Hazardous Material Storage Display for Precise Location Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing warehouse management systems struggle to ensure precise identification and return of dangerous goods to their designated storage locations, leading to incorrect consumption values and potential security risks.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a display unit that not only identifies dangerous goods and their storage locations but also displays the local position of the goods within the storage location, combined with a mobile control unit that evaluates location information and guides operators to the correct placement of the goods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a display unit is added to show the local position of hazardous materials, then the precision of identifying storage location is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage location identification precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds a spatial dimension to the identification system by displaying the local position (e.g., shelf number, box number, arrangement position) of hazardous materials within the storage location. This multi-dimensional information (storage location + local position) enables precise identification and guidance, resolving the contradiction between improved precision and increased complexity by providing directional guidance to operators

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The display unit acts as an intermediary between the hazardous material storage system and the operator. It receives data about the local position of hazardous materials and presents it in a visually intuitive format, mediating the information flow and enabling precise identification without requiring complex direct interaction between the operator and the storage system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the mobile control unit guides operators to the correct placement, then the reliability of return to original location is improved, but the ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereturn to original location reliabilityVSAvoidoperational simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile control unit provides real-time feedback to operators during the return process. It receives information about the hazardous material being returned and guides the operator step-by-step to the correct location, providing confirmation when the material is properly placed. This feedback mechanism ensures high reliability of return while maintaining ease of operation through intuitive guidance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables operators to independently complete the return process without requiring assistance from warehouse management staff. The mobile control unit provides all necessary guidance information, allowing operators to self-verify the correct location and complete the return autonomously, thereby improving reliability while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If precise identification and return of hazardous materials is implemented, then safety risks are reduced, but the loss of time in identification and return process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety risksVSAvoididentification and return time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing the relationship between hazardous materials and their storage locations in the database. When a material is removed, the system already has the information needed to guide its return. The display unit and mobile control unit provide pre-calculated guidance information, eliminating the need for time-consuming searches and ensuring safety without significant time loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual identification and verification methods with automated electronic systems. The display unit visually indicates the local position, and the mobile control unit provides digital guidance, substituting mechanical searching and manual verification processes. This automation reduces the time required for identification and return while maintaining high safety standards through precise tracking

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4336431B1Device for treating at least one hazardous material at at least one storage location for storing one or more hazardous materials
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 DUEPERTHAL SICHERHEITSTECHNIK GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4336431B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for handling at least one hazardous material (2, 3) at at least one storage location (1) for storing one or more hazardous materials (2, 3), such as chemicals or consumer goods. The device is equipped with a control unit (4) for identifying the hazardous material (2, 3) and its associated storage location. Furthermore, at least one display unit (5, 7) is provided, in particular at the storage location (1). According to the invention, the display unit (5, 7) shows the operator the location of the hazardous material (2, 3) at the storage location (1).