Pipette Tip Packaging Robot Cavity Purity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current packaging processes for pipette tips and medical reaction vessels face challenges in cycle time optimization and flexibility due to the need for filigree adjustment mechanics and hose-based systems, which are inflexible and have high space requirements, limiting the ability to maintain cavity-pure subgroup formation and traceability.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves forming cavity-pure subgroups from the same cavity and using robust adjustment mechanisms along perpendicular axes to align sub-subgroups, allowing for translational adjustments without changing the relative positions of parts within subgroups, enabling efficient transfer and storage while maintaining cavity purity and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hose-based systems are used for conveying injection molded parts, then the packaging process can be implemented, but the system becomes inflexible and requires high space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces hose-based mechanical conveying systems with a robotic picking and placing system. The robot arm with gripper directly picks parts from the injection molding machine and places them into packaging, eliminating the need for complex hose-based conveying infrastructure and significantly reducing space requirements while improving flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the hose-based conveying system from the packaging process entirely. By eliminating this intermediate mechanical system, the patent achieves a more direct, flexible, and space-efficient process where parts are handled directly from molding to packaging without requiring extensive conveying infrastructure.
2Reliability
If filigree adjustment mechanics are used to maintain cavity-pure subgroup formation, then traceability is maintained, but cycle time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by organizing parts into cavity-pure subgroups during the picking process itself, rather than requiring subsequent adjustment. The robot picks parts in a systematic sequence from the injection molding machine that naturally maintains cavity purity, eliminating the need for time-consuming adjustment mechanics afterward.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by integrating the cavity-pure subgroup formation directly into the continuous picking and placing operation. The robot maintains uninterrupted flow from picking to packaging while simultaneously maintaining traceability, eliminating idle time associated with adjustment mechanics.
3Manufacturing precision
If robust adjustment mechanisms are used for aligning sub-subgroups, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms with a robot-controlled positioning system. The robot arm with programmable motion control achieves precise positioning through software control rather than complex mechanical linkages, reducing system complexity while maintaining or improving positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes in the form of programmable robot motion parameters to achieve precise positioning. By controlling the robot's position, speed, and acceleration through software parameters, the system achieves high positioning accuracy without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a packaging method for packaging injection-moulded plastics parts (16) in the form of pipette tips or medical reaction vessels into final packaging units. According to the invention: the K injection-moulded plastics parts (16) of a particular injection process (I, II, III) are uniformly distributed in one arrangement plane (E) in a clean-cavity manner into K clean-cavity sub-sub groups (10) multiple times and successively until each sub-sub group (10) comprises a plurality of, preferably between three and five, injection-moulded plastics parts (16) and such that the injection-moulded plastics parts (16) are each arranged, preferably in lines, in the sub-sub groups (10) such that a distance between immediately adjacent injection-moulded plastics parts (16) in the particular sub-sub groups (10) corresponds to a distance between adjacent injection-moulded plastics parts (16) in the final packaging units; and K sub-sub groups (10) are distributed uniformly on the U sub groups (19) multiple times until each sub group (19) comprises the L injection-moulded plastics parts (16); and the K sub-sub groups (10), in particular groups (20) of sub-sub groups (10), most particularly preferably clean-cluster groups (20) of sub-sub groups (10), are moved relative to one another, preferably away from one another, along two mutually perpendicularly extending axes (A1, A2) lying in the arrangement plane (E), prior to distribution on the U sub groups (19). The invention also relates to a packaging apparatus (5) and to an injection moulding system.