Optical Scanning and Gripper-Based Cutlery Sorting for Dishwashers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in automatically sorting and removing cutlery from a cutlery basket due to unpredictable positions and entanglements, making it difficult to grasp and remove efficiently, especially after a cleaning process.
Innovation Solution
A cutlery sorting device equipped with an optical scanning system, a movable gripper, and a processing facility that recognizes cutlery, selects items based on confidence and degree of intertwining, and controls the gripper to remove and sort cutlery into predetermined shelves, using techniques like pattern recognition and trajectory planning to avoid collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cutlery is stored in a cutlery drawer for sorting, then cutlery can be sorted when the dishwasher is loaded, but it takes up valuable vertical space and sorting is tedious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cutlery sorting function from the traditional cutlery drawer and relocates it to a separate cutting board with compartmentalized sections. This extraction eliminates the need for a dedicated sorting drawer inside the dishwasher, freeing up vertical space while maintaining sorting functionality on an external or adjacent surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cutting board as an intermediary device between the dishwasher and final storage location. This cutting board serves as a temporary sorting station with designated compartments for different cutlery types, facilitating easy sorting without requiring internal dishwasher modifications or additional vertical space.
2Volume of stationary object
If cutlery is stored in a cutlery basket for space-saving, then insertion is faster and less cluttered, but cutlery must be sorted after cleaning which is tedious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary sorting by providing a cutting board with pre-defined compartments for different cutlery types before the cutlery is even removed from the dishwasher. This preliminary preparation of the sorting surface makes the subsequent sorting action quick and intuitive, eliminating the tedious post-cleaning sorting task while maintaining space-efficient storage.
3Extent of automation
If automatic handling of cutlery is implemented, then manual sorting effort is reduced, but cutlery in unpredictable positions and entanglements is difficult to grasp and remove
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cutlery basket into multiple compartments or sections, each designated for specific types of cutlery. This segmentation organizes cutlery into predictable groups, reducing entanglement and making automatic grasping and removal significantly easier by providing clear access points and reducing positional variability.
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
Enables efficient and error-free automatic sorting and removal of cutlery, reducing manual effort and storage space issues by categorizing and storing cutlery by class, improving the handling of disordered cutlery in both dishwasher baskets and post-cleaning scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
an optical scanning device for scanning a cutlery basket
Data Source
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AI summary
A sorting device (110) for cutlery (120) comprises an optical scanning device (140) for scanning a cutlery basket (115); a movable gripper (125) for cutlery (120); and a processing unit (145). The processing unit (145) is configured to detect cutlery (120) in the cutlery basket (115); to select a detected piece of cutlery (120); and to control the gripper (125) to grasp the selected cutlery (120) and move it from the cutlery basket (115) into a predetermined storage location (135).