Pharmacy Order-Picking Device Sagging Shelf Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pharmacy order-picking devices face challenges in retrieving medication packages from shelf bases that sag excessively due to heavy loads, causing alignment issues between the shelf surface and the support surface, which prevents smooth retrieval.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using a sensor to detect the sagging shelf base and adjust the operating device's position to align the support surface with the shelf base, ensuring proper alignment and allowing for successful retrieval of medication packages using a gripping device with adjustable clamping jaws or suction grippers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If shelf bases are occupied with an excessively high number of heavy medication packages to maximize storage capacity, then storage quantity is improved, but the shelf base sags strongly causing misalignment with the support surface which prevents retrieval
Solution Approach 1:
The control device determines the actual position of the shelf base before the retrieval operation commences. This preliminary position detection allows the system to plan and execute the retrieval operation with corrected positioning, ensuring the operating device can successfully retrieve medication packages even from heavily loaded shelf bases that would otherwise be misaligned.
2Speed
If the operating device is moved to the predefined shelf position, then retrieval speed is improved, but the end face of the support forms a stop preventing medication package movement onto the support
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the vertical position of the operating device based on the actual position of the shelf base. Instead of using a fixed predefined position, the operating device's target position is corrected in real-time according to the detected shelf base position, allowing smooth package transfer without the support end face forming a stop.
3Stability of the object's composition
If shelf bases are designed to minimize sagging under average weight, then structural stability is improved, but they cannot accommodate heavily loaded shelf bases without excessive sagging
Solution Approach 1:
The control device receives feedback about the actual position of the shelf base (determined via sensors detecting the position of medication packages or shelf base edges) and uses this information to correct the vertical position of the operating device. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt to varying load conditions and maintain retrieval functionality across different loading scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method for retrieving medication packages from a pharmacy order-picking device. In modern pharmacy order-picking devices, medication packages are stored for space optimization, which can cause a number of heavy packages to be stored on one shelf, causing the shelf to bend, which may prevent retrieval. In the method according to the disclosure, an operating device (20) is displaced in a displacement position to a predetermined shelf position, at least one medication package (30) on a shelf (11) belonging to the shelf position is moved with a gripping device (22) in the direction of a support (21) and it is then checked whether the at least one medication package (30) has moved fully onto the support (21). If the check has a negative outcome, an edge (11″, 11′″) of the shelf (11) on which the at least one medication package is stored is detected with a sensor (23) of the operating device (20) and said operating device (20) is displaced to a corresponding shelf position, the gripping device (22) having been brought into the displacement position before displacement.