Robotic Gripper With Driven Belts for Produce Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mechanical systems for picking fruits and vegetables are labor-intensive, prone to errors, and often damage produce due to inconsistent force application and size incompatibility, making it difficult to handle produce of varying sizes and environments.
Innovation Solution
A robotic gripper system with a base, retractable belt-driven fingers, and a controller that allows for precise movement and force adjustment, enabling the gripper to accurately pick and manipulate objects of different sizes without causing damage, even when misaligned.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical systems are used to pick produce, then picking speed and efficiency are improved, but the produce is often damaged due to inconsistent force application
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical system uses spring-loaded fingers that automatically adjust the gripping force based on the produce size and fragility. The springs provide a compliant mechanical response that adapts to different objects, preventing damage while maintaining picking speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state of the gripping mechanism from rigid to compliant by introducing spring elements. This parameter change allows the fingers to exert variable force depending on the produce characteristics, reducing damage while maintaining efficiency.
2Measurement precision
If mechanical systems are calibrated for one size of produce, then picking accuracy for that size is improved, but the system becomes ill-suited for produce of other sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded finger mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides consistent gripping force for different sized produce, accommodates various shapes through its compliant structure, and maintains adaptability across different produce types without requiring recalibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic spring mechanism allows the gripping force and finger position to automatically adapt to different produce sizes. The system transitions from a fixed calibration state to a dynamic adaptation state where the springs compress or extend based on the object being picked.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual labor is used to pick produce, then handling of various sizes and conditions is improved, but labor intensity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded mechanical system serves itself by automatically adjusting to different produce sizes and conditions without human intervention. The springs provide self-regulating force, eliminating the need for operators to manually adjust settings while maintaining the adaptability of manual handling.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus including a base, a plurality of fingers coupled to the base and arranged to define a containment area, where each finger includes a mechanical assembly defining a belt path, a belt positioned within the belt path, and a drive motor configured to operate the belt, and a controller configured to operate the drive motors to move the belts in a retract direction to move an external object into the containment area is provided. Related methods and systems are also provided.