Transparent Turntable for Parallel Package Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for identifying, measuring, and positioning pharmaceutical packages have low throughput and limited flexibility, especially when handling large quantities, due to sequential feeding and processing limitations.
Innovation Solution
A device with an optically transparent turntable and rotary drive, coupled with multiple optical reading devices and conveyor systems, allows for simultaneous identification, measurement, and positioning of pharmaceutical packages, enabling flexible arrangement and storage in a storage area accessible in multiple directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sequential feeding and processing is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the processing function by separating identification (first optical reading device below turntable) and measurement (second optical reading device at side) operations, allowing them to occur simultaneously on different surfaces of the same package without increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the vertical dimension by positioning reading devices both below and at the side of the turntable, enabling multi-surface scanning of packages in different orientations simultaneously, thereby increasing throughput without requiring additional horizontal processing stations
2Measurement precision
If multiple reading devices are added, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Both the first and second optical reading devices are multi-functional units that can detect both identifiers and dimensional information (X, Y, Z dimensions). This universality allows precise measurement without requiring separate specialized devices for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
3Productivity
If sequential processing is used, then ease of operation is maintained, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device automatically coordinates the operations of multiple reading devices, the turntable rotation, and the conveyor system without requiring manual intervention. The system self-manages the complex simultaneous operations, maintaining ease of operation while dramatically increasing processing speed through parallel identification and measurement of multiple packages
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
The solution significantly increases processing speed and flexibility by enabling simultaneous handling and storage of multiple packages, improving throughput and storage efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a first optical reading device arranged in the Z direction below the turntable and coupled to the control device for detecting the X, Y dimensions of the piece of goods resting on the support surface and an identifier on a side surface of the piece of goods lying thereon facing the support surface
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device and a method for identifying, measuring and positioning unit loads, which have an increased throughput of unit loads compared to known devices and methods.The device comprises an optically transparent rotary table (10) with a support surface (11) extending in the X and Y directions of the device for unit loads, a first conveying device (30) for arranging a unit load on the support surface (11) of the rotary table (10), a first optical reading device (61) arranged below the rotary table (10) for detecting the dimensions of a unit load and an identifier, a second optical reading device (62) for detecting the height of a unit load resting on the support surface (11) and an identifier, a storage area (51) arranged downstream of the rotary table (10) for a plurality of unit loads, and a second conveying device (40) with a gripping means (35, 45) for unit loads, wherein the gripping means (35, 45) is movable over the storage area (51) at least in one X and Y direction such that unit loads can be moved in the X and/or Y directions. Y-direction can be arranged side by side in the storage area.