single movable member serves multiple functions by supporting and positioning multiple grippers simultaneously. This multi-functional design allows one movable member and its associated drive unit to perform the work that would otherwise require multiple separate movable members and drive units
Data Source
AI summary
An article discharge system includes a placement unit in which the article group is placed, plural grippers, a movable member, a robot that moves the movable member, weight acquisition units, and a control unit. The plural grippers grip some articles with gripping member. The plural grippers are attached to the movable member. The weight acquisition units acquire weight values of the articles that each of the grippers grips. The control unit moves the movable member, brings the plural grippers closer to the placement unit, causes the plural grippers to grip some of the articles of the article group placed in the placement unit, and, based on the result of a combination calculation using the weight values of the articles that each of the grippers grips and which the weight acquisition units have acquired, causes predetermined grippers among the plural grippers to release the articles and thereby discharge the articles.