Rail-Guided Beverage Robot for Stable Open-Top Vessel Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing robots face challenges in efficiently handling and transporting open-top vessels, such as cups and barrels, due to issues like spilling liquids and bottlenecks in manufacturing processes, especially in cost and space-constrained environments like food and beverage preparation, where traditional robots are often too expensive and space-intensive.

Innovation Solution

A robotic system comprising a controller, rails, a gantry, actuators, and position sensors that allow for the precise movement of open-top vessels along a planar surface with two or three degrees of freedom, enabling asynchronous and dynamic non-linear movement between workstations, reducing contact with robotic parts and minimizing space and cost.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If traditional robots are used for handling open-top vessels, then automation capability is improved, but cost and space consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation capabilityVSAvoidcost and space

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The robotic system is divided into modular components: a mobile robot base, a separate gantry system with rails, and interchangeable end effectors. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and reduces overall system complexity and cost while maintaining automation capability for handling open-top vessels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If conventional robotic arms are used to transport vessels, then handling capability is improved, but liquid spillage increases due to instability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling capabilityVSAvoidliquid spillage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces conventional mechanical robotic arms with a gantry system that moves along fixed rails. This rail-guided mechanism provides superior stability and precision during vessel transport, minimizing liquid spillage while maintaining ease of operation through automated control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If manual handling of open-top vessels is used, then system cost is reduced, but productivity and manufacturing efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem costVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile robot autonomously navigates to vessels, the gantry system automatically transports them along rails, and the end effector independently performs handling operations. This self-service automation eliminates manual labor while maintaining cost-effectiveness and significantly improves productivity in vessel handling operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11628578B2Reducing cost and size of food and beverage preparation robots

Publication Date: 2023.04.18 TRUEBIRD INC

AI summary

Provided is an alimentary-product assembling and dispensing device comprising: a plurality of alimentary-ingredient dispensers positioned to dispense respective ingredients in a plurality of different locations of a robotic work environment; a robot configured to receive an open-top vessel from an open-top-vessel dispenser and move the open-top vessel to the different locations to receive different ingredients from the plurality of alimentary-ingredient dispensers, wherein the robot comprises four or fewer degrees of freedom; and a vending aperture through which consumers retrieve vended alimentary products assembled by the robot from ingredients dispensed from the plurality of alimentary-ingredient dispensers.