Overhead Robot Gripper Platform for Stack Picking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing overhead robot systems are inefficient when picking up a single object from the middle of a stack, requiring multiple movements and being slow and tedious, especially when trying to maintain warehouse organization.
Innovation Solution
An overhead robot system with a gantry unit and gripper that includes a platform for releasing a single object at the edge of the warehouse area, reducing gripper movements and enabling quicker access to the next object, using carrying means to move objects from the platform to the edge, and a robot control system to manage these operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the gripper picks up a single box from the middle of a stack by lifting the entire stack, then the box can be moved to another location, but the gripper requires multiple movements and the process becomes slow and tedious
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the stack handling process by introducing a platform that can receive individual boxes from the gripper. The gripper lifts the stack, the platform positions itself to receive the bottom box, and the carrying means transports it separately. This segmentation allows the gripper to quickly release the stack at the platform while the carrying means handles the single box extraction and transport, reducing gripper movement time.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform acts as an intermediary between the gripper and the final destination. Instead of the gripper directly transporting each box individually, the gripper transfers the stack to the platform, which then works with the carrying means to extract and transport the specific box needed. This intermediary system decouples the lifting function from the precise positioning function.
2Ease of operation
If the gripper moves multiple times to different locations to pick up and release boxes, then individual boxes can be accessed from stacks, but the process becomes tedious and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the box handling task into two independent operations: the gripper handles stack lifting and placement on the platform, while the carrying means handles individual box extraction and transport to the edge. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its function, with the gripper focusing on efficient stack manipulation and the carrying means handling precise single-box delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform and carrying means work autonomously once the gripper places the stack on the platform. The carrying means automatically positions itself to receive the box from the platform and transports it to the edge without requiring the gripper to follow up with multiple movements, enabling the system to service itself after the initial stack transfer.
3Productivity
If the overhead robot system uses conventional methods to pick boxes from stack middle, then boxes can be moved, but the process is slow and requires many gripper movements
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the complex gripper operation into two simpler, coordinated operations: the gripper performs stack lifting and placement on the platform, while the carrying means independently handles box extraction and transport. This segmentation reduces the complexity of gripper operations by eliminating the need for multiple gripper movements to different locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform serves as an intermediary that simplifies the overall operation. Instead of the gripper directly managing complex multi-step extraction and transport, it simply transfers the stack to the platform, which then coordinates with the carrying means to handle the detailed extraction and transport tasks.
Data Source
AI summary
The objective of the invention is to create an overhead robot system that reduces the movements of the system's gripper when it is desired to pick up an individual object from the middle of a stack of objects. The number of movements is reduced as the gripper can be driven to above the desired stack of objects and does not need to be subsequently moved to another location above the warehouse area in order to pick up and move a single object. The invention comprises a separate arrangement for moving a single picked-up object to the edge of the warehouse area. The gripper can move more quickly to the next object to be picked up.