Rotary Tray Transfer System for Automated Item Handling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Manual transfer of items from trays to item processing apparatuses is time-consuming, imprecise, and prone to errors, leading to processing delays and potential damage to items during sorting and other processing operations.
Innovation Solution
A tray content transfer system comprising a frame, tray rotary assembly, intermediate rotary assembly, and output rotary assembly, with a controller that coordinates a sequence of rotational and translational motions to securely transfer items from a tray to an output location, such as a shelf associated with an item processing apparatus, using movable fingers and paddles to ensure accurate and efficient transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual transfer of items from trays to item processing apparatuses is used, then operation simplicity is maintained, but transfer efficiency is low and error rate is high
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer system is divided into multiple rotary assemblies (tray rotary assembly, intermediate rotary assembly, output rotary assembly), each handling a specific portion of the transfer process. This segmentation allows automated high-speed transfer while keeping each component manageable in complexity
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate rotary assembly is introduced as a mediator between the tray rotary assembly and the output rotary assembly. This intermediate component facilitates smooth item transfer through controlled handoff, improving overall transfer efficiency while distributing system complexity across multiple specialized components
2Manufacturing precision
If manual transfer is used, then device complexity is low, but transfer precision is poor and item damage risk is high
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs movable fingers on both the intermediate and output rotary assemblies that can dynamically adjust their positions. These fingers move to precisely engage and support items during transfer, ensuring high transfer precision while using relatively simple mechanical components
Solution Approach 2:
The controller coordinates the rotation and finger movement of all rotary assemblies based on real-time system state, ensuring precise item transfer. This centralized control provides the necessary precision without requiring complex mechanical linkages in each component
3Speed
If automated transfer system is implemented, then transfer speed increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple rotary assemblies are merged into a coordinated system where the tray rotary assembly, intermediate rotary assembly, and output rotary assembly work together. This merging allows high-speed automated transfer while each individual rotary assembly remains a relatively simple rotating platform with finger mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
An automated system for transferring articles from a container. An item transfer system includes a rotatable tray rotary assembly, a translatable and rotatable intermediate rotary assembly, and a translatable and rotatable output rotary assembly. The system is configured to transfer articles from the tray to processing equipment by an automated process including rotationally transferring the articles from the tray to the intermediate rotary assembly and rotationally transferring the articles from the intermediate rotary assembly to the output rotary assembly. The output rotary assembly can move to align with a shelf or other input of the processing equipment and a paddle assembly can slide the items from the output rotary assembly onto the shelf or other input of the processing equipment.