Flip Tray for Safe Batch Glassware Transfer from Racks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aid workers in the food/beverage industry face inefficiencies and safety hazards when manually retrieving clean glassware from racks, as it is time-consuming and difficult to identify broken glassware before reaching into small compartments.
Innovation Solution
A flip tray with a rigid planar base, handles, and a locking mechanism that secures to a glassware-holding rack, allowing for the tray to be flipped upside down to collect glassware efficiently and safely, eliminating the need for manual retrieval and reducing the risk of injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If workers manually retrieve glassware from racks one at a time, then they can inspect each piece individually, but the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The flip tray merges multiple glassware retrieval operations into a single action. By placing the tray over the rack and flipping it, numerous glasses are transferred simultaneously rather than one at a time, combining multiple individual retrieval actions into one collective operation that dramatically increases productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by positioning the flip tray over the glassware rack before the actual transfer. The tray is prepared in advance with its locking mechanism and handles positioned correctly, so that when the flip occurs, the transfer is immediate and efficient without requiring additional setup time during the retrieval process
2Ease of operation
If workers reach into small rack compartments to retrieve glassware, then they can access the glassware, but they risk cutting themselves on broken glass that is difficult to see
Solution Approach 1:
The flip tray acts as an intermediary between the worker and the glassware rack. Instead of workers directly reaching into the rack compartments where broken glass may be hidden, the tray is placed over the rack and flipped to retrieve glassware. This intermediary approach allows workers to access glassware without exposing their hands to potential hazards in the rack compartments
Solution Approach 2:
The system inverts the traditional retrieval approach by flipping the tray upside down to transfer glassware. This inversion allows the tray to be positioned over the rack with the opening facing the glassware, then flipped so that glassware is deposited into the tray from a safe distance, eliminating the need for workers to reach into potentially hazardous rack compartments
3Productivity
If glassware is stored in numerous small rack chambers, then organization is maintained, but retrieval becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The flip tray provides a universal solution that works with various rack configurations. The tray's open design and locking mechanism allow it to interface with different rack structures and chamber arrangements, making the retrieval system multi-functional and adaptable to various organizational schemes without requiring complex specialized tools for each rack type
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device for transferring a plurality of glassware from a glassware-holding rack to a flip ray presenting an array of the glassware in an upright position.