Transport Container Partition Groove Design for Cleaning

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container partition systems face challenges in ensuring stable division, ease of manufacturing, economic production, and efficient cleaning, particularly due to dirt accumulation in vertical grooves that extend the full height of the side walls.

Innovation Solution

A container design featuring grooves on opposing side walls that extend only partially, with a form-fitting undercut and protruding contour on partitions, allowing for secure attachment and easy insertion/withdrawal without additional parts or tools, and facilitating cleaning by minimizing residue accumulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the groove extends over the entire height of the side wall to ensure sufficient fixation of the partition, then the partition fixation is improved, but dirt and water residues accumulate in the groove making cleaning difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepartition fixationVSAvoiddirt accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful function of the groove (trapping dirt) is extracted by making it accessible for cleaning. The groove is designed to extend only partially along the side wall, leaving the lower end exposed and accessible, thereby eliminating the trapping of dirt while maintaining sufficient partition fixation through the remaining groove length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of extending the groove the entire height of the side wall (excessive action), the groove is made to extend only partially (about 2/3 of the height). This partial action is sufficient to provide the necessary fixation for the partition while avoiding the harmful accumulation of dirt in the lower region.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If additional parts or tools are used to attach partitions to side walls, then the partition attachment stability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepartition attachment stabilityVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The partition and its attachment mechanism are merged into a single integrated component. The partition itself is formed with protruding contours that directly engage with the groove in the side wall, eliminating the need for separate attachment parts or tools. This merging reduces device complexity while maintaining attachment stability through the form-fit connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The partition serves multiple functions: it divides the container interior, provides structural support, and its own geometry (protruding contours) serves as the attachment mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional specialized attachment parts, reducing overall device complexity while ensuring stable partition attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the groove extends over the entire height of the side wall, then the partition fixation is improved, but the cleaning efficiency deteriorates due to residue accumulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepartition fixationVSAvoidcleaning efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful function of the groove (trapping dirt) is extracted by making it accessible for cleaning. The groove is designed to extend only partially along the side wall, leaving the lower end exposed and accessible, thereby eliminating the trapping of dirt while maintaining sufficient partition fixation through the remaining groove length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of extending the groove the entire height of the side wall (excessive action), the groove is made to extend only partially (about 2/3 of the height). This partial action is sufficient to provide the necessary fixation for the partition while avoiding the harmful accumulation of dirt in the lower region.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9981778B2Container for transporting goods and device for dividing such a container

Publication Date: 2018.05.29 GEORG UTZ HOLDING AG

AI summary

A container includes a bottom, lateral walls, and a device for dividing the interior of the container. The device has a groove at each opposing lateral wall and a partition. Each groove extends from an upper edge of the lateral wall over a part of the height of the lateral wall. Each groove and the end faces of the partition have a cross-sectional shape transverse to their longitudinal extension, so that the end face of the partition and each groove can be united by a form-fit. Each groove can have an undercut.