I'm endeavoring to prototype a challenging sorting mechanism inside a fridge and would appreciate any tips on how to get from the specs to a plausible design.

#Problem

The aim of the game is to identify and sort food items in the limited space of a fridge

- such that a user would push their unsorted shopping into a chamber at the top of the enclosure
- and the machine inside would then try to identify the contents with help of bar-codes (first big problem)
- and then sort and move the items according to their identities into different chambers below (second big problem).

#Solution?

Are there any existing devices that already serve such functions (automatic bar-coding and sorting), the designs of which could perhaps inform the mechanics of the device I'm planning to construct?

- I'm thinking maybe manufacturing plants
- or packing factories with conveyor belts etc may use systems that already solve such problems?
- Or filtering mechanisms in candy dispensers,
- mechanized lifting forks?
- Textbook engineering mechanisms?


Thanks!
k

 

I see two major problems: First, the barcode could be anywhere on the product, including the bottom where the scanner can't see it. Second, the space required to move things around will reduce the space available in the refrigerator.