Rotatable Pallet Robot Integrating Stacking and Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial palletizing robots require additional manual labor and external packaging devices to wrap stacked goods in protective plastic film, making the process costly and not fully automatic.
Innovation Solution
A palletizing robot system comprising a crane with an extensible mechanical hand and a rotatable pallet controlled by a controller, which can automatically stack and package goods by rotating the pallet to apply a protective plastic film around the stacked items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an extra packaging device is used to wrap stacked goods in protective plastic film, then the goods are protected during transport and storage, but the device complexity and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the stacking function and packaging function into a single integrated robot system. The robot arm stacks goods onto the rotating platform, and the same platform then rotates to present the goods to the packaging device, eliminating the need for separate manual packaging operations and reducing overall system complexity despite maintaining protection functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating platform serves multiple functions: it acts as both the stacking surface for arranging goods in layers and the rotating mechanism for presenting goods to the packaging device. This multi-functional component reduces the need for additional dedicated packaging equipment
2Ease of operation
If manual labor is used to package stacked goods, then the packaging can be performed flexibly, but the productivity and automation level decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The robot arm performs preliminary stacking actions by arranging goods in layers on the rotating platform according to a predetermined sequence. This preliminary arrangement creates an organized structure that can then be efficiently packaged automatically, combining the flexibility of programmed stacking with automated packaging operations
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating platform automatically presents the stacked goods to the packaging device through rotation, eliminating the need for manual intervention in the packaging process. The system serves itself by using the stacking mechanism's own rotation capability to facilitate packaging
3Ease of manufacture
If goods are stacked and then packaged separately by extra devices, then the stacking process is simple, but the overall process time and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating platform enables continuous operation by simultaneously serving as the stacking surface and the packaging presentation mechanism. While the robot arm stacks goods on one side of the platform, the platform rotates to bring previously stacked goods to the packaging position, allowing overlapping operations that reduce total process time without complicating the stacking procedure
Data Source
AI summary
A palletizing robot includes at least one rotatable pallet; a crane comprising a rotary base, a lifting frame fixed on the rotary base, and an extensible mechanical hand slidably engaged to the lifting frame to grasp a good; and a controller. The controller controls the crane and the at least one rotatable pallet to cooperatively stack the goods on the rotatable pallet, and control the at least one rotatable pallet to rotate itself to package the stacked goods.