Product Rearranging with Intermediate Rotation for Container Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rearranging devices struggle to efficiently orient products with non-symmetry elements, such as empty containers, due to mechanical limitations and handling constraints, often failing to achieve the desired orientation for all containers, especially when initial bulk arrangements obstruct access to the support face.
Innovation Solution
A rearranging device equipped with viewing means to detect product orientation, a control unit to process detection data, and movement means to either deposit products directly on a receiving area or rotate them using an orienting device, ensuring the support face aligns correctly with the receiving area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple handling element like a suction cup is used on the robot, then the device complexity is reduced and cost is lowered, but the orientation capability is limited and cannot achieve desired orientation for all containers
Solution Approach 1:
An orienting device with rotatable gripping elements acts as an intermediary between the robot and the final receiving area. The robot deposits containers on this intermediate device, which then rotates them to the correct orientation before transfer to the receiving area. This mediator resolves the conflict by allowing simple robot handling while achieving complex orientation requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The rearranging system is divided into separate functional modules: the robot for pickup and initial deposition, the orienting device for rotation and orientation adjustment, and the receiving area for final placement. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the robot remains simple while the orienting device handles the complex orientation task.
2Device complexity
If the robot's mechanical operating limits are constrained, then the device structure remains simple, but the working area is limited and cannot accommodate all container orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The orienting device introduces rotational movement as an additional dimension to the system. While the robot operates within its limited linear working area, the orienting device adds rotational capability around a vertical axis, effectively expanding the functional working area without requiring the robot to have a larger mechanical envelope.
3Ease of operation
If the suction cup engages on the support face for pickup, then the handling element can grasp the container, but the desired orientation cannot be achieved on deposition
Solution Approach 1:
The orienting device serves as a mediator that receives containers from the robot regardless of their initial orientation. It then actively rotates them to achieve the precise required orientation before final deposition, decoupling the simple pickup action from the precision deposition requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The orienting device performs preliminary rotation actions on containers before they are finalized on the receiving area. By pre-orienting all containers to the correct orientation during the intermediate stage, the system ensures precise final deposition without requiring complex robot control for orientation.
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 device effectively arranges products with non-symmetry elements in a predefined orientation, enhancing flexibility and affordability by adapting to various pick-up and deposit positions, ensuring precise and efficient orientation even when initial arrangements hinder direct deposition.
Implementation Method 1
the handling element comprises suction means, which preferably comprise at least one suction cup
Data Source
AI summary
A rearranging device for rearranging products is adapted to pick up the products from a supply area where they are randomly arranged and arrange them in a predefined way on a receiving area. The rearranging device includes viewing means to detect the orientation of the product and a control unit for processing the detected data and activating movement means adapted to pick up the product from the supply area. Depending on what is detected by the viewing means, the movement means receive from the control unit a command to deposit the product directly on the receiving area, or to deposit it on an orienting device configured to rotate the product, and release it, once rotated, on the receiving area.