Optical Obstacle Detection in Medicament Picking Movement Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Picking devices for medicaments often experience downtime due to collisions with obstacles left behind, which can damage the device and lead to misplacement of medicament packages, as existing systems lack effective detection and avoidance mechanisms for obstacles within their movement space.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an optical detection device that creates an image of the movement space and compares it with a reference image to identify obstacles, allowing the control device to inhibit movement or guide the operating device around the obstacle, thereby preventing collisions and ensuring continuous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manual cleaning and intervention are performed inside the picking device, then cleaning and maintenance can be done, but obstacles may be left behind unintentionally causing collisions and downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The optical detection device captures images of the movement space before the operating device performs its picking operations. This preliminary detection allows the system to identify obstacles left behind during manual cleaning or maintenance before they can cause collisions, thereby maintaining operational continuity while still allowing manual intervention when necessary.
2Productivity
If the operating device moves automatically without obstacle detection, then productivity is maintained, but collisions with obstacles can occur causing damage and downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously captures images of the movement space with the optical detection device and compares them against reference images to detect obstacles. This feedback mechanism allows the operating device to maintain high-speed automatic operation while the system monitors for obstacles in real-time, stopping or rerouting only when necessary to avoid collisions.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using mechanical sensors or physical barriers to detect obstacles, the patent employs an optical detection device with image processing capabilities. This substitution allows for non-contact, high-speed detection of obstacles throughout the movement space, maintaining productivity while improving reliability through more comprehensive monitoring.
3Reliability
If obstacle detection and avoidance procedures are implemented, then collisions and downtime are prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical detection device serves multiple functions: it detects obstacles in the movement space, verifies proper placement of medicament packages on shelves, and monitors the overall operation environment. By using a single multi-functional device rather than separate specialized sensors for each task, the patent reduces overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive obstacle detection capabilities.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents collisions and downtime by accurately detecting and responding to obstacles, allowing the picking device to safely navigate around or remove them, ensuring uninterrupted operation and maintaining storage area accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
an optical detection device (70) configured to create an overall image of the movement space (20)
Data Source
AI summary
Picking devices for operating a picking devices for medicaments are provided. A picking device includes multiple storage spaces for medicament packaging, an operating device movable horizontally in an X-direction and vertically in a Z-direction in front of the storage spaces in a movement space, and an identification device configured for identifying medicament packaging. An optical detection device is configured to create an overall image of the movement space and a control device is coupled to the operating device, the identification device and the optical detection device, wherein the control device is configured to determine the presence of an obstacle in a portion of the movement space and to control the operating device based on the determined presence of the obstacle. Methods of operating picking devices for medicaments are also provided.