Magnetic Fixing for Electrified Rail Preventing Powder Attraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing fixing systems for electrified rails in large-scale retail, such as double-sided tape and high magnetic force magnets, face issues like soiling, damage to shelving, and electrical safety hazards due to metallic powder attraction, which complicates repositioning and reuse.
Innovation Solution
A fixing system utilizing a magnetic band with distributed magnetic force along the rail's length, combined with high magnetic force magnetic clips at the ends, ensures strong attachment without attracting metallic powder onto the conductors, allowing easy repositioning and retrofitting while maintaining electrical safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If high magnetic force magnets are used to fix the rail to the shelving, then the fixing strength is improved, but metallic powder is attracted to the rail causing electrical safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic fixing system is divided into two distinct components: high magnetic force magnets for strong attachment and a magnetic shield material positioned between the magnets and the conductors. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the magnets provide fixing strength while the shield prevents metallic powder attraction to the conductors.
Solution Approach 2:
A magnetic shield material acts as an intermediary element between the high magnetic force magnets and the uncovered metal conductors. This intermediary blocks the magnetic field from attracting metallic powder to the conductors while allowing the magnets to maintain strong fixing to the shelving.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If double-sided tape is used to fix the rail, then the shelving surface is not damaged, but the tape soils the shelving and loses adhesive properties upon detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The chemical adhesive system (double-sided tape) is replaced with a magnetic fixing system. Instead of relying on adhesive bonds that soil and degrade, the magnetic system uses magnetic attraction forces to provide strong, clean, and reusable attachment to the metal shelving.
3Strength
If magnetic clips with high magnetic force are used, then the fixing strength is improved, but the attraction of metallic powder on the front of the rail increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic shield material is strategically positioned only in areas where uncovered metal conductors are present on the front of the rail. This localized application prevents metallic powder accumulation at critical locations while allowing high magnetic force magnets to provide strong fixing strength throughout the rail structure.
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 solution provides a strong, safe, and reusable fixing system that prevents metallic powder attraction, ensuring stable and secure attachment of electrified rails to shelving without soiling or damaging the surface, while allowing easy repositioning and retrofitting.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic band (5) having a distributed magnetic force for the whole length of the rail (3)
Implementation Method 2
magnets having a high magnetic force, having the advantage that they fix strongly to the shelving, which are usually made of metal
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
Magnetic fixing for electrified rail (3), particularly for the electrification of metal shelving (1) units provided on their front of electronic labels, displays and/or other peripheral devices, said rail comprising a body of electrically insulating plastic material, provided with longitudinal slots suitably distanced to each other, in every one of which metal conductor (8) can be reached by an electric contact useful to connect the same conductor to a plug or an electric or electronic device, fixed to said body of the rail, characterized in that for fixing said rail to said metal shelving (3) two kinds of magnets (5, 6) are present, having distinct magnetic force, one (5) weaker, e.g. lower than 1 N/cm2 and one (6) stronger, e.g. in the order of at least 10 N/cm2.