Oblong Lazy Susan Track With Roller Carriers for Smooth Manual Serving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for presenting objects around a table, such as food, require a motor-driven conveyor belt, which is complex and not easily portable or cleanable, and do not allow individuals to easily reach and retrieve items without manual intervention.
Innovation Solution
A supporting platform with an oblong guidance groove and carriers equipped with rollers that reduce friction, allowing items to be moved smoothly around a continuous loop without a motor, enabling easy access and cleaning, and can be segmented for storage or expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a motor-driven conveyor belt is used to present objects around a table, then the objects can be continuously presented to all persons, but the device becomes complex and difficult to clean and portate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the motor and power transmission components from the conveyor system, extracting the essential function of object transport while eliminating the complex mechanical drive train. The conveyor belt is simplified to a passive loop that can be manually moved or moved by gravity, discarding the motorized components that caused complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor system is designed to be self-contained and manually operable without external power sources. Users can manually move the conveyor belt or use the weight of the objects themselves to drive the transport, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for motors, switches, and power connections that complicate the design.
2Productivity
If a motor-driven conveyor belt is used to present objects around a table, then the objects can be continuously presented to all persons, but the device becomes difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes motors, electrical components, and complex mechanical linkages that create crevices and hard-to-reach areas. The resulting simplified conveyor belt with minimal components can be easily wiped down and cleaned, addressing the hygiene requirements while maintaining continuous object presentation capability.
3Weight of moving object
If conventional materials and simple motion are used, then the device is lightweight and easy to assemble, but the friction in moving carriers around the loop increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces rollers as intermediary elements between the carriers and the conveyor belt surface. These rollers reduce the coefficient of friction from sliding contact to rolling contact, enabling smooth movement of carriers around the loop while keeping the overall system lightweight and using conventional materials.
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 simple, lightweight, and efficient way to present and retrieve items around a table, reducing the need for motorized systems and facilitating easy cleaning and storage by allowing each person to bring items closer, while maintaining stability and smooth motion.
Implementation Method 1
The carriers are the surfaces upon which food items may be placed and have rollers extending from the lower surface of the carrier. The rollers are placed in the groove to reduce the friction in moving the carrier around the oblong loop.
Data Source
AI summary
A track system comprises a plurality of track components. Each of the plurality of track components has a cross-section comprising an upper section and a lower section, the upper section being wider than the lower section. At least one carrier has a plurality of rolling surfaces having a first and a second rolling surface, which engage opposing sides of at least one of the plurality of track components that correspond to the lower section of the cross-section of the at least one of the plurality of track components.