Adjustable Serving Robot Tray Mounting for Variable Food Sizes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing serving robots have a fixed tray spacing that does not accommodate varying food sizes, leading to unnecessary space waste and limited functionality.
Innovation Solution
A serving robot with a vertical frame and adjustable tray fastening system, including a load cell and optical sensors to sense tray weight and position, allowing customizable tray placement and secure food transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a constant spacing between trays is used in existing serving robots, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it causes unnecessary waste of space and limits the use of lower trays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adjustable tray spacing by making the tray positioning dynamic rather than fixed. The support bracket can be positioned at multiple heights along the vertical frame, allowing the tray spacing to be changed according to different serving needs. This resolves the contradiction by enabling adaptability while keeping the adjustment mechanism relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical frame is divided into multiple sections with fastening portions at different heights, allowing independent positioning of trays at various levels. This segmentation enables flexible spacing configuration without requiring a completely complex reconfigurable structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensors and load cells are added to enable flexible tray positioning and sensing, then the functionality and adaptability improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensor serves multiple functions: detecting tray presence, detecting article presence on the tray, and potentially detecting tray position. The load cell similarly provides both weight measurement and stability information. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing tray structure and fastening portions as part of the sensing mechanism. The optical sensor utilizes the tray's physical presence to generate detectable signals, and the load cell integrates with the tray support structure. This self-service approach minimizes additional complex 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
Enables flexible tray positioning for various food sizes, ensures stable transport by sensing weight changes, and prevents food displacement during movement.
Implementation Method 1
a load cell that is coupled to the tray plate and senses a change in a weight of an article positioned on the tray plate
Implementation Method 2
an optical sensor exposed via the sensor hole, and the optical sensor may sense a change on the tray plate
Implementation Method 3
The tray cover layer may include a material having a high friction force or may be subjected to a surface treatment for increasing the friction force
Data Source
AI summary
A serving robot comprises: a traveling unit; a vertical frame positioned on the upper part of the traveling unit and extending in the vertical direction; a plurality of coupling units positioned in the vertical frame so as to be spaced in the vertical direction; a support bracket fixed to one of the plurality of coupling units; a tray plate comprising a flat upper surface; a first coupling bracket positioned on the lower part of the tray plate; and a second coupling bracket positioned on the upper surface of the support bracket and being formed so as to be coupled to the first coupling bracket. The serving robot enables a user to freely change the position of a tray as necessary, thereby enabling carrying foods of various sizes.