Movable Rack System for Synthetic Turf Storage and Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing synthetic turf systems face challenges in efficient storage and handling, particularly in facilities that require frequent installation and removal of the turf for different events, as they are cumbersome and lack a systematic approach for easy access and loading/unloading.
Innovation Solution
A movable synthetic turf storage and handling system comprising a cart with a curved cradle for rolls of turf, a storage rack with vertical and horizontal support members, and a rotating hub system that allows for efficient loading, unloading, and storage of turf rolls, enabling easy transportation and access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional storage methods for synthetic turf are used, then storage capacity is limited, but handling efficiency and accessibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system is divided into multiple independent rack units that can be individually moved along tracks. Each rack can hold multiple turf rolls and is independently controllable, allowing selective access without moving entire storage systems. This segmentation improves handling efficiency while keeping individual components manageable in complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage racks are designed to be movable rather than fixed, capable of sliding along overhead tracks to positioning stations. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to different access requirements and event setups, improving productivity while the track-guided movement constrains complexity to standardized motion mechanisms.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple turf rolls are stored in a compact arrangement, then storage density improves, but access time and loading/unloading complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Turf rolls are stored in individual rack positions rather than stacked compactly, allowing direct access to any roll by moving only that specific rack to a positioning station. This maintains high storage density while enabling rapid access without the time penalty of searching through compact stacks.
Solution Approach 2:
Racks are pre-positioned along the track system in an organized sequence, and can be quickly moved to designated loading/unloading stations. This preliminary arrangement of storage positions reduces access time by eliminating the need for complex retrieval operations, while the linear track arrangement maintains efficient space utilization.
3Ease of operation
If heavy turf rolls are manually handled, then equipment cost is reduced, but labor time and physical effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces automated positioning mechanisms and mechanical aids as intermediaries between the heavy turf rolls and operators. Racks with multiple rolls can be mechanically positioned and transferred, reducing direct manual handling while maintaining cost-effectiveness through simple track and motor mechanisms rather than complex automated systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The loading process is segmented into discrete steps: rack movement to position, roll extraction, and placement. This breakdown allows operators to work with manageable portions of the heavy turf rolls rather than attempting to move entire racks or multiple rolls at once, improving ease of operation while reducing total handling time through efficient workflow.
Data Source
AI summary
A movable rack system for storing carts or other suitable transports for storing rolls of synthetic turf. Alternatively, the rolls of synthetic turf may be stored directly on the rack systems. A first row of rack systems contains N rack systems. An adjacent row contains N−1 rack systems. The rack systems in the adjacent row can be moved laterally so that access to the first row is available for loading and unloading rack systems contained in that row. In a second moveable rack system, a plurality of satellite hubs rotate about a central hub such that support structures on the satellite hubs are capable of rotating into a loading position and then rotating away from the loading position to a storage position.