Nestable Pallet Foot With Movable Lateral Wall
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pallet designs face issues with alignment in automated logistic systems due to differing border geometries at the feet and body, leading to misalignment and increased damage from impacts, especially from pallet trucks and forklifts, and struggle with variable temperatures and weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a pallet foot with a movable part that can extend or retract, allowing for improved alignment and reduced impact damage, featuring a geometric envelope with a movable lateral wall that adjusts position upon contact, and includes replaceable feet with coupling mechanisms and bumpers for enhanced durability and handling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pallet foot has a fixed geometric envelope, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the pallet cannot be properly centered in automated conveyor systems and suffers from misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral wall of the pallet foot is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to extend or retract based on operational needs. This dynamic structure enables the foot to adapt its geometric envelope, providing protrusions for centering in automated conveyor systems while maintaining simplicity when retracted.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the pallet foot has a fixed geometric envelope, then the structure is simple, but the pallet is highly susceptible to impact damage from pallet trucks and forklifts
Solution Approach 1:
The movable lateral wall allows the foot to dynamically adjust its geometry in response to impacts. When struck by pallet trucks or forklifts, the lateral wall can move to absorb and dissipate impact energy, reducing damage to both the foot and the pallet body.
Solution Approach 2:
The geometric parameters of the foot, specifically the lateral wall position, are made changeable. This allows the foot to modify its shape and distribution of mass, thereby changing its mechanical response to impact forces and improving resistance to damage.
3Manufacturing precision
If the pallet foot has a fixed geometric envelope, then manufacturing is simple, but the pallet alignment in automated facilities with changes of direction is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The movable lateral wall enables the foot to adapt its geometric envelope dynamically. In automated facilities with changes of direction, the lateral wall can extend to provide proper alignment and centering, ensuring precise pallet positioning without requiring complex manufacturing processes.
4Length of stationary object
If the pallet foot is designed to be nestable with smaller lower part, then stacking height is reduced, but the foot is more vulnerable to impacts at the lower part
Solution Approach 1:
The movable lateral wall in the lower part of the foot provides dynamic protection against impacts. Even though the lower part has a smaller cross-section for nestability, the movable wall can extend to increase the protective envelope when subjected to impacts from pallet trucks or forklifts.
Data Source
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Figure 5a~5c
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AI summary
Foot (1) for pallet (P), a lower part (11) and an upper part (12) being defined in the foot (1), the lower part being formed by a lateral wall (L11) and a bottom wall (B11) and the lower part (11) having a cross section smaller than the upper part (12), so that when stacking one pallet (P) on top of another pallet (P), the feet (1) can be fitted thus reducing the height of the resulting stack, a geometric envelope being defined in the lower part (11), wherein the lateral wall (L11) comprises a movable part (13), the movable part (13) being displaceable between a hidden position in which it does not protrude from the geometric envelope, and an extension position in which it protrudes from the geometric envelope. The invention also relates to a pallet (P) comprising a pallet body (2) and a plurality of replaceable feet.