Load Carrier With Magnetic Holding Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing load carriers with soft particle foam surfaces can damage sensitive components with large, highly sensitive visible surfaces during transport, as they come into contact with the foam, rendering them unusable.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating permanent magnets into holding elements made of non-ferromagnetic, harder materials within the load carrier's base body, which are anchored to attract and hold ferromagnetic components, minimizing contact with the soft surface and using a hard plastic for the holding elements to prevent damage and facilitate recycling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If piece goods are placed in the receiving contour of the base body made of soft particle foam, then damage to piece goods is avoided during transport, but sensitive components with large visible surfaces can be damaged by contact with the soft surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of piece goodsVSAvoiddamage to sensitive components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A holding element made of hard, non-ferromagnetic material is introduced as an intermediary between the permanent magnet and the sensitive component. This holding element provides a hard contact surface that prevents damage to sensitive components while the permanent magnet provides magnetic attraction through it.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The magnetic field replaces direct mechanical contact between the base body and ferromagnetic components. By using magnetic attraction force, the component is held in position without needing to rest directly on the soft particle foam surface, thus avoiding damage to sensitive visible surfaces.

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

2Object-affected harmful factors

If permanent magnets are used to hold ferromagnetic components with minimal contact, then sensitive components are protected, but the holding elements must be made of non-ferromagnetic material which complicates the structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamage to sensitive componentsVSAvoidstructure of holding elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The holding element serves multiple functions: it provides a hard protective surface for sensitive components, acts as a non-ferromagnetic barrier that does not shield the magnetic field, and provides structural support for the permanent magnet. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The holding element is made from a composite or specially selected material that combines properties of being hard, non-ferromagnetic, and mechanically stable. This allows a single material to satisfy multiple requirements that would otherwise require different materials and components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If holding elements are made of hard plastic, then mechanical stress resistance is improved, but recycling of the load carrier becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to mechanical stressVSAvoidrecycling of load carrier
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The holding elements are designed to be removable from the base body, allowing them to be separated and recovered. The permanent magnets can be extracted and reused, and the holding elements themselves can be collected and potentially reused or properly disposed of, facilitating recycling of the load carrier components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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 effectively protects sensitive components by minimizing contact with the soft base body, ensuring safe transport and easy recycling of the load carrier, while maintaining the structural integrity and magnetic attraction necessary for secure holding.

Implementation Method 1

using the permanent magnets accommodated in at least one base body to exert an attractive force on the ferromagnetic components of the piece goods to be picked up

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3875386B1Load carrier
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 FEURER FEBRA
  • EP3875386B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3875386B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP3875386B1 patent drawingFigure 2b

AI summary

The invention relates to a charge carrier (10) for receiving and transporting unit loads (16) having at least ferromagnetic components (18), comprising at least one base body (12) made of a particle foam which has a receiving contour (14) for placing the unit loads (16) onto it, and comprising several permanent magnets (40). According to the invention, each of the permanent magnets (40) is received in a retaining element (20) anchored in the at least one base body (12), which consists of a non-ferromagnetic material that is harder than the particle foam.