Expandable Collapsible Mail Holder with Hinged Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mail handling systems require large, fixed-size holders that occupy excessive space, as they need to accommodate the largest mail pieces, leading to inefficiencies in space usage and increased costs due to unnecessary space allocation for smaller pieces.
Innovation Solution
The development of an expandable and collapsible holder system with hinge-mounted top and side surfaces and a releasable bottom, allowing for adjustable size based on the mail piece, which can expand to accommodate larger pieces and collapse to the size of the piece for efficient storage and transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If holders are designed to accommodate the largest mail pieces, then all mail pieces can be captured within the holder, but the holders occupy excessive space and are cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is designed with movable walls that can dynamically adjust their position. The first and second walls are movable relative to the third and fourth walls, allowing the holder to change its internal dimensions. This dynamic structure enables the holder to expand when needed to capture larger mail pieces and contract to minimize footprint when holding smaller pieces, thereby resolving the contradiction between capture reliability and space occupation.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder's dimensions are made variable through the movable wall mechanism. By changing the position of the first and second walls, the holder can adjust its width and depth parameters to match the size of the mail piece being held. This parameter change capability allows the holder to maintain appropriate dimensions for different mail sizes, preventing both overflow and excessive space occupation.
2Reliability
If holders are designed to be larger than the largest mail piece, then no mail piece will be damaged during transfer, but many holders will have considerable unused space when holding smaller mail pieces
Solution Approach 1:
The movable wall design allows the holder to dynamically adjust its dimensions to match the actual size of the mail piece. When a small mail piece is placed in the holder, the first and second walls can be positioned to create a snug fit, eliminating excessive empty space. When a large mail piece is placed, the walls move to accommodate it, ensuring proper capture without damage. This dynamic adjustment maintains transfer reliability while optimizing space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder's internal dimensions are changed by moving the first and second walls to different positions. This parameter change allows the holder to be sized appropriately for each mail piece, preventing both damage from overly tight constraints and waste from overly loose dimensions. The wall positions are adjusted based on the mail piece size, achieving optimal fit for each scenario.
3Ease of operation
If fixed-size holders are used throughout the system, then the system is simple to operate, but the flooring space required is excessive and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The holder incorporates movable walls that can be adjusted during operation, providing adaptability without complicating the overall system operation. The dynamic adjustment mechanism is integrated into the holder structure itself, allowing operators to simply push or pull the movable walls to the appropriate positions based on mail piece size. This maintains operational simplicity while dramatically reducing the flooring space required, as holders no longer need to be permanently oversized.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution conserves flooring space by reducing the overall length and footprint of the handling system, allowing for more efficient use of space and reducing costs by accommodating mail pieces of varying sizes without unnecessary expansion, while maintaining effective sequencing and delivery processes.
Implementation Method 1
a top surface having opposing ends hinge mounted to opposing side surfaces
Implementation Method 2
a releasable bottom surface hinge mounted to the opposing side surfaces by at least a latch mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable and collapsible holder which has a top surface and a bottom, releasable surface. Opposing side walls are hinge mounted between the top surface and the bottom surface. A latch mechanism and actuator such as a solenoid control the opening of the bottom, releasable surface. A system is also provided which uses the expandable holder.