Picking Head 3D Imaging Synchronized With Conveyor Motion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional picking devices struggle to accurately acquire three-dimensional information of moving workpieces due to blur caused by the time required for three-dimensional imaging, limiting their ability to sort and recover disassembled or crushed products with precision.

Innovation Solution

A picking device that synchronizes a three-dimensional imaging device with the transport speed of the workpieces using a movement mechanism, allowing it to capture images in synchronization with the transport direction, thereby reducing blur and enabling accurate three-dimensional information acquisition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a three-dimensional imaging device is used to capture moving workpieces, then three-dimensional information can be obtained, but movement blur occurs due to the time required for imaging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethree-dimensional information accuracyVSAvoidimage clarity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The imaging device is made movable and synchronized with the transport speed of workpieces. By dynamically adjusting the imaging device's movement to match the conveyor belt speed, the relative position between the imaging device and workpieces remains constant during imaging, eliminating blur while capturing three-dimensional information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the transport speed information to control the imaging device's movement. The imaging device receives real-time speed data from the conveyor system and adjusts its own movement accordingly, ensuring synchronous operation and maintaining image clarity throughout the imaging process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the imaging time is extended to capture three-dimensional data, then measurement accuracy improves, but productivity decreases due to slower imaging speed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethree-dimensional information accuracyVSAvoidimaging speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The imaging process operates continuously without interruption by moving the imaging device synchronously with the conveyor. This eliminates the need to stop the conveyor for imaging, maintaining continuous workpiece transport and imaging simultaneously, thus preserving productivity while achieving accurate three-dimensional capture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP4015097B1Picking device
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP4015097B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4015097B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4015097B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Workpiece 2 is imaged by imaging device 5 while imaging device 5 following transporter 1 is synchronized and moved with movement mechanism 8 so that a relative speed between transporter 1 and imaging device 5 is reduced, and movement object blur is reduced.