Pouch Collection Robot System for Remote Filling Logistics

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for assembling and collecting non-filled spouted pouches often result in inefficient logistics and increased costs due to the need for separate production facilities and mismatched production capacities between spouted pouch assembly and filling locations.

Innovation Solution

A pouch collection robot system that includes a camera system for identifying non-filled spouted pouches, pick and place robot units with gripping devices to efficiently collect and stack pouches into storage rails, and a storage cassette system for transporting these pouches to a remote filling location, ensuring consistent and accurate feeding of pouches to the filling device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If non-filled spouted pouches are assembled and collected at a location remote from the filling location, then production facility requirements can be better matched and production capacities can be aligned, but logistics costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction facility requirements matchingVSAvoidlogistics costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the pouch handling process into distinct segments: assembly at the first location, collection in storage rails, transportation via manipulator, and filling at the remote location. This segmentation allows each location to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Storage rails act as an intermediary component between the assembly location and filling location. The rails collect and organize pouches into stable stacks, serving as a buffer that decouples the two locations and enables independent operation while reducing transportation complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If automated machines for high-volume mass production are employed, then production capacity increases, but facility complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction capacityVSAvoidfacility complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage rails are self-organizing structures that automatically form stable stacks of pouches without requiring complex control systems. The manipulator simply picks up pre-formed stacks and transports them, allowing the system to achieve high throughput through simple, reliable components rather than complex automated machinery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using complex automated systems to individually handle and transport each pouch, the system inverts the approach by collecting pouches into stable stacks first, then transporting the stacks as units. This reduces the complexity of the transportation system while maintaining high productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS10934038B2Pouch collection robot system and method for the assembly and collection of non-filled spouted pouches

Publication Date: 2021.03.02 SIG SERVICES AG

AI summary

The present invention relates to a pouch collection robot system (1) and method for the collection of non-filled spouted pouches (10) to be transported to a remote filling device. According to the invention, at least one pick and place robot unit (25) with a gripping device (28) is provided to pick up a non-filled spouted pouch (10) from a conveyor (5), and to place the non-filled spouted pouch (10) into alignment with one of a multiple of storage rails (21), allowing the non-filled spouted pouch to be placed into the storage rail.