Variable-Geometry Plant Pot Tray for Close Nesting and Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-compartment carrier trays for plant pots are limited in their ability to accommodate a variety of pot sizes and shapes, leading to inefficient use of space and difficulty in stacking, which affects delivery efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A multi-compartment carrier tray with variable geometry sockets that can adjust to different pot sizes and shapes, allowing for secure accommodation and close nesting, thereby maximizing the number of pots per tray and facilitating efficient stacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the carrier tray uses fixed geometry sockets, then the manufacturing is simple, but the ability to accommodate different pot sizes and shapes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The socket geometry is made dynamic through the first set of planar areas that can change their angle relative to the central vertical axis. When the tray is empty, the planar areas are at a first angle optimized for stacking. When a plant pot is inserted, the planar areas are urged away from the central axis to a second angle, accommodating the pot's side wall angle. This dynamic adjustment allows the same socket to adapt to different pot geometries without requiring multiple socket designs.
2Productivity
If the carrier tray is designed for close nesting, then the delivery efficiency is improved, but the ability to securely hold various pot shapes is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic geometry of the sockets allows the tray to maintain a compact nested configuration during delivery with the planar areas at the first angle. When plant pots are inserted, the planar areas automatically adjust to the second angle to securely accommodate different pot shapes. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between delivery efficiency and adaptability to various pot geometries.
Solution Approach 2:
The angle of the first set of planar areas serves as a variable parameter that changes based on the state of the tray (empty or filled). By changing this geometric parameter from the first angle to the second angle, the socket can optimize its configuration for either close nesting or secure pot accommodation, thereby resolving the contradiction between delivery efficiency and versatility.
3Quantity of substance
If the number of sockets per tray is maximized, then the number of pots per unit area is increased, but the stacking capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic adjustment of the first set of planar areas allows the tray to achieve a compact nested configuration when empty, with the planar areas at the first angle minimizing the tray's footprint for stacking. When filled with plant pots, the planar areas adjust to the second angle to securely hold the pots. This enables the tray to maximize both the number of pots it can carry and its stacking capability at different operational states.
Data Source
AI summary
A carrier tray for carrying multiple plant pots includes a plurality of sockets for receiving plant pots, where the sockets include a first set of planar areas, arranged alternately and with a second set of planar areas, with a concertinaed section provided between each planar area of the first set and of the second set. The first set of planar areas are of variable geometry and can be urged from a first, kind angle to the vertical when the socket is unfulfilled, to a second, smaller angle to the vertical when a pot is inserted into the socket.