Nested Pallet Foot Structure for Precise Stacking Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pallet feet, particularly those made of iron or plastic, face issues with large volume occupancy, difficulty in achieving precise alignment and positioning, limited carrying capacity, potential for uneven stacking, and inability to adjust stacking height, leading to inefficiencies and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A pallet foot design featuring a guide portion with a reverse taper and a support portion, including a stretching space and cavity, along with a ground protection structure, allows for precise alignment and adjustable stacking height, reducing space usage and enhancing stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a square or rectangular foot with large volume is manufactured from a thin iron plate, then the pallet can support basic loading, but the distance between upper pallet and lower pallet is large, occupying large space
Solution Approach 1:
The foot cup is designed to be inserted into the support rod, creating a nested structure where the foot cup fits inside the support rod. This nesting approach reduces the overall volume occupied by the pallet while maintaining structural integrity and carrying capacity through the integrated support mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a traditional horizontal support structure to a vertical integration where the foot cup extends upward into the support rod. This dimensional change allows the support function to be achieved within the vertical space rather than requiring large horizontal volume, reducing the distance between upper and lower pallets.
2Ease of operation
If the foot cup is located at the lower portion and support rod at the upper portion, then stacking is enabled, but the size of the foot cup is large, exceeding the frame size of the transport rack and wasting volume area
Solution Approach 1:
The foot cup is nested within the support rod structure, allowing the foot cup to be positioned inside the support rod rather than occupying external space. This nested arrangement enables stacking functionality while keeping the foot cup dimensions within the frame size of the transport rack, eliminating volume waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot cup is designed with a flexible structure that allows it to be inserted and adjusted within the support rod. This dynamic positioning capability enables the foot cup to adapt to different stacking configurations while maintaining a compact size that fits within the transport rack frame.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the foot cup and support rod are welded together, then the structure is fixed, but the height is fixed and cannot be adjusted, requiring new racks to be manufactured when storage article height changes
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into separate components: the foot cup and the support rod, which are connected through a insertable mechanism rather than being permanently welded. This segmentation allows the height to be adjusted by changing the insertion depth or position of the foot cup within the support rod, providing adaptability while maintaining structural stability through the secure connection mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between the foot cup and support rod is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed, allowing for height adjustment. The foot cup can be inserted at different positions within the support rod, enabling the structure to adapt to different storage article heights while maintaining stability through the secure fit and friction-based connection.
4Strength
If the support rod falls to the ground, then support is provided, but the contact area with the ground is small, making the support rod unstable and creating safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The foot cup is designed to extend vertically upward into the support rod rather than providing support only at the ground level. This dimensional extension creates a longer leverage arm and distributes the load over a larger vertical range, improving stability and reducing the risk of the support rod becoming unstable or creating safety hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot cup structure provides a cushioning effect by distributing the load through its extended geometry before the support rod contacts the ground. This beforehand cushioning reduces the impact and instability that would occur if the support rod directly contacted the ground with a small contact area, thereby improving reliability and safety.
Data Source
AI summary
A pallet foot is provided. The pallet foot includes a guide portion and a support portion located below the guide portion. An opening is formed in a top of the guide portion. The guide portion is internally provided with a stretching space in a shape of a reverse taper. A cavity is formed in the support portion. The cavity is connected with the stretching space.