Pallet Spacer System Alignment and Airflow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pallet spacer systems fail to ensure proper alignment and air circulation between stacked items, leading to restricted airflow, increased spoilage, and higher utility costs in temperature-controlled environments.

Innovation Solution

A pallet spacer system with a body comprising upper and lower portions and transition portions, featuring spacer rails and channels to maintain item alignment and enhance airflow, while allowing for varied thickness and configuration to accommodate different item sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If items are stacked closely together on a pallet, then storage density is improved, but air flow between items is restricted and temperature control is inhibited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage densityVSAvoidtemperature control efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The pallet spacer is divided into multiple upper portions and lower portions that create defined spacing channels between adjacent items. This segmentation allows air to flow through multiple pathways while maintaining close stacking, thus preserving storage density while restoring temperature control efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If items are stacked without proper alignment, then stacking speed is improved, but items lean against adjacent items and contact occurs, restricting air flow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestacking speedVSAvoidair circulation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The pallet spacer is pre-configured with alignment features including flat upper and lower surfaces and positioned spacers before items are stacked. This preliminary preparation ensures that items automatically align correctly when placed on the spacer, maintaining stacking speed while preventing leaning and ensuring proper air flow channels are formed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of energy

If pallet spacers are used to ensure proper spacing and alignment, then air flow and temperature control are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature control efficiencyVSAvoidspacer system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple spacer functions are merged into a single integrated body: alignment features are built into the upper and lower surfaces, spacing channels are formed by the configuration of upper and lower portions, and item support is provided by the overall structure. This integration maintains temperature control efficiency while minimizing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10239658B1Pallet spacer

Publication Date: 2019.03.26 ADVANCEPIERRE FOODS

AI summary

A pallet spacer system including a pallet spacer having a pallet spacer body with a plurality of upper portions. Each upper portion has a generally flat upper surface that is aligned with the upper surfaces of the other upper portions. The pallet spacer body further includes a plurality of lower portions, each lower portion having a generally flat lower surface that is aligned with the lower surfaces of the other lower portions. The pallet spacer system includes a plurality of spacers positioned on the upper portions and configured to receive at least an item therebetween.