Imprinted Slipsheet Friction Control for Pallet Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wooden pallets are expensive and require significant space for transportation, while existing slipsheets lack efficient friction control, leading to high costs for empty pallet transport and handling inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A slipsheet or divider sheet with an imprinted surface featuring a planar support surface and a recessed surface, created by forming indentations using a die with protuberances, providing a low coefficient of friction for easy handling and reduced engagement with goods, and potentially made from thermoplastic materials like HDPE or polypropylene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wooden pallets are used to support goods, then goods can be securely supported and handled, but the cost increases and transportation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin flexible plastic film (slipsheet) instead of rigid wooden pallets. The slipsheet is formed from thermoplastic material and can be easily folded or rolled for storage, dramatically reducing the space required when not in use. Yet it provides sufficient support capability through its flexible structure and friction properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the surface properties of the slipsheet by controlling the coefficient of friction through material selection and surface treatment. The slipsheet is designed with specific friction characteristics to prevent sliding during transport while allowing easy handling, thus maintaining support reliability without the bulk of wooden pallets.
2Quantity of substance
If slipsheets are used instead of wooden pallets, then transportation costs decrease and space is saved, but friction control is insufficient leading to handling inefficiencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different friction characteristics to different surfaces of the slipsheet. The bottom surface contacting the load has a higher coefficient of friction to prevent sliding, while the top surface has lower friction to facilitate easy removal by forklift. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between space savings and handling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The slipsheet is designed to be dynamically adaptable - it can be easily folded, rolled, or configured to fit different load shapes and sizes. This flexibility allows the same thin sheet to provide adequate support and handling characteristics for various applications without requiring the rigid structure of wooden pallets.
3Ease of operation
If the slipsheet surface is textured to increase friction, then grip with goods improves, but the surface becomes rougher reducing tear strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite construction with multiple layers of thermoplastic material. The structure includes a base layer providing strength and tear resistance, and a surface layer providing appropriate friction characteristics. This composite approach allows the slipsheet to simultaneously achieve good grip with goods and maintain sufficient tear strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent carefully controls the coefficient of friction parameter through material selection and surface treatment to achieve the desired grip without excessive roughness. By optimizing the friction coefficient rather than maximizing surface roughness, the design maintains tear strength while providing adequate grip for handling goods.
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
The imprinted slipsheet or divider sheet offers improved tear strength, reduced friction for easy handling, and cost-effective transportation by minimizing engagement with fork-lifts, while maintaining sufficient grip for supporting goods, thus addressing the inefficiencies of wooden pallets and previous slipsheets.
Implementation Method 1
The imprinted surface has a projecting area comprising an outer support surface and an inner surface... providing a low coefficient of friction for easy handling and reduced engagement with goods
Implementation Method 2
The imprinted slipsheet or divider sheet offers improved tear strength... potentially made from thermoplastic materials like HDPE or polypropylene
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a slipsheet and/or divider sheet and method for making the same, and method for moving and storing containers with use of the slipsheets or divider sheets. The sheets have an imprint or an embossing that provides a raised planar surface. The raised planar surface preferably comprises a plurality of ridges, crowns or crests, which are preferably arranged in a pattern throughout an upper surface of the sheet. To make the sheet, a die can be etched to have protuberances or bumps, and the die is preferably pressed into a sheet of pliable thermoplastic material. The sheet thus made has a plurality of indentation formed by the protuberances or bumps on the die, and the sheet has a planar outer surface comprising a plurality of ridges, crowns and crests between the indentations.