Retail Product Manipulation Tool for Automated Container Retrieval
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Automated storage and retrieval machines face challenges in securely and efficiently retrieving products from close-packed configurations on shelves, where only a limited portion of the container is accessible, due to the close-packed nature of products and containers, which impedes automation and risks damage to the containers during handling.
Innovation Solution
The automated storage and retrieval machine is equipped with a product manipulation tool that includes a stabilizing device to secure the container from above, a securing mechanism to physically grasp and lift the container, and a support structure to insert underneath the container to support its load, allowing for safe and efficient retrieval from horizontal surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a robotic arm directly grasps containers from close-packed shelves, then retrieval speed increases, but container damage risk increases and handling reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary product manipulation tool between the robotic arm and the container. This tool includes a stabilizing device that contacts the container top surface and a support structure that inserts underneath the container, serving as a mediator to safely transfer and support the container during retrieval operations, thereby preventing direct grasping damage while maintaining retrieval efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The manipulation tool is segmented into distinct functional components: a stabilizing device for securing the container top, a support structure for bearing the container weight, and a securing mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, with the stabilizing device preventing tipping and the support structure providing load-bearing capacity, thus reducing overall damage risk while maintaining speed
2Reliability
If multiple manipulation tools are used to handle containers safely, then container protection improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple protective functions into a single integrated manipulation tool. The stabilizing device, support structure, and securing mechanism are combined in one tool assembly that attaches to the robotic arm, allowing the system to provide comprehensive container protection without requiring multiple separate tools or complex coordinated operations, thus improving protection while controlling overall complexity
3Manufacturing precision
If containers are securely grasped from close-packed configurations, then retrieval accuracy improves, but the difficulty of accessing containers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manipulation tool addresses the accessibility problem by operating in multiple dimensions. The stabilizing device contacts the container top surface from above, while the support structure inserts underneath the container from below. This multi-dimensional approach allows the tool to securely grasp containers in close-packed configurations by engaging them at both top and bottom, improving retrieval accuracy while overcoming the limited accessibility caused by close-packing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4C
AI summary
A product manipulation tool for interacting with products and containers at, for example, a retail facility includes a securing mechanism (180) to secure an exposed portion of the container with respect to a horizontal surface such as a shelf, a stabilizing device (210) to stabilize the container with respect to the horizontal surface prior to securing the container and a support structure (220) for insertion underneath the container to support the load. The stabilizing mechanism may lift or tilt the container prior to insertion of the support structure. The product manipulation tool may be disposed on a mobile unit configured for locomotion about the retail facility.