Adjustable Pot-Holding System for Secure Shelving and Easy Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for holding a row of individual pots are inefficient for shelving and picking up, as they either hold the pots too tightly or not tightly enough, and are not easily adaptable to different collar orientations, leading to difficulties in shelving and access.
Innovation Solution
A pot-holding system with a pot-holding assembly and a pot-unlocking assembly that allows for adjustable gripping and counter-support surfaces, enabling secure shelving and easy release of individual pots, using U-shaped blanks made of cardboard that can be folded to surround the pots and facilitate handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pot-holding assembly with gripping surfaces is used to hold individual pots, then the pots are securely held for shelving, but the pots are difficult to release and access
Solution Approach 1:
The locking assembly is designed to be movable relative to the holding assembly, allowing it to transition between a locked position (where gripping surfaces hold pots securely) and an unlocked position (where pots can be easily accessed). This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between secure holding and easy access.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the holding assembly and the pots. By introducing this intermediate element, the system achieves both secure holding (through the holding assembly) and easy access (through the locking assembly's ability to release the gripping surfaces).
2Device complexity
If a fixed pot-holding assembly is used, then the structure is simple and cost-effective, but it cannot adapt to different collar orientations of pots
Solution Approach 1:
The holding assembly incorporates movable gripping surfaces that can adjust their position and orientation. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to different collar orientations (upper, lower, or lateral) while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure and cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding assembly is designed with universal gripping surfaces that can accommodate multiple collar orientations. This multi-functionality allows a single device structure to serve multiple purposes (holding pots with collars in different positions) without requiring separate specialized assemblies for each orientation.
3Productivity
If boxes or racks with low vertical flanges are used to hold pots, then large quantities of pots can be shelved simultaneously, but single rows of pots are difficult to handle and pots may fall out
Solution Approach 1:
The holding system is segmented into a holding assembly and a locking assembly that work together. The holding assembly provides the structural framework for shelving, while the locking assembly provides individual pot containment through adjustable gripping surfaces, ensuring pots remain secure whether shelving single rows or large quantities.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping surfaces provide localized containment force at specific points where pots contact the holding assembly. This local quality of gripping force ensures individual pot stability within the larger shelving structure, preventing pots from falling out during simultaneous shelving operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Holding system (2) for a row (3) of individual pots (4), intended to facilitate shelving of a row of individual pots that are aligned in a longitudinal direction (X), with the pots (4) being of the type that has a bottom wall (5), a side wall (6) that is closed on itself, and a collar (8) at one end (4a, 4b) of the pot. The system includes a pot-holding assembly (10), extending in a longitudinal direction (X), and including a large number of gripping surfaces (12) that can exert a support on the collars (8) of the pots (4) of a row of individual pots, a large number of gripping counter-surfaces (13) that can exert a counter-support on the pots (4) of the row of individual pots such that the pots are sandwiched and held between the gripping surfaces (12) and the gripping counter-surfaces (13) of the pot-holding assembly.