Pallet Alignment Device Using Hydraulic Stops
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for repairing pallets struggle to quickly and accurately align and fix newly attached or displaced pallet parts, such as floorboards and connecting blocks, within the correct positional dimensions, leading to inefficiencies in the repair process.
Innovation Solution
A device with a base frame and hydraulic stops that align and clamp pallets, using fixed and movable transverse and longitudinal stops to ensure precise positioning of floorboards and connecting blocks, allowing for the attachment of new connecting elements to maintain predetermined nominal dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional repair methods are used without specialized alignment devices, then the repair process is simpler in terms of device complexity, but the manufacturing precision and alignment accuracy of pallet parts deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment device is segmented into multiple independent stop elements (longitudinal stops and transverse stops) that can be individually adjusted and positioned. Each stop element handles a specific alignment dimension, allowing the system to achieve high precision without requiring a monolithic complex structure. The stops can be independently regulated to accommodate different pallet types and repair scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment device is designed with universal applicability through adjustable stop elements that can accommodate various pallet dimensions and configurations. The same device structure serves multiple functions: aligning floorboards, positioning connecting blocks, and maintaining external dimensions, thereby reducing overall device complexity while preserving precision across different repair tasks.
2Productivity
If manual alignment methods are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity and repair speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment device performs preliminary positioning of pallet parts before the actual repair operations begin. By pre-aligning floorboards and connecting blocks using the stop elements, the device eliminates time-consuming manual adjustment during the repair process, thereby increasing productivity without requiring complex automated systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop elements are designed to automatically guide and position pallet parts into correct alignment when the pallet is placed on the device. This self-aligning mechanism reduces the need for manual intervention and complex control systems, achieving high repair speed with relatively simple device structure.
3Manufacturing precision
If fixed alignment dimensions are used, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the adaptability to different pallet types deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment device incorporates adjustable and movable stop elements that can be repositioned along the base frame to accommodate different pallet dimensions and configurations. This dynamic adjustability allows the device to maintain precise alignment for various pallet types without requiring fixed rigid structures, thereby balancing positioning accuracy with versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The device allows changing of alignment parameters through adjustment of stop element positions. By modifying the location and configuration of stops, the same device can adapt to different pallet types while maintaining precise alignment, achieving both positioning accuracy and adaptability through parameter variation rather than structural redesign.
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
Enables rapid and accurate alignment and fixation of pallet parts, ensuring that external dimensions are maintained and all components are parallel and correctly positioned, facilitating efficient repair and reattachment of new connecting elements.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure cylinder, by means of which the movable transverse stop can be moved in the transverse direction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The device has pallets with several floor boards which are connected with transverse boards using respective connecting pads. A fixed transverse stopper (17) and a movable transverse stopper (38) are provided for each floor board and the connection pad. The movable transverse stopper is designed to activate the respective floorboard and the pad against the associated fixed transverse stopper such that the respective floorboard and/or the pad is positioned and fixed transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pallet.