Collapsible Crate With Movable Front Wall For Egg Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current metal crates used for transporting egg cartons are expensive, prone to rust, not recyclable, and require labor for handling as they need to be unloaded from shelves, making them inefficient for store display and reuse.
Innovation Solution
A crate design with a selectively moveable front wall that can be retracted for access, allowing for easy customer access and subsequent reuse by collapsing the side and rear walls onto a base for efficient storage and transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If metal crates are used for transporting and displaying egg cartons, then the crates provide durable containment and structural support, but they require labor for unloading from shelves and are prone to rust and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The front wall is made movable between a closed position (for transport) and an open position (for display and access). This dynamic structure allows the crate to automatically provide customer access when opened, eliminating the need for labor to unload individual items while maintaining secure containment during transport.
2Strength
If metal crates are used for transporting egg cartons, then the crates provide structural support and containment, but they are expensive, prone to rust, not recyclable, and difficult to repair
Solution Approach 1:
The crate is constructed from plastic components (base, walls, latches) that combine durability, rust resistance, and recyclability while maintaining the structural strength needed for transport and display. The plastic material eliminates rust issues inherent in metal crates while providing comparable containment and support capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If the front wall is made movable for easy access, then customer access to egg cartons is improved, but the crate structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The crate is divided into separate modular components: a base, four side walls, a rear wall, and a front wall. The front wall is further segmented into multiple sections connected by hinges, allowing it to move independently while the rest of the crate remains structurally simple and easy to assemble.
Solution Approach 2:
Hinges serve as intermediary elements that connect the front wall sections to each other and to the base, enabling smooth movement between closed and open positions. Latches act as intermediaries to secure the front wall in the closed position during transport, providing controlled access without requiring complex mechanisms.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If the crate is designed for reuse and return, then the life cycle of the crate is extended, but the crate needs to be compact for efficient storage and transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The side and rear walls are designed to collapse onto the base when the crate is empty, transforming from an extended display configuration to a compact storage configuration. This dynamic collapsing mechanism reduces the crate's volume significantly for efficient return transportation while maintaining the same structural components for extended reuse.
Data Source
AI summary
A crate, such as for transporting egg cartons or other items, includes a base, opposed side walls and a rear wall extending upward from the base. A front wall opposite the rear wall is selectably moveable between a closed position and a retracted, open position. In the retracted position, access to the interior of the crate is provided. In one embodiment, the front wall includes a plurality of pivotably connected sections, such that the front wall can be retracted to provide access to the interior. A latch selectively prevents movement of the front wall to the retracted position.