Robotic arm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic arms in professional kitchen environments are large and intrusive, posing safety hazards and are problematic during power outages, as they may drop cooking appliances due to loss of electrical power.
Innovation Solution
A robotic arm arrangement with a transportation means allowing horizontal and vertical movement, equipped with magnets to safely engage and move food product containers, including a linear actuator and conveyor belts for automated operation, and an electropermanent magnet for secure engagement and release, reducing the risk of accidents and power-related issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional robotic arms are used in professional kitchens, then automated food handling capability is provided, but safety hazards increase due to large size and intrusiveness in the kitchen environment
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system is divided into separate functional modules: a robotic arm for movement, a gripper for engagement, and a cooking appliance holder. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while reducing the overall intrusiveness in the kitchen environment.
Solution Approach 2:
A magnetic field is introduced as an intermediary between the robotic gripper and the cooking appliance. The electromagnet provides contactless engagement and holding force, eliminating the need for direct mechanical contact and reducing safety hazards associated with mechanical grippers in proximity to food preparation areas.
2Extent of automation
If conventional electromagnetic grippers are used, then automated engagement of cooking appliances is achieved, but reliability decreases during power outages due to loss of electrical power
Solution Approach 1:
A spring mechanism is pre-loaded to provide a default holding force on the cooking appliance. When power is available, the electromagnet assists the spring in maintaining the held position. When power fails, the spring automatically maintains engagement pressure, preventing the cooking appliance from dropping. This preliminary anti-action counteracts the potential failure mode of electromagnetic grippers during power outages.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism acts as a cushioning element that stores mechanical energy in advance. This stored energy provides a backup holding force that compensates for the loss of electrical power, ensuring continuous reliable engagement of the cooking appliance even during power outages.
3Strength
If larger robotic arms are used to improve gripping capability, then engagement strength increases, but device complexity and intrusiveness in the kitchen environment worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical gripping system is replaced with a magnetic field-based engagement system. Instead of using large mechanical grippers that require complex actuation mechanisms, an electromagnet provides the necessary holding force through magnetic attraction, significantly reducing the size and complexity of the robotic arm while maintaining or improving engagement strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement mechanism transitions from mechanical contact forces to magnetic field forces. By changing the fundamental physical parameter from mechanical pressure to magnetic attraction, the system achieves equivalent or superior gripping capability with a smaller, less complex robotic structure that is less intrusive in the kitchen environment.
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 robotic arm arrangement enables safe, non-intrusive, and automated movement of food product containers, reducing manual labor costs and accident risks while ensuring secure handling during power outages by using electropermanent magnets.
Implementation Method 1
an operating arm comprising at least one magnet configured to engage the product container
Implementation Method 2
an electropermanent magnet for secure engagement and release
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 2c
AI summary
There is provided an operating arm arrangement (100) and a food preparation system (400). The operating arm arrangement is configured for moving a product container configured to hold food products and comprises a transportation means extending in a first, substantially horizontal, direction (HD). The operating arm arrangement (100) further comprises an operating arm (120) comprising at least one magnet (125) configured to engage the product container. The operating arm is movably attached to the transportation means and the transportation means is configured to actuate a movement of the operating arm in a second, substantially vertical direction, such that the product container can be moved by the operating arm.