Optical Fiber Tray Support Structure for Smooth Sliding
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increased weight and friction of trays storing a large number of optical fibers makes it difficult to slide them, and deformation of the trays further complicates the sliding process.
Innovation Solution
The accommodation unit features a casing with support members that include arm parts and projection parts, designed to slidably support the trays, with the arm parts formed by bending metal plates and positioned to interfere with the upper part of the trays, reducing friction and preventing unintentional sliding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large number of optical fibers are stored in a tray, then the storage capacity increases, but the weight of the tray increases and friction increases making it difficult to slide
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is divided into multiple arm parts (first arm part, second arm part, third arm part) that independently support different regions of the tray. This segmentation distributes the load and reduces friction at any single contact point, enabling smoother sliding while maintaining support for heavy, fiber-filled trays
Solution Approach 2:
The support member extends in the width direction (left-right direction) rather than only in the sliding direction. This dimensional extension allows multiple arm parts to contact the tray simultaneously across its width, distributing the frictional force and improving sliding properties while supporting increased storage capacity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the tray is deformed, then it can accommodate irregular fiber arrangements, but the deformation makes it difficult to slide the tray
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is designed to be flexible in the width direction, allowing it to adapt to tray deformations. The multiple arm parts can independently adjust their positions to accommodate irregular tray shapes while maintaining contact, ensuring smooth sliding despite tray deformation
Solution Approach 2:
Different arm parts contact different local regions of the tray at different positions in the width direction. This allows each arm part to adapt to local deformations in the tray while collectively supporting the entire structure, maintaining sliding capability despite overall tray deformation
3Ease of operation
If support members are added to improve sliding, then friction is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support member performs multiple functions: it supports the tray from below, prevents unintended sliding through projection parts, and distributes load across multiple arm parts. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, maintaining simplicity while improving sliding properties
Solution Approach 2:
The projection part is integrated into the support member structure rather than being a separate component. This merging of functions (support + anti-slip) into a single integrated part reduces overall device complexity while achieving both sliding improvement and unintended movement prevention
Data Source
AI summary
An accommodation unit includes: a casing that: stores trays each storing an optical fiber, and includes an insertion opening into which the trays are inserted to be arranged in an up-down direction; and support members disposed in the casing, each of the support members slidably supporting a lower part of each of the trays, and each of the support members including: a pair of arm parts disposed apart from each other in a left-right direction orthogonal to a slide direction of the trays and the up-down direction; and a projection that is disposed on each of the arm parts in a vicinity of the insertion opening, and contacts an upper part of each of the trays under each of the support members.