Pallet With Movable Locking Members For Trolley Transport

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pallet designs for transporting mobile trolleys lack flexibility and safety in loading and unloading operations, as they often require fixed end orientations and may not securely lock the trolleys during transport.

Innovation Solution

A pallet design featuring independently movable locking members at both ends, allowing for flexible opening and closing of tracks to accommodate trolley loading and unloading from either end, with L-shaped locking members that securely engage the trolley frames, enhancing safety and flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fixed locking members are used at the ends of the pallet, then the trolleys are securely locked during transport, but the loading and unloading operations lack flexibility and require fixed end orientations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure locking of trolleysVSAvoidflexibility in loading and unloading
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The locking members are made movable between a locked position (where they engage with the trolley frame) and an unlocked position (where they clear the track). This dynamic capability allows the pallet to adapt between secure transport mode and flexible loading/unloading mode, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The locking system is divided into independent locking members at each end of the pallet, each capable of independent movement. This segmentation allows selective engagement of locking members, enabling flexible loading/unloading from either end while maintaining secure locking when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If locking members are positioned to engage the trolley frame, then safety is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety of trolley transportVSAvoidlocking mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking members are designed to engage and disengage the trolley frame automatically through their movement between locked and unlocked positions. The simple geometric engagement between the locking member and frame provides safety without requiring complex sensing or control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The movable locking members provide dynamic safety engagement, allowing the system to achieve high reliability through simple mechanical movement rather than complex multi-component locking mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3642125B1Pallet for transporting trolleys comprising blocking members and combination of a palette and at least one trolley
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 LABADIS
  • EP3642125B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3642125B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3642125B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention concerns a pallet (10) for transporting trolleys, comprising a base plate (20) having at least one track and at least one tunnel forming, on the track, two low sections separated from a high section, first and second immobilising members (40) mechanically secured to the base plate respectively at a first end (21) and a second end (22), and movable between a first position in which the track is in an open state and a second position in which the track is in a closed state, the first and second immobilising members being each configured, in the second position of same, so as to be able to be in contact with a chassis of a trolley, being mechanically secured to one of the low sections and all configured so as to be movable separately from each other.