Universal Gripper With Adjustable Tines for Tote Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current order-fulfillment systems in supply chains face inefficiencies in transferring totes and sub-totes due to the need for specialized handling equipment for various configurations, which limits the flexibility and efficiency of goods transportation within distribution centers.
Innovation Solution
A universal gripper with adjustable pins and tines that can engage with different configurations of totes and sub-totes, using lifting tabs to secure and transport them, allowing for flexible handling and transfer of various sub-tote combinations and full totes using robots like Cartesian and six-axis robots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specialized handling equipment is used for various tote configurations, then the reliability of tote transfer is improved, but the device complexity and need for multiple equipment types increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper is designed with adjustable pins and tines that can be repositioned to accommodate different tote and sub-tote configurations, allowing a single device to perform multiple handling functions that previously required specialized equipment for each configuration type
Solution Approach 2:
The gripper incorporates movable pins and tines that can be dynamically adjusted during operation to match the specific configuration of the tote being handled, enabling the system to adapt to varying requirements without requiring multiple fixed specialized devices
2Reliability
If specialized handling equipment is used for different tote configurations, then the reliability of transfer is improved, but the productivity decreases due to limited flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
A single gripper design handles all tote and sub-tote configurations through adjustable components, eliminating the need to switch between specialized equipment and enabling continuous operation across different product types without reducing transfer reliability
3Adaptability or versatility
If a universal gripper with adjustable pins and tines is used, then the adaptability to different configurations is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper is divided into modular components including adjustable pins, tines with lifting tabs, and positioning mechanisms that can be independently adjusted, allowing complex adaptability to be achieved through coordinated simple modular elements rather than a monolithic complex structure
Data Source
AI summary
A universal gripper is disclosed for transferring totes and sub-totes, for example in an order fulfillment center. The universal gripper includes adjustable tines and pins capable of being positioned to engage within slots in the different configurations of totes and sub-totes.