Adjustable Railing Locking Profile Single-Handed Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable railing devices for conveying paths, such as those used for bottles, require operators to use both hands for adjustments, making them cumbersome and time-consuming, and lack easy handling despite their adjustability.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable railing device with a locking profile and holding arrangement allows for secure locking in one direction while enabling easy adjustment in the other, using a rotatable operation device to disengage and re-engage the fixing element, and a signalizing element to indicate engagement status, facilitating single-handed operation and quick adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixing element with spring engagement is used to secure the adjustment rod, then the railing position is securely locked, but the operator needs to use both hands for adjustment and the adjustment process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing element is designed to automatically engage with the locking profile when the adjustment rod is positioned, eliminating the need for manual intervention to secure the position. The spring-loaded design causes automatic engagement upon insertion, and the holding arrangement maintains engagement without requiring operator attention during adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism is divided into independent functional components: the adjustment rod for positioning, the fixing element for securing, and the holding arrangement for maintaining disengagement. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall operation.
2Reliability
If the fixing element is always engaged to prevent unintended movement, then the railing is securely fixed, but the adjustment process requires two hands and becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The holding arrangement is pre-configured to automatically release the fixing element when the adjustment rod is inserted, preparing the system for quick adjustment. The spring is pre-compressed to provide immediate engagement force, and the holding arrangement is positioned to automatically arrest the fixing element in the disengaged position during adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions between static locked states and dynamic adjustment states seamlessly. The spring-loaded fixing element can quickly transition from engaged to disengaged position, and the holding arrangement dynamically arrests the fixing element in the disengaged position during adjustment, then releases it for locking.
3Ease of operation
If a simple adjustment mechanism is used, then the device is easy to handle, but the adjustability and locking reliability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The locking profile on the adjustment rod acts as an intermediary between the simple adjustment motion and the secure locking function. It provides the geometric interface that guides the fixing element into precise engagement positions while maintaining a simple overall adjustment mechanism.
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
Enables easy and fast adjustment of the railing's position without worrying about the engagement mechanism, preventing unintended movement in one direction while allowing quick adjustments in the other, thus improving handling efficiency and reducing operational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a spring (19) surrounding the fixing element (11) and urging the fixing element (11) towards the adjustment rod (7)
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to an adjustable railing device (3) for adjusting the position of a railing (5) defining a border of a conveying path on which goods, in particular bottles, are conveyed. The adjustable railing device (3) comprises an adjustment rod (7) connected to the railing, a support (8) guiding the adjustment rod, and engagement means (10), which are capable of releasably locking the adjustment rod's position relative to the support. In order to provide, preferably in an easy manner, an adjustable railing device which can be amended easily although it has a good adjustability, it is suggested to provide a holding arrangement by means of which a fixing element (11), which can be engaged with a locking profile (17) of the adjustment rod (7), can be arrested in a disengagement position in which it is disengaged from said locking profile. It is also possible to adapt the engagement means in a manner in which they allow a movement of the adjustment rod in one adjustment direction while securely locking it in another adjustment direction.