Pharmaceutical Picking Device Optical Obstacle Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing picking devices for medicinal products often experience downtimes due to collisions between the operating device and unintentionally left obstacles, which can lead to damage and require manual intervention.
Innovation Solution
A procedure for operating a picking device that utilizes an optical detection device to create images of the movement space, compare them to reference images, and detect obstacles, allowing the system to prevent collisions by blocking the operating device or bypassing the obstacle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual cleaning or maintenance is performed inside the picking device, then the interior can be accessed for cleaning or intervention, but obstacles may be inadvertently left behind causing collisions and downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The optical detection device creates an image of the movement space before the operating device performs its operations, allowing obstacles to be identified and removed in advance. This preliminary detection prevents collisions during subsequent automated operations, resolving the contradiction between manual access and operational reliability.
2Productivity
If the operating device moves automatically without human intervention, then productivity increases, but collisions with left-behind obstacles cause damage and require manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary imaging and obstacle detection before automated operations begin. This allows the control device to identify obstacles and prevent automated operations that would cause collisions, maintaining high productivity while avoiding damage from left-behind objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical detection device provides continuous feedback about the movement space to the control device. This feedback loop allows the system to detect obstacles and adjust or halt automated operations to avoid collisions, resolving the contradiction between automated productivity and collision prevention.
3Reliability
If collision detection and prevention systems are added, then operational reliability improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The optical detection device serves multiple functions: it detects obstacles in the movement space, monitors the storage areas, and provides information to the control device for decision-making. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining improved reliability.
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 associated downtimes by identifying and addressing obstacles within the picking device's movement space, ensuring continuous operation and minimizing damage.
Implementation Method 1
an optical detection device coupled to the control device and arranged in the picking device in such a way that it can create an image of the movement space
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a picking device for pharmaceuticals and to a picking device that can be operated according to the method according to the invention. Known methods for operating picking devices have the disadvantage that significant damage can occur in the event of collisions with objects that may be located inside the device.To prevent this, it is provided that, after a predetermined event, an image of a movement area detectable by the optical detection device inside the picking device (1) is created using an optical detection device (34, 70), predetermined areas of the image of the movement area (20) are compared with corresponding areas of a reference image, based on the comparison of predetermined areas of the image and the reference image, it is determined whether an obstacle is present in the detected section of the movement area (20), and based on the determination of the presence of an obstacle, appropriate signals are provided which, for example, prevent a procedure of the operating device and request the removal of the obstacle by a user.