Prefabricated Pallet Fork Protection and Assembly Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing prefabricated pallets face inefficiencies in assembly and disassembly, transportation, and damage during loading and unloading, requiring improvements in time and cost efficiency and protection from transport device forks.
Innovation Solution
A prefabricated pallet design featuring vertical and horizontal members with specific coupling parts, a protection member for fork insertion, auxiliary banding members for enhanced securing, and a connection member forming a grid pattern for flexible fork insertion and a wall member fixing column for box structure protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a pallet is manufactured by arranging timber members with separate fixing means such as nails, then the pallet can be assembled, but the manufacturing period time is long and assembly efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the fixing means directly into the pallet members themselves rather than using separate fixing components. The horizontal member includes integrated fixing protrusions that directly engage with corresponding recesses in vertical members, eliminating the need for separate nails or fasteners and thereby reducing assembly time and improving efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The pallet is divided into modular components (horizontal members and vertical members) with standardized coupling interfaces. Each member has predetermined fixing structures that allow rapid assembly through simple engagement actions, significantly reducing the time required compared to traditional nail-based assembly methods.
2Reliability
If traditional pallet structures are used, then assembly is possible, but damage to members may occur during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates protective structures in advance during pallet design. The horizontal member includes protective ribs that protrude upward to prevent forks from penetrating into the member during transport. Additionally, reinforcement structures are built into the coupling joints between horizontal and vertical members to strengthen them against impact forces during handling and transport operations.
3Ease of operation
If forks are inserted into spaces between vertical members for transport, then loading and unloading is possible, but damage to horizontal members may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates protective ribs on the horizontal member that protrude upward to prevent forks from penetrating into the member during transport. Additionally, reinforcement structures are built into the coupling joints between horizontal and vertical members to strengthen them against impact forces during handling and transport operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective ribs act as an intermediary barrier between the fork and the horizontal member. When a fork is inserted between vertical members, the protective ribs contact the fork first, preventing direct contact with and potential damage to the horizontal member while still allowing the fork to perform its lifting function.
4Productivity
If the pallet structure is simplified for easy assembly, then assembly efficiency improves, but adaptability for different transport configurations may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling interface between horizontal and vertical members is designed with universal compatibility. The fixing protrusions and recesses can accommodate various fork insertion positions and orientations, allowing the same pallet structure to be used for different transport configurations and loads while maintaining rapid assembly through the standardized interface.
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 design reduces damage from fork insertion, enhances loading and unloading efficiency, allows flexible fork insertion from multiple directions, and facilitates easy disassembly and reuse of the pallet, improving overall transportation and assembly processes.
Implementation Method 1
a protection member that protects the horizontal member from a fork of transport device inserted into a space between adjacent vertical members for transport of the prefabricated pallet using a protective surface that is inserted into the space between the adjacent vertical members connected on the lower surface of the horizontal member and covers one side of the horizontal member
Implementation Method 2
the protection member is formed of a material having elasticity
Implementation Method 3
the protective surface covering the one side of the horizontal member is formed into a curved shape with a predetermined curvature
Implementation Method 4
a bracket that includes upper and lower insertion plates inserted into the first insertion space and the second insertion space and column plates inserted into the first holding space and the second holding space
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a prefabricated pallet including a vertical member having a first coupling part formed in a longitudinal direction in which first side holding plates are formed on an upper or lower surface of the vertical member so as to be directed toward the center thereof and provide a first insertion space and a first holding space; a horizontal member having a second coupling part formed in a longitudinal direction in which second side holding plates are formed on a lower surface of the horizontal member so as to be directed toward the center thereof and provide a second insertion space and a second holding space; and a bracket that includes upper and lower insertion plates inserted into the first insertion space and the second insertion space and column plates inserted into the first holding space and the second holding space and formed between the upper and lower insertion plates.