Cabinet with integrated pick-and-place mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pick-and-place systems for medical consumables require time-consuming manual teaching processes to account for manufacturing variations, making the interaction between robotic arms and sub-systems inefficient.
Innovation Solution
Mechanical mounting structures with precise dimensions that enable robotic arms to automatically learn and update interaction points using sensors, such as optical sensors and gripping elements, to determine the actual positions of interface objects on sub-systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual teaching process is used to program robotic arm interaction points, then the robotic arm can be programmed to account for manufacturing variations, but the programming time becomes very time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical teaching process with an automated optical sensing system. The sensor mounted on the robotic arm's end effector automatically detects the position and orientation of interface objects using optical fields, eliminating the need for manual measurement and programming while maintaining high positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the robotic arm to automatically determine interaction points through sensor-based detection of interface objects. The interface objects contain machine-readable indicators that the sensor can read autonomously, allowing the system to self-program without external manual intervention.
2Reliability
If manual teaching is performed on each unit to account for manufacturing variations, then interaction accuracy is maintained, but the complexity and time required for setup increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual teaching procedures with an automated optical sensing system that reads machine-readable indicators on interface objects. This substitution maintains interaction accuracy while dramatically simplifying the setup process, as the sensor automatically captures position and orientation data without requiring manual measurement or programming expertise.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses machine-readable indicators (such as visual targets or coded markers) attached to interface objects as copies of the physical interaction points. The sensor reads these indicators to determine the precise location and orientation, creating a digital representation of the physical interface without requiring manual measurement and programming of each point.
3Productivity
If conventional pick-and-place systems are used without automated sensing, then the system structure remains simple, but the speed and efficiency of robotic arm programming decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical sensing system that replaces manual teaching methods, enabling rapid automatic determination of interaction points. The sensor mounted on the robotic arm's end effector reads machine-readable indicators on interface objects, dramatically increasing programming speed while adding only moderate system complexity through the integration of the sensor and indicator components.
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
Facilitates quick and accurate programming of robotic arms to interact with sub-systems, reducing the time needed for quality control checks and ensuring precise positioning of medical dosing systems.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor that is configured to optically determine the actual position of the interface object
Data Source
AI summary
A method of performing location teaching of a robotic arm includes maneuvering an end of arm tooling of a robotic arm to a predefined position of an interface object. The robotic arm is mounted within a mounting site of a mechanical mounting structure. The interface object is positioned on a sub-system of a medication dosing system that is mounted on the mechanical mounting structure. The interface object includes an alignment feature of a known size and shape. A sensor of the end of arm tooling is engaged with the interface object. An offset between the sensor and the interface object is determined based on an interaction between the sensor and the alignment feature. A position of the end of arm tooling is incremented with respect to the interface object along at least one axis. An actual position of the interface object is determined relative to the robotic arm.