ATM Shipping Pallet with Segmented Base and Leveling Legs
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for shipping and installing Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) often result in damage due to external impact during transportation and require expensive equipment and labor for lifting, posing risks to the machine and personnel.
Innovation Solution
A shipping and installation apparatus featuring a pallet with separable components and vertically adjustable support devices that allow for secure transportation, easy disassembly, and rapid installation using standard lifting devices, including the use of polyethylene foam for shock absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ATM is secured to a rigid shipping pallet for protection and stability during transport, then the ATM is protected during shipping, but the ATM cannot be easily removed and requires expensive lifting equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The pallet is divided into multiple separable components (base, sides, top) that can be easily disassembled. This allows the ATM to remain securely attached during shipping while enabling quick removal at the destination by simply taking apart the pallet sections rather than lifting the entire assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment mechanism transitions from a fixed rigid connection during shipping to a separable configuration during installation. The pallet components are designed to be dynamically reconfigurable - securely fastened during transport but easily separated at the destination, adapting to different operational phases.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid pallet is used for shipping, then stability is provided during transport, but expensive equipment and manpower are required for lifting
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the pallet into removable components, the system eliminates the need for heavy lifting equipment. Workers can simply disassemble the pallet sections and place them aside, avoiding the requirement for expensive cranes or hoists that would be needed if the entire rigid structure had to be lifted.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution extracts the essential function of stability from the complete rigid pallet structure. During shipping, the assembled pallet provides stability; during installation, the individual components are taken out and placed separately, eliminating the need for lifting the entire structure.
3Reliability
If the ATM is firmly secured to the pallet for protection, then damage is prevented during shipping, but the installation process becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The pallet is segmented into modular components that can be quickly disassembled. This allows the ATM to remain firmly protected during shipping while enabling rapid installation by simply separating the pallet sections, reducing installation time from hours to minutes.
Solution Approach 2:
The pallet components are designed to be easily discarded (separated) after serving their protective function during shipping. The components can be quickly removed and set aside, allowing the installation process to proceed rapidly without complex unsecuring operations.
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
This solution reduces the time, material, and equipment needed for ATM installation, enabling a single worker to complete the process in approximately ten minutes with hand tools, while minimizing damage and ensuring safety.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of exemplary pallet components may further include pallet components of a cushioning material such as polyethylene foam to provide shock absorbing characteristics during the shipping and installation process.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for the shipping and installation of an ATM. The ATM comprises leveling legs. A pallet includes a plurality of readily separable components and a plurality of component fasteners. The pallet further comprises bracket openings which align with the leveling legs allowing vertical movement of the leveling legs therethrough. The leveling legs are extendable in the openings to lift and support the ATM from an underlying floor surface, allowing the underlying pallet to be disassembled. The ATM can be leveled using the leveling legs.