Multi-Gripper Article Discharge for Compact Weight-Based Sorting
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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 acquisition, and releases them based on combination calculations to achieve compactness and accurate discharge.
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, but the system size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple grippers are attached to a single movable member, merging multiple independent operation units into one integrated structure. This reduces the overall system volume while maintaining the capability to grip multiple articles simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between independent operation and compact size
2Volume of moving object
If multiple grippers are attached to a single movable member, then the system becomes compact, but the number of drive units must be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The single movable member serves multiple functions by supporting and moving multiple grippers simultaneously. This multi-functional design allows the system to maintain compact dimensions while reducing the number of drive units required, as one drive unit controls the movable member that in turn controls multiple grippers
3Manufacturing precision
If grippers are positioned at different heights to match placement surface variations, then article gripping accuracy improves, but the movable member structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Each gripper is positioned at a specific height tailored to its local requirements for gripping articles on the placement surface. This local optimization allows each gripper to operate at the optimal height for its specific task, improving gripping accuracy without requiring the entire movable member structure to be overly complex
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.