Tray Guide Chamfer Alignment for Precise Station Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transfer systems face challenges in accurately positioning trays at stations due to structural and non-structural errors, leading to uncertainties in placing objects, such as vials, during manufacturing processes.

Innovation Solution

A transfer system design incorporating a tray with first and second guides featuring chamfered surfaces and a mobile apparatus with a holder and gripper that corrects positional errors using chamfered surfaces to align the tray at a station, utilizing a marker for precise positioning and a SLAM algorithm for navigation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a mobile apparatus transfers trays to stations, then productivity is improved through automated object transfer, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to structural and non-structural errors causing positional uncertainties

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated object transferVSAvoidpositional accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The guide structure on the tray and station work together to automatically correct positioning errors. When the tray approaches the station, the guide surfaces self-align through geometric constraints, eliminating the need for external correction mechanisms and maintaining precision despite mobile apparatus errors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The guide structure acts as an intermediary element between the mobile apparatus and the station. It receives the tray from the mobile apparatus and uses its geometric surfaces to correct positional deviations before placing the tray at the final destination, isolating the precision requirement from the mobile apparatus

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If chamfered surfaces with specific curvature are used to correct positional errors, then manufacturing precision is improved through error compensation, but device complexity increases due to additional guide structures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositional accuracyVSAvoidguide structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making the entire mobile apparatus complex with multiple sensors and correction mechanisms, the patent applies the correction function locally at the transfer interface through simple chamfered guide surfaces on the tray and station, achieving precision where it is most needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than actively controlling the mobile apparatus to achieve precise positioning, the patent inverts the approach by designing passive guide structures that automatically correct errors after the tray is placed, transforming an active control problem into a passive geometric solution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS20260028212A1Transfer system

Publication Date: 2026.01.29 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A transfer system includes a tray configured to accommodate an object, the tray including a first guide comprising a first base surface, a first side surface, and a first curved chamfered surface between the first base surface and the first side surface, a station including at least one second guide including a second base surface, a second side surface, and a second curved chamfered surface between the second base surface and the second side surface, and a mobile apparatus configured to provide the tray to the station, the mobile apparatus including a holder configured to hold the tray, and a gripper configured to engage with the holder.