Flat rack with extender
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retail display systems with wire shelves in refrigerated cases face challenges in cleaning due to high open surface area, difficulty in reassembling shelves after cleaning, and the need to remove entire shelves for access to components below, which complicates maintenance and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable rack system with a frame and panels that can be adjusted in length and position, allowing easy access to components below the shelf without removing it, featuring a sliding interlock mechanism for stability and ease of reassembly, and a design that minimizes open surface area for improved cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If wire shelves are used to provide structural support and durability, then strength and reliability are improved, but cleaning difficulty increases due to high open surface area and complex wire structure
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf is divided into multiple wire segments arranged in a grid pattern, where each segment can be independently cleaned or removed. This segmentation allows cleaning solutions to access all surfaces effectively while maintaining overall structural integrity through the interconnected wire framework.
Solution Approach 2:
A removable panel or access mechanism is introduced as an intermediary element that allows cleaning tools and solutions to reach the complex wire structure from multiple angles, facilitating thorough cleaning without compromising the wire shelf's structural support function.
2Ease of operation
If entire wire shelves are removed to access components below, then access to components is improved, but reassembly confusion and time loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf system is segmented into removable sections or panels that can be detached to access components below, while the remaining structure stays in place. This partial removal eliminates reassembly confusion since the majority of the shelf structure remains positioned correctly.
Solution Approach 2:
The shelf is designed with pre-configured access points and standardized connection mechanisms that guide the reassembly process, reducing time loss by eliminating the need to figure out orientation and positioning during reinstallation.
3Strength
If wire shelves are used to provide durability and support, then strength is improved, but weight increases making handling difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The wire shelf employs varying wire diameters and densities in different regions - thicker wires at support points and connection areas for maximum strength, and thinner wires in non-critical areas to reduce weight. This local optimization maintains durability where needed while minimizing overall weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The shelf combines wire elements with lighter weight materials such as plastic coatings or composite wire constructions that provide comparable strength to solid metal while significantly reducing weight, making the shelf easier to handle and install.
4Use of energy by moving object
If high open surface area is used in wire shelves for ventilation and visibility, then airflow and visibility are improved, but cleaning completeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf incorporates adjustable wire spacing and configurable open areas that can be modified based on cleaning requirements. During cleaning cycles, the structure can be temporarily adjusted to maximize accessibility, then returned to its optimal ventilation configuration for normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire shelf design allows variation in wire diameter, spacing, and pattern density as adjustable parameters. These parameters can be optimized to balance airflow requirements with cleanability, creating configurations where maintenance access is facilitated while preserving adequate ventilation for the application.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable rack system, a shelving system, and methods are provided. The adjustable rack system includes an adjustable frame and an adjustable rack. The adjustable frame includes a front rail, a rear rail and at least one longitudinally adjustable rail. The longitudinally adjustable rail interconnects the front and rear rails. The longitudinally adjustable rail is longitudinally adjustable in length to adjust the spacing between the front and rear rails along an adjustment axis. The adjustable rack is removably attached to the adjustable frame. The adjustable rack includes a first panel defining a rear edge of the adjustable rack and a second panel defining a front edge of the adjustable rack. The second panel is adjustably positionable relative to the first panel to adjust a spacing between the front and rear edge of the adjustable rack. The adjustable rack defines a top surface defined in part by each of the first and second panels.