Shipping Container with Non-Linear Tracks for Ergonomic Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container designs for shipping and assembly pose ergonomic challenges for line workers, requiring them to walk around or bend to access parts, leading to strain and increased risk of injury due to unfriendly movements.

Innovation Solution

A container design featuring a base and opposed sides with non-linear tracks and movable dunnage supports that allow products to be easily pulled forward for loading and unloading, reducing the need for workers to stretch or reach, thus enhancing ergonomics and reducing strain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If products are stored in a container with fixed dunnage supports, then the container structure is simple and stable, but workers must walk around or bend to access parts, causing ergonomic strain and increased injury risk

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveergonomicsVSAvoidcontainer structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dunnage supports are made movable along non-linear tracks instead of being fixed, allowing them to be dynamically repositioned. This enables workers to access products from the front of the container without bending or walking around, significantly improving ergonomics while the track-guided movement maintains structural organization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The container structure is segmented into movable dunnage supports that can be independently repositioned along the non-linear tracks. This segmentation allows the support system to adapt to different access requirements without redesigning the entire container structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the container length is reduced to eliminate the need for workers to walk around, then ergonomics improve, but the capacity to ship and store parts decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveergonomicsVSAvoidparts capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The non-linear tracks utilize three-dimensional space within the container by incorporating vertical and diagonal components. This allows dunnage supports to access products at different heights and angles, effectively using unused spatial dimensions to maintain capacity while enabling front-access ergonomics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If workers perform repetitive bending and reaching motions to access products, then product access is possible, but physical trauma and pain result leading to lost production time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction timeVSAvoidworker comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The dunnage supports are pre-positioned along the non-linear tracks to optimal access points before workers need to retrieve products. This preliminary positioning allows workers to directly access products from the front without repetitive bending or reaching motions, protecting worker comfort while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9725235B2Container having multiple layers of tracks including at least one non-linear track

Publication Date: 2017.08.08 BRADFORD CO

AI summary

A container for holding product therein during shipment and being returned for reuse has a base and opposed sides, linear and non-linear tracks, and a plurality of dunnage supports extending between the tracks. At least one of the tracks on each side may be non-linear in the shape of a “C” or “U” or “J”. One type of dunnage support comprises end members and a tubular middle member, the end members being movable along the tracks. The dunnage supports support dunnage, such as pouches.