Postal Sorting Machine Robotic Arm Feeding with Inclined Conveyor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current postal sorting machines are unable to automatically separate heterogeneous small packets or parcels, leading to increased costs due to semi-manual separation from homogeneous flat mail items.
Innovation Solution
A postal sorting machine equipped with a robotic arm and vision system that uses a pneumatic gripper to identify and pick up individual heterogeneous items from a bulk pile, and an inclined flat conveying section to align them for sorting, allowing for automatic separation and sorting alongside homogeneous flat mail items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a robotic arm with pneumatic gripper is used to pick heterogeneous postal items from a bulk pile, then automation capability is improved, but the complexity of the sorting machine increases due to the need for vision systems and precise positioning mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined flat conveying section is positioned and angled beforehand to enable gravity-driven alignment of postal items before they reach the robotic arm. This preliminary gravitational action reduces the complexity required for the robotic positioning system, as items are pre-aligned by the incline angle rather than requiring complex active positioning mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined flat conveying section acts as an intermediary element between the bulk pile and the robotic arm. It mediates the transition by using gravity to naturally align and present items to the robotic gripper, thereby reducing the direct complexity requirements of the robotic positioning system while maintaining high automation capability.
2Manufacturing precision
If an inclined flat conveying section is used to align postal items by gravity, then manufacturing precision is improved for item alignment, but the device complexity increases due to additional conveying structures
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined conveying section creates a gravitational equipotential field that naturally guides postal items into aligned positions. By utilizing gravity as the aligning force rather than complex mechanical positioning systems, the design achieves high alignment precision while minimizing the complexity of active control mechanisms and positioning devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The postal items themselves serve to align each other through gravity-driven movement on the inclined surface. The geometry of the incline and the items' own characteristics enable self-alignment without requiring complex external positioning mechanisms, thereby achieving precise alignment with simpler conveying structures.
3Productivity
If heterogeneous postal items are sorted automatically alongside homogeneous flat mail items, then productivity is improved, but the loss of time increases due to the additional processing required for vision detection and robotic manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic gravitational action through the inclined conveying section, where items are continuously fed and naturally aligned at regular intervals determined by the incline geometry and feed rate. This periodic gravitational alignment complements the robotic arm's periodic picking cycles, optimizing the overall throughput while minimizing idle time in the sorting process.
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
Enables efficient and automated sorting of heterogeneous small packets or parcels alongside homogeneous flat mail items, optimizing the sorting process and reducing costs by using a robotic arm with a vision system and inclined conveying sections to handle items of varying dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
the robotic arm is designed to deposit each item individually, separate from the pile of loose mail items, in the inclined flat conveying section in such a way that this object comes into jog by gravity against the lower edge of the conveyor
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a mail-sorting machine, which comprises a sorting conveyor capable of transporting mail items (7) in series along the sorting outlets (3) and a unit (6) for feeding mail items including a magazine (6C) for storing loose mail items to be sorted and a separator with a robotic arm (6D) having a viewing sensor (6F) capable of picking the mail items to be sorted one-by-one from the magazine and of depositing same in the sorting conveyor, arranging them in series with constant spacing. The sorting conveyor comprises a plate conveyor (6E) which is inclined so as to form a slope for stacking by gravity.