Translucent Support Plate for Automated Storage Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing separating devices for automated storage facilities face complications in image processing and errors in detecting the orientation and position of piece goods due to light refraction on glass surfaces, and proposed solutions with diffusely scattered light sources are complex and unreliable.
Innovation Solution
A separating device with a light source that emits luminous beams perpendicular to the support surface, using a material that transmits and diffusely scatters light, allowing for accurate detection of piece goods' contours and orientations without shadowing, and a movable light source for efficient scanning of the surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a glass plate is used as support surface for transparent or translucent material, then the support surface allows light transmission for imaging, but light refraction on the boundary surfaces causes errors in detecting the orientation and position of piece goods
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful glass plate is completely removed from the system. The support surface is made directly from the translucent plate material itself, eliminating the interface between glass and light sources that causes refraction errors. This extraction of the problematic element resolves the contradiction by maintaining light transmission while eliminating refraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the support surface are changed from glass to a translucent plastic or polymer material that has different optical characteristics. This material change eliminates the refraction issues associated with glass while maintaining the necessary light transmission properties for imaging from below.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple light sources are arranged above the support to provide diffuse illumination, then the illumination covers the entire surface, but the structure becomes complicated and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple complex light sources, reflectors, and diffusers are completely removed and replaced with a single simple LED light source. This extraction eliminates the complicated structure while maintaining adequate illumination through the simplified single-source approach combined with the translucent plate material.
Solution Approach 2:
The translucent plate material itself serves the dual function of supporting the piece goods and transmitting light for imaging. This self-service property eliminates the need for complex external illumination systems, as the plate's inherent translucency works with the simple LED to provide sufficient lighting.
3Measurement precision
If a camera records images from below through the support surface, then the position and orientation can be detected, but shadowing effects occur with certain lighting arrangements
Solution Approach 1:
The complex multi-source illumination system that caused shadowing is removed and replaced with a single LED source positioned to illuminate from above. This extraction eliminates the shadowing problem while maintaining the ability to detect position and orientation through the translucent plate.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing light sources below the support surface (which would cause shadowing), the light source is inverted to be placed above the surface. This reversal of the lighting arrangement eliminates shadows while still allowing the camera to capture images from below through the translucent material.
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
This design reduces the probability of incorrectly detecting adjacent piece goods and allows for precise identification of both cuboid and cylindrical items, enhancing the accuracy and simplicity of the separating process.
Implementation Method 1
a light source (18) arranged above the support surface (5) and serving for exposing the support surface (5) with luminous beams incident on the support surface in a perpendicular fashion exclusively
Implementation Method 2
the plate (27) serves for transmitting and at the same time for scattering or deflecting the light of the light source (18) underneath the support surface (5) such that at least part of the light of the light source (18) is directed at the image recording device (23)
Implementation Method 3
a sensor (7) that is coupled to the control device (6) and detects an impact of piece goods (2) on the support surface (5)
Data Source
AI summary
A device for separating piece goods to be stored in an automated storage facility is provided. The device includes a conveyor for conveying piece goods from a stock to a support surface of a collecting device, a controller for controlling the conveyor, a sensor, to detect the striking of the support surface by piece goods. The detector has an imager, which produces at least one recording of the underside of the support. A handling device is configured to remove a piece good from the support surface for further transport into the storage facility is coupled to the controller, which is further configured to control the handler according to the information.