Collapsible Crate With Movable Dividing Member For Beverage Can Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current collection systems for beverage cans face inefficiencies due to residual liquid causing operational problems in collection machines, leading to increased cleaning requirements and malfunctions, especially as the popularity of beverage cans rises.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible crate with a planar base, outer walls, and a movable dividing member that defines columnar zones for upright can storage, allowing efficient collection, transportation, and processing of multiple cans while preventing liquid spillage, and facilitating easy cleaning and reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If collection machines process one beverage can at a time like individual bottles, then the system can handle cans without requiring complex crate structures, but residual liquid in the cans causes operational problems, increased cleaning requirements, and frequent malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the collection process by introducing crates that group multiple cans together for simultaneous processing. The dividing members within crates further segment the can storage into columnar zones, organizing cans in groups rather than handling them individually, thereby improving collection efficiency while maintaining machine reliability through standardized batch processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces crates as intermediary containers between the consumer and the collection machine. These crates serve as a buffer that holds multiple cans and transports them to the collection point, allowing the machine to process standardized batches rather than dealing with individual cans, thus improving both productivity and reliability
2Ease of operation
If the crate is designed with dividing members to define columnar zones for upright can storage, then liquid spillage is prevented and cans are stored orderly, but the crate structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The dividing members are designed as thin, planar elements that can be easily manufactured and assembled. These thin film-like structures create the necessary columnar zones for upright can storage without adding significant structural complexity or weight to the crate
Solution Approach 2:
The dividing members serve multiple functions: they define columnar zones for organizing cans, prevent liquid spillage by maintaining upright orientation, and can be collapsed flat for compact storage and transport. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity despite the added structural elements
3Volume of moving object
If the crate is made collapsible for compact transport and storage, then space efficiency is improved, but the mechanism for collapsing and expanding the crate adds complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The crate incorporates dynamic elements including collapsible outer walls and movable dividing members that can transition between deployed and collapsed positions. This dynamic design allows the crate to adapt its volume for efficient transport while maintaining structural integrity during use, with the added benefit that the same mechanisms serve both expansion and collapse functions
4Productivity
If multiple cans are collected in a single crate for batch processing, then collection efficiency is improved, but the crate must be large enough to hold multiple cans which increases its size for transport
Solution Approach 1:
The collapsible design allows the crate to expand to accommodate multiple cans during collection and then collapse to a compact form for transport and storage. This dynamic volume adjustment enables batch processing efficiency while minimizing the volume that needs to be transported when the crate is empty
Solution Approach 2:
The internal dividing members segment the crate into columnar zones that efficiently pack multiple cans in a compact arrangement. This segmentation allows maximum can capacity within a minimized external volume, improving batch processing efficiency without proportionally increasing transport volume
Data Source
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AI summary
A crate (1) for transporting a plurality of beverage cans is disclosed herein. The crate comprises a planar base (2) and at least one outer wall (4), jointly defining an inner space (7) for containing the plurality of beverage cans. The crate further comprises at least one dividing member (8) arranged in the inner space to define a plurality of columnar zones (9) for inserting and storing the beverage cans respectively therein. The dividing member is planar, extends parallel to the base and is movable within the inner space between a deployed position, in which the dividing member defines the plurality of columnar zones, and a collapsed position for collapsing the crate.