Slide Scanner Auto-Teaching for Precise Gripper Position Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slide scanners face issues with accuracy in transferring slides due to errors in the movement position of the gripper, leading to potential damage and improper loading/unloading of slides.
Innovation Solution
A slide scanner equipped with a gripper that includes a teaching jig with detection parts to correct the movement position, utilizing a controller to set control references based on detection signals, and an auto-teaching method to determine and adjust the gripper's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the gripper transfers the slide automatically, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to movement position errors
Solution Approach 1:
The detection part detects the actual position of the teaching point, and the controller compares this detected position with the predetermined teaching point position to calculate position errors. This feedback mechanism enables automatic correction of movement position errors in the X, Y, and Z directions, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while preserving automatic slide transfer productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system corrects movement position parameters by adjusting the control reference based on detected position errors. The controller modifies the movement parameters (position coordinates in X, Y, Z directions) of the gripper to compensate for errors, thereby improving manufacturing precision without sacrificing automatic operation capability.
2Device complexity
If the gripper moves without position correction, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to potential slide damage
Solution Approach 1:
The detection part provides real-time feedback on the gripper's actual position during slide transfer operations. The controller uses this feedback to calculate position errors and automatically adjust movement commands, ensuring the gripper reaches the correct position accurately. This prevents slide damage from positioning errors while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary position correction by detecting teaching points before actual slide transfer operations. The controller pre-calculates and stores corrected movement parameters based on detected position errors, so that when slides are transferred, the already-corrected parameters ensure reliable and safe operation without requiring complex real-time adjustments during critical transfer operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment relates to a slide scanner including an image capturing part configured to capture an image of a slide, and a loader including a gripper configured to grip the slide and load the slide onto the image capturing part or unload the slide loaded onto the image capturing part, in which the gripper is configured to grip a teaching jig including at least one detection part, and in which the slide scanner further includes a controller configured to control the loader so that the teaching jig moves to a teaching point at a predetermined position, the controller being configured to set a control reference for the loader by receiving a signal indicating that the detection part of the teaching jig is detected to be in contact with or in proximity to the teaching point.