Energy Guide Chain Dividing Bar for Bidirectional Shelf Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy guide chains face challenges in ease of handling and user-friendliness during assembly and maintenance, particularly in achieving finely graded internal division with existing dividing bars, which require specific assembly directions and apply force for securing shelves.
Innovation Solution
A dividing bar with continuous holding grooves accessible from both sides, equipped with a securing device such as a locking slider or latching elements, allowing shelves to be inserted and removed in either direction, and secured against unwanted displacement with minimal force, enhancing user-friendliness and ease of operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If shelves are inserted into holding grooves of dividing bars in existing energy guide chains, then internal division is achieved with finely graded heightwise division, but assembly and maintenance require specific directions and application of force, reducing ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional tongue-and-groove connection by making the groove accessible from both ends rather than requiring insertion from one specific direction. This allows shelves to be installed or removed from either end of the dividing bar, eliminating the need for specific assembly directions and reducing operational complexity while maintaining precise positioning capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a movable securing element (such as a movable tongue or clamping mechanism) that can be dynamically positioned to secure the shelf at multiple locations along the holding groove. This dynamic mechanism allows for finely graded heightwise division while simplifying assembly, as the securing element can be easily moved into position without requiring forceful insertion or specific directional alignment
2Ease of operation
If holding grooves are made accessible from both sides with continuous structure, then shelves can be inserted and removed in either direction improving ease of operation, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The holding groove is designed with a continuous structure that serves multiple functions: it provides bidirectional access for shelf installation, maintains precise positioning, and works with a simple securing mechanism. This universal design eliminates the need for separate insertion and removal paths, reducing overall structural complexity while enabling ease of operation
Data Source
AI summary
A dividing bar for an energy guide chain including a plate-like main body having two main sides and two narrow sides extending in a heightwise direction between two end regions. At least one of the end regions is adapted for releasable fixing to a transverse bar. A respective number of holding grooves for holding plate-like shelves is provided at main sides. According to the invention each holding groove is respectively of a continuous configuration from the one narrow side to the other and at each narrow side has an insertion opening through which a shelf can be respectively introduced into and removed again from the respective holding grooves respectively in both opposite assembly directions. The dividing bar further includes a securing device for securing fitted shelves against unwanted displacement in both assembly directions and against unwanted release from the respective holding groove.