Parallel Rod Transfer Device for Fragile Items

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for transferring elements through a surface, such as those used in restaurants or facilities, often subject fragile items to rotation, which can cause damage, and are not suitable for liquids, and lack stability and security in dirty or dusty environments.

Innovation Solution

A device with a container and parallel rods system that maintains a horizontal position during translation, allowing for secure and stable transfer of fragile or liquid-containing items, featuring a robust and simple design with locking mechanisms and no projections on the opposite side, ensuring complete coverage of the opening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If elements are transferred by pivoting around a horizontal shaft, then transfer between two positions is achieved, but the elements are subjected to rotation movement causing damage to fragile items or spilling liquids

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransfer capabilityVSAvoidintegrity of fragile items

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of rotating the container around a horizontal shaft, the invention inverts the approach by using vertical rods that translate the container horizontally while maintaining its base horizontal. The rotation axis is effectively inverted from horizontal to vertical, changing the motion paradigm from rotational to translational.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The parallel rods act as intermediaries between the fixed support and the container, transmitting force while maintaining the container's horizontal orientation. These rods mediate the transfer motion, ensuring the container moves without rotating, thus protecting fragile items and preventing liquid spillage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a tray is pushed on rails to maintain horizontal position, then fragile materials can be transferred, but the device requires hatches and complex locking mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability for fragile materialsVSAvoidhatches and locking mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by providing stability exactly where needed - at the base of the container - while keeping other parts simple. The parallel rods are positioned to maintain horizontal orientation, and the forked brackets provide localized locking without requiring complex hatch mechanisms throughout the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the essential function of stability maintenance from the complex hatch and locking system, achieving it through the simpler parallel rods and forked brackets mechanism. This removes unnecessary complexity while preserving the core functionality of safely transporting fragile materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If traditional transfer devices are used in dirty environments, then material transfer is possible, but the device is sensitive to derailing problems and delays due to dirt

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial transfer capabilityVSAvoidresistance to dirt and derailing

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The forked brackets provide curved guidance paths that are more tolerant of misalignment and dirt accumulation compared to straight rail systems. The curved geometry allows for smoother movement and reduces the likelihood of derailing in dusty or dirty environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The design inherently cushions against the harmful effects of dirt and misalignment through the robust parallel rod configuration and forked bracket geometry, preventing derailing before it occurs rather than reacting to problems after they arise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the container can be handled from any side of the surface, then versatility is improved, but locking priority management becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling from any sideVSAvoidlocking priority assignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The forked brackets are positioned asymmetrically on opposite sides of the opening, allowing different locking priorities to be assigned to each side. This asymmetric configuration enables one side to have priority locking while the other side can still access, managing complexity through deliberate asymmetry rather than symmetric complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS10549926B2Device for transferring elements through a surface

Publication Date: 2020.02.04 UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE ITAPUA

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for transferring elements through a surface comprising a frame fastened in an opening of the surface to be crossed through and a container joined to the frame comprising at least one pair of rods joining the container to the frame on one side of the container, such that each pair of rods is made up of a first rod and a second rod, the first rod and the second rod being parallel to each other, furthermore each rod is fastened to the frame by means of a bolt on one end of each rod and to the container by means of another bolt on the opposite end of the rod such that the rods have the ability to rotate resting on the bolts.