Curved Carrying Assembly for Stable Transport of Sheet Stacks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing carrying devices for stacks of products, such as sheets of paper, lack appropriate control mechanisms to maintain shape stability and prevent collapse during transportation, often requiring additional pressure that can damage the top product.

Innovation Solution

A carrying device with a unique supporting surface assembly design that allows the stack to assume a bent shape, reducing the risk of collapse by minimizing contact pressure on the top product, and featuring displaceable or pivotable components for efficient picking and carrying configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If additional pressure is applied to maintain stack stability during transport, then the stack shape stability is improved, but the top product may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestack shape stabilityVSAvoidproduct damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting surface assembly is designed with a curved configuration where the centre portion is at a different vertical distance from the base than the end portions. This curvature allows the stack to assume a bent shape that naturally maintains stability during transport without requiring additional pressure on the top product, thereby resolving the contradiction between stability and product damage prevention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the supporting surface assembly is rigid and flat, then the device structure is simple, but the stack cannot maintain shape stability during transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestack shape stabilityVSAvoidsupporting surface assembly structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting surface assembly is designed to be displaceable or pivotable relative to the delimitation assembly, allowing it to adapt its configuration between picking and carrying modes. This dynamic capability enables the stack to assume the necessary bent shape for stability while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure through controlled movement rather than complex fixed geometry

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the supporting surface assembly is fixed in position, then the device structure is simple, but the device cannot adapt between picking and carrying configurations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration adaptabilityVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting surface assembly is configured to be displaceable or pivotable relative to the delimitation assembly, enabling the device to switch between picking configuration (where the stack is picked up) and carrying configuration (where the stack is transported). This dynamic mechanism provides configuration adaptability while avoiding the need for multiple separate fixed structures, thereby managing device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4653152A1A carrying device for carrying a stack of products
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 TECNAU
  • EP4653152A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4653152A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4653152A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a carrying device (28) for carrying a stack of products (12), in particular a stack of sheets, such as a stack of sheets of paper. The carrying device (28) extends in a longitudinal direction (L), a transversal direction (T) and a vertical direction (V), the directions being mutually perpendicular. The carrying device (28) is adapted to assume a carrying configuration in which the carrying device (28) is adapted to carry the stack of products (12). The carrying device (28) comprises a first carrying assembly (38), a second carrying assembly (40) and a carrying device base (42), each one of the first carrying assembly (38) and a second carrying assembly (40) being connected to the carrying device base (42), Each one of first carrying assembly (38) and the second carrying assembly (40) is in accordance with the following: the carrying assembly comprises a delimitation assembly (44) and a supporting surface assembly (46) connected to the delimitation assembly (44), the supporting surface assembly (46) comprising at least one supporting surface (48, 50, 52, 54), wherein the vertical direction (V) extends from the supporting surface assembly (46) to the carrying device base (42) when the carrying device (28) assumes the carrying configuration.